Pulling a Palin

2014 has come and gone.  I would like to say this religious experiment was an earth shattering and deep experience, but if I'm being honest with myself, it wasn't.  I had heard many times throughout the year that I was on a "spiritual search" but I never really looked at it this way. If anything, my favorite month was when I was spending time with the homeless...and not studying religion.

Unfortunately, I pulled a Sarah Palin and quit early.  I did end up studying Hinduism, and really enjoyed the fact that it was similar to the Buddhist teachings I had studied earlier, but I lost the drive to blog about it anymore.  It was about that time that life got busy. I was traveling a bit for work and went back home a few times to Illinois which made it was hard to attend a Hindu temple.  I made the decision to forgo doing a month dedicated to Judaism...no offense Jewish friends.  Maybe it was laziness, maybe it was the growing idea that I didn't see as much difference between the people of different faiths anymore.  Keep in mind, I originally wanted to learn how best to help/communicate effectively with people of different religions.  Month by month I kept realizing the truths are all the same, and if I want to be helpful, I need to learn how to be at peace with myself.

That's not to say I didn't learn anything about religion.  In fact, I learned a lot. What I learned was (in regards to religion/spirituality/lack thereof) there is nothing to learn. 

What I learned was that all theistic religions (that I participated in) seemed to say the same thing:  Take care of each other, be kind, wanting/material possessions will always lead you from the "truth", and everything will be ok in the end.  Seems pretty basic, and I realize overly simplistic, but is there much more to learn?  Sure, understanding the ins/out of your preferred religious tradition can help facilitate deeper learning, but so can taking care of people.  Going to church/mosque/temple every week can help you feel closer to God, but so will getting rid of unnecessary possessions.

What I realized about spirituality is that it has little to do with God, and everything to do with the person.  So many things play a role in spirituality.  The part of the Earth you were born, where you were raised, your upbringing, the beliefs of your family and the communities you associate with, and I'm sure many more layers that I will never understand.

I have learned first hand that everyone has a different interpretation of God.  So God has to be made up right?  Yes, I think so.  Not in the sense that there is no God or that your idea of God is wrong.  Just that you make him up as you see fit.  Don't get your panties in a ruffle folks, I think for the most part our ideas of God shape our ideals...and are really important to help us strive to be the best version of ourselves we can be.

But here's the fact:  your version of God can't be 100% right.  Brain experts tell us we all have biases that will sway our thoughts, the great books all say God is too big for us to fully fathom, and there is absolutely now way to prove your version is more/less correct than anyone else's.

So when I say there is nothing to learn, what I mean is there is nothing you can learn intellectually/academically that will get you closer to God.  What you do will be the biggest factor in getting you to where you hope to go where you die.  My 2 cents would be to stop trying to learn how to get there, and live like you are already are.  My 3 cents would be to tell you that I've been trying and its so much easier to think about than actually do.

But I'm just a nobody, so what do I know?

Thanks for reading friends.

If you believe in God...you might be a muslim.

There are a lot of misconceptions in the world.  I’m finding a whole new Islam since I’ve started reading the Qur’an.  Actually, if I’m being honest, it’s very much like reading the Bible.  I’ve come across Adam, Moses, Abraham, Mary…and many other celebrities of the Bible.  They are all extremely important.  So where’s the big difference?  Well, as far as I can tell, there isn’t much.  One HUGE point of contention is the idea of the trinity.  Muslims believe Jesus was from a virgin birth, enlightened to the truths of God, is highly regarded and important in the Islamic faith.  From my perspective, Muslims believe God is unimaginable:

“He is God, the One.  God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs.  He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” 

So what do else do Muslims believe that other faiths also believe?

• They believe in God.  The same one who created earth, although they do not believe the earth was created in 7 days.  It is written as the earth being created in 6 days, but the Arabic word used for days, could be eons…so who knows?

• They believe in angels.  The angel Gabriel was responsible for bringing the Qur’an to Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• They believe the Torah was given to Moses, Psalms was given to David, and the Gospels were given to Jesus from God.  So the Islamic scripture includes these three books, as well as the Qur’an.  They believe man has corrupted the previous truths sent from God, and that the Qur’an will not be corrupted.  That is why you must learn Arabic to truly understand the Qur’an.  I personally think it’s pretty cool the text has been unchanged since its origination.

