I have removed the little discussion that followed this question as it was confusing my capacity to post a reply. Harsi, you can post after my reply in whatever way you want.
Dear Gaura,
I really respect your honesty of expression. Thank you for it. Seekers of the truth do not feel offended by others expressions when these expressions manifest from their heart. The sincerity of one who has contacted his or her being is exquisite and always welcome. This does not mean it is always easy to speak with them for this sincerity comes with a great intensity that stirs up deep emotions in others. I think this is good. I am not sure all can handle it, but I am sure it would be good for them to try.
It seem the MAIN THING is to have VERY HUGE EAGERNESS to find out the truth.
Only this differs one from all around people who live their life in sleep
(whether having faith or being atheist).
I agree with this. There is a substantial difference between what we believe to be truth and what we know to be truth. A pitfall appears when we so much wish to believe in something that we accept it as the truth by losing sight of the fact that we originally simply believed it to be true.
For example, I have a spiritual wish to advance in my spiritual life. I come upon some philosophy that makes me feel good. I spend some time listening and reading. After a while I accept it and commit myself to believe it, for it is inherent in religion that those who are advanced fully believe. I accept this and believe it because I wish to. It makes me feel right. It makes sense to me at the time and answers most of the questions I had in my life. It has been echoed through time by many others in different ways. Everyone around me accepts it and reinforces my belief. I run with the group and feel secure in the group for the group is a good source of support. Finally my questions are answered and I feel safe. I am relieved. "Pilgrim, your search is over." I rest my weary feet. Future challenges are averted. My path is clear. I will sail home.
Not so simple, as many find later on. Belief in something is quite different than experiencing it with one’s inner being. One can talk oneself into thinking that this firm belief is the key to the experience, but generally it is not. When one realizes that the belief is not the same as the experience, one then questions oneself and one’s personal capacity to experience the promised experiences for one has accepted the belief so deeply that it becomes axiomatic and therefore sacrosanct. One cannot think the fault in one’s lack of experience lies in what one believes. One concludes that the obvious source of the fault is oneself. This leads to self-condemnation for not being good enough to get the realization which was promised by the belief. This leads to stagnation, denial, pain, struggle, intense activity, a lot of ‘mea culpa,’ and so on. In some few it leads to an intensification of the effort to get the experience that is promised. Some drop away from the path and lament. Some languish in lamentation while still officially on the path. Oh, you get the picture!
I am not stating categorically that just because you believe something to be true it is not! Neither am I saying that just because you accept a package of beliefs that this therefore invalidates all of them. There is much more to religion nowadays than philosophy or prayer. There are expectations, rules and regulations, disciplines, economic responsibilities, works to be done, and so on, all of which are not specifically related to the beliefs but which package the beliefs into an institution. Problems occur when these packaged beliefs start to contradict the ‘core’ beliefs which make the package attractive.
And yet, there is a good possibility that some of these core beliefs are also just beliefs. It is also possible that they are distorted visions of reality or at least of any reality available for us to experience. Because this possibility exists, a seeker of the truth needs a bit of freedom to determine at all times if the Promised Land is more than just a promise.
Considering that believing in something to be the truth and having experience of a very deep and fundamental spiritual contact, (which I suppose we would call a "truth" which in this case refers to it being of the higher essence we have been seeking) are decidedly different, the question arises, "How to avoid being captured by belief if this diminishes our capacity to live that truth as the essence of our souls?" I shall answer your question as if it were phrased in this manner for I feel this is the essence of the topic.
The key is, as you said, a very huge eagerness (without the screaming, yet relevant capitals!) to live one’s own truth. This does not mean that one’s own truth is different from "the truth" and therefore somehow less relevant. This means that truth, whatever that means to you, is intricately bound to what you are, for your experience of it is only as valuable as your capacity to appreciate it. Even if there is an absolute truth, and I am not trying to deny its existence here, I can only accept or taste that part of it which relates to me for I am the one who experiences. Your truth or your experiences are fine for you, but they do not necessarily relate to me unless you have the mystic capacity to share your experiences with me to the degree that they become my experiences. I have to find my experience for this experience is the realization so often spoken about in the religious literatures. A belief is a kind of experience and can also be quite relevant in certain circumstances. Belief can be closely related to faith and the flush that faith can give you when you sincerely, earnestly, and powerfully believe. Picture the faithful dancing in the chapel and proclaiming, "I believe! I have seen!" I do not say this lightly or disdainfully as is often done by those who profess a different kind of faith; rather, I am saying that their experience is a product of their strong and fervent belief, not necessarily of the truth they have experienced. For many, this experience of the manifestation of the miracles attainable through their strong faith is all the experience they need, and this is a magnificent experience in itself. God can work many wonders in many ways. Since people are very attracted to their beliefs, God can enter into their lives as a powerful confirmation of their faith.
But to turn these experiences or beliefs into an absolute, unchangeable and intolerant manifestation of what is right, what is godly, and what is the best thing for everyone else, is a twist which distorts the purpose of the mercy granted them. Here is where things get sticky.
Many of us in these forums have seen these twists in action and have been on the wrong side of the distortions. Seeing these manifestations of religious fervor from the other side of the fence has been a real eye-opener. Therefore we declare our freedom from belief. We state clearly and unequivocally, "We shall remain always seekers of the truth. We shall examine all things from every possible angle available to us. We shall never allow beliefs to limit our evolution; neither shall we allow them to limit our actions if these limitations prevent us from useful and growth-giving experiences. We shall not follow anyone or anything, for we respect our own intelligence and our capacity to decide for ourselves what is best for us. Yet we shall hear what all have to offer, especially those who assist us in our research. We shall live in the present, not the past, for life only exists in the present. We shall follow our hearts, yet are ready to accept change, transformation, and challenge, especially when it comes through our realization of how our accepted value structures, thought or emotional patterns have limited us. We are always ready to right wrongs, be kind and considerate, and to politely, yet firmly, deny attempts to place us within other’s definitions or requirements. We stand on our own two feet, on the ground, reaching to the heavens and ready to accept ourselves, the world, and our pathways as they are. We simply wish to know what is, not what we wish it to be, think it should be, or what others say it should be or is. Yet, we shall always work to make life better for ourselves and all others by being ready to render service to them as we can and as they require. We therefore wish to be of service; not to be servants."
