Religiousity

I'm not a religious person.  And then again I'm very religious in a sense of the word.  I'm a devout Buddhist and I go through periods of being a religious Buddhist and a non-religious Buddhist.  Right now the pendulum swings to the second part.

Some Buddhist, like monks, are very religious.  Rebirth, karma, tantric deities, etc.. can be approached from a very religious outlook.  Now, there is a great deal right with that.  Our Minds, when focusing on a religious object, takes on a very specific texture for lack of a better word.  You can understand the feeling if you've ever been in awe of a particular church or sculpture or religious scripture.  This aspect of Mind can be used and focused toward a specific goal such as "enlightenment."  (Which means more to me when I'm in a religious Buddhist phase vs non religious Buddhist phase).   Keeping various commitments with this religious Mind also gives those commitments a more particular meaning to the individual.  Which in turn enhance the religious framework that the commitments are based upon.   Saying, "I'm not going to eat meat because its harmful to sentient beings!" is a whole different enchilada than saying "I'm not going to eat meat because my cholesterol is too high."  The religious Mind is a powerful tool on the spiritual path.

But!  The same quality of Mind can be found when you are  being inspired by a great art work or the wonders of nature.  In Shambhala Buddhism we talk about Drala principle.  Drala is that specific energy that we find in those instances when we are inspired by the world around us.  Living here in the desert I am very often in awe of the amazing environment I am surrounded by.  Just as monks do with their religious convictions, we can use those inspirations to drive our spiritual journey.  Religious artifacts are only inspiring to the Minds that are inspired by them.  The same is so for the Earth and even your own lucky existence on it.  A giant saguaro or even drainage ditch can have the same awe inspiring spiritual inspiration as the holiest religious object when we learn to see and cultivate that texture of Mind.  

The sacredness of the entire world can be framed in a religious context.  Or it can simply be sacred.



Chad