• They believe in judgment day, when all people will be judged according to their belief and deeds.  I think there is a lot of misunderstanding here.  The Islamic view is not that only Muslims go to heaven.  God is one, he doesn’t care if you are Christian (as long as you believe God is the only God), if you are Jewish (as long as you believe God is the only God), if you are agnostic (as long as you believe there is only one God), Hindus…I think you have too many Gods, you might have a problem.  (sorry, not my rules)

• They believe in Al-Qadar, which is basically predestination.  This is a hard one from me to wrap my mind around.  Muslims believe we have free will, can choose right or wrong, and we are responsible for our choices.  But, they ALSO believe that whatever God wills to happen, will happen.  That seems a little contradictory to me…you be the judge.

• Just as Moses had the 10 commandments and the Jewish faith has its 613 mitzvot (commandments),  Islam has its 5 pillars.

1. Shahadah: declaring there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger
2. Salat: ritual prayer five times a day
3. Zakat: giving 2.5% of one’s savings to the poor and needy
4. Sawm: fasting and self-control during the holy month of Ramadan
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime (but only if one is able)

(Seems simple enough to follow, right?  Well, I have found that 5 prayers a day is a VERY difficult habit to cultivate!)

Just as there are many differences within each religion, there are many differences between each religion.  What I think is often overlooked, is how similar they all are.  It’s like getting upset your neighbor opted for the red mustang instead of the blue one you like…if we weren’t so busy being ignorant to the big picture, maybe we could get along better.  I know I’m a broken record here, but if we could all try to understand other points of view, we might not have such a hard time reevaluating our wrong perceptions. 

This is barely the tip of the iceberg, and I intend on going into more detail, but football is on…

Al-salaamu alaykum friends.

 

 

Don't believe everything you hear on TV

The wise ones say the opposite of what we know as true, is also the truth.  The proof is in the pudding, as they say.  I have been hearing a lot of news about the Islamic faith, and I have no idea where they are getting their information.  I don't mean to point fingers, as I'm pointing to the TV, but some people (politicians, people on the news, some Christian pastors), not going to say who, spew a lot of crazy speculative talk.  It's not for me to say if its sheer ignorance or out right lying, but it seems far from what I have found so far.

I started reading the Qur'an in August.  I was really excited about meeting with some members of the local masjid, but after a few unsuccessful tries, I decided to look into podcasts to get a pulse on the western styling's of Islamic faith.  Initially, the majority of the podcasts I found were in Arabic.  Many had English translations, but were hard to hear.  After some creative searching (and a few weeks), I finally found what I was looking for.  The one teaching I did follow for the whole month was no drinking...so it wasn't a total loss.  Sad to say, however, that this month I will be enjoying the sinful libations.  Mostly because water gets really old at band practice.  Because I blew half the month searching, I decided to give it some more time. So lets call September my actual month to learn about Islam.

Most of us know, not because we looked ourselves, that Islam is misogynistic.  We know how to pick them out in public because they are wearing a turban, and that they pray to a different God than we (read: Christians/Jews) do.

What you may not know is there are Islamic feminists and notable female scholars.  Did you also know that many religions (Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, and Islam) have denominations who wear turbans?  I didn't until a few minutes ago.  And as far as I can tell, Allah is the same God Christians and Jews pray to.

It'll be a quick one tonight kids, if my facts don't look right I hope you check it out for yourself.  And then again, the opposite of what you know is also true.

Khuda Hafiz friends.

An end to homelessness...I wish.

As it came to an end, I realized how wrong my perception of being homeless was.  I've learned some people hate living on the streets while others choose that path.  Some are happy, others not so much.  Some want help, others feel bad asking for it.  Looking back, it's silly to think it would be any other way.  I mean, people are people.  Assholes make a choice to be assholes, grateful people make a choice to be grateful.  Being homeless is just another factor of who we are (or aren't).  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't wish some of the stories I heard on anybody, but life is what is it and things happen.  It was great seeing how people are able to turn bad situations and find the silver lining.  That, my friends, is what its all about.

Last month I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Hope Center.  Its a pretty cool organization.  They do a lot of good for the needy people of Lexington.  They offer housing, a hot meal at dinner and lunch.  They also have a van that drives around town to local churches to hand out sandwiches throughout the week.  While there, a lot of stereotypes were shattered.

1.  There was going to be a disconnect between volunteers the people coming to eat.  Not even close.  Although I did feel out of place wearing and self conscious about wearing my dress clothes from work.  The majority of the kitchen staff were residents of the Jacobs house (which is a part of the Hope Centers services) which is a house for men recovering from substance abuse.  I thought it was pretty cool, and a great experience, for these men to give back to the community while they are going through a lot themselves. 

