The Name of God
A name is a sign. Names are given to people and assigned to things in order to provide them with a sign by which they may be recognized and to distinguish them from one another.
The names of God are also signs, and it is only His names that are knowable to man. The essence itself is something that lies totally beyond the reach of man. He is unknown to all but Himself. But his names are accessible to man.
The whole world is a name of God, for a name is a sign. You, too, are names of God; your tongues are names of God, your hands are names of God. When you praise God, your tongue is a name of God as it moves. When you get up to go home, you cannot separate yourself from the names of God: you go in the name of God, and you are the name of God; the movements of your heart are the names of God, and the movements of your pulse are the names of God. The winds that are blowing are the names of God.
If someone has come to perceive something, it is a perception that is a manifestation of God.
When a person eats a meal and praises it, saying, “What delicious food this is!” he is praising God even without knowing it. Similarly, if we say of someone, “What a good person this is!” this expression of praise is also to God, even if we are unaware of it. Why is this? Because the substance in question has nothing in and of itself; all that it is is a manifestation of God. True love of self, similarly, is love of other-than-self, but it is been mistakenly regarded as self-love.
We think we praise the person or thing, but that is because we are veiled from the full perception of truth. When the veil is removed, we see that all praise was to God because the manifestation we are praising is a manifestation of Him.
The wave has no separate existence from the ocean; it is the ocean, although one cannot say the converse, that the ocean is its waves. Waves come into existence only through the motion of the ocean. Rationally, it appears that both the ocean and the waves exist, the latter being an accident with respect to the former. But the truth is that there is nothing but ocean; the wave is also the ocean. The world is like a wave in relation to God.
Imagine one hundred mirrors positioned so that the light of the sun is reflected in each. From one point of view, you might say that there are a hundred lights –one hundred separate, finite lights, each in a mirror. All of them, however, are the same light.
But what about those who can’t see light at all? How can you make the blind understand what the light of the sun is? What language, what words can you use? Light is something that dispels darkness; how can you make one who has never seen light understand what it is?
All advise to this dilemma is appreciated.
posted by -R at 5:50 PM
6 Comments:
That is the most significant dilemna I have faced with family and friends as well, as you have already witnessed. It is difficult to discuss religion or spirituality as such an inclusive concept with most people. Most people see even a discussion of such a possiblity as a denunciation of their beliefs. As I mentioned in my blog, and I assume you to be the same, I have a great respect for all religious systems, though I have a strong disagreement with the exclusion of one in opposition to another.
When discussing these ideals, I'm the last person to give you advice because I'd like hit you up for the same. However, I usually try to explain in the simplest terms that most religions have the same basic ideals and only different terms, "characters," fables, and gods to relate those things to different audiences. In my mind, that's god's, by any name, way of teaching different cultures much like a teacher or parent would adapt to best relate to their students or children.
T
he first goal isn't necessarily to have the person agree with you completely inclusive ideals, but to acknowledge your path as on equal footing to their own. It is important that if we cannot all be completely open-minded, we can agree to acknowledge each others equality in god and spirit so long as their is a path is some way, even through a purposeful lack of one. To show those with oppositional mindsets that good, sincere people are out there following a path with a similar goal will slowly impact the world. There's no easier way to create change in others than to be the change itself. That's what Jesus did as well wouldn't you say? It sounds simple and I know it's not the answer you need.
It's so funny, on my way to work today I saw a beggar who was playing guitar for money, and on his guitar case I saw a bumper sticker that said: "God is too big to fit into one religion." Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate that.
If you take my last post in conjunction with this one, you'll see that I want people to uphold their individuality, but also to realize the commonalities they share with those around them. Everyone is a unique wave, with the ability to soar high and leave a new watermark on the beach. But in the end, they must realize they are part of something much greater than themselves.
I agree with Gandhi’s statement to be the change that you want to see and hope that others will recognize and understand. Perhaps I am being over ambitious though in trying to enlighten those who refuse it. Maybe the knot is not only on the tongue of the messenger, but also on the ears of those that hear the message.
