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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
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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
5/22/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
5/22/2024 Thought of the day Coupletlight,love,spiritual,
5/22/2024 An ethereal scent Ottava rimadesire,joy,memory,spiritu
5/22/2024 Slow down dear Juejupeace,silence,spiritual,
5/22/2024 To be touched by God Monchielle Stanzagod,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Zen mode Rhymejoy,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Thought of the day Coupletpeace,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Why are we in bondage Rispettofreedom,
5/20/2024 Keep it simple Rhymepoetry,poets,
5/20/2024 how still is our stillness Free versesilence,spiritual,
5/20/2024 Zen mode Layspiritual,
5/20/2024 Thought of the day Coupletmoon,spiritual,
5/19/2024 Ascent Rubaiyatspiritual,
5/19/2024 Burn the book Dizainreligion,self,spiritual,t
5/19/2024 Who am I Ottava rimagod,space,spiritual,
5/19/2024 Let go of to get to Sonnetheart,joy,silence,spiritu
5/19/2024 Zen mode Free verseheart,joy,light,self,
5/19/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/19/2024 Easy breezy Layspiritual,
5/19/2024 Parallax Enclosed Rhymeintrospection,
5/19/2024 Judgmental eye Sedokaintrospection,judgement,s
5/19/2024 Just before we exhale Sonnetremember,spiritual,
5/18/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/18/2024 Thought of the day Layspiritual,
5/18/2024 Silence speaks Rispettolove,silence,truth,
5/18/2024 Idle musings Rhymeintrospection,
5/17/2024 Heart lotus blooms Free versegod,heart,joy,light,love,
5/17/2024 Look closely Juejuheart,joy,peace,spiritual
5/17/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/17/2024 Thought of the day Verseintrospection,spiritual,
5/16/2024 the vaporised self Rhymejoy,spiritual,
5/16/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
5/16/2024 Thought of the day Layheart,love,spiritual,
5/15/2024 We confess Ottava rimablessing,god,i am,joy,spi
5/15/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/15/2024 Thought of the day Coupletblessing,god,spiritual,
5/14/2024 If only you knew Rhymespiritual,
5/14/2024 Zen mode Rhymeintrospection,joy,spiritu
5/14/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,silence,
5/13/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/13/2024 Thought of the day Versedesire,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Be to become Free versei am,silence,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Rainbow body Dizainspiritual,
5/12/2024 We fell Didacticintrospection,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/12/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdeath,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Vibrant aloneness Rhymejoy,lonely,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Holy Spirit Rhymespiritual,
5/12/2024 Say it like it is Free versejoy,spiritual,
5/11/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/11/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/11/2024 What are friends for Sedokafriendship,
5/10/2024 Monk mode Ethereejoy,love,spiritual,
5/10/2024 The roadmap Kyriellespiritual,
5/10/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/10/2024 Thought of the day Juejugod,joy,love,
5/10/2024 The fangs of fate Rhymefate,spiritual,
5/10/2024 Who am I Rispettospiritual,
5/9/2024 The throat chakra Rubaiyatspiritual,
5/9/2024 Wake up weary hermit Sedokadream,i am,self,spiritual
5/9/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/9/2024 Thought of the day Coupletangst,god,peace,
5/9/2024 Invoking grace Than-Baukjoy,love,
5/9/2024 choosing to suffer Than-Baukangst,desire,fear,hope,
5/9/2024 Show me God Sonnetgod,spiritual,truth,
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,

