Resurrection
Resurrection
is a component of many
mystical traditions, (see the preceding Wikipedia link) including,
but not solely inherent in Christianity.
This phenomenon of dying and living again is a universal concept found
the world over in diverse spiritual traditions.
The western
world is most familiar with the Christian explanation of the death and
resurrection of Jesus. Having been raised in a Christian church I find it easy
to think of resurrection in the terminology I received there. This does not
mean I consider myself a Christian, I don’t.
But this understanding does not keep me from finding insight into the
human condition and release from the grave which is everyone’s destination.
I am
grateful for the insight into life and death which I have found in the teaching
of Jesus; particularly the concepts regarding resurrection. I am grateful to Paul of Tarsus for his insights
into the
meaning of Jesus’ life, death and subsequent resurrection.
The insights
brought to view in the Christ
Event flesh out the resurrection myths which precede it and of which it is
a part.
I am not
exclusive in my partaking of spiritual insight.
I find much in the Dharma of Buddha. I find in the Dharma the insight available to understand the
predicament life has me in.
In the Tao of Lao Tzu I find
the same insight but explained in a different way. I love the poetry and simple
yet profound beauty of this text. I remember it when I see geese flying
overhead or landing in the pond across the street.
For me the
most philosophically inspiring and engaging spiritual text is found in the
Upanishads (part 1
and part 2.) This
is a must read for anyone who wishes to see into the nature of what it means to
be alive. The text is not difficult, it
reads like a series of stories anyone can understand.
I know
little about many of the dying and rising
Gods. However their existence in the
mix of human understanding speaks to something which transcends the obvious
trek to the grave.
Having been
raised in a Christian tradition I like the way Jesus talks about this. It is
obvious life ends in death. It is equally obvious many men and women consigned
to sleep in the grave have decided that life is merely a trek to the grave and
the most that can be hoped for is to die with the
most possessions. This is the
rule of life exposed by the current financial debacle of bank fraud in
western society.
I disagree
with the current and dominate concept that life is able to be valued by wealth.
Many Christians accept this premise and that is one reason why I do not
consider myself a Christian even though I find solace in the teaching of Jesus.
Life is an
existential affair. It is indeed a trip
to the grave. There is no way out of that ending. However it is possible to see
through the scrim of this miserable business of hiking to the grave by taking
another look at the nature of what it means to exist. This is what the concept of
resurrection speaks to. It is why the concept
of resurrection is not only a Christian concept. It is a concept indigenous to being human.
I like the
way Paul of Tarsus explains it. We are made alive
in Christ. This, ultimately, turns out
not to be merely a Christian doctrine but a statement which refers to the many
great traditions of spiritual insight into the nature of the human condition
that preceded it. The revelation found
in Jesus and the gospel of the
kingdom is accommodated by each of the preceding revelations. The parables Jesus told were keys
to understanding the nature of the human experience. I find that the
human approach of Jesus in teaching this singular ‘truth’ is most appealing
and accessible. But I do not disrespect the others. I appreciate them for the
insight they provide.
I was moved
to make the video with Jack and Qkjea because of the concept of the
resurrection which is a much better explanation than dying with a fist full of
gold and calling that a success. I realize this qualifies me as a fool in the
way that the status quo places its values.
So be it.
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