Discussion group

The Church of the Churchless discussion group has been languishing since I started it off with a question about a question in December 2004. I said, “If you had the chance to ask one question of ultimate reality and could get a clear answer in English, what would you ask?” I got a few responses and would enjoy reading more.

Laura, bless her, recently woke up the discussion group from its slumber and asked another good question: “Why is there injustice in the world, what purpose does it serve?” If you have an answer—or a comment about the question—head on over to Google Groups and post away. Laura raised some other issues that you might want to share your views on.

I don’t have any grand expectations for the Church of the Churchless discussion group. My original idea was that it could be a way for some of the churchless to connect with others who don’t feel comfortable belonging to a conventional religion or spiritual path. I remember a line from a movie, “Shadowlands,” about C.S. Lewis: “We read to know that we are not alone.”

Books still serve that purpose, but now reading on the Internet does too. Search engines like Google make it possible to find online communities of people, or just a single person, interested in every conceivable subject, idea, passion, problem, or whatever.

It always makes me feel good when someone writes and says, “I thought I was the only one who felt this way. Now I know I’m not.” It’s natural to doubt yourself when you’re feeling like a spiritual lone wolf. Humans are, by nature, herd animals. We need other people to survive, both physically and psychologically.

Kermit the Frog famously said, “It’s not that easy being green.” It’s not that easy being churchless either. You feel different. Because you are different. Most people are happy believing what they’ve been taught to believe, even if it doesn’t make any sense. If breezes of doubt start to blow in under the tent of faith that believers erect around themselves, the walls are tied down more firmly.

It can be comforting and warm inside a shared set of beliefs. But when those beliefs don’t conform to the greater reality that lies outside, the coziness is illusory. To me the churched are huddling around a flickering theological candle that barely illuminates the darkness of the windowless room where they huddle for security. They don’t know that the sun is shining brightly outside the confines of their shuttered minds.

It takes guts to stand tall and walk away from your companions into the dark. That’s where the door to the light is, though—hidden in the shadows that the scriptural candlelight of the churched can’t penetrate. The churchless lone wolves are moving in the right direction. Without encouragement, though, the temptation to turn back and rejoin the herd is strong.

I’m determined to keep heading toward the light of reality. I don’t like the shadows where I am now, but I detest the imagined illumination that used to be my spiritual support. I’d rather honestly stumble around in the dark, looking for the door, than falsely believe that my barely-lit candle of faith really amounted to genuine enlightenment.

Sometimes we spiritual stumblers in the dark need to call, “Is anyone else out there?” Hearing a response from a kindred soul can help us remember that though the Way has to be traveled alone, the traveling doesn’t have to be lonely.

Calling out and responding, those are the twin voices of the Church of the Churchless discussion group. If you feel like it, speak.

Comments

[Robert Searle]

The idea of starting up a Discussion Group could be a good idea. It can be helpful. However, it should ofcourse be moderated to ensure the quality of the site. This I feel is important but at the same time one should not be tempted to block anything which may contradict ones views ofcourse. This would be wrong, and indeed, contrary to the very notion of a discussion group.

As most of us realize peoples minds especially in the Western world are becoming increasingly complex, and as such, it is difficult to convince people in a simple way. Moreoever, RSSB has been subject to criticisms of one sort, and another. But what did Charan Singh say? Critics are our best friends!!

[Who Am I ?]

To Robert Searle:
A discussion group is one thing, but please be aware that this web-log is titled "Church of the Churchless", and it is not primarily and only about subjects pertaining to Sant Mat and Radha Soami Satsang. It is not devoted solely to RSSB issues. Those issues are sometimes mentioned by Brian, the author of the site, as well as some commentators, but usually only indirectly, or in relation to other spiritual matters. I cannot speak for Brian, but it appears to me that you are tending to think that this site is mainly a forum for Sant Mat and R.S. issues, which it is not. So please be aware of this. Of course, Brian will be able to inform you as to what is the focus here better than I. The general orientation is found in the menu index titled: Basics of our faithless faith.

[Roger]

Does anyone ever like to discuss a particular issue over the phone? Maybe, a conference call among like-minded persons.
Something tells me there are many such persons that visit this site. Oh well, food for thought.

[Howard]

Don't give up Brian. You will see the light soon. It will be beyond anything you could have imagined. It takes time to clear the load of karmas that we created in so many lives. You may have given up on Huzar, but he has not given up on you.

[Blogger Brian]

Howard, I've got even better news for you: I HAVE seen the light! I'm enlightened!

In accord with the ageless teachings of Buddha, Lao Tzu, and many other sages, I have realized that enlightenment is a myth. There's no such thing, and there is no one to be enlightened.

So I don't seek for what you believe in seeking. I'm free from the pressure to yearn for the heaven of Jesus, the paradise of Allah, the Sach Khand of Sant Mat, and all that.

Don't give up, Howard. One day you'll realize that all your striving is in the wrong direction. So keep pushing on the wall and eventually you'll realize that the barrier was only in your mind.

[Roger]

wow....I have been blogging since may 2006.......

[Andy Miller]

I found this website, and I am going to try to expain why I am here. Those of you who have awakened will understand this and I hope there are some that will see it.

I woke up last night. It was on purpose. Somehow a guide found me and asked me if I would like to see it. I didn't know of course what she was talking about. No one could ever know this. She cautioned me that the step I was about to take would change me in a way that I would never be able to understand. I decided to take the next step. Honestly, I did not expect much. My guide new what she was doing. She told me that she had awakened on new year's eve, but I now know that she awakened me on purpose, and has been awake for a long time. Anyway, she led me to the place where your self actually collapses on itself. you are no where. No space, no time. It is all you, and amorphous. Then she allowed me to rebuild. And as I saught to rebuild, I saw it so clearly. I saw it all. I saw my life as what it was, just my own creation. I have done it before.

Then, when I woke up. My guide was with me in a warm bathtup. As I began to see that I was awake, she was right there and let me know that she was awake too. I wasn't going crazy. Then it all happened. I saw it all. Everyhting.

This just happened yesterday, but I see so clearly now what my life is, and why. I made that way. In fact, when I woke up, I finally understood somehting that is amazing. I had left little indicators in my life that I should wake up. It didn't work. When I realized that I was awake, I saw so many things. I was angry that it took 56 years. That is just cruel. I saw things in my life and suddenly understood them completely.

I have much more to say. I am hoping someone has heard me, and has see it too. If so, I would be very grateful if you would get in touch with me. I am just learning that many of you have been awake for a long time. I need to make contact. Andy