Thoughts on Novalis

I like some poetry, especially the kind that can have different or deeper meaning that what is seen on the surface when you read it. This reading reminded me of it, and I liked how he said "The more poetic, the more real." I think this can be true, because in our minds, we percieve our lives, from which we get our emotions and feelings... so poetry is like that. Something written on paper that may have one obvious meaning, but if you look deeper, it has a bigger meaning, probably one that can create certain emotions.

I liked the line, "We are close to waking up when we dream that we are dreaming." I've dreampt that i was dreaming n then i woke up lol so i agree with this. (This would be the obvious meaning of the line) But i kno that this has a deeper meaning, and i like that it has one. But who knows, maybe it doesn't. But im jus saying that it can have a deeper meaning for some. And i've thought about it, and i kinda understand it in another way... but i cant really explain it in words right now lol.

Thoughts on Albert Einstein

I really like the part of this reading when it says "A human being is a part of the whole that we call the universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness." I think this is true, that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. But also that alot of what we percieve can be misleading... like... i guess everyone one thinks that what they saw or experienced is right and true, its "what really happened"...like for example a crime scene. but there could be so many different stories and descriptions and perspectives, that who really knows whats true and what really went down? also, our emotions can be great at times, like when your happy or in love or whatever. but they can also be horrible, such as feeling jealous, or mad at someone. These bad emotions can lead people to hold grudges and not forgive.... My ma tells me what her ma told her... "its all in your head". So i think about that during stressful times or depressing times, because i really think we can have control of it. (its hard but we can control it,.... because its our minds... ionno if that makes sense lol)

Thoughts on The Hermetic Writings

I really enjoyed this reading. I like its vastness...? i guess you could say. lol i mean, to me, its saying that there's no limits. Like when it says "Step beyond all time and become eternal" and "realize that nothing is impossible for you" and "Make yourself higher than all heights and lower that all depths" and "you are still in the womb, that you are young, that you are old, that you are dead, tha tyou are in the world beyond the grave". wow. lol.. and then at the end it says "then you can percieve God". So basically its showing that He's everywhere, whenever, however, everything. So if you can somehow be this way (i suppose in your mind) then you can percieve God.

I also like the sentence "Wanting to know God is the road that leads to God" and "Who is more evident than God? That is why he made all things, so that through all things you can see him." I'm not quite sure why i like it, but i just do. A lot.

Thoughts on Maximus of Tyre

I liked this reading. I liked how it says "But we, being unable to apprehend his essence, use the help of sounds and names and pictures, of beaten gold and ivory and silver, of plants and rivers, mountian peaks and torrents, yearning for the knowledge of him, and in our weakness naming all that is beautiful in this world after his nature - just as happens to earthly lovers." To me, it shows that no one religion or person is able to really see or know God, so we choose things that are beautiful to us to in a way represent him. It kinda incorporates all religions because some religions worship nature, some idols, some the person in the paiting, etc. And really God is more than all that. But i guess it's just a way for us to get a grasp of what He might be.

I think in the end, he says basically that it doesn't really matter how a person remembers God, just so that He's remembered and that the person also remembers love. I think this is important too, because i think a lot of ppl go to church and they really just go because they think that's how they'll be saved (from hell). But if they dont remember God n remember to love, then its kinda pointless... right?

Thoughts on Dhu'l-Nun Al-Misri

I liked how it was showing that through God you can do anything. Like when it was saying all these scenarios.. like "If you meet someone who is sick through separation from me, heal him; or if he is a fugitive from me, seek him out; or if he is afraid of me, reassure him,..." etc.

Im not really sure of what else to say for this one....

But i really enjoy this class. i like learning about differnent religions and how they came about and what they believe. i'm a pretty open minded person but this class helps me to be even more open minded.

It's funny how all the religions are very similar at times... its almost like u wanna just take all those similarities, group them together, n live by that. haha but everyone has they're own beliefs, and that's fine. its a beautiful thing.

Man i'm having a hard time with this one.... im hungry, gotta go do my hair... n try to make it to class on time. i hate being late,.. it makes me feel like the teacher thinks i dont care about the class and i do. i jus be forgettin stuff when im rushing and then somehow im jus end up bein late most of the time. Sry Jason! lol i think u've found it in ur heart to forgive me tho... cuz u dont be lookin all mean or irritated when i come in 5 -10 min late lol. Thanks! haha

Thoughts on Abu Yazid Al-Bistami

I like how in this reading, they say basically that ... you and God should be one. And that you should surrender yourself so that it's no difference between "I" and "God", its just God. It said, "For thirty years God was my mirror, now I am my own mirror. What I was I no longer am, for 'I' and 'God' are a denial of God's unity. Since I no longer am, God is his own mirror. He speaks with my tongue, and I have vanished."

This reading, and the Al-Misri reading were kinda similar, cuz they shared the same idea of unity with God. I guess they're just saying, dont worry about anything; if you're united with God, everything will be fine. Surrender yourself to Him, cuz He's all knowing and he created everything, so there's no reason to not trust Him. He knows what He's doing and what needs to be done.

And i think that's true too.. It's just kinda hard to grasp the idea that yourself n God are one... i guess its saying just live through Him... like completely surrender yourself to Him. I guess it's difficult tho cuz us as human beings, especially in this society, like to think that we have our own individuality. And i mean, we all are different, but we're also so much alike. But i guess if we all did surrender to Him, n lived through Him, there'd be no problems...