Month: April 2015

19.4.15

– Compare:
Master & slave morality (Nietzsche)
&
The weak & strong in faith (St. Paul)

– Nightmares, daydreams & visions

– “We were like those who dream”
“I was like a beast before you”

– The truth always sounds too good to be true…

– Beautiful worship leaders – good or bad?  😉

– Luke 2:34-35

– That which counterbalances freedom is is not law & order, but love & responsibility.

– Your idea of (your) mission looks as ridiculous to me as does mine to you!

– The challenge of balancing (oneself in) the conflict/tension between the conviction to fight for a cause, & the concern for loved ones who are (inevitably) affected by one’s struggle against (what one perceives as) evil…

– Distinguish:
Slavery to selfish desires (my pride/lust)
&
The cause of individual freedom (universal liberation)

– How does it feel like to walk as a liberated & enlightened person in the midst of this sea of humanity?!
Exhilarating or excruciating – or both?

– The child – the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those who are totally unconcerned about the question – “Who is the greatest?”

– Is Peter Rollins a liberation theologian?
I think so…
Could “insurrection” be seen as a different kind of praxis?

– Before asking HOW to do something well, first ask WHAT it is, & WHY you believe this, & WHO is believing it.
E.g. Sexuality

– What does incarnational education look like?
If the Word has to be totally enfleshed, then it must by nature be something carnal! Transformation of existence is therefore as much an immanent process, & not only a bestowed gift…
The opposite of spiritual/natural is not carnal/material, it is reductionist/gnostic!

– Jesus as scandal, & the warning for us to not become stumbling blocks to others, especially children…

– Have you identified your “center”? And are you ready to live out of it in your own context, come what may?

– Mercy
Vs.
Passion

– Why can’t I beneficially & rightly participate in the Evangelical/biblical/liturgical tradition without abandoning my liberal faith?

– Education:
Cultivation
Vs.
Indoctrination

– Well-placed people

– Do not soften your hearts, when another spirit whispers in your ear…

– Orthodox faith –> moral conduct –> personal peace/prosperity & social order.
Could development be something different from this conventional vision??

– Psyche – beliefs, desires, intellect, memory, imagination, will

– The intimacy in solitude
&
The independence in closeness

– Am I bored by myself??

– Heads up

– Movies:
“Somewhere”
Salvation is not just (potentially) risking, but (actually) losing everything you have, to gain that one thing you need!

20.4.15

– Be true to yourself, work hard, be creative, & develop a social awareness.

– Communication, collaboration, creativity & critical thinking

– Non-conventional aptitudes
Divergence –> insurgence!

– Authenticity & employability

– New age careers

– Fashion criticism

– Concierge – fellow slave

– Interns as assets!

– Glorified certificates

– Scalability

– Learning curve
Moving from change to realization!

– Spirituality:
Intellect Vs. Faith (intrapersonal)
Thinkers Vs. Doers (communal)

– Affordable, accessible & qualitative

– headroom
headway

– Disruptive ideas with constructive effects!

– Disaggregation

– Spiritual pioneers
Faith researchers

– Virtual education

– 361 degrees!

– Morality (freedom of conscience)
Vs.
Legality (social duty)

– A simple (retarded?) saint
&
A dangerous (corrupted?) scholar
We desperately need the sage to save us!

– Net neutrality

– An immoderate age

– Subversive laughter in troubled times!

– Netizen

– Only an insane Teacher can enlighten us,
Only an absent Master can lead us,
Only a crucified Messiah can liberate us!

– Reality & meaning
Truth & faith

– Chyavanprash, Spirulina & Ginseng

– I cannot be myself in this context – never!
I must find a way (out of this suffocating milieu) for my soul to breathe……
Or should I stay & get crucified??

– Anti-identity
Anti-leader
Anti-wisdom
Anti-progress

– I am a slave who is trying to set other people free!

– Deconstruction, skepticism & mysticism

– The only way to psychological & social welfare is for each & every individual to be concerned only about physical well-being (for all)!

