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As I see it the only full revelation is Reality itself. Therefore anything, any word, can prove to be "authentic" for ourselves as unique individuals. All, anything, can be a truing of vision, or a developing of vision, a changing of self. There was a beautiful insight of Jane Hirshfield, that "any work of art is not a piece of fruit lifted from a tree branch; it is a ripening collaboration of artist, receiver, and world. "
Yes, a particular "Holy/Sacred" book can serve, but to seek to insist that any one is pre-eminent is to deny the spirit that blows where it will.
As far as the books cited I have at times read the works of various rabbi's as, in communion with others, they have rejoiced in the words of the Torah. Understandings, insights, intuitions and observations.....all tossed around as they explored the "word of the Lord". Differences seemed often not to matter, it was more - as I saw it - the [i]beauty[/i] of difference.
I cannot help but feel that the key, as far as the rabbi's were concerned, was simply their faith and trust that they were [i]chosen[/i]. Therefore they could "let go" and "let God". It seems that many, in Christianity and Islam, see themselves as having chosen God rather than having the simple (yet profound) trust of having been chosen. They seek always to [i]convince themselves[/i] of being the "true believer", always disputing any interpretation of the words of their chosen book that is not their own.....their very salvation, as they see it, rests in [i]being right![/i]
I am a non-theist. I believe in no transcendent Being. The Dharma is my home. Which is everywhere, in which I live and move and have my being.
Yes, a particular "Holy/Sacred" book can serve, but to seek to insist that any one is pre-eminent is to deny the spirit that blows where it will.
As far as the books cited I have at times read the works of various rabbi's as, in communion with others, they have rejoiced in the words of the Torah. Understandings, insights, intuitions and observations.....all tossed around as they explored the "word of the Lord". Differences seemed often not to matter, it was more - as I saw it - the [i]beauty[/i] of difference.
I cannot help but feel that the key, as far as the rabbi's were concerned, was simply their faith and trust that they were [i]chosen[/i]. Therefore they could "let go" and "let God". It seems that many, in Christianity and Islam, see themselves as having chosen God rather than having the simple (yet profound) trust of having been chosen. They seek always to [i]convince themselves[/i] of being the "true believer", always disputing any interpretation of the words of their chosen book that is not their own.....their very salvation, as they see it, rests in [i]being right![/i]
I am a non-theist. I believe in no transcendent Being. The Dharma is my home. Which is everywhere, in which I live and move and have my being.