What follows is what comes up into consciousness whilst I was reading your post. It isn’t necessarily right or wrong, but just how my awareness has responded.

So, who is right or wrong? As a Zen practitioner I get glimpses of an awareness that seems to say that there is no right or wrong. That right/wrong is something devised by man’s judgement. If we are able to transcend judgement via acceptance of what is so, then surely wars must end because there can be no sides because sides can only exist by the process of judgement leading to condemnation. Both sides are right, both sides are wrong, so that paradox will cancel itself out completely. What is so is that people are just hurting each other. I would even ask if that is right or wrong because that would be further judgement and condemnation. Isn’t this a slippery slope? And there is some more judgement!

Since the “sin” of the other side relates to some past doing, it must be an illusion, just as the past is [no more]. What is so is here and now, and if the ability to remain focused on the here and now became world-wide, accepting, letting go and moving on, what would become of sin? What could become of sides? What would become of war?

The counting. In zazen (Zen meditation or focus), beginners are instructed to focus on counting the inhalations and exhalations to the exclusion of all other thoughts. Counting from 1 – 10 over and over to still the mind. Counting on a still mind that aspires to transcend into ultimate enlightenment. Derek
__________
Ian’s reply:

Derek – first of all, thanks for sharing what comes up for you. I’m with you on right/wrong and I’m reminded of a poem by Rumi:

‘There is a field out beyond right and wrong. I will meet you there’

Sounds like you’ve touched that place in your zazen!

While ’sin’ (not a concept I personally like so much!) relates to the past, I do think that some of the violence on the world is also based on fear coming from a past actions projected into the future. Along the lines “Based on what happened, those people can’t be trusted. Lets’ kill them!’ I impatiently await that world beyond right and wrong, sides, sin, war!

What I’ve learned is that religion is a fact of life. Whether or not it’s done mostly good or bad (I would argue bad) for the human race isn’t relevant. We have to learn to coexist, else we will continue to grow more intolerant as a human race.
__________
Ian’s reply:

I consider myself a spiritual person, rather than religious. I used to be very intolerant about religion, and I don’t know if it’s age or other stuff, but that’s changing. I now see most religions have lost sight of core purpose and got sidetracked by dogma and competition with other religions. It’s purpose is to support our spiritual growth and the sooner it gets back to focusing on that, the better for all if us.

no idea who is Glenn. The email you quote I sent to a Yahoo Group called LivingOsho on September 15, 2006. I don’t know if Glenn is a member of the group. He or she may have a different name there.

Beside the language of objectivity and the language of subjectivity there is also the language of the heart and this language has many expressions, sometimes words, sometimes gestures, sometimes silence, sometimes a smile, sometimes the eyes talk. The heart always finds a way to express itself and it is always understood by another heart. It is a universal language.

And there is another universal language, the pictorial language. Every child learns the pictorial language first, words come later. Now there is even a dictionary for travelling that contains only pictures. If you want to explain something to somebody else and you don’t know the language or the word you point at the picture of what you want or what you mean.
http://www.wjt2005.de/uploads/media/wjt_ohnew_rter.pdf
__________
Ian’s reply:

Nirguna – I’m delighted you found your way here – and touched that you commented. Thanks for the clarification of the source of your wonderful piece of writing!

I also believe in the universality of the language of the heart. As with any language though, the receiver needs to listen in order to hear and for this language there needs to be an open heart … which in many situations and many places is often sadly lacking. I’m hopeful that the heart of mankind is opening – it’s just a bit slow for someone impatient as myself.

Religious people live on fear, so all they know is to spread out more of it. The whole fiasco about judgement day, god watching you, sin, hell. To me it is simply a way to control people and worse yet it aint donations to the church. you are paying for a service, which is a place in heaven.
__________
Ian’s reply:

I read something (and I wish I could remember where) along the lines that religion is still evolving, just as many other aspects of society are evolving – politics, government, education, health care. We haven’t got any of them right yet, but we’re working on it!

Personally I believe that religion has an important role to play for our spiritual side – much of religion has just got quite a way off track. That’s no reason to throw the whole thing out!

But both science and religion are at fault, one they’ll realise that they are climbing the same mountain, but from different sides.
__________
Ian’s reply:

Of course it depends on the individual and there are plenty of scientists who do acknowledge subjective experience – but as a discipline, science is not so good at subjectivism. I wonder if it’s a backlash from centuries of repression by the church … as I also acknowledge that the church has not been open in accepting objective scientific evidence either! Again, it’s not universal as their are plenty of people in the church who are seeking to reconcile the two.

First- I think there are no stupid questions.:)
The question wouldn’t be in the first place if the answer was known.

Growing up- when my parents argued,they took it outside. Continued to argue in there native tongues.That was usually the only time,I heard Italian and Mexican spoken in the house,well outside the house:)

Great article!
__________
Ian’s reply:

I agree with you about the question thing and I think I overdid it with the title. I read somewhere that it was good to be controversial on blogs to get readers to hang around. I must stop taking advice and go with my instinct!

Oh yes … I was in one of those relationships with a crazy Polish girl. In those days I can’t honestly say it was a willing heart that helped us find the way … and I’ll stop right there!

And I agree, there’s a huge difference between acceptance and agreeing and to my mind there’s just not enough acceptance yet in the world.

I don’t always agree with what she has to say, but I find her reasoning sound and her intentions pure. Faith and religion is beautiful through her eyes.
__________
Ian’s reply:

I’ll check it out! Always on the lookout for recommendations from people I trust. LOL