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Phil Tanny's avatar

Such a proposed conflict would seem to arise from an assumption that God and friend are two different things. What if a proposed gap between "me and friend" and "God and friend" is not real, but instead an inaccurate perception generated by the divisive nature of thought?

If I recall my long ago Catholic upbringing correctly (I may not) Catholics propose that God is ever present everywhere in all times and places. While I don't think that Catholics take it this far, to me that says that God _IS_ everything everywhere in all times and places.

Seen this way, the art of love taught by Christianity is not so much a method for finding God as it is a method for overcoming the illusion that "me" and "God" are two different things. When we love our friend we are helping to break down the thought generated ego which conceptually divides us from each other, and from God.

Given that language is built upon the assumption that the world is a collection of distinct things, it's difficult to impossible to discuss such matters without further fueling the illusion of division generated by thought.

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Michael's avatar

All those questions are well and good, but it is interesting to look at the admonishment component of Christian friendship. There is something very similar in East Asian Buddhist meditation practice since the 11th century CE, both within the monastic establishment and the kyolsa groups of that era. The concept was established of a 'Spirutual Friend' usually a senior practicer who carried on a dual role of admonishment and encouragement.. vital functions in the spiritual life.

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