Well, thank you, tobinatorstark. Never having been so honored, I can only hope that as for the rest of the readers on here, you all are clear about a few things:
I care not a whit about your religious or non- affiliation of any stripe, and I certainly am *not *intent on converts or any such thing. This is about thought, and insight, and using what God gave you as the stuff between your ears, though that is but a small manifestaion of the actual wonder of the matter. Or the beyond-the-matter, for that matter, lol! I am only advocating that people use as much concern and inquisitiveness in examining the *actual *source of their faith as they might in a scientific treasties, or in any activity requiring great accuracy and insight. Aspawloski4th is right: What place has a parrot in heaven?? As a Catholic who eventually had to abandon the Church as an avenue of instruction and discovery, I am very well aquainted with the lethargy of the OTHC&A Church in noting certain lacunae in doctrin and inclusivity regarding spiritual or mystic experiences, especially of a certain type, one which gave me an astoundingly refreshing perspective on the teachings of the Church.
And most importantly, Advaita is a discovery, a Way of Understanding, and about the farthest from a cult that I can imagine, as well as ancient. My younger sister was in the Moonie cult, so I can tell you a bit about that and other cults. In fact, my group of associates were accused by a local reporter of cultism, and someone reputed as a “cult buster” laughed off the charge, without even interviewing any of us. We were deemed as a group positive of the Love of God, and who practiced that. That is how obviously the system is not a cult. The highest possible development of any particular individual’s gifts are at the forefront of this Way, and my Mentor was given national honors in this arena of consideration. Even after his death there is a continuing scholarship for the arts, and a continuing foundation sponsoring the arts and lectureship. These were started with his personal funds. So, lets lay that to rest, thank you.
He was also consulted by such as Mother Teresa, who visited for a week, and Jesuit scholars when they were at an impasse. He was known as “Living Vedanta” by many yogis form the East, and many religious of many persuasions came to him for advice and insights. And so on and so on. So I am quite confident in my practice.
I only say all that, because really really really, I don’t care what you call yourself, or what you claim to practice on what basis. Just do it well. Do it very well. But use your God given gifts of critical thinking even as St Thomas and others like him used them. He even had the courage to call his own writings “straw!” Don’t accept conclusions, make them for yourself at the risk of failure. I refuse to give up my right to fail! And I am absolutely certain that the Loving God will not fault, but encourage any who use their Gifts! But for God’s sake, and your own, THINK, as well as believe!!! “Gnothi Seauton” was not a frivolous injunction.
If you have courage, and trust in the Goodness of God, you will not be decieved. But what if God is far greater than you have so far imagined or known?!?!?! Then practice, as my Mentor advised, whatever religion you wish, and bless them with your insight. I really feel for Pathia. But shame on any of us if we short ourselves by hiding behind scripture without looking in your own heart. We are here for but a short time only. Give yourself, perhaps to Praise, rather than fear, and trust that whatever you think of yourself, God’s Love is infinitly incalculabel, and not as your intellect, or even your faith, calculates.
