In the same way that those who use God’s name in vain to weaponise his name performatively in order to gain power and control through distortion and contortion may be viewed as blasphemous, so too can this apply to those who use God’s name as a conduit for sanctifying the worship of their own cowardice, avoidance, or discomfort.
The Tenth Precept of my school of Buddhism is "a follower of the way does not abuse the three treasures" (the teachers, teachings, and the student community). This aligns in my mind with your admonishment to eschew performative Faith "as a soothing mantra to avoid confronting that which they know in their soul is misaligned...."
Thus, by either notion, it is de facto delusional to obscure reality behind notions of emptiness. The tenth precepts advises against using a teacher, teachings, or their identity in a community as the rationale for the retreat like you caution with "Faith is not meant to erase agency, but to refine and align it."
The essential ritual I practice, just sitting, is practiced without purpose. This is the devotional. There is no reason. I am a human being, not a human doing.
Blasphemy carries an intentionality component, yet awareness itself exists along a fluid meta-level spectrum, encompassing blatant rebellious disregard or defiance, wilful self-deception, unconscious defence mechanisms, and genuine but immature discernment - thus, not all distortions are inherently blasphemous.
Beautifully written, as always.
Brilliant 🙏
The Tenth Precept of my school of Buddhism is "a follower of the way does not abuse the three treasures" (the teachers, teachings, and the student community). This aligns in my mind with your admonishment to eschew performative Faith "as a soothing mantra to avoid confronting that which they know in their soul is misaligned...."
Thus, by either notion, it is de facto delusional to obscure reality behind notions of emptiness. The tenth precepts advises against using a teacher, teachings, or their identity in a community as the rationale for the retreat like you caution with "Faith is not meant to erase agency, but to refine and align it."
The essential ritual I practice, just sitting, is practiced without purpose. This is the devotional. There is no reason. I am a human being, not a human doing.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful writing.
Blasphemy carries an intentionality component, yet awareness itself exists along a fluid meta-level spectrum, encompassing blatant rebellious disregard or defiance, wilful self-deception, unconscious defence mechanisms, and genuine but immature discernment - thus, not all distortions are inherently blasphemous.