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We could not be farther apart on this. You say it is foolishness; to me, it is a miracle. Getting to the point where we shift the focus from the pursuit of truth to the pursuit of our possible biases is everything. That IS the path to truth. It is the height of humility, but our minds will...

What if the only reason why you think your beliefs are true are because you believe them? And since you always believe them, then you'll always think they're true even if they're not. I know it might seem like I'm just playing the devil's advocate, but this is something to consider. You're...

Gotcha, that's one of the things I admire most about Buddhism compared to other religions. Ironically, that may turn some people away who are uncertain and craving certainty. It's tricky as I'm sure you know. It's a balancing act of if you have a preconceived notion of what to look for, could...

Do you really need a religion to teach you to see for yourself? Is it even possible to see for yourself within the filters of a religion?

The only way to separate belief from knowledge is to step into the fire and allow it to strip you down into nothingness. Anything true can never be lost. No organized religion would ever permit this for obvious reasons. It is up to the individual to exercise that faith when the time comes.

It's not that we lose anything. In actuality, we don't really get what we are seeking after until the very end. We have to be completely free of "sin" right? Until then, we get glimpses of it. We are transformed along the way, we become better people with more insight and awareness, but that...

I agree. I didn't communicate that last sentence very well. I think the question I meant was do we really need to ask (verbally)? Does following the will of God include verbalization whether external or internal? I would say what we hope to gain from God has already been given, already been...

I agree that it matters whether or not the prayer is said sincerely. It's not about the words, but about the mindset the words are meant to induce. Otherwise, it becomes a mantra like you said and a practice of repetition rather than mindfulness. If I take it a step further and say that...

I'm curious of your understanding as to why this prayer leads to mindfulness. I have my own explanation which I will wait to share with you. Just to add to this, the goal of mindfulness meditation is to separate from thought. It is a common misconception for beginners to assume that that...

This is a pretty good way to explain it. I'm curious where you got this from or is it your personal interpretation?

Feelings are not deceptive; the thoughts that accompany feelings usually are though. Spiritual development requires putting faith in our feelings rather than beliefs. Beliefs filter us from "reality-as-is" and feelings are a direct experience of it.

Is Grace not more than a philosophical idea? Isn't it something that we have to know through feeling? I would say that we can't know Grace if we are unable to feel. If we don't agree on this, then I guess my previous post wouldn't make sense.

Grace exists in everyone's life; it is inescapable. Grace is soothing, comforting, uplifting, and inspiring. However, it has another important quality that doesn't often get discussed: it diminishes. Can you see that? The moment that Grace is first realized is the peak of its affect, and...

In my experience, there is one step deeper to go than this. We cannot be free of our shortcomings until we know them - that is a spiritual law of the Universe. In my view, there is an important distinction between seeing the darkness and knowing the darkness. There is an instinctual...

Right, it's a matter of perspective. When we change then how we interact with reality changes.

I would say the reason why the mystical transcends words is because it is hidden from us. The path, spiritual development, is hidden from us. Jesus taught this and my experience confirms it. When I say hidden, I don't mean that it is beyond our senses, since mathematics is beyond our senses...

It seems we are talking about two different things. I originally said that spirituality, or mystical experiences, is accessed outside of the intellect. I'm not saying that the intellect cannot interpret these experiences, but when it does interpret them, it is one step removed. Why is this...

Why do mystical experiences transcend language? I agree that they do. Is it not correct to say that something that transcends language is something that transcends the intellect?

Do you ever feel inspired? If so, you have had direct experience with "spiritual" things. It's just a matter of grabbing hold of that feeling in the body.

The negative way, sinking into nothing-ness, humbling yourself completely, submitting to an unknown higher power. These all point to the intuitive understanding that spirituality is accessed outside of the intellect.