"Spiritual" People

Stonedpilot

I'd like to think I've an open mind and like going to talks/meditation and bascally anything involved in self discovery of self growth. It often amazes me how 'spiritual' people can be so petty and easily led. A case in point. I went to an event recently and people were at the start of it looking at a video of this guy 'Mooji' on youtube. The people at his talk in India were literally falling at his feet and kissing them!. When I pointed out at the event I was at that his knowledge of the Bible is non exisent I was met with scowls and scornful looks!. So much for peace and love eh!.

I often find these types get sucked into a 'New Age' buzz and will follow any old chancer who is meddling new age mysticism mixed with freemasonic teaching as gospel. These types are endless these days with celeb gurus now like Eckhart Tolle and Neale Donald Walsch. These guys are clearly charlatans in my book and someone with any sort of open or 'enlightened' mind should see this miles off but so many are taken in and the whole spiritual growth movement suffers because of it.

Rather than people growing from experience it's simply a case of the blind leading the blinds and it's kinda sad to see. Anyway off to chant naked on a mountain top now. Peace!.

Peregrine

It's good to be open-minded but not so open that your brains fall out.

the_barfly1

There's nothing wrong with being spiritual. I watch all of this guys videos for guidance on how to be spiritually pure.

PMBC

I read a small bit of E Tolle but since I only borrowed the book I don't feel aggrieved. The stuff read OK but I did see a line about 'vibrations' which, unless its a book about Qunatum Physics or Mech Eng., made me vary.
In what way did you see him as a charlatan/chancer?

Erik Shin

When someone says,
"im not religious... but I am spiritual"
I hear,
"I'm not a cock...I'm a pretentious cock'

Zebra3

Being spiritual and having a knowledge of the bible aren't necessarily connected.

After all the bible is full of hatred, glorifies war, ethnic cleansing and genocide and gives the thumbs up to incest and slavery.

Amongst other vile stuff.

And being spiritual is all a load of bollocks anyway.

diomed

Spiritual, short for I make my rules, good rules, you could do with a little yourself, and be as good as me. I connect with the universe, with nature, and is there anything else you would believe.

Widdershins

An ambiguous term.

Stonedpilot

Zebra3 wrote: »

Being spiritual and having a knowledge of the bible aren't necessarily connected.

After all the bible is full of hatred, glorifies war, ethnic cleansing and genocide and gives the thumbs up to incest and slavery.

Amongst other vile stuff.

And being spiritual is all a load of bollocks anyway.

I only mentioned God and the Bible
As Mooji mentioned God and Jesus Christ several times in this talk. The violence etc in the book is a moot point. The point I was making was the Mooji fella was ignorant to the story of
Jesus who he referenced.
This guy sits there like a Demi God who is ignorant to something he talks about.

The_Valeyard

Zebra3 wrote: »

Being spiritual and having a knowledge of the bible aren't necessarily connected.

After all the bible is full of hatred, glorifies war, ethnic cleansing and genocide and gives the thumbs up to incest and slavery.

Amongst other vile stuff.

And being spiritual is all a load of bollocks anyway.

Bit like organised atheism. Load of nonsense.

Roger Hassenforder

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Bit like organised atheism. Load of nonsense.

So not believing in something without a shred of evidence to support its existence, that requires a complete suspension of rational thought and its replacement with faith in a supernatural is nonsense...

greencap

tl;dr - set your skepticism to medium, delay investment.

The scowls happened because you pissed on their bonfire.
Next time maybe leave them to it, or mention your doubts in private conversation.
It can be easy to get swept along with a hopeful crowd, especially when the hope is for some badly needed answers/meaning.

I follow a rule of basically just watching/looking on when it comes to spiritual masters. Distance.
He/She won't mind me downloading content for free, not buying their book, or not making a donation/commitment, or adopting their politics, because the master is above such earthly chattel.

In fact I'm probably doing them a favor in not burdening them, eye of the needle and all that. I may even be elevated to a higher bliss for my wise action.

That said; I've actually broken my rule in buying 1 book and making a donation.
But I didn't care in that incidence as I'd watched plenty of content and even if it was all bullsht I was still entertained by a wonderfully written worthy production that merited the few bob.

Overall though the truth will be the truth at the end of the day, reality/life will piss on all delusional bonfires, so no need to take any slack doing lifes job.
Watch, listen for any real wisdom, take time, keep any good stuff and put it to lifes test for years.

If you notice a consistent performer, someone who's wisdom has consistently passed lifes tests, then maybe they deserve a subscription fee after all their years work. Worst case they entertained you for years.

