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Clarification on the themes of my contests - Unseeking Seeker's Blog

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Clarification on the themes of my contests

Blog Posted:7/13/2023 8:03:00 AM

Hello dear Soupers!

I received a communication from someone who wished to express that my contests seem to be oriented around a certain xyz religion he/she felt I subscribe to, which may possibly be at variance with the belief system of others. This would imply that my judging may possibly be biased (although the soupmail didn't say that), preferring value systems aligned closer to my own.

I have clarified the matter to the person concerned but then I thought that perhaps others may also be having similar doubts, so perhaps it is best if I clear the air about this. Hence this blog.

First, let me reproduce the contents of my soupmail (without mentioning who it is), clarifying my stand:

"So happy you brought this up (name of person). There should be no load on our chest.

I don’t subscribe to any ritual or religion. Religion is a belief system, dependent upon culture, tradition. It addresses our lower mind, offering hope, promising heaven and asking us to follow a God we have never seen, known or felt.

My path is spirituality. It is a direct inquiry within, with thoughts rested. Essentially dropping identity. Devoid of thought, what remains? It is that with which we connect. Or we may say, we connect with universal consciousness. 

We cannot use mind to transcend mind. However, most of us are so identified with the thinking process, that we cannot imagine awareness without thought.

It is a detailed subject. I’ll only say this: If God is omnipresent, He must be within. We then must see Him, feel Him, be able to touch Him. This is the truth but I don’t ask anyone to believe, belief is in mind, remember? We must know by becoming, by transmuting.

Rest assured, the prompts I offer have nothing to do with any religion. I do not ask of anyone to accept the direct knowing I have imbibed. No. Each must find out for themselves.

Hope this clarifies the fulcrum from which I request exploration of the ultimate truth, which is both immediate and intimate, within."

I'm this putting this out here for all to know. I do also specifically mention in my contests that it is primarily about addressing the line of inquiry. As such, there is definitely going to be subjectivity in judging but generally if someone affirms based on experience, on insight (without bringing a structured religion into play or insisting that only a specific master/teacher/adept/teaching is the only way), it is fine with me, even if it opens us to a new idea or recognition altogether.

Thanks for reading, God bless.



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Date: 7/15/2023 11:44:00 PM
Hi Unseeking. I'm still scratching my head as to why anyone would contact you in the first place as to your beliefs. You have written a beautifully articulate response in defence of them and your approach when judging contests but really you shouldn't have to. I guess it all depends on the context of the original message but if, as you suggest, it's because someone believes you might be biased when it comes to your contests then I say to them that even if that was the case then, really.. "so what?" It's the judge's perogative. Elements of bias exists in all contests anyway no matter how objective a judge tries to be - be it on grounds of religion, preference of form, theme, mood at the time etc etc. Poetry Soup guidelines actually encourage Soupers to "Study the past winners of a contest sponsored by that member" if they want a better chance of winning. Just my thoughts. Cheers - Gary
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/16/2023 5:42:00 PM
True and yet, if we extrapolate, if one person expresses something, it is reasonable to assume twenty others may feel likewise but haven’t said it. Doubt is reasonable. If anyone reaches out, I’d say an attempt should be made in mindfulness, to clarify.
Date: 7/15/2023 11:39:00 AM
Seeker, I enjoy your contests and your lines of inquiry. I have my own faith and spiritual way and it may not be yours or any other persons, but I write for you and you accept my poems and my beliefs in a poetically way, and I think you accept all beliefs no matter the religion, I suggest to people just write on what you believe to be true for you.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/15/2023 7:46:00 PM
Yes, Constance. There are different coordinates at which we may be in our respective soul journeys. Each journey should be respected, allowed to develop, without any external influence. It’s like water flowing downhill. All streams eventually join the river, the river, the ocean.
Date: 7/15/2023 5:28:00 AM
Alas, it seems the "my God is bigger than your god" conflict persists....If there is only ONE G(g)od then he/she cannot get any bigger of smaller.....IT JUST IS. i enjoy your contest ... they are subtle sign posts on the path of my journey.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/15/2023 10:31:00 AM
Yes, the ‘my daddy is stronger than your daddy’ is how God has been classified in the religion vs religion battle. What a pity, more so considering that identity (ego) is actually illusionary, which we recognise if we are free from concepts and conditioning.
Date: 7/13/2023 9:49:00 PM
I do not find you biased toward a specific religion, etc. I just find your topics very difficult because my personality is so different from yours, but when one of your themes is something I can relate to, I do try it, and you have given me some wins, which felt really nice . Everyone is so different here. It is what it is.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/13/2023 10:10:00 PM
Yes indeed. I recall you had a trophy win once. God bless.
Date: 7/13/2023 6:37:00 PM
I have entered your elevated and inspiring contests since I began Soup and preferring value systems aligned closer to your own is not something you do. The proof is in the spiritual pudding, my entries, one or two have not made the cut (I went off on a tangent) and I still keep my spirits up. I detect no bias in your assessments. A lot of confusion and social strife is due to the fact that people confuse religious with spiritual. Please do not change anything, because you are not allied with any religion or sect, still we can relate to the loving spirit within us which should entice everyone, regardless of any denomination or non denomination at all. Please don't stop! ~Anaya
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/13/2023 8:27:00 PM
Thank you, Anaya. No, I don’t intend to stop but at the same time, wished to make my stand clear to all. About religion, I have nothing against it. It points out the way. We have to walk upon it, however, in thought, word and deed, without any thought crutch, without resistance borne of conditioned belief.