One of the guys volunteering on the line with me was a former "graduate" of the addiction program.  It took him 2 rounds to stay clean, but assured me there would be no 3rd time.  He was so great to work with.  He filled me in on everything the Hope Center does around town.  He was given a maintenance job with the Center after completing his time in rehab, and now runs the grounds crew year round.  I got the feeling that he was a great mentor.  Super easy to talk to and he knew just what to say to the folks coming in for a meal to get a smile.  I on the other hand, didn't have that quality. 

2.  These folks were going to be gross and dirty freeloaders.  Mostly not true.  There were a handful of people with visible uncleanliness, but honestly, the majority of the people were everyday folks.  I found out that a lot of these folks have some sort of income, but not enough to live on.  It was eye opening to see people with jobs, men who worked to support family, and of course, people without homes coming together to get a hot meal.   A good majority of the people said thanks as they came through the line, about half made sure to say thanks as they left.

As the crowd dwindled, and I was told I could head home, I kinda felt like "that's it?"  Don't get me wrong, it was great being involved with something like that, but I felt a little bummed that I got to go home to a meal quite a bit nicer than breaded meat, heated vegetables and a roll.  I felt guilty for not doing this before.  It seemed silly that every day we throw away more shit than we can count while others are barely scraping by. 

I also know that there is only so much you can do.  Maybe I felt bad for being more of an idealistic talking soapbox than a "walking the walk" kind of guy.  Maybe feeling that way isn't such a bad thing...trying to be better is nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other.  Keep on keeping on, as they say.  It's interesting how the idea of perseverance and getting through hard times is a highly valued trait in todays world...unless you don't have a place to call home.

I mean, a lot of people are struggling to get by everyday.  Imagine hearing a story about a man digging in dumpsters to pay off his mortgage and college tuition, shit, we might think they were saints.  But take away that house and now you are a detriment to society?  Forget the fact that you might generally be a good person, trying to do the best you can with life's circumstances, working on improving your situation, and yet some just call them all "freeloaders".  Productive right?  Seems that perception holds more weight than reality.

Obviously, some are trying to get by with doing as little work as possible.  What I have seen is the people that dig through dumpsters for food, or cans for money; the woman who stands all day in the hot sun asking for help; the man playing a broke ass guitar for a bite to eat; they all work a lot harder than me.  Seriously, give them a chance.  Let them prove it to you they are worthy of a hot meal, or a high-five, or anything you were going to throw away anyway.  If you give them a chance, you might be surprised. 

I think a helpful step in the right direction is to understand that we are a couple of mishaps away from being in their position.  All of us, every single one of us.  I'm trying to keep an open mind, I want to see the good in people, but sometimes its really hard.  I've heard practice makes perfect, so that's what I'm shooting for.  I need to keep practicing compassion...We need to keep practicing compassion. It's not going to come from any religion...not that it can't, and not because there aren't good people doing their best to make it happen, but because it needs to be accepted across the board, and we seem to struggle finding common ground between different faiths. 

Compassion comes from you, me, and us.  Maybe you learn it from your faith, or your family, but it does no good unless you practice it.  And not just every once in a while, or when you feel like you need a pick-me-up...but every time you think about it.  It needs to be something we do AND something we teach.  To our kids, to our neighbors, to strangers...to people who need it, and those who aren't looking for it. 

Side note:  My son Rowan was not pleased when I gave his bread to someone in need around our neighborhood.  He will learn someday...hopefully.  And not because I don't intend to practice what I preach, but because that kid has a serious love for Panera.

We need to do it because its the right thing.  It's the right thing for the right now, and hopefully this whole compassion thing will really take off in a few generations.

Soap box over.
For now.

Gun shot stories and eating with friends

I can't stress this enough...two things actually. I am by no means a saint, or really even that great of a person. That's number one....let me repeat....I am a real shit head sometimes, and by no means do I intend to come off as anything more. Number 2: we don't take care of people enough. I know there are a multitude of events that can lead to someone living on the streets, I'm not naïve to think we can end homelessness, but we can be a lot more available to people and help when we can. It doesn't have to be money, get creative and think about how you can help...even if its just once. I really believe that the best way to be happy is to help make those around you happy. I studied it in the Dharma, and again in the Gospels. People are happiest when everyone is taken care of and helping each other. But there are always going to be tough times, I was reminded today the importance of helping each other out.