– They want me to be their leader in such a way that they can accept & use!

– Spirituality is nothing but transcendent culture which is nothing but natural living!

– The cross as the Christian Koan!

– Virgin birth & physical resurrection – how can one be saved biologically & spiritually, if one has not even transcended & overcome, culturally?!

– Apart from physical survival, everything is just entertainment…

– The cruelty of serendipity!

21.4.15

– “I could be the one to set you free.”
“I wanna know now, can you love me again?”

– “The battle to remain who you are.” – Nandita Das

– Law –> submission –> reverence & obedience
Grace –> freedom –> faith & love

– All Human Resource agencies are loci of human objectification & utilization, not just in pornography or prostitution!
Even everyday relationships like family & friendship involve the reduction of human subjects – including oneself – E.g. When we try to understand the other from our own standpoint.
What is necessary is not trying to completely avoid this, but being aware of its (ubiquitous) presence & safeguarding against blindness & abuse.

– Maybe it is time “I” died and GOD/others/world is raised!

– Maybe the only way to personal freedom is duty (not conformity).
Maybe the only way to self-realization is self-forgetfulness (not self-ignorance).
Maybe the only way to self-fulfillment is self-discipline (not self-denial).

– Maybe the only way to (spiritual) wisdom is not through gaining more & more (theoretical) knowledge, but through a totally embodied and social being!

– Shift – from Christian ministry to a secular spirituality!
From spiritual formation groups to study fellowships/learning groups/culture clubs.
From theology/Christianity to arts/humanities
Subjects will include philosophy, culture, psychology, sociology, politics, economics, movies (includes documentaries), music, spirituality, religion, theology, education, leadership, communication, self-help, New Age, literature, current affairs/news, relevant topics by demand (from members), etc.
Liberal
From preaching, praying, loving & mission to learning, thinking, discussing & experiential/reflective sharing
Balance theoretical & practical stuff – always emphasize digesting information and applying lessons
Be critical, creative and collaborative
Start with broad basics and then move on to advanced level
From edification to education (contextual/informal/lifelong)
From holiness to wisdom
From faith to intellect
No individual counseling/mentoring (usually)
Change the annual retreat to annual picnic!
Increase frequency to every alternate weekend (Saturday evening)
Homework – journaling daily & 2 hours per week study. Minimum attendance of 75%.
Invite guest speaker once or twice a year.
Continue annual seminar.
Open to adults with intellectual bent from any faith position.
Separate Christians and non-Christians into separate groups so that we can do Theology also in the Christians’ group (but in a non-confessional, non-dogmatic & open spirit) – alternative meetings?
Meeting duration – 2 – 2 & 1/2 hours
Encourage members meeting outside the formal gatherings to foster friendships (spontaneously)
Encourage personal self-education & development
Personal readings – more fiction, since this cannot be done in the meetings
Annual presentations by members
Include vocational identity formation, rule of life, etc.
Decalogue – present 10 lines/sentences/statements on one theme
No biblical,devotional, liturgical meetings!
Preparing material for the meeting – courses (lectures/talks/videos, etc.) can be used directly, but books/articles must be processed by me before being “read”.
Do a course/book continuously until completed, and also random selected stuff alternately. Or make the systematic stuff as homework & do assorted stuff in the meetings.
No food after the meetings.
No change in location of meetings, unless requested by a member.
No other commitments!
Go out more often – museums, libraries, cultural programs, festivals, lectures, universities, temples, etc.
Mature attitude – observing –> understanding –> evaluating. Able to see value (truth, beauty & goodness) in sources other than one’s own tradition.
No fixed authority or prescribed position for members. Each person to make up their own minds about their viewpoint.