My Photos


photo

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Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
Elevating Heart Free verseappreciation,devotion,hea
A Change of Heart Sonnetblessing,christian,faith,
Someone Who Used To Be You Blank versedream,lost love,love,
Know Yourself Free versegod,introspection,wisdom,
Jesus, My Beloved Free versejesus,
The Sounds of Bliss Sonnetromantic,
On Rivers of Love Free verselove,river,
Where the Wind Blows Quatrainwind,
I See Him Rhymeblessing,faith,god,hope,i
Held By a Thread Versespiritual,
Swift, the Rills Rhymeanalogy,appreciation,deat
Home Sweet Home Free versebeautiful,home,love,
Mindful Free verseblessing,life,light,
Always Rhymedream,friendship,poetry,v
Just Breathe Free versefaith,hope,inspirational,
I Thought I Knew a Thousand Songs Free verseloss,love,
Open Up Free versefaith,hope,love,
Mind Dance Free verseappreciation,beauty,bird,
Gentle Harbinger Coupletangel,beauty,bird,blessin
Dancing Girls Free verseage,
Belief - 1 Free verseblessing,encouraging,god,
Love Will Heal the World Free verselove,
Soul Mates Free verseheart,inspirational,love,
The Die Is Cast Free versedeath,grief,journey,lost
Holding Back Tears Rhymedeep,imagery,metaphor,
The Homeless Gentleman Rhymecare,
A Reflection of His Love Free verseappreciation,caregiving,
Teasing Kiss Rhymerain,
Death Whispers In the Night Verseautumn,death,grief,hope,l
Flowers of the Heart Rhymecare,garden,growth,heart,
His Gift Free versefaith,god,inspirational,l
Eye of Horus and the Seat of Me Free verseblue,faith,i am,love,sky,
Rush of Summer's Breeze Sonnetlove,summer,
With Eternal Sent Bliss Two Hearts Reborn - a Collaboration With Robert Lindley Rhymedesire,husband,longing,lo
An Excavation Verseintrospection,life,
Devoutly Walk In True Grace With the Lord Trioletinspiration,
The Supreme Source Rhymespiritual,
Avalanche Shadormaflower,life,light,prayer,
Come Into My House Lord Versechristian,family,
After It Rained Free versebeauty,environment,rain,
Love Rhymeheart,love,
Rest, Don't Quit Free verselife,
Oh Dreamy Boy Dizainromance,
I Held Her To My Heart Quatraingranddaughter,grandmother
All Is Alright Free verseblessing,christian,faith,
A Sprinkle of Wit Rhymelight,poetry,truth,
Enchantment Free verseinspirational,
I Am But a Grain of Sand Rhymecharacter,how i feel,phil
Union Rhymebeauty,extended metaphor,
Conversation With My Soul Versegiving,love,wisdom,
Always Waiting Free versegrief,
Make Peace With Time Rhymeappreciation,grief,inspir
The Edge of Loneliness Free verseloneliness,sad,
Nothingness Free versemuse,
Quietude Rhymesilence,
But a Moment Free versedeath,imagery,nature,rela
Hypnotized Rhymeinspiration,love,
Aurora Spills Free versemuse,
If I Die Daddy Free versechild,dad,death,
The God I Know Free versefaith,god,hope,inspiratio
Amazing God Free verseappreciation,blessing,god
Capture My Heart Rhymegod,love,
Neither Silent Nor Still Free versechristian,feelings,god,in
Hope Is the Path Rhymehope,
Love Song Haikuhurt,
The Legacy of Life Rhymelife,
Empty Vessels Free verseheart,introspection,judge
Eternal Life and the Total Self Rhymedeath,
Intertwined Rubaiyatlife,
The Light and the Veil Sonnetfaith,god,light,
Praise of Peace Free verseappreciation,butterfly,fl
Life Has Been Divine Free verselife,
Hope Free versehope,
Healing Power of the Drum Free verseinspirational,native amer
Into the Distance Otherpoetry,
Blind Rage Sonnetanger,husband,success,tha
Flight Free versebeauty,death,flying,freed
His Guiding Light - 2 Free verseinspirational,jesus,
Joy and Kindness Free verseinspiration,
Love By Any Other Name Free versegood night,kiss,longing,l
I Wish For You Love Terzanellelove,
My Stolen Garden Free verseflower,garden,
I Am Part of the Universe Rhymedeath,poetry,space,spirit
Some Distant Shore Quatrainflying,
The Time Between the Seasons Rhymelife,seasons,
The Homecoming Narrativeamerica,father,home,mothe
Life Is So Precious and For It One Must Fight Rhymedeath,deep,heartbroken,lo
Whispers Shared Free verseappreciation,beauty,commu
Aura of Her Magnificence Free verselove,poetry,romantic love
Winter Blues - I Cry For Color Free versedepression,loneliness,lon
Summer Lace Rhymebeauty,day,love,morning,n
Whose Muse Elusive Dew Rhymedestiny,life,lost love,mo
Song of Stars Free versebeautiful,heaven,inspirat
Hummingbird Walk Free versepoetry,
This Withered Threshold Rhymeautumn,nature,
The Dissolving Heart Free versemuse,
Porcelain Doll Rhymeage,allusion,girl,sad,
Waves Played a Symphony Rhymelight,morning,
Behind His Knowing Eyes Rhymedeath,
A Marvelous Feeling Free versemusic,

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