There are places around town that have areas where people live on the streets, and I notice some of the same people around the places we eat regularly. I thought it would be a great learning opportunity this month to take people out to lunch or dinner and hear their stories. One of the downsides is that I am starting to get a little stalker-ish . I find myself cruising the neighbor before stopping to eat, or sometimes I will park and walk around for a little bit normal to see if I come across anyone I can chat with who happens to live on the street. This weekend I met D. D was a VERY interesting guy. He was looking like he had a rough night, and told me he had a long way left to walk home. What he preferred was that I give him 4 dollars, but was appreciative of getting something to eat. Along the way to grab a bite at Jimmy Johns, we stopped when D ran into an old high school buddy. To make a long story short, D and his buddy start telling me some crazy stories about getting shot. His friend starts showing us his fresh scars, staples still intact, and then D started taking off his shirt to show a huge scar down the front of his whole torso/belly. I am listening to the crazy stuff that happened to these guys, and part way through the conversation, I realize all the other pedestrians are walking past us with some serious looks of "what the F" mixed with a little fear. And then I realized I was a part of the scary group.

I started to play the stories in my head of what I thought the other people could be thinking. Not about D and his buddy, but about ME. I don’t really blame them. I mean…the beard, the old jeans, dirty hat, the same boyish good looks as that criminal that made a big splash on the internet…I scream street person (at least today). Then it became a bit funny to me. How these people (assuming they are half as judgmental as I can be on a good day) could have made up their own stories about me, and how I should get off the street, get a job...yet how far from reality that would have been. I realized all of us at some point have done the same thing...and had likely been way off from the actual reality of the situation.

Imagine how many times we have walked past a group of people on the street and assumed the worst about someone. Probably caused us to cross the street a little early, or went out of our way to avoid the group of people. Maybe they don’t notice it, but maybe ey do, and maybe it would brighten the hell out of their day if more people said hello. I can tell you, I am getting more and more comfortable talking with some of the people on the streets. I’m not as afraid to ask questions now, and I’m learning some valuable lessons. Most people seem to reciprocate with a nice smile back, some say hi, one guy mumbled something inaudible under his breath.

So D and I had lunch, but he had to run before I finished my food. It couldn’t have been five minutes later, as I’m eating, 2 guys come in and ask me if I was the guy buying lunch. They told me they wouldn’t say who told them, but they were told the guy with the red beard in JJ’s was buying people food. One guy was in a wheel chair, and the other looked like he woke up on the ground…turns out he did. I told them as long as they didn’t go around telling everyone I was the bearded guy buying lunch, lunch was on me. We sat and talked a good 30 minutes. The man in the wheelchair went by "coronel Ben" and his buddy whose name I have forgotten (steve? Maybe?).

Coronel told me he used to do mission work overseas with his wife when she got sick. Before she died of leukemia a number of years back, they moved back to Kentucky for treatment, and the medical bills did him in. He was on the street for a couple of years before he lost his leg to frost bite, sleeping outside during the winter. He told me he finally has his shit back together. He works for a local homeless shelter now and they give him lodging across town. His friend Steve was extremely appreciative the whole meal. Turns out he was a fellow Illinoisan, who traveled to Kentucky to follow the love of his life. He told me he had been a street person for quite a while. Steve helps out Coronel Ben by pushing him around where he needs to go. Coronel Ben helps make sure Steve stays out of trouble and translates things for him, as Steve cannot read. (friends helping friends...I knew already I was going to like these guys) He kept telling Coronel that good things happen to good people, and was really shocked that someone would buy him lunch for no reason. It's was an equally sad/good feeling watching someone get so excited/emotional over a sandwich.

Steve says he can sometimes make up to $15 a day, but it’s not uncommon for the folks who live on the street to give each other a few bucks when they need it. He told me the meal at JJ’s was good karma because he had been trying to do the best he could with what he was given. He tries to give to his fellow street people, and he said there is a woman he tries to make sure gets something to eat everyday. He had a lot of good advice, he made sure to drive this point home: Quit giving the fucking homeless donuts! Steve says more people need better/nutritious food. I never expected to meet a foodie street person.

But, I also realize it’s a possibility these guys made it all up. Maybe it was all a story. Even if it was all made up, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to hang out with these guys. They taught me a lot about life on the streets, and gave me a lot of laughs for the day. A lot of people argue that "these people" are a bunch of bad eggs, Steve says its about 2-10% of the homeless population. He also warned that those 2-10% are really bad people, and when you get a slight inclination that you are with a bad egg...don't second guess your instinct and get the hell away from them.

