Parsee SUPREME POWER-EXPLANATION?
Up to this point, we have, successfully or unsuccessfully tried to explain each step as we went along. But there is one step we cheated on a bit. We just tried to justify if the SUPREME POWER existed, without trying to explain the SUPREME POWER. And I am sure you understand why. That would be some kind of explanation. It would seem be an in depth study of religion, all religions. And since most religions involve a great deal of faith to believe, it would be totally impossible to put on paper something most readers would agree upon.
HOWEVER, by the same token, I believe you deserve, having come this far, as good an effort as I am able to put forth. The following is what I wrote in the first poorly written edition of this paper.
“Now let us really dig into THOUGHT, and how that leads to reality, if it does. At the same time we must remember something VERY important. We all have prejudices. And many have very strong prejudices on the course we are about to take. And no matter what we are going to say about what is logical, or how strong that logical point is, there are many who will not choose to accept the conclusions. That is just a fact of life, and that is OK. In many cases then, we must be satisfied with the fact that I produced what I believe to be the logic leading to a final result, whatever that result is for whoever the WE is, that I am talking about.”
So, here we go, and on occasion you may think to yourself that what you are reading seems familiar. Of course that is because it is familiar, having been mentioned at different earlier times in this paper. So here we go, rehashing some stuff, but it is necessary in order to get to where I need to go at this point.
There are many religions on this tired old planet, and we cannot consider even a few. But not all philosophies which are called religions, are really such. Many are philosophies of life. What is the difference? As soon as you add gods to a philosophy of life you change it to a religion. There are about eleven MAJOR philosophies of life/religions.
The four, one God, faith religions: Ashura Mazda [Parsee], Hebrew [Judaism], Christianity, Islam. These are completely dependent upon faith.[each descended from the religion before it]) —– And how do they basically approach their relationship to the SUPREME POWER? Basically they beseech. prey, or in some fashion ask, beg, or in some way communicate to the SUPREME POWER their desperation, needs wants, appreciation of, or even just talk to. Mostly they personify the SUPREME POWER as an ultra-wise, older, bearded personage that they can understand and respect. And, they are very aware of the history of their faith. The spread of these four religions is different for each one. The followers of Ashura Mazda [Parsee] do not seek to spread, except by birth. Even marriage is frequently not an acceptable reason. The Hebrew [Judaism] accept others, but they do not actively seek converts. The Christians actively seek and go out to gather whoever, believing it is their duty to convert everybody. The Islamists believe it is their duty to gather everybody under the flag of their religious beliefs, and those who will not accept are put under their strict control, most often being at a great disadvantage in their culture.
I understand that the adherents of these four religions may almost violently disagree with my interpretations of their faiths, but this is how I, maybe too often, interpret what I see.
The two, Indian sub-continent religions: (Hinduism [consisting of a lot of + accounts of history which need much more study to determine how true much of it is, and also consists of a very deep study of faith, but different from the four faith religions in that there are innumerable gods and goddesses, all different manifestations of the one BRAHMA, and many holy descriptive books, not all included within one binding.], Buddhism which was originally a philosophy of life. Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, mentioned very little about an all-powerful deity in his teachings. But it has now evolved into a major religion dealing to great extent with prayer and contemplation.)—–And how do they basically approach their relationship to the SUPREME POWER? They strongly venerate a power far beyond their ability to understand [except for those who have had the time, ability, and desire to pursue comprehension of their faith]. While they understand there is one overall personification of their faith, those with less understanding most often opt to select one aspect of the SUPREME POWER to worship, which would most often be an aspect of their own personal life. They are very conscious of HOLY DAYS, and very strong respect and support to those whose lives are totally controlled by their faith. For those of the Buddhist faith, their most concern is to lead a good, and if possible better life. Their main concern is not to deal with a SUPREME POWER but instead are very concerned with the concepts of DHARMA and KHARMA.
To explain briefly; DHARMA is how they should live and follow their station in life; and KHARMA is how well they have done so. This is the basic ideal and an oversimplification. They venerate those who have gone before them, and who, lived their lives so perfectly, that they are now in a position, after their death, to assist others, from their spiritual world. The most difficult concept to be found within BUDDHISM is ZEN. You have only reached complete understanding of this concept when a ZEN MASTER says you have.
The two religions from China, both of which were intended to be philosophies of life: (Taoism, [This is the deepest of all religions. It is so deep that it cannot be taught, taking, in most cases, years of contemplation before complete enlightenment is achieved. In my own case it was 29 years before I thought I had the beginning of understanding—and then some decades later, along came the rest that which, there-to-for I had just barely been aware of.] It really has nothing to do with religion as it was originally presented in the Tao Tei Jing, by Lao Tsu, 2,500 years ago. But now it has evolved into a ritualistic religion like all others.) They believe today in the concept that the TAO can be laid out before them in a fashion that they can understand and work with. The priests have the secrets which can help all. The TAO is an extremely difficult road which only the most dedicated can, or would even want to understand and follow. Unlike BUDDHISM, there is no MASTER to inform you when you have reached the point of TAOIST enlightenment. You yourself, will know. As I wrote previously, it took me 29 years to even begin to comprehend. Modern TAOISM is nothing like that.
Confucianism (as originally presented by Con Fu Tzu dealt mainly in searching for the “Superior Man”, [what his qualities would be, and how he would rule in an era of great tranquility.] It also has evolved into a religion of prayer, etc. like others). I know less about this religion than any other. I take a guess that it is concerned with success, and that is what leads them to the superior man. Because of that success, it must be that the gods favor him, and therefore he should have responsible leadership which others should follow. I may be all wet about this.
The traditional religion of Japan, was/is Shinto. This for nearly 2,000 years was the state religion of Japan, until the end of WWII in 1945. It was the justification for the emperor being almost like a god on earth, being the “son of Heaven”. [But, unlike China, which over the centuries allowed its “Mandate of Heaven” concept to mostly be set aside, only to be used on certain holy days by the emperor to perform this or that ritual. In Japan, on the other hand, there were constant reminders, by the Shinto priesthood, to the people that they only served for the glory of the emperor, and they owed their very lives for his cause if he should ever call for such.] Today the emperor is just so in name only. But many of the traditional customary Shinto ceremonies are still observed, often just for the fun of it. And the prayers are still observed for whatever reason by the Japanese, mainly in the home shrine. Virtually every house, or home, except for some apartments, still have still have a Shinto and Buddhist shrine where appropriate prayers and offerings of fresh rice and water are still offered, mainly in memory of ancestors or those who recently died. Also, chanted prayers are still very common, often daily, in the home.
The traditional religions of many of our ancestors are still being recognized in many parts of the world, especially by indigenous peoples of various parts of that world. These generally fall under the category of (Shamanism). Now-a-days the practice is carried on generally by one person who has been trained by an elder of his/her people to, take over when the present shaman gives up their position, to someone who has been specially trained in the chants, mostly used to ,placate the gods. He is the one who generally prays for the well-being of the group. He is also trained in the use of herbs and such.
And the last major religion to be
considered Voodooism. This still exists to a great extent today in various names and forms in Africa. It may seem primitive to many in today’s world, but to those who believe and follow the required beliefs, this religion is just as viable as any religion listed above. It generally is led by a person trained in the use of spells, incantations etc. For the followers of this type of religion, a great deal of faith is required that such procedures will justify that faith.
And there you have it, along with our most sincere apologies to those who feel I left them out, or have not properly explained their own personal beliefs.