I don't think so, I beat me head against the wall all of the time trying to get people not to agree but simply understand by point of view. That's where alot of the crass attitude of my blogs originates. However, "obsessing" as we both seem to, is counterproductive to us seeing the world through those peoples' eyes isn't it? They live their reality often times as strongly as we forge our own. The catch for me is the balance of the nature of my ego/identity and my inclusive beliefs. I want to prove to these people that this way works, but I'd be lying if I said some of that doesn't come from competition and stubborness as much as from good will, fervor and concern. That's the equilibrium I'm having difficulty achieving. It's difficulty to believe strongly in anything and not want at least those close to you to view it similarly. Of course, that's how my Christian mother and right wing brother probably feel about me, I guess.
But what about those who can’t see light at all? How can you make the blind understand what the light of the sun is? What language, what words can you use? Light is something that dispels darkness; how can you make one who has never seen light understand what it is?
I'm not sure if you intended this to be a loaded question using the Sun/Light as an allegory for God and the blind as a symbolism for people who do not believe - maybe not. Nevertheless, that's how I interpreted it.
I think when it comes to explaining things, it is important to use concepts that make sense to someone not only on the basis of experience and semantics, but moreover, concepts that can permeate through the recepient's shield of defense. With that being said...how can you make one who has never seen light understand what it is? I guess the same way you try to make someone who has never seen God believe and understand who He is. When people cannot or refuse to comprehend something - either due to physical inability, lack of relatable experiences, or simply due to denial - we need to be up for the challenge of finding a way to address and explain the subject in a manner most relatable to the recepient. In this case, the same way you delineated the many commonplace experiences and events that transpire in the course of our everyday lives and explain them as manifestations of God, the sun and light (and God and His love) can be explained through its next most salient feature - warmth. Afterall, the most powerful convictions are established by senses far beyond sight.
Michelle! I'm so happy to see your debut on here. I must say I did want to hear your opinion on this, thank you for sharing it.
I've been thinking about this subject ever since I wrote it, and I think you're right; the unexplainable can best be explained through warmth.
We shouldn't start with "look at my point of view or my idea because it's better than yours." Trying to convince someone in that fashion will automatically put them on the defensive - it's a natural human instinct. They can't even be blamed.
Instead, start with being open-minded and flexible in YOUR point of view. Listen to THEIR ideas and beliefs. Engage in discussion on their turf. Then point out alternative discourses, not with the purpose of convincing them of a particular view point, but instead of the benefits of open mindedness and flexibility. Your own handling of the discussion will serve as the model for them. They will appreciate the fact that you listened to them, and were not trying to change them. Every human being wants to be heard, but no one wants to be criticized, or told they’re wrong. Therefore, if you can simply convince others that their belief is not absolute, that there is room for further discussion, you will open a new dimension in that person’s soul and they will search out further information at their own pace. This, I think, is the greatest achievement you can hope for.
To put it in other words, I think that the starting point in showing someone the "light" should begin with a gradual gathering of clouds, not immediately with a lightning bolt. Lightning will only frighten people away if it comes too sudden and they are unprepared. They will seek shelter in the familiar dry climate and wait for the storm to pass before venturing outside again. But if people are slowly prepared for the thunder storm, by gathering the necessary materials, wearing a raincoat for protection, and being mentally prepared, they will be more willing to take a chance standing outside. Because the rewards of seeing a rainbow once it’s all over is truly worth it.
Absolutely raskolnikov. As you know (from my last post) I am strongly in favor of people determining their own perceptions of the world around them and how they uniquely fit into this zoo. I, as you, don’t think any two people can share the same views of the world or have the same relationship with God, or contribute to the world around them, as anyone else. We all have our own unique narrative of life. This holds true even for twins brought up the same way. No two people can occupy the same exact space in time, no two people can share the exact same experience and perceive it the same way.
My point in writing this was more for people who don’t believe in God at all, or don’t think it necessary to ponder about God. That somehow, God is unrelated to our life, an abstract, a construct of our imagination, or an appendage to rationalization or philosophy. To me, God is very real, and deserves pondering. Therefore, I also agree with you that people should never “surrender to the difficulty of wondering” about God. Pondering about Him and all aspects of life should never cease. His identity, however, I think people should recognize. He is tangible. He is rooted in our very being, even if that flower is a different species in all of us. To some of us, He is a Eucalyptus, to others a weed, or even yet a rose bush. And like perennial plants, He grows, blooms, and withers in all of us, only to repeat the cycle over and over. But the simple fact is He is here. And the fact that some people can deny even that truly amazes me.
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