Zen Inclusive of Mormonism? A Needful Thing!

[Apologeticsislying]

https://lowerlightswisdom.org/blog/2019 ... -mormonism

A really thought provoking article well worth reading. While I agree with his idea that Mormonism is strong on service, and community is strong also, I find the community of the Unitarian Universalists equally on par.

Mormonism must needs grow into community of wider import than it's own in order to survive. If nothing else, they at least need a revelation to begin doing so, and quit being so snotty about be exclusive on authority. We don't need authority, we need love these days. We are all in it together, and love will be the key. Genuine love, not an authoritarian I commanded you to love so you go out and do so for the sake of the commandment.

It's time to open our heart and include all peoples into our faith and love and hopes and work. The vision needs to enlarge. The vision needs to begin to include. The vision needs to recognize the brilliant spiritual truth of the Upanishads which teach and has taught for more thousands of years than Nephi has existed in the Book of Mormon that our Ground is all the same. We, as humans, no national boundaries allowed, all humans, are of the same ground, and the basis of coming to beauty, to holiness, and love is compassion, not priesthood authority based on one man's thinking.
Here is another article about McConkie
https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/mormo ... practices-

While I truly don't see me working back into Mormonism, I do find it refreshing that he didn't drop Mormonism but instead brought Buddhism with him back into Mormonism. The ground is fertile for this kind of cross breeding of ideas. I truly wish him seriously well, and support him in his endeavor. I wish something like this was in my home town.

[Hagoth]

I heard McConkie speak recently and I really enjoyed it. I want to make it to one of his monthly Sangha meetings soon.

I say good on him for finding a way to make Buddhism work for him within Mormonism. That's the great thing about religions like Buddhism; you can be a Buddhist AND anything else. The problem comes when you look at it from the other side of the glass. I doubt there are many Mormons who think you can be a REAL Mormon and a Buddhist. Leadership roulette could make it really miserable for you if you are outspoken about your Buddhist leanings.

The leaders of the LDS church would have to give up gigantic amounts of ego to understand what embracing eastern philosophical concept could do for them/us, but I believe it would make for a religion that would be more palatable to their namesake Jesus.

My wife is a childrens' book author and illustrator. She creates books based on Chinese folk tales. The old ZCMI store used to have a good selection of childrens' books but when Mrs. Hagoth had her publisher send them a copy for consideration they responded that they couldn't carry a book like that because it might attract kids to "eastern thinking." They eventually did pick it up after it had won some awards, was selling well, and Mrs. Hagoth was a guest of honor at a BYU childrens literature conference.

[Apologeticsislying]

Holy Gawd that is ridiculous!!! Afraid the kids might learn something......but after it starts making money then HECK YEAH lets sell that! Mormonism isn't after knowledge. It's why it has become so stale and boring. All they have to give is rules, rules, rules........Well, I mean after all, Joseph Smith is known to have said "A man is only saved as fast as he gains money."

[Hagoth]

Well, I mean after all, Joseph Smith is known to have said "A man is only saved as fast as he gains money."

Joseph also borrowed ideas from Emmanuel Swedenborg but criticized him for not being able to turn his teachings into "daily bread." Joseph's successors took note and have certainly overcompensated in that regard.