Spinoza and my views

Spinoza is an interesting character. I have to say I agree somewhat with his views of God and Law, but not the Soul.

"What God is, for Spinoza, is Nature itself—the infinite, eternal, and necessarily existing substance of the universe. God or Nature just is; and whatever else is, is “in” or a part of God or Nature. Put another way, there is only Nature and its power; and everything that happens, happens in and by Nature. There is no transcendent or even immanent supernatural deity; there is nothing whatsoever outside of or distinct from Nature and independent of its processes."

http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2013/septemberoctober/feature/why-spinoza-was-excommunicated

I agree with much of this paragraph except that I do think it is transcendent, but that it is all inward, internal. There is no outside force. It is an all pervading force. I also do think the spirit is a very real aspect of nature, an invisible force that does actually connect all things to each other and it is this connection that I would call God. So, while I agree nature is all there is, I think there is more to nature than we realize. 

While Spinoza's God is not one to give worship to or thanks, for myself I think it is important and humbling and does reconnect you to the wholeness of everything. You are connecting than to the spirit that is in all of us, all of nature and is the most fundamental form allowing everything to exist. 

But I do agree with his statement. "Love your fellow human beings and treat them with justice and charity. This is all that is essential to the “true religion.” Everything else is just superstition."

I would say it is Love and Compassion which is true religion and this is what is at the essence or heart of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism and when this is not practiced, it becomes a lie and any religion without Love and Compassion is a lie. 

This is what I think the Buddha meant when asked about those who do not know Buddhism and what would happen to them and he replied, 'there is no other religion.' This is because at the core, all true religions are the same. Love and Compassion. Everything else is just details that often separate us into groups. 

But we are not separate, and even the physical world which we see which looks very separate is not separate, it is all one, in my view. 

I also agree with his views on the Laws. They were written by men and passed down from generation to generation. They were written to keep order, to promote prosperity, unity, happiness, and health. In many ways, at their heart, the laws are good. But when they come into conflict with love and compassion I would have to disagree. 

I do think men are inspired by the spirit that connects all of us and all things to each other and that it is possible to becomes more intuitive about nature and life by listening to this spirit. In that sense, some of the writings which we call spiritual or religious may have come, but I do think that one has to use their good judgment.

I also find it interesting that all four major religions speak of uniting as one. In Christianity Christ says "to become one with Father as I am one."  In Buddhism and Hinduism there is also a sense of becoming one with the nothingness, or one with Nirvana. There is a sense of denying the self and becoming less selfish, less separate to live in harmony, compassion, and love as one. In Christianity we are also taught to deny ourself and We find this common thread of love, compassion and oneness in many writings of religions.

In Kabbalah we also find a writing that says, "Everything is mysteriously one." Kabbalist Lucia may have written that, but I'm not sure. 

To me it seems the essentials are Love, Compassion, and Oneness.

As far as the soul, I obviously have vastly different views from Spinoza. I think there is a spiritual essence to nature at its very fundamental fabric which is invisible much like the quantum physics of things and I think it is at this level where everything is connected and one. 

I also think that consciousness is linked or connected to this oneness, this fundamental fabric. So, we are all one physically by quantum physics, but spiritually as well. Or perhaps this fundamental vibration that pervades all things in a quantum physics sense is also what one might call the spirit, that which continues and had no beginning or end and which is everything and all of us. 

But I do think there is a essence which is you or me which does exist after physical death. Like a vibration of energy or nature's echo left behind. I do think some people are more sensitive to seeing this vibration or echo and this is what people might call a ghost or a spirit. 

How long does it linger? 

I would also say that even Christ spoke about "your body is the temple of God." So, the idea of God dwelling within isn't really a new concept. God for the most part in many teachings is in fact internal. 

Christians have heard of the "All consuming fire." Well, it is consuming ALL. That means everything and everywhere. This idea of everywhere is found in many spiritual teachings, not just Christianity. 

So, I don't think my views differ so much from true teachings actually. I think where my views differ is from what has become mainstream or polar notions which most people can understand. 

But understanding and truth are two different things and I think truth is often beyond our understanding.