My Past Blog Posts

 
Where’s Hiya Sharma?
Date Posted: 3/6/2024 6:10:00 PM
Contest ‘I Am’
Date Posted: 2/16/2024 5:59:00 PM
Consciousness correction contest judged
Date Posted: 11/30/2023 4:50:00 AM
Musings on faith contest
Date Posted: 10/10/2023 2:54:00 AM
Warning! Phishing soup mail
Date Posted: 9/25/2023 10:08:00 AM
Dolce Far Niente contest
Date Posted: 9/20/2023 3:11:00 AM
Clarification on the themes of my contests
Date Posted: 7/13/2023 8:03:00 AM
About dates on poems
Date Posted: 6/11/2023 6:25:00 PM
Screen of Awareness contest update
Date Posted: 5/20/2023 8:08:00 PM
PS software censoring words
Date Posted: 4/25/2023 8:43:00 PM
A wisdom download contest finalised
Date Posted: 4/24/2023 4:04:00 AM
A wisdom download poetry contest - update
Date Posted: 4/6/2023 5:46:00 AM
Death of a loved one poetry contest
Date Posted: 4/5/2023 10:31:00 PM
Now that we are here Poetry Contest update
Date Posted: 3/19/2023 6:51:00 PM
‘Now that we are here’ poetry contest update
Date Posted: 3/16/2023 1:17:00 AM
Break the mirror poetry contest judged
Date Posted: 3/13/2023 3:36:00 AM
Break the mirror contest
Date Posted: 3/7/2023 5:49:00 PM
Deja vu contest finalised
Date Posted: 3/2/2023 6:39:00 PM
Source of our awareness contest judged
Date Posted: 1/26/2023 3:42:00 AM
Be careful
Date Posted: 12/20/2022 11:58:00 PM
Thought rested awareness contest finalised
Date Posted: 12/11/2022 6:46:00 AM
Journey without movement contest finalised
Date Posted: 12/5/2022 7:04:00 PM
Use of apostrophe in poem title
Date Posted: 11/29/2022 8:19:00 PM
Just before release contest finalised
Date Posted: 11/27/2022 8:08:00 PM
Fraud soupmail
Date Posted: 11/22/2022 6:07:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
5/8/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/8/2024 Thought of the day Couplethow i feel,introspection,
5/7/2024 Noumena and phenomena Sedokadeep,spiritual,
5/7/2024 Hush the blush Ottava rimaintrospection,love,spirit
5/7/2024 Eye of our soul Juejusilence,spiritual,
5/7/2024 Zen mode Free versedesire,heart,introspectio
5/7/2024 Thought of the day Coupletfear,god,joy,
5/7/2024 The vaporised self Quatrainjoy,spiritual,
5/7/2024 Idle musings Free verseintrospection,spiritual,
5/6/2024 The direct path Laygod,joy,spiritual,
5/6/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/6/2024 Thought of the day Rubaiyatspiritual,truth,
5/6/2024 As we atone Rhymeforgiveness,sin,spiritual
5/6/2024 Silence speaks Rispettosilence,spiritual,
5/6/2024 Yen for zen Sestinaspiritual,
5/5/2024 Before the emanation Sonnetsilence,spiritual,
5/5/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/5/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/5/2024 Feeling not thinking Sestinaspiritual,
5/4/2024 Art of living Quintillaheart,joy,
5/4/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/4/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/4/2024 Play of shadows Sedokalove,spiritual,
5/4/2024 Arduous ascent Monchielle Stanzaspiritual,
5/3/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/3/2024 Thought of the day Coupletspiritual,
5/3/2024 God search Than-Baukgod,
5/2/2024 Love waves a wand Crown of Sonnetsintrospection,joy,love,sp
5/2/2024 Zen mode Free verseinnocence,love,spiritual,
5/2/2024 Thought of the day Coupletinnocence,
5/2/2024 Analysis is paralysis Juejuconfusion,spiritual,wisdo
5/1/2024 Heart lotus blooms Rubaiyatheart,joy,love,spiritual,
5/1/2024 Merging Sedokajoy,love,spiritual,
5/1/2024 Tao Otherspiritual,