SEPT 23 1989

Whatever gets them through the night

mzungu

Like...totally zen, dude!!

Widdershins

People who tell you they're spiritual and love and light make me very wary. I know quite a few hippies (well, there are no hippies anymore, but the modern version). There are some very dodgy characters in that crowd, masquerading as dopey, carrot - crunching stoners. Love and light my derriere..they're as dark it gets. The freethinkers and freespirits are often the 'normal' people, they just don't wear the 'uniform'.

suicide_circus

Spiritualism is religion for lightweights.

Donald Trump

Average Boards.ie user

Stonedpilot

Donald Trump wrote: »

Average Boards.ie user

Haha brilliant. Thanks for the laugh. Yep many these folk bash religion , think they are God consciouisness etc but have faces on them like smacked arses when you point out the absurdity of some of their beliefs.That lovey dovey shine goes out the window.

How Zen.

koumi

Widdershins wrote: »

dopey, carrot - crunching stoners.

I'm eating celery and listening to someone discussing scripture while sober. Multi-tasking like a boss.

Widdershins

suicide_circus wrote: »

Spiritualism is religion for lightweights.

It used to be a Victorian movement of people who believed in spirits. I'm not really sure what it is now, It seems very vague and I think people who describe themselves as spiritual are trying to say they are 'deep' and thoughtful. As I said, I've found a lot of them to be weirdos.
It's been either the ordinary-looking conventional people or the bikers or people who sort of look a bit 'metal'-the ones who are taken for rough or scary- that I've felt most comfortable with.

The_Valeyard

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

So not believing in something without a shred of evidence to support its existence, that requires a complete suspension of rational thought and its replacement with faith in a supernatural is nonsense...

I said forming a group about it was.

Definitely.


Getting together to form a club about not believing in something with your own symbols and leaders is nearly the same as a religious group.

Your Face

Just seems like another position taken with a view to defending it.

biko

I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do.

When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.






edit, not my words - see below

The_Valeyard

biko wrote: »

I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one less god than you do.

When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

You could at least give Stephen Roberts a nod there.

TPD

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

So not believing in something without a shred of evidence to support its existence, that requires a complete suspension of rational thought and its replacement with faith in a supernatural is nonsense...

I said forming a group about it was.

Definitely.


Getting together to form a club about not believing in something with your own symbols and leaders is nearly the same as a religious group.

Out of interest, what are the clubs called, who are the leaders, and what are the symbols? I haven't believed in God since I was 6 or so but didn't realise I had to sign up to anything!

Roger Hassenforder

TPD wrote: »

Out of interest, what are the clubs called, who are the leaders, and what are the symbols? I haven't believed in God since I was 6 or so but didn't realise I had to sign up to anything!

What's the symbol for not believing in something?

I don't believe in fairies, is there a group that I should subscribe to their norms and rules. Why is a god any different? Is there an official dogma among those that share this absence of something?

The_Valeyard

TPD wrote: »

Out of interest, what are the clubs called, who are the leaders, and what are the symbols? I haven't believed in God since I was 6 or so but didn't realise I had to sign up to anything!

Atheist Ireland, symbols on their website. Led by Pontificate Micheal Nugent, preaching about the atheist way of life

.........

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Atheist Ireland, symbols on their website. Led by Pontificate Micheal Nugent, preaching about the atheist way of life

He's on a multiple of a government committees and consultative bodies, I wonder who decided he and 'atheist Ireland' should represent them ?

Sam Kade

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Bit like organised atheism. Load of nonsense.

A belief in nothing but they can't stop talking about God.

Aongus Von Bismarck

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

.........

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

In Ireland we have a saying that has been developed through the mists of time . . .when you pull your head out of your arse . . . let us know.

darkdubh

Widdershins wrote: »

An ambiguous term.

Yes, what the hell does it even specifically mean? Usually used by people who feel they have to believe in "something" even if they don't know what it is they're believing in.

One eyed Jack

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I'd like to think I've an open mind and like going to talks/meditation and bascally anything involved in self discovery of self growth. It often amazes me how 'spiritual' people can be so petty and easily led. A case in point. I went to an event recently and people were at the start of it looking at a video of this guy 'Mooji' on youtube. The people at his talk in India were literally falling at his feet and kissing them!. When I pointed out at the event I was at that his knowledge of the Bible is non exisent I was met with scowls and scornful looks!. So much for peace and love eh!.

Why do you keep going to these meetings if you're not only going to act all indignant and feign disbelief from pissing people off?

Coming next week:

"I went to an LGBT meeting and told them Caitlyn Jenner was really a man. Well, so much for tolerance, eh!"

