Is God A "white Man" In A Robe?

[taijasi]

By the way, here is a story, from the Buddhist tradition, which also teaches us something about how to look for God ... and why many of us do not recognize Her, among us.

If it shocks your sensibilities, then good. The imagery will be in your own head - not evoked by an actual picture.

And if you find it difficult to accept, or contemplate literally, then perhaps now we know where a good challenge - and opportunity - awaits.

The story is about Arya Asanga (Aryasanga), and his encounter with Maitreya Buddha - including a visit to Tu****a Heaven. The version here is from Sogyal Rinpoche's Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.

May it help us all, to recognize the God in all.

Love and Light,

andrew

[Quahom1]

Q, your arguments seem a little inconsistent

but then,
Time and again you tell us exactly what the picture is trying to do, yet when someone else offers their opinion on the picture, you tell them that they did not create it. I can only assume it was you who created the picture.

I said that Yo did not create the picture. He understood that I was not pointing a finger at "Him". I also gave "My" reasons as to why it was disturbing to me. That is all.

As YO asked, what of depictions of a semi-naked man as Christ, does that elicit excitment in women? Your answer that most women do not want a man to be subdued is absurd. The notion that we can clearly define who women are and what they want is just old-fashioned male chauvinism.

Perhaps, but then, I know what the women in my life have and have not wanted, so I go by past experience. Nor have I ever implied that I was other than "old fashioned". I believe that speaks for itself...

and replied that, "He is depicted as people can understand "Him"."
For some an image of a female Jesus might help them to understand. Should they be denied this understanding simply because such an image might float Q's boat?

Again, I stated that the picture was disturbing, to me. I didn't tell anyone else what they could or could not think.

I haven't known animals give art shows of any kind. Seriously though, people always come out with these statements about the animal kingdom and often they're just absurd. There are species of animals where the females are twice as big as the males, there are matriarchal societies, and if you want to talk about protection then surely you have to look towards mothers.
The males seem to go around for the most part thinking only of their dicks. Ah, now tell me again Q, why was it that you didn't like that picture?

That is your opinion of things. And the only area where females might be bigger than males is usually with arthropods, not much else. However sir, your generalising inference about males using other than their brains for thinking is uncalled for. In fact it is plain out rude.

In any event I said I found the picture, disturbing. And my argument is anything but inconsistent.

v/r

Q

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by taijasi

InLove, thanks for posting that link. And Q, too. InLove, I resonate most with the next to the bottom image, righthand side (#454). It reminds me a great deal of my own favorite, here. Maybe blended with this one.

Another image that evokes a powerful, and heartfelt response for me, is the 1961 Harry Anderson painting (`Prince of Peace'), depicting Jesus knocking at the U.N. Building. I prefer to believe that, relative to our own spiritual stature, Jesus - and/or `G-d' - is a being of these (and greater) dimensions. Perhaps quite literally, though also, the "still, small voice" ...

(it doesn't leave much squirming room in between - and that's what I like about it! )

Namaskar,

andrew/taijasi

Attachment 280

Agreed, that is a powerful message.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by taijasi

By the way, here is a story, from the Buddhist tradition, which also teaches us something about how to look for God ... and why many of us do not recognize Her, among us.

If it shocks your sensibilities, then good. The imagery will be in your own head - not evoked by an actual picture.

And if you find it difficult to accept, or contemplate literally, then perhaps now we know where a good challenge - and opportunity - awaits.

The story is about Arya Asanga (Aryasanga), and his encounter with Maitreya Buddha - including a visit to Tu****a Heaven. The version here is from Sogyal Rinpoche's Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.

May it help us all, to recognize the God in all.

Love and Light,

andrew

Well, at least "She" wasn't nailed naked to a cross, and called enlightening art...

[InLove]

This thread is really interesting to me. I am enjoying reading the different responses to the artwork. Q, that sailor has got it going on, doesn't he? Where did you first see that picture?

taijasi, I really, really enjoyed the sketches of the Masters.

When I look at a work of art, I have learned that if it initially sets off my alarm, then I gotta find out why. So even if it disturbs me--especially if it does, I have to study it some more. And sometimes, I look at something and think, "Oh, man, another boring, common, uninteresting thing." But that reaction from me also disturbs me, because someone thought it worth doing. So I think on that, too, and often I find something I did not see before. I try not to approach art as a "like' or "dislike" issue. (By the way, flow, I am reading Thomas--and I did not mean to interrupt your chain of thought there.)

The Endowment for The Arts is often in the headlines over what should and should not be supported by taxpayers. This is, in my opinion, simply because art will often disturb.

I'd like to make a correction about something I wrote earlier in the thread. I equated the ancient Hebrew symbolism with the Mayans. That is wrong. The Mayans actually did depict God in artwork that resembled dragons and such. When I said what I said, I was thinking of the spirals that more than one of the ancient American societies employed, particularly the Anaztasis. Sorry about that.

Well, I still haven't read everything here in this thread, so back I go!

InPeace,
InLove

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

http://images.google.com/images?q=tb...by-Mathews.jpg

http://images.google.com/images?q=tb...listic/nut.gif

http://images.google.com/images?q=tb.../yrblu9210.jpg

http://images.google.com/images?q=tb...3c12922068.jpg

ANY THOUGHTS?

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Maybe better to leave depictions be...

