All Considering » Islam and Sufism

God’s hat – a theology joke

Katinka - Spirituality — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:43:05 +0000

There were two tribes dwelling near each other. God decided to walk between them. But God wore a two colored hat. One side was red; the other side was blue. So when the two tribes discussed this visit by God, they ended up in argument. “God wore a blue hat. No! God wore a red hat.” To make matters worse, on the walk back, God rotated the hat, so that the blue side would always be facing one tribe and the red side would always face the second tribe. So that each tribe was sure that they had seen both sides of God’s hat.

Generosity and detachment – spiritual virtue no. 5

Katinka - Spirituality — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:30:36 +0000

Generosity is, for once, a classic virtue. In Islam it’s called Zakat: the duty to give a percentage of your possessions to the poor.

Generosity is linked to another classic virtue: detachment. In both Hinduism and Buddhism attachment to stuff, money and status is seen as a problem. Letting go of that in the form of generosity is spiritual work. In Christianity too giving to the poor is a central virtue.

Attachment to status is subtler. A lot of people notice this only when it becomes a problem: the boss that ends up in a retirement home. The socialite (is that still a word?) that can’t keep up anymore because of Alzheimer.

At such moments letting go becomes a necessity. This is the reason that in countries like Japan Buddhism is for old people: that’s when letting go becomes the central life lesson.

In my series on spiritual virtues, norms and values.

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Posted in : Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and India, Islam and Sufism, Life style

The Secret applied to Young Muslims

Katinka - Spirituality — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:16:19 +0000

I’ve written about ‘The Secret‘ online. I’ve hosted a discussion on ‘The Secret’. I’ve inwardly cringed at the many commercial versions of the message I’ve seen online. Today I want to apply the basic psychological insights that are at the heart of the ‘The Secret’ to a group of young people that feels trapped. Let’s look outside our little bubble shall we?
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Read the rest of The Secret applied to Young Muslims (493 words)

All Considering » Islam and Sufism

God’s hat – a theology joke

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Generosity and detachment – spiritual virtue no. 5

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The Secret applied to Young Muslims