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All religions
use alterior motives to get people to "repent" or turn over a new
leaf, or to try to induce some for of change. These alterior motives
fall under two categories:
1) Inducements for a positive outcome. Examples can include: going to
heaven, being reunited with friends and family, attaining a utopia on
earth (as the JW's believe), attaining nirvana, spiritual enlightenment.
2) Inducements to avoid negative consequences such as: avoiding being
tportured in hell forever, avoiding being reincarnated, avoiding being
anaihilated.
Any reason whatsoever for repenting or changing our lives or wanting to
be "born again" or attaining enlightenment is a wrong reason simply
because it is areason.
People who "repent" for any reason at all end upo returning to
their old ways. True inner change is not possible by an inducement. If
it is to happen, it happens on its own. This is where all religions
have failed miserably. What they refer as as being "born again" is an
intellectual or emotional state that they have talked themselves into,
and which was brpot abouit by an inducement (alterior motive) of some
kind.
It has a mind of its own. In
quantum physics if we observe the wave it reverts back into particles,
even if we only think about it or just have it in our consciousness,
and so it is with inner change: and reason (observing or just awareness
of the wave) will revert the wave into particles. The wave can only be
in form when we have no awareness of particles.
When we realize that we want to do what is right simply
because we are happiest when we do it that way, we have arrived at the
point of being aware that our heart has been changed. The best "reason" is no reason. "Repentance" can never come about thru
fear or of the use of the carrot and stick technique. This raises
another issue of why the church and christianity or any religion exists
in the first place? They all (no exceptions) use enducements. We can
never have a change of heart thru enducements, but only thru gentle
means. We cannot make ourselves "born again" but we can do our part and
build chatracer and integrity in our lives. And we can walk in whatever
light that we have, knowing that after we follow that light, we will be
given more. As I like to call it "The point of realization" is when we realize that we are
simply doing what is right because we are happiest when we live this way. We
cannot choose to be in this state of realization, as some religions
teach that we can "choose for Christ" or some other intellctual choice.
The Point of Realization or change that I am refering to here is a
mysterious state or condition that has a mind of its own and cannot be
coerced or tricked or induced.
One example of this is someone who has commited crimes, has been
arrested, tried in court, and found guilty on all charges, and
sentenced to 100 years in prison. (I need to point out here that there
are many innocent people in prison, and just because someone is found
guilty does not mean that they are truly guilty, but that is another
subject. But for the sake of this illustration let us assume that he is
genuinely guilty and there has been no miscarriage of justice.) After
he is in prison he comes to his senses and realizes that he
has gone astray, and that he has done wrong, and rightly is
suffering the consequences of his actions. However this comes about (he
himself is not even aware of what is happening within him) he just
finds that he wants to do what is right and is happiest when he lives
his life by divine principles. He knows that he will never leave
prison. He is not trying to influence or manipulate the guards, not is
he trying to soften up the parole board to letting him out early
because one condition set by the just is that he cannot be parolled. He
has no alterior motive in wanting to do what is right. He is just
happiest living this way.
This is an extreme example, but it makes my point well. For others it
may be that they become crippled or disfigured or paralyzed ibn an
accident, or experience the death of spouse or children or parents, or
undergo some ofther difficult situation or event or calamity. If we can
bring ourselves to certain realizations so that calamity is not
necessary to bring us to our senses, then we have gained something so
precious! Our job is to work on our inner man and build up inner
character and integrity. In this regard I highly recomment the book
"Self Unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization." by Manly Hall. This is
the best book that I have ever read in my life.