Asked the student: "Wise man, why don't we worship our Creator the same way Christians, Jews and Muslims do?"
Retorted the teacher: "Why should we worship our Creator?"
Said the student: "For the same reason the Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship theirs?"
Asked the teacher: "Wouldn't you think our belief about our Creator differs greatly from that of other religions?"
Sumarized the student: "We all believe in a Creator, we all believe them to be present in our current universe."
Pointed out the teacher: "Don't they also believe their Creator is a living being, separate from the universe but a part of it at times, able to react to it, to influence it? And since they believe their Creator created the universe for their benefit, don't they also believe their Creator listens to them and answers their prayer? Apart from that, don't they believe worship will get them a better place in the hereafter?"
Said the student: "Possibly..."
Continued the teacher: "And we don't. To us, the Creator sacrificed their singularity, their own life so to speak, to spawn life in our universe. Divine energy became a part of everything. The universe already knows what we think, because we are part of it and it is part of us. That however doesn't mean we frown upon worship. It can be quite useful."
Asked the student: "How so, wise man? If our Creator doesn't pay attention, who is there to worship?"
Explained the teacher: "The local deities. Those who yield a larger influence than other beings."
Asked the student: "They do pay attention, and can be persuaded to be kind given the right worship?"
Said the teacher: "Personally I like to perform my own duties instead of asking a deity for help. Practice has shown however, that not all in our path feel the same, and some deities do offer a helping hand when asked nicely."
Pursued the student: "Then why is it that you don't like to ask a deity for help?"
Retorted the teacher: "If you were a deity, asked to help someone, wouldn't you want something in return?"
Said the student: "For the same reason the Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship theirs?"
Asked the teacher: "Wouldn't you think our belief about our Creator differs greatly from that of other religions?"
Sumarized the student: "We all believe in a Creator, we all believe them to be present in our current universe."
Pointed out the teacher: "Don't they also believe their Creator is a living being, separate from the universe but a part of it at times, able to react to it, to influence it? And since they believe their Creator created the universe for their benefit, don't they also believe their Creator listens to them and answers their prayer? Apart from that, don't they believe worship will get them a better place in the hereafter?"
Said the student: "Possibly..."
Continued the teacher: "And we don't. To us, the Creator sacrificed their singularity, their own life so to speak, to spawn life in our universe. Divine energy became a part of everything. The universe already knows what we think, because we are part of it and it is part of us. That however doesn't mean we frown upon worship. It can be quite useful."
Asked the student: "How so, wise man? If our Creator doesn't pay attention, who is there to worship?"
Explained the teacher: "The local deities. Those who yield a larger influence than other beings."
Asked the student: "They do pay attention, and can be persuaded to be kind given the right worship?"
Said the teacher: "Personally I like to perform my own duties instead of asking a deity for help. Practice has shown however, that not all in our path feel the same, and some deities do offer a helping hand when asked nicely."
Pursued the student: "Then why is it that you don't like to ask a deity for help?"
Retorted the teacher: "If you were a deity, asked to help someone, wouldn't you want something in return?"