Morning. You took Carol in for annual
X-rays. No problems on the back roads to Bethesda North and you are home. You
were looking up Buddhistic ranks and feel “Grand Mother” as a title for
Drenakite. - Amorella
1057 hours. I was looking up Zen and
decided to focus on the Korean example because I have family to ask questions.
** **
Korea
Sunim is
the Korean title for a Buddhist monk or Buddhist nun of any tradition, and does
not denote any specific rank or qualification. It is considered respectful to
refer to senior monks or nuns in Korea as Kun sunim, and this polite way
of expressing the title can also denote some sort of realization on the part of
the individual being addressed. In most Korean temples, a middle-aged monk
assumes the role of a juji sunim, who serves administrative functions.
The eldest sunim is typically seen as a symbolic leader of the younger sunims.
In
Korean Soen, Inka (In'ga) typically refers to the private acknowledgement of
dharma transmission from a teacher to their student. "Transmission"
is used to refer to the public ceremonial version of the same acknowledgement.
Both are considered equal in authority and "realization". A monk with
either In'ga or the public "transmission" is qualified to hold the
post of Soen Sa, or "Zen Master" for a temple, and give transmission
to their own students (either, In'ga or public "transmission"). The
majority of Zen Masters in Korea have only received, and only give In'ga, with
the formal transmission ceremony being far more rare.
In the Kwan Um School of Zen, founded by Korean Zen
teacher Seung Sahn* in America and
Europe, a Zen master can be referred to as a Soen Sa Nim
("Soen" or "Son" being Korean for Chan, or Zen) — although
this term usually is used only in reference to Seung Sahn himself (usually with
the honorific "Dae", meaning "great" - as in "Dae Soen
Sa Nim").
Selected and edited from Wikipedia – Zen Master
** **
*Seungsahn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seung Sahn Haeng Won Dae Soen-sa (August 1,
1927 – November 30, 2004), born Duk-In Lee, was a South Korean
Jogye Seon master and founder of the international Kwan Um School of Zen—the
largest (Western Based) Zen institution present in the western hemisphere. He
was the seventy-eighth Patriarch in his lineage. As one of the early Korean Zen
masters to settle in the United States, he opened many temples and practice
groups across the globe. He was known for his charismatic style and direct
presentation of Zen, which was well tailored for the Western audience. Known by
students for his many correspondences with them through letters, his
utilization of Dharma combat, and expressions such as "only don't
know" or "only go straight" in teachings, he was conferred the
honorific title of Dae Jong Sa in June 2004 by the Jogye order for a lifetime
of achievements. Considered the highest honor to have bestowed upon one in the
order, the title translates to mean Great Lineage Master and was
bestowed for his establishment of the World Wide Kwan Um School of Zen. He died
in November that year at Hwa Gae Sah in Seoul, South Korea, at age 77.
Selected and edited from Wikipedia
** **
1124
hours. I cannot find an equivalent Master but Venerable and Reverend are used
in a woman’s title. Perhaps “Grand Mother Wisdom”.
** **
Women in Buddhism
Words
June
Campbell writes in her book Traveller in space that Chandra Das in his Tibetan
English Dictionary describes twenty synonyms for woman. The words used most
often are kyemen (Tibetan: skye.dman) meaning inferior birth and pumo (Tibetan:
bu.mo.) meaning female human being. There are others like tsamdenma (Tibetan:
mtshams.ldan.ma.), chingchema (Tibetan: bching.byed.ma.), dodenma (Tibetan:
bdod.ldan.ma.), gaweshi (Tibetan: dgah.wabi.gshi.) and tobmema (Tibetan:
stobs.med.ma.).
Throughout
the Mahāyāna world, Avalokitesvara, who takes on both male and female form
e.g., Guan Yin, and Tara, a female Vajrayana yidam, are bodhisattvas who embody
karuna [compassion] and Prajnaparamita
is a female buddha who embodies wisdom.
Prajñāpāramitā (Sanskrit: प्रज्ञापारमिता) means "the
Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom" in Mahayana Buddhism. The word Prajñāpāramitā
combines the Sanskrit words prajñā “wisdom” with paramita “perfection”. Prajñāpāramitā is a central concept in Mahāyāna
Buddhism and its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable
elements of the Bodhisattva path.
