Photo: catusbones
Like a spiritual time capsule, these questions provide you with a snapshot of your current beliefs.
In my early 20’s, I almost became a nihilist. An existential nihilist to be exact, which argues “life is without meaning.”
I based my belief on the reality I saw around me (or at least on the news): war, violence, and death was everywhere. In the face of such suffering, I couldn’t understand why anything “mattered.” The only logical explanation was that the universe had no purpose.
If I did the exercise again in 5 years, 10 years, 25 years… who knows the insight these polaroids will provide?
I quickly realized this mentality was a deep, dark hole, and decided to continue exploring other beliefs on the nature of existence.
Now, looking back 8 years later, I realize it would have been interesting to chronicle my worldview at that time. Like a spiritual diary, I would have been able to study where I came from, and better understand my personal evolution.
Recently, I came across 20 questions that eloquently serve this purpose. Featured in the 2005 documentary film One, these questions were posed to various spiritual leaders of today: from Deepak Chopra, to Ram Dass, to the Dalai Lama.
I realized answering these questions myself would provide a snapshot of my beliefs today. And if I did the exercise again in 5 years, 10 years, 25 years… who knows the insight these polaroids will provide?
If you, dear reader, would like to join me, here’s how:
Instructions
Copy and paste the questions below into a blank document or blog post. Answer each question with as much detail as you like, then publish your answers on your personal blog.
Leave a comment below with a link to your post.
20 Questions For Every Spiritual Seeker
1. Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
2. What is the relationship between science and religion?
3. Why are so many people depressed?
4. What are we all so afraid of?
5. When is war justifiable?
6. How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
7. How does one obtain true peace?
8. What does it mean to live in the present moment?
9. What is our greatest distraction?
10. Is current religion serving its purpose?
11. What happens to you after you die?
12. Describe heaven and how to get there.
13. What is the meaning of life?
14. Describe God.
15. What is the greatest quality humans possess?
16. What is it that prevents people from living to their full potential?
17. Noverbally, by motion or gesture only, act out what you believe to be the current condition of the world.
18. What is your one wish for the world?
19. What is wisdom and how do we gain it?
20. Are we all one?
Remember, post a link to your answers in the comments below!
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42 Comments... join the discussion!
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Thanks for posing these questions, Ian. I think it would be great for people to mark their answers at different points in life–we often forget, or don’t realize, how much we have changed over time.
Side note, but a little chill ran through me when I read Deepak’s name, just because how much I have heard lately about him not being the type of spiritual leader we would want to follow…
As soon as I have a few moments, I’ll definitely fill the “questionnaire” out.
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“…a little chill ran through me when I read Deepak’s name…” I’m not particularly a huge Deepak devotee, but curious what you’ve heard about him?
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I will also answer questions later on my blog, but you raised my curiosity Christine…about Deepak. I have probably missed some news, but why did you say that he is not the leader we would like to follow?
I am currently exploring the issue with spiritual teachers, and it just rung a bell…
Ekaterina↵ -
Interesting idea. I always was a seeker, but now it’s a little different than it was (but that’s ok, change is good) because my seeking lead me to atheism. I still see merit in some spiritual pursuits (depending on how you define that), but I think my responses may be a little different that most.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=109512908236
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Hi Luke – thanks for sharing the link. It appears to send me over to the Facebook homepage. Any ideas how to fix this?
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Hm. Ok, I’m not sure how to fix that so I’ll just repost it to livejournal.
http://doommachine.livejournal.com/129352.html
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http://alottabitofhope.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-questions-pertaining-to-life.html
Here’s my reply to the 20 questions. They really made me think. Thanks, I really appreciate it
-David
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Hi Ian,
Thanks for continuing to include the spiritual in your content. I really appreciate it!
I enjoyed your answers to the questions you posed — you have obviously given them a lot of thought. It will be very interesting to check back in 10, 20 years to see how you’ve evolved.
Some of your questions seem much more pertinent to me than others. But I think that’s also a part of being a spiritual seeker: I think each person needs to figure out what THEIR questions are. It’s not that you will find “the answer,” but just knowing what motivates you is very powerful. For example, for me, “how can I achieve compassion?” is a big one.
As a yoga student I am moving from duality to non-duality; that is my biggest change. It is a huge paradigm shift that may take a lifetime (maybe several!).
Not sure how Deepak Chopra’s name came up, but I wouldn’t be too quick to diss him. He works very hard at finding ways to impart India’s ancient wisdom to the west, in ways and words that people can understand. He is my favourite Tweeter! His tweets are lovely. Quotes from Rumi, from the Vedas; small yoga teachings, all kinds of lovely, inspirational, positive things.
Mariellen
http://breathedreamgo.wordpress.com/↵ -
These are good questions, but 2 assume God and 1 assumes the afterlife. I just wanted to point that out.
