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Old 05-08-2016, 04:59 PM
7luminaries 7luminaries is offline
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I feel Judaism has a richer communal worship, contemplative/mystical tradition, and individual learning path than nearly anything else that exists. Extended into practical energy work, it also contains a direct path or link either to what we know as Taoist traditional medicine and energy work or to what we know Ayurvedic traditional medicine and energy work. Yoga (tai chi) is a particularly strong contribution of one, and Qi Gong (pranic healing) of the other.

Having said that, I feel mainstream Judaism in the West of whatever degree of observance has more or less the same drawbacks that all other traditions in the West do...it suffers from schisms, denial, and entrenched patriarchy/bro code regarding the core imbalances in all relationships in our society between the two fundamental units of humanity, men and women. Because most ppl in our society have no clear guidance on specifics from any branch of Judaism aside from the orthodox branches, which respect a woman's virginity in the same way as most any other orthodox religion, as a critical aspect of a woman's value as a potential wife etc.

The extreme orthodox impose severe gender inequities codified into every aspect of daily behavior and more or less fear or disdain everyone else as impure or not kosher. So for them women must be delivered to a man untainted and mikvah-compliant, and that's why the observant who are flawed and in need will often go to a prostitute rather than have any other sex outside of marriage. Because they feel it's more honest and respectful to have a business arrangement with a prostitute, rather than using any other single woman who is looking for something real. So if they have sex without love or commitment, they are owning it for what it is, just sex. And there actually I would tend to agree that it is more honest and more real, and that they are at least owning their straightforward intentions and actions.

Nearly everyone else who does not consider themselves observant in the orthodox sense seems to ascribe to the same severely utilitarian, exploitative, and rather amoral behavior in relationships that mainstream society puts forth and actively underwrites as "the norm". Particularly relationships other than marriage (some of which surely does have some measure of love and good intention regarding the other at least some of the time, even if not all the time and even if not always with an authentic love which actively desires and seeks the highest good of one another).

Lacking specific guidance and in-depth community reflection and discussion on morality and ethics pertaining to modern relationships from their traditions and from non-orthodox rabbis unwilling or unable to take a stand...largely for fear of offending PC sensibilities of congregants which above all cannot tread on bro code and the insatiable modern plagues of porn and sex addictions...most modern men are led by mainstream social propaganda and not by a deeper authentic love and respect for their fellow human beings. Particularly if they must make insatiable, unrelenting demands on 50% of them for uncommitted sex on demand in even the most casual, uncommitted, unloving, and superficial of relationships.

Modern norms and the amorality of the modern utilitarian ethos will not guide anyone on their path in ways that align with Spirit. But because the non-Orthodox branches largely feel they cannot frame or initiate the discussion with presence and clarity, what happens is there is essentially no real non-orthodox guidance at all from Western religion traditions for the application of authentic love in relationship to the opposite sex or toward potential life partners for those who are single for perhaps the better part of their adult life.

In this, nearly all non-orthodox spiritual traditions in the West have failed the vast majority of those in their societies (i.e., those who don't align with orthodoxy), particularly those who still very much wish to live a life that is right-aligned with Spirit, self, and others. Including Judaism, which could make the argument right now persistently, thoroughly, and with great love...were the congregants not so thoroughly vested in the modern lazy amorality, bro code, and unfettered sexual exploitation (errr, I mean, a "mutual use", supposedly...) that they simply could hardly tolerate a mention of it. Much less a more thoroughly honest, direct, sensitive, and truly loving discussion that involves all parties involved (that is, all humanity, men and women).

I suppose what I'm saying is that, like all non-orthodox traditions in the West, Judaism has failed to thus far successfully, freely, and thoroughly engage with the most fundamental societal imbalances of the two most fundamental units of humanity, men and women. And yet like all other spiritual traditions worldwide, it assumes that addressing the mutual sustainability of interaction between these fundamental units of humanity can be ignored or relegated to a status (if married then do otherwise according to orthodox rule....else no guidance other than get married). As if we self-reproduced and therefore there truly were only 2 levels or units...individual and various communities of self-reproducing individuals.

But WAIT...how is it you go about even that bit, the bit about marriage? Do you get to know and love someone first? Or do you demand sex and have sex with whomever without love and then maybe marry one of them in your lifetime if you do care at some point and/or if it suits you? What are the deeper implications? Why would this matter and who cares if we're mutually using each other for sex or boosting or comfort? Well, Judaism says all is sacred, body and soul...and likewise sex is a mutual joining of body and soul, not a singular bodily function like defecation or urination or eating or sleeping. And most traditions would find a self-serving use or exploitation of others as misaligned, even if it's "mutual". This is EXACTLY where specific, concrete, day-to-day guidance and commentary comes in -- bringing much needed clarity, awareness, reflection, ownership, and food for thought.

I think that we need commentary based on authentic love with very clear application and guidance in the West, in modern societies, dealing with relationships and interaction between men and women as equals in Spirit. Rather than simply considering the issue of relationships as it relates to the states of betrothal or marriage, else not at all. From the perspective of authentic love, which seeks the highest good of the other equally to the self, and which always seeks to align intent, word, and deed with Spirit, then it becomes much easier to discuss generally what we feel is good (or right-aligned with Spirit) in our tradition, versus what misses the mark, or is less well-aligned with Spirit. And in the penetrating way of Judaism, this clearly also means deeply engaged, detailed discussions with a number of very clear case examples, different perspectives per usual, minority opinions to preserve diversity on principle, and so forth.

Real, concrete discussion, questioning, reflection, and yes guidance for modern, non-orthodox humanity's day-to-day interactions and relationships -- particularly all relationships between men and women -- based on authentic love and clearly delineated at every step as such. This is so very deeply needed to counter the modern amoral utilitarianism in relationship, particularly those between men and women where the vast imbalances that currently exist between are always the axis upon which all else turns. It's a start, it's that slight turning in the right direction (toward Spirit), and it's long overdue for the modern era. I saw a few pages in 1 chapter with some very general guidance in a recent compendium on Conservative Judaism from the US -- among the first ever of this sort of guidance, really. Inadequate but underscoring the rarity of this topic in majority non-orthodox circles in the West.

Peace & blessings
7L
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Bound by conventions, people tend to reach for what is easy.

Here we must be unafraid of what is difficult.

For all living beings in nature must unfold in their particular way

and become themselves despite all opposition.

-- Rainer Maria Rilke

Last edited by 7luminaries : 05-08-2016 at 06:06 PM.
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