Dear Hieros Gamos (nice name for somebody who is NOT synchretist... did it appear to you that the Noble Eightfold Path is not about having sex in an open field with lots of people watching?)Hieros Gamos wrote:I'm not qualified to say. I also have strong synchretist habits of mind but I question their usefulness. It may be the case that humanity is destined for a great synchrestistic merging in the future, who can say. Even if so I've found it's useful to commit to a practice which is rich in specifics.martinfrank wrote:unaccessible to
Never mind!
Did I recommend to be at the same time a Buddhist, a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Greek Pagan etc.? If we have Faith in Lord Buddha, we don't need to try a little Hesychasm and a little La Regla Lukumi on the side while we do anapanasati.
But if I meet a Hasidic Jew in the airport whose eyes are clear, calm and deep like a mountain lake and who radiates peace and love, shouldn't I respect him for what he has achieved? Can't I let myself be inspired by al-Hallaj? If you meditate seriously you automatically start to respect others who are doing the same - even if they belong to a different tradition.
For me Buddhism is the Rolls Royce Corniche of religions. I am convinced that we have the best set of instructions. Why do you think that it is wrong to feel inspired by Saint Francis?
Can you talk with animals?About the time when St.Francis lived in the city of Gubbio, in the countryside a huge terrible ferocious wolf appeared, which didn't only eat animals but also human beings. All the inhabitants were terrorized because the wolf often went near to the city. For this reason they were always armed when they went out of the city, as if they were going to a battle. But, nevertheless, who met the wolf wasn't capable of defending themselves if they were alone. Therefore nobody had the courage to leave the City.
Regarding this situation, St.Francis felt pity for the inhabitants of Gubbio and wanted to meet this wolf even if everyone advised him not to do so. He made the sign of the cross and left the city with his companions, hoping to have God's help. Fear stopped the others from going ahead, while St. Francis continued his walk towards the place where the wolf usually was and he met the saint with his mouth wide open. But St. Francis made the sign of the cross to the wolf and called him: "come here, brother wolf; I command you in the name of Christ not to harm neither me nor the others". The terrible wolf immediately closed its mouth, stopped running and sat down as tame as a lamb at the feet of St.Francis.
Then St. Francis said to him: "Brother wolf, in these places you have caused great damages and you have killed creatures of God without his permission; but you didn't only have the courage to kill animals, but you also killed human beings, made to the image of God, and for this reason you are worthy to be condemned. All the people of this land talk about you and are your enemies, but I want to have peace between you and the people. In this way you won't harm them any more and they will forgive any bad action of yours in the past."
As soon as St.Francis said these words, the wolf, with movements of its body, tail and eyes and by lowering his head, demonstrated to have accepted that which had been said to him by the Saint.
St.Francis then continued: "Brother wolf, if you like making and maintaining this peace, I promise that I will have you assisted for all your life long by the people of this land so that you will never go hungry again, because I know that it is because of hunger that you have caused so much damage. But, brother wolf, I want you to promise me that you will never harm any person or animal again; do you promise me to do so?" The wolf lowered his head and obviously promised to do so. And St. Francis continued: "brother wolf, I want you to give me a sign, an oath, so that I can trust you to keep your promise". The wolf then lifted his paw and kindly put it in the hand of St. Francis.
The Saint said: "Brother wolf, I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come with me now to the city to confirm this peace". And the wolf obediently followed the Saint like a meek lamb and marveled everyone who saw this scene. The news spread quickly and the whole city, men, women, children and old people went to the square to see the wolf with St. Francis. As soon as the people were gathered, St.Francis started preaching, and explained that the flames of hell were worse than the anger of the wolf and continued: "Listen, my brothers, brother wolf who is in front of you has promised me to make peace with you and not to harm you in any way if you will give him food every day for his living. And I assure you all from his part that he will keep his word to maintain the peace".
All the people, in chorus, promised to feed him. In the presence of all the people, St.Francis said to the wolf: And you, brother wolf, do you promise to keep the peace pact and not to harm neither animals nor people, in other words, nobody?" Kneeing down, lowering its head, moving its tail and ears, the wolf demonstrated to want to keep his word.
St.Francis continued: "Brother wolf, as you showed me outside the doors of the city, now in front of all the people I want you to repeat you gesture to show that you will keep your word." Then the wolf lifted his paw and put it on St.Francis's hand.
Therefore there was great joy among the people, but also admiration and devotion towards the Saint and everyone praised and blessed God who sent them St.Francis who saved them from the mouth of the cruel beast.
From that day the wolf lived for two years in Gubbio: it entered and went out freely from the people's houses like a tame animal without harming anyone. It was regularly fed by the people but two years later it died of old age.
Its death brought great sadness among the inhabitants because they were used to seeing it walking around tamely and they remembered the virtues and the sanctity of St.Francis.