Selected and edited from Wikipedia
** **
How about Our Venerable Grandmaster, Mother
Drenakite? – Amorella
1205
hours. This works as a simple translation. Let’s say ThreePlanets casually accepted
general religion is more Buddhist-like than any other that is Earth based.
You had a late lunch at Potbelly’s on Mason-Montgomery and are stopped at Kroger’s on the way home. Jared and his son cleaned off the driveway again this morning.
1406 hours. It is so different to have someone else doing the shoveling with or without the snow blower and if the yard needs work I can give it to Tim to do if he wishes. If not, I’ll see if Jared’s son is interested (using our mower). By the way I just checked and in chess the proper title for a woman grandmaster is just that. So, you were right to use it Amorella. I might have known this for as much as I have read but I didn’t consciously know it. Besides, I was thinking in terms of religion not chess. I should have been.
Either way Our Venerable Grandmaster, Mother Drenakite works. We won’t dwell on the religious aspects because Drenakite is of the superior rank in the ThreePlanet federation. To fit in your own context let’s say, that even though there are nuns and monks and that most choose to be hairless their main religious concepts practiced by most people are most similar to the U.S. Unitarians. I select and edit from Wikipedia what is most useful as far as those of ThreePlanets are concerned because you cannot bring yourself to do this even in a fiction. – Amorella
1523 hours. I am timid on such things because “to each their own” is my philosophy. I am in no position to set up a religious concept on ThreePlanets even as a fiction. It is not polite for me to do so. It is arrogant to make such a choice for any planet let alone three fiction or not. – rho
This is Amorella. I choose Wikipedia’s Unitarian Universalism over Unitarian because this is a looser philosophical accounting, more practical and less theological. Religion is the philosophic and social behavior base of the ThreePlanet Federation. This is a general translation of how the humanoid marsupials spiritually feel at this time. If they did not how would they hope to philosophically accommodate the Earthlings variety of religions? Their interests are the similarities in the religions not specific theological issues. As such here are the selections that are pertinent to the three Merlyn books. There is no reason to make up a religion when there is already a basis of one that will do for our purposes.
** **
Unitarian Universalism
selected and edited from Wikipedia
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal and syncretic religion characterized by a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed but are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. The roots of Unitarian Universalism (UU) are in liberal Christianity, specifically Unitarianism and Universalism. Unitarian Universalists state that from these traditions comes a deep regard for intellectual freedom and inclusive love, so that congregations and members seek inspiration and derive insight from all major world religions.
The theology of individual Unitarian Universalists ranges widely, with the majority being Humanist, but also having members that follow atheism, agnosticism, pantheism, deism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, neopaganism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and many more. . . .
Universalism
The core doctrine asserts that through Christ [Elderfelder the Dancer] every single human soul shall be saved, leading to the "restitution of all things". . . . All souls would achieve salvation, sometimes after a period resembling purgatory. Christian Universalism denies the doctrine of everlasting damnation, and proclaims belief in an entirely loving God [Godofamily] who will ultimately redeem all human [marsupial humanoid] beings.
Unitarianism
. . . There were several different forms of Christology in the beginnings of the Unitarian movement; ultimately, the dominant Christology became psilanthropism: that Jesus [Elderfelder the Dancer] was a man [woman], but one with a unique relationship to God [Godofamily].
The defining belief of Unitarian Universalism is that religion is a matter of individual experience, and that, therefore, only the individual can decide what to "believe." The roots of this belief can be found in the Unitarian insistence on freedom of personal conscience in matters of faith. As a result, while Unitarian Universalists have no required creed, they treat as a sacred value complete and responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief, faith and disposition.
Unitarian Universalists believe that each person is free to search for his or her own personal truth on issues, such as the existence, nature, and meaning of life, deities, creation, and afterlife. Unitarian Universalism can come from any religious background, and hold beliefs and adhere to morals from a variety of cultures or religions. They believe that what binds them together as a faith community is not a creed, but a belief in the power and sacredness of covenant based on unconditional love [and respect for others of higher consciousnesses]. That love is enough to hold together such variety derives from their Universalist heritage, which affirms a God [Godofamily] of all-inclusive love.