I think its common to project negative stereotypes onto people who are thought to be somehow less important than we are. The problem isn’t just the stereotype, the problem is we think the some people are somehow less important. I live Steve's idea about eating better foods, and it makes me happy to see others eat better, so for now I'll keep trying to feed anyone that needs something good to eat.

the happy and the homeless...sometimes one in the same.

Hello internet-land.  This month’s community focus is on homelessness.  I wanted to take a break from the understanding of religion for a bit and focus on another really important part of any community.  After digging into religion a bit more, I’m happy to be back to chopping wood and carrying water.  It’s nice to be able to put the purpose into practice more than the past few months of studying and listening.  After my time of trying to understand Christianity, I see a lot of similarities between it and Buddhism.  A common theme, is taking care of one another, and this month will put that to the test.

Side note: June was a really great month.  We were fortunate enough to be able to meet up with family and friends, and relax and explore Colorado and Utah.  I was really hoping to start my homeless focused month in June, but knew because of vacation I would have limited time to spend planning, participating, and helping.  So this month I decided to devote time to helping out the homeless, and others who need a little help.  I am hoping to be able to get some perspective by hanging out and visiting with my fellow Lexingtonians.  I hope to get some perspective on the different ways we can help the homeless in/around the neighborhood.

So far, the stories are usually sad, but sometimes really great.  I had lunch with a really nice guy, Tom, last week.  He cruises around town in a bicycle he converted to run on gasoline.  He helps support himself by playing an electric guitar with an amp ran off a 9V battery.  Tom has an excellent outlook on life, at least from what I can tell from our chat, despite the fact he has no place to call home.  When you think about the Toms in the world you have to really appreciate how lucky we are.   I never think twice about having enough to eat, where I am going to sleep, or how I am going to afford to get around town.  Yet I find myself getting frustrated at the little, insignificant things in life.  I’m sure Tom gets frustrated too, but here he is taking a beating from life and circumstances, all while managing to keep a big smile on his face.  High-five Tom, high five. (full disclosure:  Tom and I did not, in fact, high five....yet)

I’m glad to have met Tom to help remind me that despite all the shit life is giving us, we can still choose to smile.  I’m also reminded that some people have it really rough, and it’s our job to help bring them up.  Sometimes I can’t buy someone something to eat, but sometimes I can, so why not?  I’ve gone back and forth about the best way to “deal with homeless people”.  Should we give them money?  Will they spend it on booze?  We've all heard/said: I’m not going to give those lazy people any money! It’s a personal decision, but I keep coming around the fact that it’s not about what I think anyway, so just give if you can.  I can only help what I do, but I think food and clothes are basic things everyone should have.  Drunk or not, I can't think of anyone who doesn't deserve a healthy meal or some clean clothes every once in a while.

There are a lot of ideas about how I can help out this month.  I have started using my cup holder as my change-to-give-away holder.  I have actually seen the same guy quite a few times on my way home from work, and he seems appreciative every single time.  I feel bad because I always ask his name, but can never remember it…I can’t even think of it now.  But we usually have a little chat, and he has told me he can usually find a place to sleep at his friends, but uses the money for food.  I used to be cynical towards this type of situation.   I always “knew” that person was going to get drunk off my hard earned money.  Maybe this guy is doing the same thing, but maybe he isn’t.  Maybe he actually uses it to eat, and maybe he eats better than me, I know if it was me…I’d make sure I had enough to eat and THEN buy some beer.  But to each their own is how it goes.  So let me work on trying to be a better me.  And to do that, I need to get better at giving; I just gotta make sure to keep that judgement stuff at the door.

I’m excited about the new people I will meet along the way this month, and I am really looking forward to seeing what I can do to help a little more.  Tom told me about a guy in town who works as a pharmacist at the local hospital.  He picks up Tom and another half dozen people 2 Fridays a month and takes the group of guys to his house where they hold a bible study and he lets everyone shower at his house.  I’m so happy to have people like this living in town.  Fortunately, Tom was able to give me his number, and I hope he doesn't mind me hanging out some Friday.

 

Till next time kids.  If you think about it this month, do me a favor and try and give a smile or say "hi" to someone less fortunate.  I can't say how they will react, but I would bet if brightens your day.

The wise men

I've mentioned before the bible study group with the retired ministers.  I finally finished up my time with them.  (not really, it's taken me a few weeks to finish this up)

What did I learn at the bible study?

