Namaste LightofOm,
[My personal opinion as a polytheist, let no one take offence of it]
Seems to me you do not fully understand the Taoist texts you quote, if that leads you to believe that emotional religion is bad as it is based on ego and sensuality. What these quotes simply say is that by repressing things they become uncontrollable.
There is nothing wrong with ego or emotion, if we cultivate it into subtle states. We need an ego to achieve things, and if we avoid the strong negative emotions, emotion becomes pure art and delight to all beings. It is the very repression of ego and emotion by religion that creates the extremes. It then sees these as proof of her puritanical ideas. Religion with its overstatement of the (rational) mind and rejection of emotion and things material has only created imbalance. The pendulum is made to swing to one side and then unstoppable swings back to the other side. Is it a wonder that in the Bible states of the USA porn consumption is three times higher? No it is not.
Balance and Harmony can only be found if we stop rejecting the feminine aspect of reality, and give it an equal place. The reason I like Hinduism is that it is one of the few religions that appreciates both male and female aspects of reality. Sadly this forum is not a good reflection of that.
I would like somewhat more appreciation for the sensual side of reality. It is not evil, or dirty, or destructive. It is often people who lost the path of Dharm to such an extend that their Karma haunts them, and they can no longer feel happy in this world that want to leave the path for good, and see any pleasure in life as a distraction from their goal. It is their extreme life denying goal that makes them think that way. They are like ex-alcoholics on a crusade against any alcohol, but do not understand this is a personal problem caused by imbalance, not by alcohol. The weakness of the mind is projected on the world as evilness.
But for me, I think enjoying this life in all its aspects is the example that Sri Krishna showed us. Emotional religion? We call that devotional religion, that was one of the paths that was added by Sri Krishna. People seem to think that Sri Krishna is foremost an intellectual the way he acts in the Gita. But I see him as a very sensual person fully enjoying the sensual pleasure this world has to offer. And look at Rama and his family, they were extremely emotional people, but without the selfishness that makes it ugly.
For those that feel sensuality is wrong, I disagree. Luckily Ma Devi still incarnates to show us our errors:
The Sensual World,
Eat The Music,This woman's work, Breathing ,
Lily (did you recognize the Gayatri?)
This one is truly delightful:
Vishnu tries to kill Lakshmi
I wish this forum was a little more like that, and a little less a constant repetition of overly intellectual escapist ideas that made monotheism, especially Abramism such life hating ideologies. These ideologies were made for war by Kings. After all a warrior must be motivated to give up his earthly existence, that is why it needs to be devaluated into something inferior (in the sense of lower value). But if you really think that, then tell me: If it is inferior, why does Brahman wishes to be it?
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