I read a lot....
Those of you who know me know that I almost am the single largest point of financing for the local library branch with the amount of fines I pay. I am happy to pay the fines as long as the book I am reading has provided me any value. Besides the money goes to a great cause. It helps keep my library running. That being said it was brought to my attention the other day that there are a lot of really smart people posting things online. This post is about that subject. Or actually a very, very small sliver of that subject.
The Great Conversation is a concept that is shared by people who follow the perennialist philosophy. I was reading an article on the topic and I finally felt the light bulb fully click on. One of the challenges I have with religion or spirituality is that everyone who participates seems to have very strong opinions and judgments about everyone else and their choices. In my mind I cannot accept that because I was born into a middle class family in the early 1960's on the west coast of the United States I have any more right to be happy and be allowed to be in favor of a higher power than someone who was born in Africa in the 1600's to a family who only ate once a week. Or why do I have any priority over anyone no matter when or where they were born? In my very, very limited experiences I have noticed that many faiths seem to champion the claim that they are the correct and only path to a higher power. What if through no power of my own I never heard the word about a particular faith? Would I be overlooked by a higher power? I really cannot imagine that a higher power would do that? Because of this viewpoint I have always felt that there must be more than one way to celebrate and educate one's inner spiritual core.
As I understand a Perennialist is someone who takes the best and most enduring ideas and teaching from any source no matter what religion or philosophy is involved. There are many human concepts that transcend the boundaries of dogma or philosophical school. This really resonates with my inner core. Being a participant in the “Great Conversation” is something that sounds an feels authentic to me. Is that not what we all are striving for? To feel authentic for what is true for us?
Becoming open to Perennalist ideals allows one to think for oneself and to come to the realization and acceptance that there are many paths to the truth. No one religion, dogma, philospohy or any other teaching has the exclusive path to higher awareness.
Are you part of the Great Conversation? I know I am and I am looking forward to it.
If you want more information here are a couple of links that discuss the Perrennalist concepts.
http://www.spiritualwealth.com/2010/06/18/are-you-part-of-the-great-conversation/
http://www.religioperennis.org/documents/Fabbri/Perennialism.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophy
Sunday, June 20, 2010
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