Jesus can do good things in peoples lives.  I heard a lot about Jesus in the time spent with the wise men.  They love that guy!  All of them seem to really believe that Christ was driving the ship, so to speak, and playing a significant role in their lives.  And to be honest, I admired that about them.  Their job has been to essentially help other people with their problems in life through the teachings of Jesus, God, and the Bible.  Ministers don't have all the answers, and these guys made it known often they knew less than most.  But they all seemed to really believe what they were saying, and what they were saying was if you have a problem, Jesus is the answer out.

I believe them too, for the most part.  I've said this before, but if you have a positive outlook on life and use the teachings for the better, you will absolutely be happy as ten dudes.  And I believe that as long as you can muster up the strength to keep the belief alive (faith as the wise men called it) the happiness will continue.   Not feeling generous?  Jesus has an answer for that.  Wanting to punch your neighbor out?  Jesus has an answer for that.  Can't get naked images of the neighbor with the majestic beard out of your head?(ladies, I'm happily married)  Jesus has an answer for that too.

A good amount of our discussions were about the difference between living like a good Christian and being a follower of Christ.  My point of view comes from the idea that calling yourself a Christian is nothing more than that...words.  Christianity, in a broad sense, is still an evolving set of beliefs, and for good reason.  As times change, attitudes change, technology changes, interactions change (we Buddhists call it impermanence) and therefore, the teachings need to be changed. I believe its a good thing, and it's happened a lot in America.  Some religious views needed to be changed, from interracial marriage, to same sex marriage, and todays craziness with mega-money hungry churches.  But I digress...

So what is a good Christian?  Saying you are a follower of Christ (or you have a personal relationship with him), or living like a good Christian?  Or does it have to be both?  We all have the same life problems.  Missing lost loved ones, stresses of work and family life, low self esteem, whatever it may be we all deal with them in our own personal way.  Jesus, and the other teachings, can give help and hope to people dealing life's problems.  But it seems at times what you want becomes the message.  When you want to make a lot of money, you might have to skew some teachings to still feel good about yourself, but look at the mega churches, it can be done...Praise Jesus!  So clearly JUST saying you have a relationship can't be enough right? 

Most of the wise men agreed you have to believe Jesus died for your sins to get to heaven.  I challenged them by asking (I've heard this many times before) if one could still get to heaven if they never heard of Jesus.  Most agreed if you lived a good life, were searching for the truth, but never knew of Jesus that God would still let you in.  So living like a good Christian is all you need!?  Not exactly.  I heard Desmond Tutu say it was "silly" to think that the Dalai Lama would get to heaven and God would express his gratitude for all of his good deeds but would ultimately be shunned from heaven for not acknowledging Jesus as the son of god and the one true way to heaven.  I couldn't agree more. 

But they didn't see it that way.  Until I expressed my belief that you don't have to ever say his name, if you use him as an example in your daily life.  Look at Thich Nhat Hahn and how he has contributed to Gods people.  I can't help but think the Dalai Lama completely understands the good in Jesus and his teachings.  I'm sure he has used the power of the holy spirit (most likely calls it by another name) with his fellow Christians to do good deeds.  Maybe he doesn't call it "being Christian" (although many monks consider being a good Buddhist the same as being a good Christian), maybe he doesn't claim Jesus to be his lord and savior, but he is probably one of the few people on earth today that is even close to living like Jesus asks you to.  So how do you see it? 

The group discussed people as individuals within the Christian community, and what we all understood is that a good Christian isn't good 100% of the time.  This was another issue I couldn't get past in my young and know-it-all phase (trust me: the know-it-all phase isn't gone yet, to the chagrin of my wife).  I feel like the bible study helped me realize the middle ground of Christianity.  On one hand, no one can live up to the expectations of Jesus.  On the other hand, you don't have to...he is very forgiving.  This promised forgiveness is great, if not used as a blinder to avoid thinking about selfish actions.  But, If you try to live just like Jesus, society is going to kick your ass and call you a crazy person.  Turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor as yourself, helping the poor, sticking it to the man...that stuff doesn't fly today (and it will likely get you voted out of congress)  This is America son.  Land of money loving, freedom forcing, civilian suppressing/killing ...we aint got time for that.  But its OK!  All you have to do is "have a relationship with Jesus".  Ask for forgiveness and you shall receive it.  (But I digress...again)  It's difficult to find your way in todays society with its constant barrage of distractions.

The moral of the story: find your own truth.  Teachers are excellent resources (even bad teachers), but no teacher can show you the truth...just what direction to look.