Really a good read - thanks. There is much in there that comports with a lot of other, new age/gnostic/theosophical ideas. IMO some of that stuff is good and some is junk.

How do you reconcile a book like that with your views on the Torah? Do you find ways to incorporate into your theology? Is there a "greater" something going on that both are valid? Is Judaism and Chrisitianity a mere shadow of something bigger. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Tx - Tak

I do not look to reconcile.

I was interested in their connection to the present and their environment. They move in harmony with the world and not in opposition or cross currents.

When I used to commute from Brooklyn to Midtown Manhattan by bicycle everyday, I learned that survival was in identifying the flow and joining it as opposed to running at cross currents.

I was not reading the book for details but it did not look like they were in tune with the Torah in a lot of things, especially in eating live animals. They did honor their food in ways that look familiar to me.

Their ancient history looked too esoteric from this reading to really get a grasp on. Therefore it is hard to see where they fit into the creation as I know it.


I have the Torah which gives me the manual on how to be the best person I can be. It also gives me the information on how to teach others, non-Jews, how to fulfill their role in creation.

The group concientious thing expressed in the book, especially when the author was leading, was an important lesson in that 'we are not alone'.

Teamwork and community, now more than ever, are the keys to survival.

That is what I like about this place, Stoolville, so much. There is real community here and everyone wants to help. In the big scheme of things, this place is very civilized for having so many diverse opinions about something as important as making a living.

Thanks for your thoughts TM. I share your thoughts on Stooltown, it is extraordinary, the talent and blend of personalities willing to share and help.

I do find it amazing the correlation of creation stories found in diverse histories around the world. Certain perceptions of reality continually come up even if veiled in particular ethnic biases.

I know that G-d created all that is and that our reality operates on some definable principles both physical or spiritual. Being created in His image, we have the capacity to understand it. Yes, that section where she is leading is most compelling and a lesson lost on most people of faith because of our emphasis on doing versus being. IMO, the whole notion of original sin is best understood by a transition to understanding ourselves by what we do versus satisfaction with being what we are (corespondingly satisified with who He is).

In the Carlos Castenada books dealing with the apprentice to the indian shaman, the author goes through a lot of drug induced experiences through the first 3 books. About midway through the next book the shaman takes him to an experience without the use of drugs and the author questions why. Paraphrasing, the shaman says, "Oh that was never necessary, I just had to crack your perception of the world." That seems a profound notion to me.

Thanks again for the reference to the book.

Tak

The movie 'Matrix' at the core is the view of the spiritual world and the physical world. The more I saw that movie, the deeper the Chassidic insights I saw.