Nathan Spoon The trickiest word in this quotation is likely to be 'homogeneity'. If you need to, look up the meaning.April 23 at 2:34am ·
Nathan Spoon Deepa, Look up the difficult word (homogeneity) and the quotation will probably be easier to follow.
April 23 at 2:38am ·
Deepa Desai ho·mo·ge·ne·i·ty
[hoh-muh-juh-nee-i-tee, hom-uh-] Show IPA
–noun
composition from like parts, elements, or characteristics; state or quality of being homogeneous. {{ dictionary.com }}
April 23 at 2:40am · · 1 person
Nathan Spoon
Martin (and Deepa), 'Formal homogeneity' means doctrinal or philosophical inclusiveness of things that are necessary and of the essential. In short, any perspective or teaching that does not, on the one hand, address how to live (for morali...See More
April 23 at 4:15am ·
Deepa Desai Hi Nathan, I can appreciate this! So can we say, formal homogeneity, could then, in essence, refer to a reconciling of different perspectives? Or perhaps being spiritually flexible in order for these teachings or perspectives to co-exist and complement each other?
April 23 at 5:20am ·
Nathan Spoon
Yes, Deepa. And another way to consider this matter is with the image of the pyramid. If nothing points to the mystery and majesty of space like a pyramid, then the pyramid must be valued as a whole. One would not get the same effect to tak...See More
April 23 at 5:43am ·
Nathan Spoon Benjamin, To "drop perspectives" is also a perspective! Only it is somewhat more subtle in that a person who holds this view of "dropping" is vulnerable to what is called performative contradiction. A more clear example of what is meant by performative contradiction is seen in the statement "All statements are false."
April 23 at 11:35pm ·
Nathan Spoon
Also, I would add that in the above quotation there is no mention of adopting a formal perspective. Rather the homogeneity is formal in the sense that there is undeniably a structure to things - including authentic spiritual perspectives. W...See More
April 24 at 12:11am ·
Nathan Spoon
Benjamin, Frithjof Schuon, who is quoted above, is considered by many to be the founder of the perennialist school. I have studied his work for some years now. However my primary focus, as requested by my guru, is to write on and teach adva...See More
April 24 at 3:18am ·
Santthosh Kumaar Orthodoxy in any relgion creates the physical prison and it is great obstacle in pursuit of truth.
April 25 at 7:33am · · 3 people
Nathan Spoon Dear Santthosh, Would you please share your understanding of the term orthodoxy?
April 25 at 11:34pm ·
Santthosh Kumaar
Dear Nathan, Orthodoxy is living strictly according to code of conduct prescribed by religion. Religion is based on the false self within the false experience. All the prescription by religious code of conduct makes one more and more egocentric because they are based on physicality. Therefore, they become obstacle in pursuit of truth. From the ultimate standpoint: whatever seen, known, believed, and experienced as person of the world is mere illusion. Therefore indulging in orthodoxy which is full of rituals and karmas yields same fruits if the rituals karma performed in the dream.
Individualized Gods, karma, heaven and hell are ideas created by religion, to help for those who are incapable of grasping. The concept of god and goddesses and karma are part of the ignorance. By worshiping god and goddesses one accepts the false self as true self, thus he is unfit for self-knowledge. Therefore concept of god is not the means to acquire the self-knowledge. That is why Buddha rejected concept of God.
Devotion is meant for those who are unable to think deeply and more interested in worldly life to manipulate the worldly life with the belief of individualized god. Thus the belief is part of the illusion. Therefore, the devotional path is limited to duality/mind.
If one is seeking nondual truth than he has to drop all path of orthodoxy because orthodoxy is meant for those who are not seeking truth.
In Isa Upanishad says:
MANTRA 10
Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense; here it means worshipping gods and goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there is wasted, because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.
That is why Sankara: - Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.
Thus when we identity with our inherited belief system it with diverse belief it becomes difficult to know the whole humanity is created out of single stuff, which is consciousness. The consciousness is identified by different belief system with different names and forms. Until one goes deeper in search it becomes difficult for anyone to accept anything other than his inherited belief.
Thus following any belief system will not lead one to the inner reality. Thus it is necessary to know the ultimate truth, and the truth will set one free from experiencing the duality as reality."
Sri, Sankara: - “Illness is not cured by saying the word 'medicine,' but by taking medicine. Enlightenment is not achieved by repeating the word 'God' but by directly experiencing God. Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe as many ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred eons, without realizing Oneness, Wholeness."
Yoga Vasishtha :- "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good."
April 27 at 4:14pm · · 1 person
Nathan Spoon You see it as pertaining strictly to karma kANDa, which indeed has limited results. This helps me to understand your above comment in relation to the way orthodoxy is defined as 'the principle of formal homogeneity' in the Schuon quotation. Thank you, dear friend.
April 27 at 11:50pm ·