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This was a challenging excercise, and took me into a level of thought that I don’t normally occupy day to day. It’s hard for me to not keep questioning my answers “is that what you really believe?”. It was also difficult to answer them alone, without a situation for context, or others to bounce my ideas against. But I feel satisfied with this benchmark.
http://foodandyoga.ca/20-questions
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“It’s hard for me to not keep questioning my answers” I’d say just think of the answers as a snapshot that’s always evolving, rather than anything absolute.
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Karen,
I finally got around to reading the answers of others, and I found your thoughts full of resonance. I especially liked your answer to the question “What is our greatest distraction?”, which I missed in my own perspective.
Thanks for sharing.
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http://innermostponderings.blogspot.com/
Very stimulating questions. I have enjoyed reading others’ answers.
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http://debworks.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-questions.html
My answers to the 20 questions. It will be interesting to see where I am in 5 years. For me, everything kept coming back to love.
How can there not be God? We are all God and connected and necessary to each other, the ebb and the flow.
Thanks for letting my brain consider answers that work for me.
@debworks↵ -
Ok, finally finished it and passed the baton on!
http://www.holisticwithhumor.com/20-questions-for-every-spiritual-seeker-with-answers
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Like, wow. I feel a cup of tea and some reflection coming on.
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Thanks for this idea, Ian!
http://maureenmaloney.blogspot.com/
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Ok, interesting exercise Ian. After much thought I will share my answers here:
http://makiism.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-questions-age-54.html
Note, these are just opinions – I do not intend to offend anyone…
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Great questions, lots of thinking, but nice result fo me. Here’s my answers:
http://anastown.blogspot.com/↵ -
Why do I assume that I know what I’m talking about?
Q 21. Why do I imagine that “teleological” questions are answerable in principle?
Q 22. Why do I think that there are so-called spiritual truths?
Q 23. Why do I think in black/white?
Q 24. Why do I turn to metaphysical Ponzi schemes?
Q 25. Why do I allow myself to be dictated to by frauds?
The de-deification of western culture (including the sciences) is our task for the next 100 years.
the anti_supernaturalist
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This was a really interesting activity. I too wish I had a snapshot of what I believed at different points in my life.
Here’s mine: http://rebel-workinprogress.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-questions.html
And I’m off to read how others have answered.
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I’ve finally finished my 20 questions and I’m looking forward to reading more answers from others.
Here we go: http://livinginthemystery.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-spiritual-questions-to-ponder.html
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In case any are still following the threads here, you might be interested in today’s Quirks and Quarks podcast on the evolutionary basis for violence
http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/quirksaio_20090425_14761.mp3
Interesting fuel for Question 5.
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Thanks for the find Ian, I’ll check it out.
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1. Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?
Because of dysfunctional systems, cruel people, or because something bad happens naturally.2. What is the relationship between science and religion?
They are both attempts to gain control over the unknown. Control through understanding, and also, with science, through innovation. They could easily coexist, but humans, especially when organized, tend to polarize and like to take sides.3. Why are so many people depressed?
Because they are confused.4. What are we all so afraid of?
Pain, in one form or another.5. When is war justifiable?
When the state (or group or whatever) is attacked or oppressed (but it can only go to war with the actual aggressor), or when a (non-agressive) party is being attacked or oppressed and asks for help.6. How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?
I don’t know that there is a God, or that if there is one, it would have opinions about what we should do.7. How does one obtain true peace?
If I knew that…8. What does it mean to live in the present moment?
I’m not sure.9. What is our greatest distraction?
It’s not the same for everyone.10. Is current religion serving its purpose?
“Current religion”? What religion, where, for who? Some of it probably is for some people somewhere. Most of it seems like it isn’t for most people around here. But some of it is, even for some people around here.11. What happens to you after you die?
Don’t know.12. Describe heaven and how to get there.
I have no idea whether there is an afterlife, or, if there is, if there are multiple afterlives of differing qualities determined by the arbitrarily judged “goodness” of a person’s life.13. What is the meaning of life?
Do you think I know that?14. Describe God.
Potentially existent.15. What is the greatest quality humans possess?
Passion.16. What is it that prevents people from living to their full potential?
Confusion.17. Noverbally, by motion or gesture only, act out what you believe to be the current condition of the world.
I have no way of displaying my response to this.18. What is your one wish for the world?
Reason.19. What is wisdom and how do we gain it?
It’s what you get after seeing a lot.20. Are we all one?
` Literally, I guess maybe. Metaphorically, for sure. We’re all animals trying to satisfy our need for satisfaction.↵ -
It was intresting to work on those questions thanks. Here is what came of it, and now I will enjoy what the others did with it.