True, or make the "depiction" business open to "all" .
or "none" at all

[InLove]

Re: Post#96:

YO, I had to put all the images into "My Pictures" and zoom in to view them, so some of the details are fuzzy from distortion. But the first one is awesome. I mean, just awesome...(I am about to be welcoming my fifth grandchild soon, so I may be a little sentimental about the whole thing.) And, as it turned out, it was kinda cool that I could only see the tiny jpeg or whatever it is at first, because zooming in added another dimension to the whole experience.

I am still working on the second one. Looks Egyptian?

I cannot read the writing on the third one, but I see the symbols, and I feel hope. 'Course, I'd better wait for the "caption" to fully understand the meaning.

Is #4 an embryo? Like I said, can't see it too well....

InPeace,
InLove

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by InLove

Re: Post#96:

YO, I had to put all the images into "My Pictures" and zoom in to view them, so some of the details are fuzzy from distortion. But the first one is awesome. I mean, just awesome...(I am about to be welcoming my fifth grandchild soon, so I may be a little sentimental about the whole thing.) And, as it turned out, it was kinda cool that I could only see the tiny jpeg or whatever it is at first, because zooming in added another dimension to the whole experience.

I am still working on the second one. Looks Egyptian?

I cannot read the writing on the third one, but I see the symbols, and I feel hope. 'Course, I'd better wait for the "caption" to fully understand the meaning.

Is #4 an embryo? Like I said, can't see it too well....

InPeace,
InLove

Actually inlove,

One of the pictures is of 2 people holding a small baby together.
I kinda like that myself.

The Egyptian lookin one is has a caption of "Discovering GOD" as part of the web site.

The one with the symbols has a caption of
"Love one God " and is a T-shirt. I think I will be ordering that one real soon.



Which makes me wonder.

What does GOD see when GOD looks at us?

any thoughts on that?

[InLove]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

Actually inlove,

One of the pictures is of 2 people holding a small baby together.
I kinda like that myself.

The Egyptian lookin one is has a caption of "Discovering GOD" as part of the web site.

The one with the symbols has a caption of
"Love one God " and is a T-shirt. I think I will be ordering that one real soon.

Oh, yeah--I had no doubt what the first one was. I only wish I could see it in person so I could pick up on what looks like intricate detail. And I thought the second one looked familiar. I am glad to know what the writing was on the third. What about #4. Embryo?

And I forgot to comment on the movie poster. Is it indeed a promotional for a film? Or is it something else? Guess I could google it...just busy cleaning out a closet today.

Originally Posted by YO

What does GOD see when GOD looks at us?

I think GOD sees us as we have been and as what we will be and as what we are.

InPeace,
InLove

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by InLove

Oh, yeah--I had no doubt what the first one was. I only wish I could see it in person so I could pick up on what looks like intricate detail. And I thought the second one looked familiar. I am glad to know what the writing was on the third. What about #4. Embryo?

And I forgot to comment on the movie poster. Is it indeed a promotional for a film? Or is it something else? Guess I could google it...just busy cleaning out a closet today.



I think GOD sees us as we have been and as what we will be and as what we are.

InPeace,
InLove

#4 is more a cosmic view of GOD.I think it is more like the universe.
The movie poster is for a movie, but the name of the movie is called "city of GOD" the image with that caption imho is very fitting.

I am at work. So thank GOD for the time to clean your closet out. You should see my closet..sheesh

I really do not know how to envision what GOD may see when GOD looks at us.

Silly me, asking a question that I have no idea how to answer. "Humans"..sheesh

[wil]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

What does GOD see when GOD looks at us?

A mirror, a perfect creation, reflection. Eachness in the allness.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by YO-ELEVEN-11

True, or make the "depiction" business open to "all" .
or "none" at all

Then you get what comes. Depict a Muslim characature...watch the fur fly, and people die...they die...now what good is that?

We aren't barbaric, you might say...then you've just caused another riot, for claiming civility over some lesser group (in your mind), and they in fact act the barbarian...

Sound crazy? Already happened. http://instantknowledgenews.com/danecartoons1.htm

Freedom ends at the tip of one's nose.

[YO-ELEVEN-11]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Then you get what comes. Depict a Muslim characature...watch the fur fly, and people die...they die...now what good is that?

We aren't barbaric, you might say...then you've just caused another riot, for claiming civility over some lesser group (in your mind), and they in fact act the barbarian...

Sound crazy? Already happened. http://instantknowledgenews.com/danecartoons1.htm

Freedom ends at the tip of one's nose.

True, or make the "depiction" business open to "all" .
or "none" at all <<<<<<<<<<<<

I realize that people die over depictions.
Thier have been people killed for a lot less as I said before.
I also feel that it is a tragedy for people to be killed over something like a "depiction".

My point here is that it may become a necessity to curb all images of any diety to allow people to see those dieties as they wish, without any outside influence. Especially for our children.


That's why I put at the end of my statement or "none" at all

[wil]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Then you get what comes. Depict a Muslim characature...watch the fur fly, and people die...they die...now what good is that?

We aren't barbaric, you might say...then you've just caused another riot, for claiming civility over some lesser group (in your mind), and they in fact act the barbarian...

Sound crazy? Already happened. http://instantknowledgenews.com/danecartoons1.htm

Freedom ends at the tip of one's nose.

Most of the world is aware that Muslims do not paint pictures or provide drawings of Muhamed...while there are some out there it is generally against their practices and considered desecrating their religion. We should consider honoring that. Others have prohibitions against burning crosses, and rightly so, we should consider honoring that as well. Some country is even rallying around trying to outlaw burning synthetic cloth made in chinese prisons if it is dyed with red and white stripes...go figure.