what we share

As I begin to review your recent comments, I'd like to thank Marcel Benn for his typically concise and clear statement of what i take to be the oriental position.

Some people experience spiritual influences in human or semi-human form, such as angels or spirits, whilst others, like Marcel (I hope I'm representing you aright, Marcel?), experience them in a more impersonal way, as aspects of a cosmic consciousness which is a kind of continuum.

What both groups - broadly eastern and western in style  - share and, what therefore we should all hold on to, is experience of a cosmos that is anthropocentric, at least in the sense that it responds to our hopes, fears, thoughts.

I think there's no doubt that what we experience depends to some extent on cultural conditioning, and perhaps also because spiritual influences adapt themselves to us as groups and individuals as part of their attempts to get through our thick skulls.

If we tried to determine the extent to which  it's proper to talk of angels' having autonomy, we'd risk getting into the sort of abstruse and boring theological debate that is so open to mockery by our enemies.

But it helps me to remember that Lorna, who regularly chats with angels with all the familiarity and vernacular of a neighbour over the garden fence, sometimes sees them all linked, as if by a sort of umbilical cord, back to God. 

Comments

[Tőzser György]

I want to share with You the existence of the engraving “Melancholia II” by Albrecht Dürer, an unknown masterpiece.
It can be seen at the site: www.summainfo.ro.

[Anthony]

So true about the thick skulls part....we incarnated humans can be so pig-headed at times! Hopefully we get there eventually.

[amany]

Loved your book. Do you by any chance know something of the Byzantine mind set...why they decorated their churches and icons with so much gold? Why did they attribute such powers to their icons? Was there some sort of secret adherence to alchemy? I assume they did not think as moderns do. Otherwise, their religious works could be regarded as conspicuous consumption, garishness...

[Katalin Kerekes]

Thanks to those who try to open others eyes. I was astonished when I found it. I wish I could understand English better. Believe me there are "gods" whos crying in the night in secret.

The second one 24 12 1979