Alizrian Crimson

Remember seeing a documentary about a yogi in India, maybe the famous one, how turned out to be a pederast. Unless you can actually perform miracles I don't give a **** about your spiritual bull****.

Donald Trump

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

Is that what the youngsters do be calling it these days? ...... There are much more fun ways to fill it let me tell you. You just need to meet the right young lady!

The Bishop Basher

darkdubh wrote: »

Yes, what the hell does it even specifically mean? Usually used by people who feel they have to believe in "something" even if they don't know what it is they're believing in.

You say that like it's an issue..

It obviously bothers you on some level but if it doesn't bother them what does it matter ?

......... wrote: »

In Ireland we have a saying that has been developed through the mists of time . . .when you pull your head out of your arse . . . let us know.

We have another saying here in Ireland..

Live and let live

.........

Swanner wrote: »

We have another saying here in Ireland..

Live and let live

Never heard that one in Ireland.

The Bishop Basher

......... wrote: »

Never heard that one in Ireland.

Well you have now

Roger Hassenforder

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

So many "wuts?"...

Vojera

OP, I know what you mean.

I've met a few people who are big into yoga as a lifestyle (rather than just a bit of exercise to stay bendy) and they like to portray themselves as these beatific individuals full of light and positivity. But inevitably, once I got to know them a bit better, I discovered they were all incredibly judgemental, they loved criticising and passing remarks on others, and were surprisingly small-minded. A bit of a superiority complex, I think.

I guess under it all, they're just humans too and we're all flawed in some way.

But I don't see it as a problem with "spiritual" people, to be honest. Sure we all know a Holy Joe or five who likes to think of themselves as Jesus' best friend while simultaneously treating their earthly brethren like dirt. People are people, no matter what they believe.

sbsquarepants

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I've been a practitioner of meditation for the past two years. It has been a tremendously enjoyable and useful way of engaging with the spiritual side of my humanity. I've found that 15 minutes of silent practice in the morning, with a 10 minute loving-kindness practice session in the evening. has led to benefits that really allow me to be the man I want to be.
Since I filled the God Hole with mediation: I've been deemed 'not in keeping with our strategic values', built a cabin in the Canadian wilderness with some other high-achieving mediators, started a company involved in the use of blockchain to allow for cooperatives to trade energy with each other without a central authority.

You stuck what in your god hole? You dirty bastard:eek:

Also I would have assumed a high achieving cabin builder such as yourself would understand that mediation and meditation are different:rolleyes:

Birneybau

Stonedpilot wrote: »

I'd like to think I've an open mind and like going to talks/meditation and bascally anything involved in self discovery of self growth. It often amazes me how 'spiritual' people can be so petty and easily led. A case in point. I went to an event recently and people were at the start of it looking at a video of this guy 'Mooji' on youtube. The people at his talk in India were literally falling at his feet and kissing them!. When I pointed out at the event I was at that his knowledge of the Bible is non exisent I was met with scowls and scornful looks!. So much for peace and love eh!.

I often find these types get sucked into a 'New Age' buzz and will follow any old chancer who is meddling new age mysticism mixed with freemasonic teaching as gospel. These types are endless these days with celeb gurus now like Eckhart Tolle and Neale Donald Walsch. These guys are clearly charlatans in my book and someone with any sort of open or 'enlightened' mind should see this miles off but so many are taken in and the whole spiritual growth movement suffers because of it.

Rather than people growing from experience it's simply a case of the blind leading the blinds and it's kinda sad to see. Anyway off to chant naked on a mountain top now. Peace!.

You sound as bad at the rest to be honest. NONE OF IT IS REAL!

Stonedpilot

Birneybau wrote: »

You sound as bad at the rest to be honest. NONE OF IT IS REAL!

What exactly isn't real?. Sound like Morpheus in the Matrix.


I differ from them in that I don't think I'm spiritual profound, most of these folk do. I think like Oscar Wilde said we are all in the gutter but some are looking at stars.

ThinkProgress

All of these belief systems... whether you call it religion or spiritualism or whatever... it's all a form of mental illness imho.

That mental illness is born out of a deep fear of the unknown. Their brains are literally overheating at the thought of those big scary unanswered (possibly unanswerable) questions... so they invent something to believe in. Something to distort reality and distract themselves from something that is causing them a lot of mental anguish. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as effective as they would like everyone else to think...

It's a fear we all possess on some level... but some of us are just dealing with that reality better than others, and don't feel the need to lie to ourselves or invent BS coping mechanisms!