– What do you hope to achieve through this strategy?
Nothing much! Just have something worthwhile to do with myself, a good time together with other like-minded people, and possibly enrich our lives as humans, and equip us to deal with life in this world a little better…

– Movies:
“Museum Hours”
Now that’s an arty film!
Compare:
Observing art
&
Experiencing life
“Hallucinations of reality”

22.4.15

– When you look at your wedding photo, what comes to your mind first – is it the concept of marriage, or is it the name of your spouse?
And how do you feel (not think) about it?

– Tat-for-tit

24.4.15

– 3 values that remain:
1. No suicide/giving up on life – if necessary, change the context if it is impossible to be true to yourself within it.
2. Never stop the (unending) quest for your truth/faith/meaning. This alone will lead to the purpose/significance of your particular existence, & therefore unique contribution in the world.
3. Never let the material or cultural situation take away your (spiritual) freedom.
Integrity (as opposed to hypocrisy/compromise), independence (as opposed to cowardice/conformity) & inquiry (as opposed to mindless submission)

– “Losing all hope IS freedom!”
Despair without depression……

– You can never run away from yourself, Joe.
And the good news is, you don’t have to!

– If you try to control me, you will surely regret it. Because my reaction will destroy you!

– Time to come clean, completely!

– Mistakes –> sins –> crimes

– Level 1 values: more important than physical survival
Level 2 values: less important than physical survival

– Revelatory event –> propagation –> consolidation –> establishment –> stagnation –> renewal (rebirth through death & resurrection)!

– Crucifix – his body is cancelled out, & only the Cross remains for us!

– Spirituality = the organic, personal & integrative processing of human experience, religious tradition & secular knowledge!

– Responsibility is nothing but the use of freedom in such a way that leads to more, not less, freedom!

– Consciousness is yours. Conscience is given by the society. It is an imposition over your consciousness. Different societies impose different ideas over your consciousness, but they all impose something or other. And once something is imposed over your consciousness, you cannot hear your consciousness; it is far away.
“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” – Voltaire
Answers (from the past) are closed, questions are open (to the future).
Belief/morality & intellect/creativity must always be held in tension, otherwise we stagnate & rot!
It is time (for me) to move from the stagnant dogmatic-confessional position to the dynamic existential-dialectic movement
Conscience is nothing but critical consciousness – self-aware individuals reflecting on their human condition.
Creativity is not always constructive!
Individual freedom & social responsibility are always to be held in tension. Everything ultimately exists for the sake of persons, not the other way around!

– O the atrocities that are committed in the name of GOD, truth, love, society & morality!

– The right that you have over your body is greater than the right that your spouse has over it. And the right that your spouse has over it can be exercised well only with your willing cooperation.
Love as voluntary, shared ownership!

– Divine ownership of one’s body becomes very relevant & powerful when it comes to the question of suicide!
Divine image ~ sanctity of human life.

25.4.15

– Intellectual diet – should I radically rethink my reading habits?
More Christian/theological stuff, maybe??

– When does an argument cross the line from a healthy (even if feisty) exchange, to something ugly & evil?

– Just because someone says that Jesus Christ should be the central authority in every Christian’s faith, does that mean that they actually live that way??
And just because someone says that all that the Bible says cannot be accepted as unquestionably true & correct, does that mean that they actually are doing it??

– Zamar vocational counseling:
What path/option is best or right for me?
Job – short term. Money
Career – long term. Accomplishment
Vocation – call. Higher purpose

26.4.15

– “This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.”

– Mutual shepherding

– Pass the Peace around

– Unique smells
Sensual identities

– If the Shepherd is going to lay down his life for the sheep, then how can he (continue to) be their leader?
The sheep in the Shepherd (Incarnation) –> the Shepherd in the sheep (Pentecost)!

– Crucifix – The divinization of evil, suffering & death –> the salvation of humanity!

– Groto

– Crud

– Humus + spirit = human

– Know yourself
The power of now
The delight of being

– No-questioner!

– Living problems and dead answers

– Transcending mind and culture through body-spirituality!

– The doctrine of no-self

– Saved from salvation!

– An atheological spirituality

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