Insight and Understanding - The Tao of Jesus by Anthony Pace
Insight and Understanding
Moderation and balance are usually considered general bases for points of wisdom and insight. This understanding is exemplified variously through out philosophical sapience. Buddhism teaches of a middle way, a path of moderation between extremes. Classically, virtue is found between two vices. Realizing the cosmos as in a state of unity, dichotomies are revealed as illusion. The concept of Yin and Yang along with the Tao address this adage specifically. Singularity is illustrated as a thing proceeds to an extreme state, it moves to its opposite. Careful examination and analysis of our language and the reality which we create is necessary to evolve and expand in consciousness and understanding.
Mistaking Pessimism as Realism
Too often cynical people will describe their worldview as 'realist.' This is a direct result of a social pathology in which our place and role in the natural world has been distorted. Distrusting of others, driven by an animalistic sense of survival, these people let their emotional dispositions tint their lens of objectivity. The concept of realism includes a plethora of philosophies and institutions, but in this context refers to 'seeing things how they really are.' Ironically, this position is just unrealistic. The mind presents a mere interpretation of sensory input, and could not provide a 'realistic' impression of anything. To say that the human perspective (of the small amount of reality that we are able to perceive) is any where near accurate would just be unrealistic. In this sense we can begin to realize that to understand any actual truth, we must transcend our humanity and embrace the cosmic.
Forgoing this position of cosmic truth, lets attempt to undermine the pessimism as realism view pragmatically. People who subscribe to this view tend to 'prepare for the worst.' They have a strong sense of right and wrong, good and evil. Their theology is usually riddled with guilt, judgment, and punishment. These conditions cast a person into bondage, as they mistake man-made concepts (which do serve an important and practical purpose) for ultimate truths, and base their spiritual core around them. This method of existence traps your spirit, the cosmic self, to social constructs. Somehow, nestled in this worldview is that sacrifice and suffering leads to reward and peace. This delusion originates from a startled inner peace due to uncontrolled desires and emotional imbalance. Good and evil, on a cosmic level, do not exist. True realism would start in detaching from human constructs.
Dignity without Pride
They say that pride is the sin from which every other derives. Excessive pride is the flaw of tragic heroes throughout literature, and is the antagonist of everyday moral struggle. Despite this, society equates pride with a sense of self. There is a misconception that with a lack of pride comes disrespect, unfair treatment, and diminished self-worth. Pride in one's self, family, and country are glorified. This position is clearly a mix of lingual discrepancy and social stigma. Dignity should never be confused with pride, as in my opinion, the two are contrary.
Dignity implies self-respect, but above all else self-control. The ability to maintain balance, emotionally, mentally, and physically, bespeaks and exacts dignity. It is a quality similar to the Tao, the way with out force, idealized as winning a battle with out fighting. Foresight, precision, and perspective are necessary for dignity. Pride undermines each of these attributes, counterpoising judgment.
Pride is concerned with ego, and gives ground to the delusional. It indicates separation, illusion, and irrationality. Avoidance of pride is imperative to stability as it has the ability to confuse priorities and lead to a misjudgment of significance. Behind the mask of pride unity is mistaken for separation, and illusion as truth. Rather than glorifying pride, we should rather work towards dignity.
The Tao of Jesus
Upon careful analysis of religions consistencies between them become obvious. Various contemporary Christian practices originate from pagan rituals. Anthropological evidence supports that primitive drug cults, specifically using coprophillic fungi, are a common ancestor of all modern day religious and spiritual practices. Interestingly, wisdom and insight held within ancient Vedic texts accurately conform to modern day scientific knowledge. Stripping away cultural abstractions and anecdotal details from spiritual works and religious texts, an identical skeleton appears behind them all. From sacramental practices to theological philosophy, a methodological core may be explicated and developed. In Cosmic Religion: The Future of Spirituality such filtration is presented as the primary goal in spiritual development.
Commonalities and recurring themes among religions is a topic worthy of entire book lengths. Sacramental practices can be traced to ritualistic inebriation. Islam's 'will of Allah,' closely resembles the way of the Tao. The release of DMT, described as 'the spirit molecule,' at human death creates an uncanny analogy to a last rights ceremony. The Christ story goes back to the time of the Egyptians, taking on various incarnations throughout history, and has striking astrological significance. The story of Jesus Christ lends enormous insight to spirituality when carefully explicated in a philosophical context.
Most perspicaciously distinguished in the New Testament is the understanding of Jesus' third way. Methods of nonviolent resistance, utilizing creativity and foresight, enable the Christ to actively convey a message of peace and justice. Jesus did not preach passivity to abuse, but rather a way of acting with out force in the face of oppression. More importantly than either of these Tao-like points involving Jesus' practice was his effortless exhibition of insight. The most profound theme of Jesus' work was to let your life, in your everyday actions, be your message to the world. Transcendently this was communicated by allowing his life to be this very message. Mahatma Gandhi, in this same way, practiced creative nonviolent resistance, once saying "You must be the change you want to see in the world."
About the Author
Anthony is a writer, philosopher, and web developer.
He blogs at http://philosophy-explained.com
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