Spirituality is located in four, directions: upward, outward, inward and downward. The upward direction is to come to terms with the experience of transcendence, the "oceanic feeling," (Freud), the divine, the Godhead. The outward direction is toward relationship with the Other: people, non-human animals, the environment. The inward direction is toward the self: to become a certain kind of person. The downward direction is against the un-Other: all that destroys relationship, injustice, hatred, the demonic, the "dark side" of life. The spacial analogy is helpful, but flawed. The four are deeply interconnected. We separate only to analyze, but realize that there is a more profound connectedness of the all in the One.
All the great traditions have much to say about the inward direction: becoming a certain kind of person. To become a certain kind of person is character. It is not something we are born with, but something we acquire through life. We are born with personality. We acquire character. With children you see very early on the differences in personality: quite, loud, shy, outgoing, quick, slow. It's much the same with puppies. All of our canine companions have had very different personalities. With Molly and Lucy (our pug friends), the personality they have now as two year olds was quite clear when they were eight weeks old.
Character is acquired depending on the way we respond to what life brings us. We can acquire good character or bad character.
The early Christian theologian Paul makes a connection between suffering, endurance, character, hope, and love. Each produces the other.
Paul, like Buddhism, begins with suffering, for in a profound way suffering, and the way we respond to suffering, defines life. Both traditions, though beginning with suffering, bring us something hopeful. Suffering is not the last word. Try as we might, we cannot escape the world and the physical, mental and emotional trials being embodied brings. The way we respond to life's trials is very much about character.
Paul says suffering produces endurance and endurance character. I don't think that is true for all. For some, suffering produces nothing good at all. Suffering may produce despair. Suffering may produce hopelessness. Suffering can be meaningless.
So, what makes the difference? Why does some suffering, through endurance, produce character and some not?
The difference is in Paul other two words: hope and love. I have arranged his five ideas in this way:
Character is central. But, the production of character requires both sides of the diagram. Love combined with hope transforms suffering through endurance into character. We can only endure when there is hope of something better. Suffering is not the last word. Love is the last word.
Where do we acquire love? Here is mystery, for love, like suffering, comes to us as gift. Christians have called it "the grace of God." It is the mystery of the Dao. Search for it. Long for it. Practice it. Do all you can to find it. You will not be disappointed.
+Ab. Andy
All the great traditions have much to say about the inward direction: becoming a certain kind of person. To become a certain kind of person is character. It is not something we are born with, but something we acquire through life. We are born with personality. We acquire character. With children you see very early on the differences in personality: quite, loud, shy, outgoing, quick, slow. It's much the same with puppies. All of our canine companions have had very different personalities. With Molly and Lucy (our pug friends), the personality they have now as two year olds was quite clear when they were eight weeks old.
Character is acquired depending on the way we respond to what life brings us. We can acquire good character or bad character.
The early Christian theologian Paul makes a connection between suffering, endurance, character, hope, and love. Each produces the other.
Paul, like Buddhism, begins with suffering, for in a profound way suffering, and the way we respond to suffering, defines life. Both traditions, though beginning with suffering, bring us something hopeful. Suffering is not the last word. Try as we might, we cannot escape the world and the physical, mental and emotional trials being embodied brings. The way we respond to life's trials is very much about character.
Paul says suffering produces endurance and endurance character. I don't think that is true for all. For some, suffering produces nothing good at all. Suffering may produce despair. Suffering may produce hopelessness. Suffering can be meaningless.
So, what makes the difference? Why does some suffering, through endurance, produce character and some not?
The difference is in Paul other two words: hope and love. I have arranged his five ideas in this way:
Character is central. But, the production of character requires both sides of the diagram. Love combined with hope transforms suffering through endurance into character. We can only endure when there is hope of something better. Suffering is not the last word. Love is the last word.
Where do we acquire love? Here is mystery, for love, like suffering, comes to us as gift. Christians have called it "the grace of God." It is the mystery of the Dao. Search for it. Long for it. Practice it. Do all you can to find it. You will not be disappointed.
+Ab. Andy