Gita and Jive

Thanks, John! You'll love the film. Make sure...

2010-01-06T06:27:55.517-08:00

Thanks, John! You'll love the film. Make sure to splurge and watch it in 3D!

I learned a lot and will link to this great sermon...

2010-01-05T10:49:40.098-08:00

I learned a lot and will link to this great sermon. Thanks.

I haven't seen AVATAR yet and now I'm looking forward to seeing it more than ever.

+ Love + John A Wilde + Whitesboro NY + The John A Wilde Blog + We are intimately, intricately and infinitely connected by a matrix of unconditional, unlimited and uniting love which is miraculous, mysterious and marvelous.

Echoing John W's sentiments here, very much lo...

2009-12-31T11:42:56.333-08:00

Echoing John W's sentiments here, very much looking forward to your exploration of the Bhagavad-Gita, as well as the later Holy texts you'll take a look at.

This blog and "Qur'an and Jive" are wonderful examples of you walking the walk when it comes to being open and generous to the wisdom of other traditions.

On the posting John W mentioned, in fairness, I think for someone coming from an overtly (perhaps even willfully so) ethnocentric worldview, it must seem extremely frustrating and disheartening to perceive someone as moving away from "the tribe".

This misdirected and frustrated angst can be very difficult to deal with compassionately, and lovingly. I applaud your efforts to engage this openly. I think I'll just stay out of it though ;)

Pretty sure I'm "preaching to the choir here" but..
I'd imagine that it has been your experience (It certainly has been mine), that digging deeply into the unfamiliar wisdom traditions greatly deepens one's understanding and experience of life.

It also brings so much to the table in terms of how you (potentially) relate to others. I'll be the first to admit, I certainly have my fair share of unfortunate reactions, expressions ;)

For those coming from a specific wisdom tradition (say Christianity, but it could be others too), I find that for many, their generosity, humility, love, and openness determine what they'll get out of their study of "outside" traditions.

A genuine respect and appreciation can develop as we move forward into greater understanding of those precious and beautiful jewels of "other's" tradition, until "other" finally disappears.

This can be a sharp contrast to an ethnocentric approach to study, in which the result is well... not the same.

I have nothing but respect for you and your congregation for moving into yet another beautiful endeavor. I have no doubt that it will refresh, deepen, and strengthen your commitment to Christ.

As a side note, are either of you familiar with Ken Wilber's work (I'd imagine yes)?

A recent interview available here
Part 1: http://www.soundstrue.com/podcast/?p=1370#bottom
Part 2: http://www.soundstrue.com/podcast/?p=1380#bottom

We may each interpret Ken's terms in different, more comfortable language as needed, but I think it is just so refreshing and exciting to see plural/integral Christians.

It is an amazing thing to be alive in these days. Please keep up the great work, brothers.

Much Peace and Love to you and yours now, and in the coming year,
Kevin Radcliffe

Great summary, John. There is amazing wisdom in t...

2009-12-31T07:11:45.652-08:00

Great summary, John. There is amazing wisdom in this Holy Book and I'm looking forward to the sharing here. I see our friend Viola Larson has already decided to share and completely discount and totally misunderstand the BG in her post "The Bhagavad-Gita, the Bible: grief and being human".

As you know, John, I am acquainted all too well with grief and I find Viola's critique of the BG to be far off the mark. Without ways to attain detachment from worldly things and devotion to the Eternal, I could easily be stuck in grief. I have seen all too many people stuck in grief and all kinds of other emotional dead ends. A Christian classic which deals with getting on with life after a period of grief is The Way of a Pilgrim. This hermit finda a new and wonderful life through following a spiritual path centered in the Jesus Prayer: "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen" or just "Lord Have Mercy."

Liberation is a major theme of all of the planet's great wisdom traditions. Nobody should discount or deny the wisdom of Hinduism. It is enormous. Thanks again.

+ Love + John A Wilde + Whitesboro NY + The John A Wilde Blog + We are intimately, intricately and infinitely connected by a matrix of unconditional, unlimited and uniting love which is miraculous, mysterious and marvelous.