emalpaiz

Welcome back! I remember you. Hermano Luis

Ignorance is alive and well!

The spiritual path that I have been following for the past 50+ years has nothing to do with my ethnicity. I have a very mixed ethnical background. Some of those who arrived in the island were Spanish "conquistadores" others came with a one way ticket from Africa. I am a Brown Spanish-English speaking Puerto Rican who converted to a form of Hinduism, who enjoys classical western music and listening to the sound of primitive drums. No my spiritual path has nothing to do with my ethnicity whatever it might be. Hermano Luis Morivivi Hermitage

The truth is that we are now in the ULC and we enjoy the variety of spiritual experiences. I have always said be what or who you want to be, but do it with Understanding, Love, and Compassion (U.L.C.). Hermano Luis

Thank you Atwater Vitki for your interesting answer. In the Vedantic traditions the word soul (Atman) is attributed to all sentient beings. And by sentient beings is understood all living beings. Buddhism, our sister religion, like us considers all living beings as sentient beings. Unlike the Vedantic tradition Buddhists subscribe to the doctrine of anatman or no separate soul. So both the Vedantic and Buddhist spiritual tradition would reject the idea of androids having a soul. Nevertheless I believe that if androids can solve the many Koans used by the Rinzai Zen Buddhist traditions, they should be considered a new class of sentient beings. Hermano Luis

I have been giving this question about androids a lot of thought. I recently asked myself two questions. Are androids sentient beings? Do we as sentient beings have souls or are we living souls? Hermano Luis

Why is the ULC special to me? Freedom of thought or religion! There are very few churches that respect the freedom of thought of their members. Freedom of thought is essential in the ULC. Most traditional churches fear that freedom. Here I can share my spiritual thoughts with everyone. As ULC members we have no need to attack anyone. That does not mean that we always have to agree with the thoughts or beliefs of others. We can disagree, but we do not have to destroy. Freedom is the bond that unites us. My personal opinion. Hermano Luis

I was a professional violin player. I played salsa in Latin American dance orchestra. I also played in Chamber Music Orchestra in Puerto Rico. Right now I have retired from music. Limit myself to listening. Hermano Luis

All religions change with the times.

To be honest, I know very little about the Jehovah's Witness religion. And the little that I have read of their literature is not very convincing, Nevertheless, I would like to know how their literature is going to help the Guatemalan children restore their values and reduce criminality. The Guatemalan people must have seen something of value in their literature. Hermano Luis

You will never abandon the work of the Lord, because the Lord's work is about Understanding, Love and Compassion. You have a lot of that. Continue the real work that you do. Hermano Luis Morivivi Hermitage

To be more specific, Rinzai Zen. They would have to deal with very enigmatic Koans. It would be very interesting to see how they solve the Koans if ever they solve them. Koans do not have a specific answer. Would that confuse them?

It is always a great moment to celebrate what the ULC means to everyone of us. To be honest I believe that the ULC is ageless, because the principles that it stands for -- Freedom of religion and Ethical living -- are eternal.

Zen Buddhism!

The truth is that everyone of us walks a unique path. Nobody has to legitimize the path that we have chosen. We can give the path that we have chosen a name or not. That will not change who we are as we walk our paths. We can also change the name of our path, but it will still be our path. That is one of the beautiful aspects of the ULC. Two things I have always said we should keep in mind as we walk the chosen path: respect the freedom of all and live an ethical live. So, good friend cuchulain, walk your path with serenity and compassion, and I am sure that it will take you far. Hermano Luis Morivivi Hermitage

As I have grown older, I have learned to listen with serenity,

It might happen some day. When? I do not know!

I think that we have learned to respect and appreciate difference.

I have been away for a few days due to technical problems. I just solved my problems. I have found something in the ULC that is difficult to find in the best of churches: the fellowship of women and men of different spiritual traditions, atheists, and agnostics. I ask myself, in what church can we find such a group? It is the variety of beliefs and none beliefs in the ULC that makes spiritual search worthwhile. There are voices in this forum that are worth a thousand academic professors. The insight that is offered here is hard to obtain in any church or spiritual center. Let us never change. Hermano Luis Moriviví Hermitage

We should feel honored. In its early stages Christianity was considered something terrible. What happens is that they fear us. We have grasped the spirit of the times: Freedom and Ethical Living. We are a community of real people with differemt ideas, and we are able to live in harmony. There are many Christians among us who have learned the true meaning of "love thy neighbor as yourself'. That neighbor could be a Buddhist, an Agnostic, a Jew, an Atheist, a Panentheist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Gay person, a Lesbian... We have learned or are learning the true meaning of love. They have not learned yet that we in our strange ways are becoming a family filled with Understanding, Love, and Compassion... U.L.C. Hermano Luis Moriviví Hermitage (A Proud Father of a Gay Son)

You have the freedom to create your own style of worshipl Hermano Luis

I have no desire to go to Mars in this incarnation. Hermano Luis

I believe that God forgives everything even if we ask or not. I believe that I am responsible for my acts even if God forgives me or not. I am clear in one thing, no matter where I live in this universe, I live in God's Kingdom. Hermano Luis

Thank God that I do not go to that pastor's church.

Congratulations! I have one grandson, and he is a joy to our family. Enjoy your new grandchild.