Greetings - I am Tony

Hi.  Thought I'd introduce myself, no drum rolls or brass section, just quietly slipping through the door and shaking a few hands and rubbing noses Eskimo and Maori style.

My name is Tony, that's Y not back to front.

Is there a God is the big one.  Well quite frankly I'd never argue for or against.  What is required to answer such a question is self inquiry; to take an idea on a supposed pathway to God and to try it. As I se it, the core of any faith or pathway of value is compassion and the ability to embrace the diversity of nature/creation/humanity, so if we try something and it deepens our experience of compassion, ability to embrace diversity and we understanding of ourselves and others, then it is valuable.

To question everything is healthy, and blind faith can be dangerous. The danger being we may just slip into a seepy state and never realy explore whether what we have been programmed with is correct.

So, I won't say what God is or isn't, however I think God can only be known by experience and not by belief.  Belief is a poor solution, and if it has value, it is only the platform to spring from and not the end of the journey.

Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Hi Tony, its nice to meet you. I recently joined this group as well. You seem to have some really awesome views and I completly agree, questioning everything is totally healthy. It's helps you find your way to what makes sense and works well in your life and your own little world. I look forward to seeing what you have to say here about different stuff! :)
Bye!

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Thanks Ace for the kind words

I look forward to catching up with you on this network

Regards Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Welcome, Tony, and warm thanks to Ace for greeting in my absence!

Love,

Nicole

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

thanks Nicole appreciated, you'll notice I've responded to one of your posts 

and love in return 

Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

i'll go look it up!

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Hi all newbies like me, to this group! When I read your words: “Is there a God is the big one.”
Suddenly the thought came to me - what if the answer is really as simple as- do I use the word God in my conversation; does it come in my thoughts; do a set of concepts, images, words, ideas, thoughts, sounds, feelings, knowings,  revolve around the word?  Do they change and flow and move and yet remain changeless? Are there 'things' in my life that I can't describe any other way? Is there something I can see beyond? What is my name for the highest/biggest/ultimate/furthest/nearest/most basic/deepest aspect of the universe?

And I realized that for me, the answer is - yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and ….God. [and maybe in there somewhere, another yes]

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Meenakshi, you always amaze me! Thanks for these delightful reflections,

Love,

Nicole

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

meen - apologies for the slow response, there are so many nook and crannies i can't keep up.

”what if the answer is really as simple as- do I use the word God in my conversation; does it come in my thoughts; do a set of concepts, images, words, ideas, thoughts, sounds, feelings, knowings,  revolve around the word?” i think that sort of questioning is great, very healthy

I'm tempted to say there isn't a God

Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Hi Tony,

Curious to know what leads you to say there isn't a God, if you don't mind. I saw from your first post that you are quite open-ended on the question…

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Nicole, 

I considerthe statement “There is no God” exactly the same as “There is only God.”  As there is only God,  both statements basically become meaningless. As long as we say there is a God, there is the possibilty of projecting out away from ourselves.  

Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

I see! Thanks, Tony,

Nicole

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Gia, how glorious! Yes, savouring the now, meditation, mindfulness practice, yoga, four truths and eightfold path, so many blisses to live out.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

So it is for us all, forgetting, and remembering…

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

– T.S. Eliot


Warm hugs,


Nicole

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

Hi everyone. Welcome. Perhaps another offshoot of the initial question is, “What is God to you? I have stated this beacuse, no matter what others tell you God is, what God is to you is an important question for you as an individual.

Re: Greetings - I am Tony

so true, Mr! What is God to you… Meenakshi started that wonderful thread, what is God to you today. Such a blessings,

Love,

Nicole