5/1/2024 Zen mode Quatrainspiritual,
5/1/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/1/2024 Victory in defeat Rispettolove,spiritual,
4/30/2024 Vibrant nonchalance Free versejoy,peace,spiritual,
4/30/2024 I Am Free versei am,silence,spiritual,
4/30/2024 Zen mode Rhymefate,love,
4/30/2024 Thought of the day Coupletgod,prayer,
4/29/2024 Body language Dodoitsuintrospection,
4/29/2024 Vibrance Dodoitsuspiritual,
4/29/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
4/29/2024 Thought of the day Quatrainjoy,spiritual,time,
4/29/2024 The practice Ottava rimaspiritual,
4/28/2024 Love Sonnetjoy,love,spiritual,
4/28/2024 To be touched by spirit Dizainspiritual,
4/28/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
4/28/2024 Thought of the day Coupletgod,mystery,sleep,
4/28/2024 harp with 33 strings Rhymespiritual,
4/28/2024 Light of a thousand suns Rispettospiritual,
4/28/2024 undying effervescence Sedokalove,spiritual,
4/27/2024 Zen mode Rhymei am,self,spiritual,
4/27/2024 Thought of the day Quatrainjoy,life,love,
4/26/2024 Surfing the void Sonnetinspiration,joy,muse,spir
4/26/2024 stoop to conquer Rhymespiritual,
4/26/2024 Zen mode Quatraingod,love,
4/26/2024 Thought of the day Coupletjoy,life,love,
4/25/2024 Awake oh hermit Sonnetspiritual,
4/25/2024 Zen mode Ottava rimaspiritual,
4/25/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdesire,spiritual,truth,
4/25/2024 seek and ye shall find Senryui am,self,spiritual,truth
4/25/2024 Living in the heart Rhymeheart,i am,love,mirror,sp
4/25/2024 Stoop to conquer Rubaiyatsilence,spiritual,
4/24/2024 All thoughts are ego begot Rubaiyatjoy,sin,spiritual,
4/24/2024 kundalini magic Than-Baukspiritual,
4/24/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
4/24/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdream,introspection,life,
4/24/2024 Freedom at dawn Juejujoy,morning,sleep,spiritu
4/23/2024 Monk mode Monchielle Stanzadesire,god,joy,spiritual,
4/23/2024 Zen mode Free versepeace,stress,
4/23/2024 Thought of the day Coupletbaptism,blessing,love,sil
4/23/2024 Psalm 23 as felt when invoked Free versebible,spiritual,
4/22/2024 Transmutation Ottava rimaspiritual,
4/22/2024 the ultimate truth Ottava rimasilence,spiritual,truth,
4/22/2024 say it like it is Free versespiritual,
4/22/2024 is-ness of being-ness Footlei am,joy,spiritual,
4/22/2024 Zen mode Rhymefate,peace,spiritual,
4/22/2024 Thought of the day Coupletgod,lust,
4/22/2024 Revealed yet concealed Layspiritual,
4/22/2024 Down but not out Rhymecourage,faith,god,
4/22/2024 we willingly burn Sedokalove,
4/21/2024 Zen mode Rhymejoy,light,spiritual,
4/21/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdeath,introspection,spiri
4/21/2024 The ultimate truth Dodoitsugod,spiritual,truth,
4/21/2024 dilemma of man Rhymedesire,fear,introspection
4/21/2024 Eye of the soul Quaternspiritual,
4/21/2024 Stoop to conquer Dizainspiritual,
4/20/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
4/20/2024 Thought of the day Coupletpeace,sunshine,tree,
4/19/2024 Navigating the void Sonnetspiritual,
4/19/2024 Dilemma of the Dalai Lama Rhymeconfusion,love,spiritual,
4/19/2024 Zen mode Free verselove,memory,self,spiritua
4/19/2024 Thought of the day Coupletspiritual,
4/19/2024 Boundaries blur Juejuspiritual,
4/19/2024 Divine magnetism Than-Baukjoy,spiritual,
4/18/2024 The vaporised self Rispettoblessing,god,spiritual,
4/18/2024 Mother plays the harp Rhymespiritual,
4/18/2024 Zen mode Free versei am,joy,spiritual,