Current concepts about deity, however, are diverse among Unitarian Universalism. While some are still Monotheistic, often from a Judeo-Christian perspective, many profess Atheism or Agnosticism. Unitarian Universalism see no contradiction in open Atheists and Agnostics being members of their community because of the rich Unitarian legacy of free inquiry and reason in matters of faith. Still other Unitarian Universalism subscribe to Deism, Pantheism, or Polytheism. Many Unitarian Universalism reject the idea of deities and instead speak of the "spirit of life" that binds all life on Earth [in and beyond the Galaxy].
Seven Principles and Purposes
Deliberately without an official creed or dogma (per the principle of freedom of thought), many Unitarian Universalists make use of the Principles and Purposes as a list of principles for guiding behavior. These "Principles and Purposes" are taken from the by-laws, which govern the Unitarian Universalist Association. While these were written to govern congregations, not individuals, many Unitarian Universalism use them as guides for living their faith. The "Seven Principles" were created in committee and affirmed democratically by a vote of member congregations at an annual General Assembly (a meeting of delegates from member congregations). . . . The Principles are as follows:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Unitarian Universalism is often referred to by its members as a living tradition, and the principles and purposes have been modified over time to reflect changes in spiritual beliefs among the membership. Most recently, the last principle, adopted in 1985 and generally known as the Seventh Principle, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part", and a sixth source (adopted in 1995), "Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature" were added to explicitly include members with Neopagan, Native American, and pantheist spiritualities.
Six Sources
Unitarian Universalists place emphasis on spiritual growth and development. The official statement of Unitarian Universalist principles describes the "sources" upon which current practice is based:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love [and respect];
Wisdom from the world’s religions [Galactic religions] which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
Humanist teachings, which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
Spiritual teachings of earth-centered [ThreePlanet] traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Diversity of practices
The Unitarian belief that reason, and not creed, defines the search for truth, and the Universalist belief that God embraces all people equally has led to the current Unitarian Universalist belief that truth and spiritual meaning can be found in all faiths. . . . There is great variety among Unitarian Universalist congregations, with some favoring particular religious beliefs or forms of worship over others, with many more home to an eclectic mix of beliefs. Regardless of their orientation, most congregations are fairly open to differing beliefs, though not always with various faith traditions represented to the same degree.
There is also a wide variety in how congregations conceive of themselves. Congregations call themselves "churches," "societies," "fellowships," "congregations," or eschew the use of any particular descriptor. . . .
Approach to sacred writings
Both Unitarianism and Universalism were originally Christian denominations, and still reference Jewish and Christian texts. Today, Unitarian Universalist approach to the Christian/Jewish Bible and other sacred works is given in Our Unitarian Universalist Faith: Frequently Asked Questions, published by the UUA:
We do not, however, hold the Bible—or any other account of human experience—to be either an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth. Much biblical material is mythical or legendary. Not that it should be discarded for that reason! Rather, it should be treasured for what it is. We believe that we should read the Bible as we read other books—with imagination and a critical eye. We also respect the sacred literature of other religions. Contemporary works of science, art, and social commentary are valued as well. We hold, in the words of an old liberal formulation, that "revelation is not sealed." Unitarian Universalists aspire to truth as wide as the world—we look to find truth anywhere, universally.
In short, Unitarian Universalists respect the important religious texts of other religions. Unitarian Universalists believe that all religions can coexist if viewed with the concept of love for one's neighbor and for oneself. Other church members who do not believe in a particular text or doctrine are encouraged to respect it as a historically significant literary work that should be viewed with an open mind. It is intended that in this way, individuals from all religions or spiritual backgrounds could live peaceably.
Selected and edited by Amorella [ultimately myself] from Wikipedia – rho
** **
1632 hours. This is odd to see a sense of the marsupial humanoid religion. It certainly beats trying to make up one’s own. I am weary of religious connotations in these books, but at least the readers, Earthlings all, can get a sense of how it is in here. At least it is broader based than most religions which many would consider blasphemous or something worse I suppose, but what if we did meet up with another species with another religion? Then what? We have a history of cultures within our own species witnessing this event first hand. It is not a pretty sight.
At times you can be quite timid, boy, other times not so much. Title this ‘Summary of Religious Attitudes of Marsupial Humanoids in Great Merlyn’s Ghost. Post. - Amorella
1650
hours. I found a couple more facts in Wikipedia article that some readers might find interesting.