It's a bit of a cop-out to just say, "leave these people to it..." or "they're not doing anyone any harm"... because they are doing harm to themselves and to society. Their fantasies are not harmless. Society needs to continue to challenge these beliefs, and if possible push them further away from mainstream culture! We will all be better for it in the long run...

Widdershins

It sounds like the OP just expected a bit more, or better of the group.

Ben Gadot

suicide_circus wrote: »

Spiritualism is religion for lightweights.

To me anyone who ever described themselves as spiritual obviously found comfort in elements of religion but were too soft to label it as believing in elements of an actual ascribed religion for fear of not being "in" with their peers.

I've more respect for someone that labels such belief rather than the person that avoids it in a spoofy manner. Any decent person wouldn't ridicule someone over doing so.

The_Valeyard

ThinkProgress wrote: »

All of these belief systems... whether you call it religion or spiritualism or whatever... it's all a form of mental illness imho.

That mental illness is born out of a deep fear of the unknown. Their brains are literally overheating at the thought of those big scary unanswered (possibly unanswerable) questions... so they invent something to believe in. Something to distort reality and distract themselves from something that is causing them a lot of mental anguish. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as effective as they would like everyone else to think...

It's a fear we all possess on some level... but some of us are just dealing with that reality better than others, and don't feel the need to lie to ourselves or invent BS coping mechanisms!

It's a bit of a cop-out to just say, "leave these people to it..." or "they're not doing anyone any harm"... because they are doing harm to themselves and to society. Their fantasies are not harmless. Society needs to continue to challenge these beliefs, and if possible push them further away from mainstream culture! We will all be better for it in the long run...

Believing in a religion is not a mental illness. Your post reads just as bad as an extreme Iranian cleric.

Lady is a tramp

I think knowing yourself and being able to sit comfortably with yourself is pretty much the definition of being spiritual. (But it's such a personal concept; of course not everyone will agree with that.)

I know I've mentioned on here before about how I spent seven months in a religious addiction treatment centre (the usual is twelve weeks, and even at that it's the longest residential program available in Ireland - I did it twice consecutively!) In that centre, we did meditation twice a day, and I can tell you for a group of people so full of self-hate and anger and sadness and despair, those meditations were the absolute hardest part of it, for many. Sitting in silence with your eyes closed, with no one in your head but yourself.

And do you know something - in the height of my addiction, on the outside, at least I had the internet and my phone for some bit of escapism - you don't even have that in treatment, you're left to go to sleep every night with nothing to distract you, no one to talk to but yourself. And it's really f*cking character-building. You mightn't like yourself very much, you mightn't like what you've done or who you are or the life you've got ... but you quickly realise that there's one person who can change all of that, and it's you. It's really empowering. It's amazing how fundamentally you can change, when the circumstances are right.

I'm not religious now, any more than I was going in there. But I'm certainly spiritual, and that doesn't mean that I believe in crystals or horoscopes or any of that (though I'm less judge-y of those who do believe in those things.) To me, being spiritual just means that I believe in goodness, that I (finally!) see the value in myself and in others, that I am compassionate and empathetic and loving and open to the same in return.

me_right_one

Zebra3 wrote: »

Being spiritual and having a knowledge of the bible aren't necessarily connected.

After all the bible is full of hatred, glorifies war, ethnic cleansing and genocide and gives the thumbs up to incest and slavery.

Amongst other vile stuff.

And being spiritual is all a load of bollocks anyway.

This is a good example of ignorance everybody. Its a bit like saying "Schindlers List" was a documentary on the best way to gas people.

Not that I need to say this, but Schindlers list was about the rescue of people stuck in the war. Its about love, and helping your fellow man. It wouldnt be the same without the backdrop of the Nazi's. Similarly, the Bible has slavery and war, occupation etc., but out of all this horrible mess, Jesus emerges and says "Forgive your enemy. Turn the other cheek. Love each other", etc.

Now, I'm assuming Zebra3 is of average intelligence, so he/she knows this stuff. Therefore, they are either trolling, or are being willfully ignorant.

Widdershins

I was given a copy of the Desiderata when I was 16. I always found it an effective thing to remember it when stressed. It's worth a Google for those who don't know it.

Lady Is A Tramp I know someone who goes on retreat to a monastery once a year to keep herself anchored, and I have always found the Cistercian/ Benedictine monks very peaceful to be around, and I'm not religious.

dirtyden

Erik Shin wrote: »

When someone says,
"im not religious... but I am spiritual"
I hear,
"I'm not a cock...I'm a pretentious cock'

So much irony here.