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.