Mormonism and Eastern Spirituality

[Anonymous]

Monkey brought up a question of eastern spirituality traditions in another topic. I see a good number of disaffected LDS turning this direction at times to seek new sources of “enlightenment.” I thought I would list some of the sources I enjoyed. Some of these were a valued part of the Christian tradition at one time in history, but did not survive the canonization process, or they were later condemned as “heresies” by the Roman Church.

The stuff I am listing are works that I have read, that I can remember right now off the top of my head. I don’t claim that any of these have some new absolute truth, but they were very interesting. The important thing for me was to see that other people have had VERY different views of spirituality and religion in the past. It is nice to know I am not the first person to go against the grain, and some of the ideas preserved are really very good at times. I don’t know if some of these are really any more “true” in a factual sense, but I have hope that the Spirit can guide us to valuable pieces of wisdom and enlightenment.

Yoga and Christianity

“The Yoga of Christ,” was an interesting article in Sunstone Magazine. I think the author did a good job of summarizing a more “eastern” view of Christianity and the Gospel:

https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_file_index&key=1137&name=146-30-45.pdf

There is an idea in eastern religions of letting go of the “baggage.” I find that idea beneficial and very practical. It is different than our traditional view of sin and progression in the LDS Church, but I don’t think that makes it wrong. It is just a different (and more compassionate) way of looking at our human condition.

Tao Te Ching

I personally enjoy the Tao Te Ching. I like this less-academic interpolation in particular: http://www.religiousworlds.com/taoism/ttcmerel.html

I really like some of the fuzzy paradoxical truth Lao Tzu managed to describe in his work. It helps me break my former all-or-nothing, one-way-or-another-only way of thinking. It also helps me break my concrete thinking — that I am going to find the absolute “Truth” once and for all. I am not in this life.

Other Non-Canon Christian Works:

Good Websites:

http://www.gnosis.org/library.html

http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/

In particular, I like:

The Gospel of Thomas http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl_thomas.htm

The Sophia of Jesus Christ http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/sjc.html

The Pistis Sophia http://www.gnosis.org/library/pistis-sophia/index.htm

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene http://www.gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm

The Secret Gospel of Mark http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/LostBooks/marksecret.htm

[Anonymous]

Valoel,

Thank you for posting this. I appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

I loved the Edwin Arnold translation of the Bhagavad Gita. If you have just a short break, start with chapters 16 and perhaps 12.

http://www.yogamovement.com/texts/gita.html” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.yogamovement.com/texts/gita.html

Like most things, though, it’s best to invest the time to slog through the whole thing and glean the good parts on your own.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, I didn’t know you were so educated in such. I attended and education week some years ago, that showed how the the gospel tied into Eastern thought, in particular Zen Buddhism. I found it fascinating then and still do. I read a lot.

I really liked The Yoga of Christ article.

I have often found great additional insight from many of these sources such as the Tao Te Ching. My favorite book is The Parent’s Tao Te Ching, it as ancient advice for modern parents. I recently discovered all the non-canonical sources during this past year and love to read more in those sources, I was just reading this morning from some of them in regards to women’s roles in Early Christianity.

Again, thanks for posting this.

[Author]

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