Dear Friend,
Nice to have you join in the conversation.. I thoroughly enjoy your story about Pinnochio!
"Pinnocchio suddenly coming to his senses and becoming aware that he's a doll is still, at the end of the day, a doll. It should, since it is now alive and aware, look at his bottom and check out the branding, and call up its maker and ask "Why did you make me, and what is my purpose?"
What Pinnocchio shouldn't do is just be aware that he is a doll, sit around staring at his bottom's branding and not find out what it means. Meditating himself into denial that he feels like a doll and needs to be loved won't bring Pinnocchio anywhere. He is still a doll, made to be loved and to please his maker."
He reminds me that we are like 'cosmic orphans' wondering where our Father is, when all the while, it is we who have strayed and left empty as a result.
I think we're all in agreement that there are some 'absolutes' in life i.e. murder is wrong.
Now, that's an interesting observation... and it tells us something very important about reality. It is not just something in our mind, but something 'real' out there.
A mass murderer may be peaceful and happy killing people because to his mind, there is stg addictive abt having god-like power to take away life. But you and I still think he's wrong... no matter what he thinks. That shows that some things are true, and it's not relative to our minds.
These 'absolutes' apply not only on moral issues, but in politics, science and (ehem, ehem) religious issues as well.
For example, what do we do when religion A think its OK to burn widows with their dead husbands and religion B thinks it's not? Or more relevant to our time, what if religion C thinks bombing an airplane of civilians is heroic and religion D tinks we should live in peace in serene happiness?
Somehow keeping an 'open mind' in this matter is not the most appropriate thing to do. Dun get me wrong... I believe in an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out.
I also like your observation abt Buddhism - "a desire, especially unfulfilled, will lead to suffering". Another quotable quote here: "It's almost like since B knows that he needs food in order to survive, he won't eat until he starves to death, and upon death, there will be no more hunger."
Frankly I agree with you on this one... Desire per se is not the problem. Desire is part of our human nature.
It is seeking in fulfil desire with wrong means, at the wrong time, in the wrong degree, for the wrong motives that is the problem... Jesus called it "sin".
But the pursuit of happiness is not sinful. It is in our very nature.
In fact, it is a serious thing that we should be as happy as we possibly can. True happiness lies in glorifying and enjoying what is most glorious and most enjoyable - God himself.
Suffering, in itself, is not evil too. In fact, suffering for a worthy cause is noble (ie nelson mandela). Christians, in their pursuit of happiness, will choose to embrace suffering (not for its own sake) but because of the greater joy of sharing in a relationship with God.
Are we then 'too dependent' on God? The question implies that we are crippled and need a crutch in God.
Perhaps the essence of it all is: All of us are crippled (with sin and inordinate desires). All of us need a crutch.
The question is: Will your crutch be able to hold you? Can it ever be taken away? (If someone can take God's love away from you, the person would be God lar! )
At least that's how i see it.
Nice to have you join in the conversation.. I thoroughly enjoy your story about Pinnochio!
"Pinnocchio suddenly coming to his senses and becoming aware that he's a doll is still, at the end of the day, a doll. It should, since it is now alive and aware, look at his bottom and check out the branding, and call up its maker and ask "Why did you make me, and what is my purpose?"
What Pinnocchio shouldn't do is just be aware that he is a doll, sit around staring at his bottom's branding and not find out what it means. Meditating himself into denial that he feels like a doll and needs to be loved won't bring Pinnocchio anywhere. He is still a doll, made to be loved and to please his maker."
He reminds me that we are like 'cosmic orphans' wondering where our Father is, when all the while, it is we who have strayed and left empty as a result.
I think we're all in agreement that there are some 'absolutes' in life i.e. murder is wrong.
Now, that's an interesting observation... and it tells us something very important about reality. It is not just something in our mind, but something 'real' out there.
A mass murderer may be peaceful and happy killing people because to his mind, there is stg addictive abt having god-like power to take away life. But you and I still think he's wrong... no matter what he thinks. That shows that some things are true, and it's not relative to our minds.
These 'absolutes' apply not only on moral issues, but in politics, science and (ehem, ehem) religious issues as well.
For example, what do we do when religion A think its OK to burn widows with their dead husbands and religion B thinks it's not? Or more relevant to our time, what if religion C thinks bombing an airplane of civilians is heroic and religion D tinks we should live in peace in serene happiness?
Somehow keeping an 'open mind' in this matter is not the most appropriate thing to do. Dun get me wrong... I believe in an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out.
I also like your observation abt Buddhism - "a desire, especially unfulfilled, will lead to suffering". Another quotable quote here: "It's almost like since B knows that he needs food in order to survive, he won't eat until he starves to death, and upon death, there will be no more hunger."
Frankly I agree with you on this one... Desire per se is not the problem. Desire is part of our human nature.
It is seeking in fulfil desire with wrong means, at the wrong time, in the wrong degree, for the wrong motives that is the problem... Jesus called it "sin".
But the pursuit of happiness is not sinful. It is in our very nature.
In fact, it is a serious thing that we should be as happy as we possibly can. True happiness lies in glorifying and enjoying what is most glorious and most enjoyable - God himself.
Suffering, in itself, is not evil too. In fact, suffering for a worthy cause is noble (ie nelson mandela). Christians, in their pursuit of happiness, will choose to embrace suffering (not for its own sake) but because of the greater joy of sharing in a relationship with God.
Are we then 'too dependent' on God? The question implies that we are crippled and need a crutch in God.
Perhaps the essence of it all is: All of us are crippled (with sin and inordinate desires). All of us need a crutch.
The question is: Will your crutch be able to hold you? Can it ever be taken away? (If someone can take God's love away from you, the person would be God lar! )
At least that's how i see it.
Comments