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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26 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.↵
