Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00338)

Anton, Friends,

Thanks. 

I agree that the word "rituals" has this individual dimension (see below), and this dimension must be accepted.  Of course we could also use the word 'habits' (linked to elementals) instead of  'rituals';  but 'rituals' should be accepted. 

Habits (and the elementals one creates by the habits we establish in our lives) are most serious business in esoteric philosophy, and HPB wrote a lot about them.  They are linked to the rhythms of the 'music' that one's life unfolds,  in the form of vibration. 

Watchfulness and vigilance --  a Buddhist theme -- is important to keep us independent from 'habits',  from 'personal rituals' and their blind elementals. 

Even "good" habits can make us prisoners. Tamas is always there to take us by surprise, and more often unconsciously, if we do not open our eyes.     



Regards,   Carlos.  






De:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Para:theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

Cópia:

Data:Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:48:08 -0000

Assunto:Theos-World Some thoughts on ritual

> Dear friends,
> 
> In his article, Ritual and the Quest for Enlightenment, David Frawley 
> writes: 
> 
> Any action that is repeatedly energized with thought and intention 
> gains power, thereby becoming a ritual of sorts. In fact, all our 
> actions have a ritualistic orientation, because action tends toward 
> repetition and reinforcement, thereby projecting a particular energy 
> to link us with certain forces in the world in which we live. In this 
> regard, even basic vital functions like eating and breathing are 
> rituals, that is, rhythmic actions drawing into us various cosmic 
> energies.
> 
> The Sanskrit word karma, which usually refers to the effects of our 
> actions through various lives, originally meant "ritual". Action or 
> karma is always ritual; that is, whatever action we do sets in motion 
> certain forces, not only of a personal but of a collective and cosmic 
> nature.
> All action, we could say, is like jumping into a stream. We can 
> choose the stream to jump into, but once in the stream we come under 
> the stream's forces, which are not longer a matter of choice. 
> Whatever we do places us in a stream of action which has a momentum 
> that will carry us in a particular direction. Conscious actions 
> reinforce the energy of consciousness, which causes us to grow in 
> awareness. Unconscious actions reinforce habit, inertia, and the 
> energy of ignorance, which places us under the domination of external 
> world.
> 
> Once we recognize that action is karma, we will approach our actions 
> with an awareness that makes them sacred. We will then give even 
> simple and everyday actions an attention so that we do not let 
> ourselves drift in the stream of unconscious action into greater 
> darkness and sorrow.
> 
> Our rituals have become mundane and sensate, with no spiritual goal; 
> they have become a repetition of sensation, and at worst, of negative 
> emotions. To fill the void created by a lack of true ritual, or 
> sacred action, we have created, perhaps unconsciously, an entire set 
> of false rituals.
> 
> True ritual gives a universal meaning to all that we do and to all 
> with whom we come in contact, including all of nature. 
> 
> The highest ritual is meditation, wherein everything we do becomes 
> imbued with attention and awareness.
> 
> ????????????????????????????????????
> 
> In my view, therefore, we can not avoid ritual as it is inherent in 
> the nature of things; it is the method of nature's working.
> 
> What we need is, in my opinion, to transform our meetings into 
> rituals of material and spiritual democracy, to ritualize our 
> everyday living and to introduce beauty, affection and respect in 
> every our contact.
> 
> Warmest regards,
> Anton
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
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