Thursday, November 20, 2014

LIFE: Existentialism

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s saying ‘Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood’ is indeed a representation of one of the most important schools of thought operating in the twentieth century, which helped shape much of modern thought, and how people conducted their lives: existentialism. Existentialists believe in the importance of individual, subjective experiences: they believe that only through acting upon individual choices could a person arrive at the significant truths of this life.

Therefore, it allowed people to break out of the mould of convention and orthodox practices; it allowed them the room to deduce what meaning they chose out of the world around them, and engulfed them in a terrifying freedom, to interpret, live and experience life to its core, as they each saw fit respectively, which helped them to realize and make sense of the inexplicable workings of this world. This idea is presented in I Ching as “The sage, who is living outside the routine of the world, contemplates his own character, not as an isolated ego manifestation, but in relation to the laws of life.”

©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 13, 2014

LIFE: Fate

Man is a great believer in fate. Even those of us who scoff at such an idea and are great proponents of free will as compared to pre destination, find some comfort in knowing-when stuck in particularly tricky situations-that what will be, will be.

However, our lives are not dictated by the fates alone, and the aforementioned knowledge should not be such a comfort, knowing that the reason we’re stuck in that particular situation is not merely the play of fate alone-rather, it is the result of our own individual actions and choices which have led us to whatever point in life we are at: as Jawaharlal Nehru has said ‘Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.’ Thus, we play a part in deciding our path in life as much as fate or pre-destination, and as the Bible states “Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, November 6, 2014

LIFE: Judging people

Humans have a tendency to judge other people through their actions, their appearance, their behavior and manners. They think that all the above mention criterion describe them as people and their traits can be generalized and they can be put into specific categories of people. People do this to some extent; they can be judgmental to the extreme of being racists, sexists, or biased on the sexual orientation or creed, or just as small as claiming another person to be “hyper” or aloof.

The most appropriate way of dealing with the natural feelings of generalizing is to see every individual as a separate identity with various aspects to him or her. Not everyone is the same, and everyone is the not the same al the time. So, if you judge others, there is a good chance that you will be judged at some point in time as well. As it says in the Bible, “Judge not lest you be judged”.

©2010-2013 Minister Claretta Taylor Pam, Global Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts. All Rights Reserved