It seems "hell" is the ultimate extension of the human tendency to fear, to live in apprehension of the future, rather that experiencing the present.
Thoughts?
2007-09-10 17:56:47 · 13 answers · asked by Orpheus Rising 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have no interest here in saying "hell", whatever your understanding of that term is, is or isn't real. But rather, if one is cultivating mindfulness, can you really worry about whether you're going to hell? Much less tell others that THEY'RE going to hell? Hence the word 'doctrine' in the question...
2007-09-10 18:17:48 · update #1
Well, I find the common definition of "hell" to be the antithesis of mindfulness.
However, if you look a bit deeper into the Biblical doctrine, you'll see that Hell is not some future event or punishment. Suffering naturally occurs through fear, hatred, anger, guilt, unfulfilled desire, etc. This is hell. Hell (or endarkenment) is literally the opposite of enlightenment.
Certainly, being fearful of hell is the opposite of enlightenment, but it is also the opposite of every Biblical teaching. The whole point of Biblical teaching is to teach a person how to be enlightened (full of love, faith, humility, receptivity, patience, self-restraint, tolerance, etc).
Those who speak of hell, who assume or say that other people will go to hell, or who are full of other such anxious and angry thoughts are, themselves, still suffering in the throes of hell.
Those who are not enlightened are suffering, and we need to have compassion on these souls, and help them to become partakers of the Light.
Enlightenment = heaven
suffering = hell
The Bible is in perfect agreement with the philosophy of Buddha, in this regard. Mindfulness cleanses from all fear... and promotes faith. Faith allows one to connect to God and receive truth. Truth, when practiced from within, sets us free from suffering.
Does that make sense?
Love and Peace.
2007-09-12 08:30:41 · answer #1 · answered by MumOf5 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One Rabbi once said "Everything I know tells me there must be a hell, and everything I know of God tells me it must be empty." Or soemthing to that effect. The Catholic doctrine has changed. The church has rethought Hell and is quite progressive in this respect as it usually is, leading the way in religious circles having an open academic review constantly rethinking the understanding oof God and the world around us. Hell is thought of now as a state of being rather than a place. Hell is being away from God and feeling the sorrow of that experiance for all eternity. Is man living in fear of hell? I would say no, I would say that man must do God not because he wants to stay out of hell or get into heaven but because he wants to.
There MSUT be a hell though mustn't there? Despite my opening quote, think for aminute, where do evil people go? Do they just die? Is death and the absence of rebirth hell? as the Chuch has stated, a state of being away from God.
2007-09-10 18:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. We are in hell or heaven at this moment. It is fear of future punishment (whatever that means to the ego) that keeps us IN hell in the now.
We can't be mindful of the eternal now and all that is available while we constantly fear the future will repeat past torment or pain. This is why most people are never aware of heaven. The ego (belief system) is too defensive and powerful to question and transcend.
2007-09-11 07:50:51 · answer #3 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hell only gets in your mind if your are apprehensive of it. A Christian does not have to think about hell, because they are saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. A Christian does not have to go around saying, if I don't obey God, then I go to hell. No, a Christian feels the love of God and have a desire to thank him. That's the Christian motivation, the love of God. However, to those who choose otherwise there is that forboding fear that enters their mind.
2007-09-10 18:14:01 · answer #4 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a truly mindful person would have already discovered the fallacious thinking of believing in a hell other than a metaphor for say war for instance .
mindful and superstitious are contrary to one another .
2007-09-10 18:01:38 · answer #5 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe.
Mindfulness of 'screams and gnashing of teeth'? Hmm..
Yes...many thoughts.
I only enter hell if I'm trying to rescue somebody. Don't stay too long though!
The atmosphere is 'thick' and 'heavy'.
You have to do much training to operate there without falling asleep.
Doctrine? lol! No...
-----I know....I'm just playing with words...having a little fun...sharing a little insight...incite?
2007-09-10 18:07:48 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Oh guy, my head remains spinning,hoping this is not going to migraine,that usually we could out the subconscious attitudes from their cage. this is under freezing here,the canines water improve right into a sturdy ice cube,so savor the veranda for me,sounds purely beautiful.
2016-10-04 08:55:24 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell -- spending eternity with Christians...
2007-09-11 16:41:12 · answer #8 · answered by ★Greed★ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Hell' is a manifestation of your mind.
'Hell' is used to describe the nightmarish states of mind at the time of death.
It is also used to describe current states of mind, extreme hunger, greed, anger, are all states of a mind in 'hell'.
'Mindfulness' is an awareness of your mind and your actions. 'Mindfulness' and 'Hell' are sort of incompatible in that a truly mindful mind would not slip into hell... ;-)
2007-09-10 18:11:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats a good though if hell was something that people made up . . . but since it's something that GOD made up, your theory is probably false.
2007-09-10 18:02:22 · answer #10 · answered by JesusFirst2Day 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