My Photos


photo

ps_IMG_0738.jpeg

Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
Know Yourself Free versegod,introspection,wisdom,
Someone Who Used To Be You Blank versedream,lost love,love,
Elevating Heart Free verseappreciation,devotion,hea
A Change of Heart Sonnetblessing,christian,faith,
Jesus, My Beloved Free versejesus,
The Sounds of Bliss Sonnetromantic,
Where the Wind Blows Quatrainwind,
I See Him Rhymeblessing,faith,god,hope,i
Open Up Free versefaith,hope,love,
Mind Dance Free verseappreciation,beauty,bird,
Held By a Thread Versespiritual,
Always Rhymedream,friendship,poetry,v
Swift, the Rills Rhymeanalogy,appreciation,deat
I Thought I Knew a Thousand Songs Free verseloss,love,
Mindful Free verseblessing,life,light,
On Rivers of Love Free verselove,river,
Gentle Harbinger Coupletangel,beauty,bird,blessin
Just Breathe Free versefaith,hope,inspirational,
Belief - 1 Free verseblessing,encouraging,god,
Soul Mates Free verseheart,inspirational,love,
Love Will Heal the World Free verselove,
The Die Is Cast Free versedeath,grief,journey,lost
Home Sweet Home Free versebeautiful,home,love,
The Homeless Gentleman Rhymecare,
Death Whispers In the Night Verseautumn,death,grief,hope,l
Teasing Kiss Rhymerain,
A Reflection of His Love Free verseappreciation,caregiving,
Oh Dreamy Boy Dizainromance,
Avalanche Shadormaflower,life,light,prayer,
Flowers of the Heart Rhymecare,garden,growth,heart,
Eye of Horus and the Seat of Me Free verseblue,faith,i am,love,sky,
His Gift Free versefaith,god,inspirational,l
Devoutly Walk In True Grace With the Lord Trioletinspiration,
Dancing Girls Free verseage,
With Eternal Sent Bliss Two Hearts Reborn - a Collaboration With Robert Lindley Rhymedesire,husband,longing,lo
Holding Back Tears Rhymedeep,imagery,metaphor,
Rush of Summer's Breeze Sonnetlove,summer,
If I Die Daddy Free versechild,dad,death,
Come Into My House Lord Versechristian,family,
An Excavation Verseintrospection,life,
After It Rained Free versebeauty,environment,rain,
Always Waiting Free versegrief,
All Is Alright Free verseblessing,christian,faith,
Rest, Don't Quit Free verselife,
Make Peace With Time Rhymeappreciation,grief,inspir
Capture My Heart Rhymegod,love,
Love Rhymeheart,love,
Hope Is the Path Rhymehope,
I Am But a Grain of Sand Rhymecharacter,how i feel,phil
Union Rhymebeauty,extended metaphor,
Quietude Rhymesilence,
Hope Free versehope,
Eternal Life and the Total Self Rhymedeath,
Enchantment Free verseinspirational,
Healing Power of the Drum Free verseinspirational,native amer
Hypnotized Rhymeinspiration,love,
I Held Her To My Heart Quatraingranddaughter,grandmother
Nothingness Free versemuse,
Joy and Kindness Free verseinspiration,
Conversation With My Soul Versegiving,love,wisdom,
