New Age - The new religion

[timeless]

Dear Goingslow,

I see enlightenment and mastery as two distinctly different but related things.

In my opinion, enlightenment requires a degree of mastery...not full mastery.

Perhaps the widely different perspectives, definitions, opinions, of enlightened people stem from their varying degree of mastery over their physical, emotional, mental bodies and ego, which I put in a class of its own.

I believe a person can be enlightened on multiple levels even though full mastery of a lower level might not yet be attained.  

Best Regards,
timeless[]

[James S]

Timeless & Goingslow,

Thanks guys, you picked up on exactly what I was getting at.

Any time I see a group of people following a particular set of  rules or rituals because it's 'the done thing', not because they have truly thought about it, I see that as a religion.

To me religion is not just about priests, catholics, muslims, ascensionists or any other 'brand' as we know them. Its about people doing something in somewhat of a mindless manner - being religious about something. This could be anything from sacrificing virgins to the Almighty God of Chaotic Euclidian Postulations, to spending every sunday meticulously mowing the front lawn so that each blade of grass is exactly 2.25cm long because that is what it says to do in the Better Homes & Gardens Subscribers Only booklet.

James.

[timeless]

Goingslow, as usual got me thinking.  

New Age ideas started out as a fresh look at old concepts.  These New Age ideas formulated itself into a philosophy and now I feel they are starting to structure and harden themselves into a religion.  

What are your thoughts on this?

My thoughts are that:
(1) Religions have a lot of rituals and rules.  
(2) Rules are like wallpaper or pretty clothing.  
(3) True spirituality is an individual truth that grows with beauty inside and spills out.  I do not see it as rules which followed constrict and mold us into what someone elses image is of God like nature.
(4) Rules have a small place (what we eat, the music we listen to, the clothes we wear etc.) but I see them as fine adjustments on a microscope.  You can have a lot of fine adjusting rules and what is under the microscope will still look fuzzy. Coarse adjustments on self (from within) usually bring greater clarity.
(5) To me New Age philosophy is a large pool of ideas to help us learn about and clearly see ourselves.  It would be sad if it just turned into another religion.

I have seen people read the experiences of 'the enlightened' and then taking on these 'enlightened peoples' lifestyles as if by doing so they will attain enlightenment.  I also see people worrying about all sorts of little things avoiding the big thing...know thyself...see all your flaws with clarity...don't kid yourself...we have much the same flaws deep down.  The only difference between a truly enlightened person is that they see these flaws in self with clarity and thus can gain greater control over them.  They are not better than you or I.  

If only a degree of enlightenment is attained usually the 'enlightened person' still has some mastery over ego left.  Lack in mastery of ego can result in a desire to take on a saviour role.  But no one can save you, save yourself -- except yourself.  Our harshest critics can be our greatest saviours when we let our defenses down.  Though it does help when the critic also sees, admits and maybe even shows that they have the same flaws and foibles.[]

Regards,
timeless