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I think there is a great diversity to belief. As with all the answers provided one can learn so much from others. What I have noticed most in life is that your beliefs change continuously based on your environment and the experiences you live. Therefore there is not any one answer to most of these questions that will be agreed upon by everyone. No matter who you are, where you are from, what you were taught, your experiences, your desires and your thoughts. These things all influence your judgement, as they should. The key to enlightenment is learning. If we allow ourselves to see, touch, and feel each emotion and thought, that is when we grow as people. We are all living beings and we have a place in this world.
The old idiom of “you never know a person until you walk in their shoes” applies to each of the questions you presented here. Why is there poverty? Until you have lived an impoverished life you cannot answer this question. What you think of as poverty may not be poverty to the person living it. They may see it as something else. A simpler, less complicated life with hardships to overcome or live with. Maybe we think they are ignorant and need to be taught about disease and cleanliness. Most certainly we believe they need to be educated and helped which is why we have created many organizations to help those we feel need help.
Many things attribute to poverty including choice and free will. Yes, we also have to consider that there are those who look to oppress and control others for their own profit and it is situations like those that we desire to change and the end result is almost always war. Good, bad, Ying and Yang. Everything has a balance. Chioce and consequence.
Where we get into the most trouble as human beings is when we try to impose our believes on those around us who may believe something differently. This leads to war, terrorism, oppression. We are all kids on a playground bullying each other around to see who is right, who is strongest, and who is the best. All natural internal survival of the fittest instincts. I see it in my children. There is a quiet truth to sibling rivalry that we forget we carry as we age. Science and belief intertwined in a daily experiment for us to watch and learn from with constant opportunities for teaching.
The older I get the more I appreciate my friends, my family, my surroundings, the environment, strangers, animals, music, art, wind. These are the things that we can forget. Why we forget them is different for each of us. Why are so many people depressed? They have forgotten how to explore, create, grow, learn, and feel. They are afraid that if they share their sorrow they will be exploited, demeaned, browbeaten and bullied. Or even worse? Who would care?
Our human brains that give us so much intelligence also have given us emotion which is a beautiful quality. That is if you have been taught that your feelings are OK. There are many who have not been taught that their feelings are normal or they have been forgotten by friends and family or society and therefore have no outlet for their emotions. As a society we have become closed. In that process we have cut ourselves off from our emotions, we don’t want to care about a stranger who is struggling and that is why we are failing.
That is the true moment of possibility for peace. Opening yourself up to the world and the people in it. Taking that chance to look beyond yourself into the life and heart of another and with your whole being care for them. All of them, crazy, sad, angry, insane, tired, poor, or wealthy them. That is when you are living completely in the present. The more you do this, the easier it gets, and the more you gain from the experience. Wisdom comes with that experience so we need reach out as often as we can.
I guess that is the greatest wish I can have. That we all decide that we all matter and act accordingly and if we could do this then our lives will be fulfilled. So yes, we are one and we need to remember that when we walk out of our door each day. One living sphere of energy that can only survive through community, conservation and generosity.
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Wow, thanks for your comment Jennifer! Much food for thought. I can’t quite answer right now, so I’ll let it sink in.
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My finding of this was rather timely, given that I’ve been struggling through some spiritual issues.
My link: http://thenextstopis.tumblr.com/post/476706321/20-questions-for-spiritual-seekers
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Very interesting questions that I know have changed since five years ago and will most likely change in another five, as well. I went ahead and posted my answers on my blog, as well as a link back to your site. http://reachingforthetruth.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-answers-in-response-to-20-questions.html
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Hey Ian, thanks for the post and giving us all a chance to question and hear from everyone. I discovered the post, along with BNT – and I am loving the site! Keep it up!
Here are my answers:
http://joyanddisquiet.blogspot.com/2010/04/20-questions-for-every-spiritual-seeker.html
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Hi Ian,
I’ve posted this to my blog, along with my answers. I’m waiting for comments from others. Please have a look, at your leisure.
http://creativefactory.blogspot.com/2010/05/20-questions-for-every-spiritual-seeker.html↵ -
1.karma
2,yin/yang
3. disconnection from the “all”
4.rejection
5.to protect one’’s young/ones home
6. like water
7. yoga/diet/lifestyle
8. breather in, breath out
9. worry
10. no
11. recycled
12. here/now…NATURE…smile
13. to live simply and naturally is the highest and final goal! neitzche
14. prana/lifeforce
15. creativity
16. fear..lack of vision and faith
17,
18. reverence and protection of nature
19. wisdom is insight and understanding. we “gain’ it thru honest observation, trusting ones GUT, experience
20. maybe, certainly different aspects of the one…the many faced /armed/hindu god/dess/↵ -
i had these questions, i knew some people had answers i wanted to know. know not read or understand, it feels different. like i know not to stick my hand in fire, because i tried it… that kind of knowing. i attended a class of isha yoga class. at first i barely did the practice although i could feel it powerful. but after a couple of years when my questions got too loud i couldn’t ignore, i started doing the practices according to how much they said i should do. after a while my stress level and my physical discomfort went away. that was fine, that was not what i was looking for but its surely better to go on more comfortable while searching. so i took the advanced program since i saw that the exercises do what they said they would. as i sat more in programs and volunteered a bit, i continued doing my exercises and something happened.