The Supreme Source Rhymespiritual,
Summer Lace Rhymebeauty,day,love,morning,n
The Light and the Veil Sonnetfaith,god,light,
Amazing God Free verseappreciation,blessing,god
Praise of Peace Free verseappreciation,butterfly,fl
The Edge of Loneliness Free verseloneliness,sad,
Life Has Been Divine Free verselife,
Whose Muse Elusive Dew Rhymedestiny,life,lost love,mo
Flight Free versebeauty,death,flying,freed
Neither Silent Nor Still Free versechristian,feelings,god,in
His Guiding Light - 2 Free verseinspirational,jesus,
But a Moment Free versedeath,imagery,nature,rela
Song of Stars Free versebeautiful,heaven,inspirat
Intertwined Rubaiyatlife,
This Withered Threshold Rhymeautumn,nature,
Hummingbird Walk Free versepoetry,
A Sprinkle of Wit Rhymelight,poetry,truth,
He Shines Free versechristian,faith,inspirati
Soothing Tomorrows Free verseemotions,love,
Aurora Spills Free versemuse,
Wave of Fantasy Versedream,fantasy,
Into the Distance Otherpoetry,
Wake Me, Not Free verseanalogy,dream,lost love,m
Waves Played a Symphony Rhymelight,morning,
Above the Silence Free verselonging,love,peace,silenc
I Remember Years Ago Potd Free versememory,
Composed By Our Love Rhymemusic,
Behind His Knowing Eyes Rhymedeath,
My Stolen Garden Free verseflower,garden,
If This Was My Last Poem Free verseromance,romantic love,spi
Aura of Her Magnificence Free verselove,poetry,romantic love
I Wish For You Love Terzanellelove,
Whispers Shared Free verseappreciation,beauty,commu
Blind Rage Sonnetanger,husband,success,tha
Because I Live Free verselife,
Paper Plane Sonnetangst,anxiety,betrayal,em
A Magical Time Quatrainbeautiful,beauty,change,h
Veiled Free versespiritual,
Porcelain Doll Rhymeage,allusion,girl,sad,
Pirouetting On Cloud Banks Free versedesire,fantasy,introspect

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
Regina Mcintosh United States Flag United States Read
Susan Lawrence United States Flag United States Read
Arturo Michael United States Flag United States Read
Gabrielle Jordan United States Flag United States Read
Winged Warrior Canada Flag Canada Read
Skye Awenborn Sweden Flag Sweden Read
Mike Gentile United States Flag United States Read
Bill Baker United States Flag United States Read
Line Gauthier Canada Flag Canada Read
Lady Labyrinth Australia Flag Australia Read
Susan Ashley United States Flag United States Read
Emile Pinet Canada Flag Canada Read
Betsy Rodriguez Mexico Flag Mexico Read
Silent One United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Kathryn Search United States Flag United States Read
Jose Vazquez Mexico Flag Mexico Read
Ink Empress Maldives Flag Maldives Read
Hiya Sharma India Flag India Read

Book: Reflection on the Important Things