Religion is response to transcendence, to a transcendent being, reality or state. If the chaplain says that his practice is not strictly religious, then he should not be called a chaplain. The Kuang Shih preach nothing about gods but seek allness, unity and harmony through rites and symbols, knowing that they are rites and symbols. The River is fate. The Sun is life. Moons and Stars are the transhuman. So there is transcendence.
The sun is the source of light and life. I coined a mantra: "One, Sun, Now," meaning that the One knows itself by the light of the sun in the present. If I were to travel along the Flone, then I would participate fully in the Kuang Shih rituals.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, moons and stars are not human, but neither are they transhuman or transcendent. They are rocky balls too small to hold atmospheres or giant balls of flaming gas.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But heavenly bodies can symbolize the transcendent.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But only as poetic metaphors or analogies.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But that is all that the Riverfolk say they are.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Then I would argue the river people should search for something more real than poetic metaphors for moons and stars.
Ad astra! Sean
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