i would continue life normally even in my work schedule that is hectic, i developed a keen mind, that became like Sadhguru said undiscriminating as it by its nature but it became sharp and piercing. i would be going down the supermarket and would think “why do i want chocolate? and suddenly experiencing it as my karma…. i would know it, in a way by logical means would not have happened” seeing things like my karma chattering… life unveiling … takes me through states of bliss my tears fall down as i experience things beyond the trap of my mind. i wish you the same. learn an exercise u can do that opens you up to experiencing your questions rather than hearing about them. you can find a class at the ishafoundation.org
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My answers:
http://mioumiou.livejournal.com/3054.html↵ -
Thank you for these. I guess it was high time for me to assess my beliefs and outlook on life and spirituality.
http://catharticsession.tumblr.com/post/692792935#n
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1. Why is there poverty and suffering in the world? the current global economic system and greed.
2. What is the relationship between science and religion? Two sides of the same coin, they are searching for the same answer from different perspectives. Science explains how, religion attempts to explain why.
3. Why are so many people depressed? Alienation felt as a result of the modern consumer condition
4. What are we all so afraid of? Afraid?
5. When is war justifiable? Only one war in history was acceptable: World War Two. All the rest have only served the interests of the ultra rich.
6. How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism? Frankly i doubt god would care, it is particularly anthropocentric to believe god even gives a damn about the human race given the immense totality of his creation. (assuming you believe in god) I believe there are easily explainable reasons for why there is aggression and terror, though how to respond is a difficult question.
7. How does one obtain true peace? Outside of the confines of the political system for a start. If i knew that surely there would be world peace?
8. What does it mean to live in the present moment? I believe anyone who believes they do is lying to themselves.
9. What is our greatest distraction? Holding down a job.
10. Is current religion serving its purpose? Some are, many aren’t. Christianity appears, in a very generalised manner, to have lost its way.
11. What happens to you after you die? You enter the glorious realm of the carbon cycle, what christians call eternal life and hindus call reincarnation.
12. Describe heaven and how to get there: Delude yourself into thinking heaven is a place is a good start, then tell yourself blindly following dogma is the route to it.
13. What is the meaning of life? You make your own, though the thought might terrify some.
14. Describe God: God was created in the image of man.
15. What is the greatest quality humans possess? Empathy
16. What is it that prevents people from living to their full potential? inhibitions caused by the alienation of living in such a dissociative environment.
17. Noverbally, by motion or gesture only, act out what you believe to be the current condition of the world: ???
18. What is your one wish for the world? peace and goodwill for all.
19. What is wisdom and how do we gain it? Experience i guess, but not just that been able to deal with experiences in a positive manner, proven by the fact that not all old people are wise.
20. Are we all one? In a physical manner no, but we share common experiences that shape the identity and worldview. On a fundamental biological level yes, it all depends on your perspective.
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Turning this into a short series on my Web site. Part one is here: http://www.bluechairdharma.com/2010/06/twenty-questions-for-every-spiritual-seeker-1/
Thanks for the inspiration and the interesting questions.
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Naive
spiritual seekers beware! Unless you want to pay with your lifetime of
frustration and despair, do the "due diligence" before following a guru or the teachings. Your own Self is on guard, but you must not interfere through
ignorant decisions…
Peace,
Sandy↵ -
Here’s my thoughts:
1) Why poverty/suffering? War/ conflict/hate.
2) Relationship of science and religion?—-Not much.
3)Why are people depressed? Failure to plan.
4) What are we all afraid of? Death
5)When is war justifiable? In defense..
6)How would God want us to respond to agression/terroism? Stop it.
7)How does one obtain true peace? Become peaceful.
8)What does it mean to live in the present moment? Shortsightedness.
9) What is our greatest distraction? Ourself.
10) Is current religion serving its purpose? NO.
11) What happens after death? One of two things-nothing or something.
12)Describle heaven, how do you get there? Complete peace. become peace.
13)What is the meaning of life? Glorious/beautiful.
14)Describe God? absolute wisdom.
15) What is the greatest human quality? Wisdom.
16)What prevents people from living/reaching potental? themselves.
17)Motion or gesture the current condition of the world? Total selfishness.
18)Your one wish for world? -Stop the selfishness.
19) What is wisdom? How do we get it? What we call God. work at it.
20)Are we all one? NO.↵
