The master continued, "If you put oil, pepper, garlic and onion in a cauldron, and merely add water, you have not made a stew. The basis for a stew is meat; the other ingredients are optional. Similarly, spiritual progress depends on detaching yourself from material posessions; other virtuous practices are optional."
-Nizam al-Din, "Fawa'id al-Fu'ad"
Peace and Love
2007-01-23 00:53:10 · 4 answers · asked by digilook 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The greatest virtue is love. Without love you are disobeying Christ. Disobeying Christ leads to hell. So I disagree with your statement. Other virtuous practices are not optional according to Christ.
2007-01-23 00:57:43 · answer #1 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Christ (upon him be peace) said "Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor and you will have a treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.." to the rich young man who had already been keeping the commandments since the time of his youth.
Both quotes mean the same thing. If you are keeping the commandments but are attached to this world you have not "arrived" spiritually, for the root of all evil is the desire for this world. Be it money, possessions, land, women, men, prestige, family, honor...whatever you desire that is of this world, more than you desire the love of God, that will be your stumbling block. Your trial to overcome if you are to grow spiritually. That is the lesson that Jesus and all the other prophets taught and Al Fu'ad was illustrating. And God knows best.
2007-01-23 01:08:36 · answer #2 · answered by Najiyah 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree digi
although i have found that detachment from the material has became a natural progression through my spiritual journey and was not the basis or beginning of it
so i would say that spiritual progress has many ingredients ... but it is only when those ingredients have been stirred well you can take the main ingredient out ( the material )
leaving the mixture smooth
2007-01-23 01:01:35 · answer #3 · answered by Peace 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do I think? I think that at first glance and from a worldly standpoint it seems to make a lot of sense. But the Holy Spirit who dwells within me reminds me that spiritual growth depends upon his work in me and that without Him I could go and be a hermit living in a cave for the rest of my life and not make one step of true spiritual progress.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
2007-01-23 01:00:19 · answer #4 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