The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.
…..Dalai Lama
Daily Wisdom
Josh Bartok, Editor
How Do Beliefs Co-Emerge In Contradictory Pairs?
Coexistence of Beliefs
We can better appreciate how beliefs conflict with each other if we understand how they form in the first place. In recognizing that beliefs coexist in pairs the Chinese sages also realized that this is how beliefs initially form.
How Beliefs Co-emerge
Beliefs arise in contradictory pairs. Two opposite beliefs co-emerge and at first the two opposite beliefs coexist. Then in order to establish fixed positions and definite opinions about ourselves and the world, and to give things distinct and permanent characteristics, we push the two beliefs apart and suppress one belief from our awareness.
Disconnecting Opposite Beliefs
Everytime we assert or deny a particular belief, we simultaneously disconnect from the opposite belief. Our belief becomes solid and real for us to the extent that its opposite becomes transparent to us.
Essential Wisdom Teachings: The Way to Inner Peace
Peter & Penny Fenner
Ancient Writing As Apologetics
Ancient Apologetic Writing
Ancient writers almost always wrote as apologists. Their purpose was to defend the integrity of a class or a people.
- Homer’s Epic Poems
Homer’s epic poems define and defend the cultural identity of the Greeks. - Virgil’s Aeneid
Virgil’s Aeneid rooted Roman cultural identity in a fabled Greek past, an act that boasted of Roman self-esteem. - Plutarch’s Parallel Lives
The historian Plutarch’s Parallel Lives matches Greek personalities with great Roman ones to show how, in a stretch of his imagination, great heroes hold similar characteristics – especially Greek and Roman heroes. - Biblical Deuteronomist
The Biblical Deuteronomist is the writer who told the story of ancient Israel found in the books from Deuteronomy to 2 Kings. In this history, the writer portrays the Israelite kings Saul and David in all their tragic faults. The presentation is primarily a theological one rather than historical account that defines and shapes a specific interpretation of history. Many archeologists today hold that the Deuteronomist version of history is largely fiction. - Early Christian Writings
Early Christian writings hold similar apologetic and fictional characteristics as the Deuteronomist writings. Though the Christian gospels contain some historical information, the writing is largely designed to defend Christianity. The gospels are not biographies. The writers are not really interested in who Jesus was, which means many questions simply cannot be answered.
Embracing the Human Jesus: A Wisdom Path for Contemporary Christianity
David Galston
Insights From The Gospel Of Thomas
Insights from the Gospel of Thomas
- There is only one thing in the universe, and you are that thing.
- When you can see what is right in front of you, the hidden things will be revealed as well.
- The kingdom of heaven has already arrived.
- The truth does not come from outside ourselves.
- We must be alone to be truly free.
- Jesus is a mystery – and so is everyone else.
The Way of Thomas
John R. Mabry
How Can We Let Go Of The Restless Mind?
Holding Onto Thoughts
The restless mind holds on so tightly to so many thoughts and what-ifs that it can be overwhelming. We might be continually distracted by all the clutter in our mind that we find it hard to get much done in a day – there being no room to focus since we’re mentally tired out.
Clouds Over the Here and Now
Past hurts or regrets create clouds over our here and now. And, perhaps we need to let go of having so many rigid beliefs and standards that we attach to ourselves and others.
Letting Go
We need to live and let live a bit more. If we let go, who knows where we’ll go – and that’s the adventure.
The Restful Mind
Gyalwa Dokhampa