** **
United
States
In the United States, the Unitarian movement began
primarily in the Congregational parish churches of New England, which were part
of the state church of Massachusetts. These churches, whose buildings may still
be seen today in many New England town squares, trace their roots to the
division of the Puritan colonies into parishes for the administration of their
religious needs. In the late 18th century, conflict grew within some of these
churches between Unitarian and Trinitarian factions. In 1805, Unitarians gained
key faculty positions at Harvard.
In 1819 William Ellery Channing preached the ordination sermon for Jared Sparks
in Baltimore, outlining the Unitarian position. The American Unitarian
Association was founded as a separate denomination in 1825. By coincidence and
unknown to both parties, the AUA was formed on the same day—May 26, 1825—as the
British and Foreign Unitarian Association.
In the 19th century, under the influence of Ralph
Waldo Emerson (who had been a Unitarian minister) and other transcendentalists,
Unitarianism began its long journey.
Historical politics of Unitarians
In the 19th century, Unitarians and Universalists were
active in abolitionism, the women’s movement, the temperance movement, and
other social reform movements. The second woman’s rights convention was held at
the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York. Additionally, four
Presidents of the United States were Unitarians: John Adams, John Quincy Adams,
Millard Fillmore, and William Howard Taft.
Selected and
edited from Wikipedia – Unitarian Universalists
** **
Add to show your sense of humor at the
points given, particularly at William Howard Taft being Unitarian. - Amorella
** **
Taft’s Religion
Wm. Howard Taft's
parents were Unitarians in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised as a Unitarian,
attended the Unitarian church all his life. Mr. Lawrence Staples writes about
Wm. H. Taft's loyalty to the Unitarian church in his book: Washington
Unitarianism:
"As Secretary of
War in the Cabinet of President Theodore Roosevelt and as President, Mr. Taft
had attended services in the Church at Fourteenth and L Streets. After his
return to Washington in the fall of 1921 as Chief Justice of the United States,
he had shared the hospitality of Keith's Theater (temporary church). Always a
loyal Unitarian, he was a regular attendant at services, presided at various
meetings in the Church, participated in many special occasions. For ten years,
he was President of the Unitarian General Conference. He took an active part in
the formation of the Unitarian Layman's League; was Honorary Chairman of the
Unitarian Campaign in 1920. His last public utterance in All Souls Church,
redolent of his ever present good humor, was before the children of the Church
School, Sunday April 28, 1929. "
His talk that day was
his usual delightfully informal talk, given with good humor; the serious part
was this:
"After all, when
you come to the end of your life, the only comfort, the only real satisfaction
you have is in the good you have done for others. Now you are earnest for
yourselves and you must be. You will always have to have a decent respect for
yourself. Nevertheless, it is your usefulness to your friends and to the
community which is going to count most. Your service does not have to be
important; it only has to be what you can render and render conscientiously to
help your brother, your sister. You have a great opportunity. . . "
After he died in March 1930
a very simple funeral service was held at All Souls Church. Dr. Ulysses G. B.
Pierce conducted the service in which two of his favorite hymns were sung. He
was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, close to the grave of Robert Todd
Lincoln. He was the only President to be buried at Arlington until the death of
John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Selected from
http://www.uuquincyDOTorg/projects/stamps/17wmtaft.htm
** **
1708
hours. I don’t believe I ever realized this about William Howard Taft. My focus
[on Unitarianism] has always been related to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Life is interesting. A
friend of Carol’s, a husband died a few years ago and we went to the service at
the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, in Avondale since 1830. I have never been so relaxed in a church in my life. I have never
visited a Unitarian church before of since. I was raised traditional Presbyterian
and it is a good part of who I am even today.
1723 hours. I have not thought about this lately if at all.
You have been working on the basics of the
subplot for Pouch Eight. Here is your raw character outline:
** **
Characters’ Points of
View Going Into Pouch 8
Ship [ref to Yermey,
Friendly & Hartolite]
Onesixanzero [ref to
Drenakite & Kembel]
Mother Drenakite [ref to
Kembel & Onesixanzero & Elderfelder]
Director Kembel [ref to Yermey
& Friendly]
Yermey [ref to Pyl &
Justin]
Blake Williams [ref to Justin,
Yermey & Pyl]
** **
Evening. Time to relax, my man. Post. –
Amorella
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