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Clarification on the themes of my contests - Unseeking Seeker's Blog

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Clarification on the themes of my contests

Blog Posted:7/13/2023 8:03:00 AM

Hello dear Soupers!

I received a communication from someone who wished to express that my contests seem to be oriented around a certain xyz religion he/she felt I subscribe to, which may possibly be at variance with the belief system of others. This would imply that my judging may possibly be biased (although the soupmail didn't say that), preferring value systems aligned closer to my own.

I have clarified the matter to the person concerned but then I thought that perhaps others may also be having similar doubts, so perhaps it is best if I clear the air about this. Hence this blog.

First, let me reproduce the contents of my soupmail (without mentioning who it is), clarifying my stand:

"So happy you brought this up (name of person). There should be no load on our chest.

I don’t subscribe to any ritual or religion. Religion is a belief system, dependent upon culture, tradition. It addresses our lower mind, offering hope, promising heaven and asking us to follow a God we have never seen, known or felt.

My path is spirituality. It is a direct inquiry within, with thoughts rested. Essentially dropping identity. Devoid of thought, what remains? It is that with which we connect. Or we may say, we connect with universal consciousness. 

We cannot use mind to transcend mind. However, most of us are so identified with the thinking process, that we cannot imagine awareness without thought.

It is a detailed subject. I’ll only say this: If God is omnipresent, He must be within. We then must see Him, feel Him, be able to touch Him. This is the truth but I don’t ask anyone to believe, belief is in mind, remember? We must know by becoming, by transmuting.

Rest assured, the prompts I offer have nothing to do with any religion. I do not ask of anyone to accept the direct knowing I have imbibed. No. Each must find out for themselves.

Hope this clarifies the fulcrum from which I request exploration of the ultimate truth, which is both immediate and intimate, within."

I'm this putting this out here for all to know. I do also specifically mention in my contests that it is primarily about addressing the line of inquiry. As such, there is definitely going to be subjectivity in judging but generally if someone affirms based on experience, on insight (without bringing a structured religion into play or insisting that only a specific master/teacher/adept/teaching is the only way), it is fine with me, even if it opens us to a new idea or recognition altogether.

Thanks for reading, God bless.



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Date: 7/15/2023 11:44:00 PM
Hi Unseeking. I'm still scratching my head as to why anyone would contact you in the first place as to your beliefs. You have written a beautifully articulate response in defence of them and your approach when judging contests but really you shouldn't have to. I guess it all depends on the context of the original message but if, as you suggest, it's because someone believes you might be biased when it comes to your contests then I say to them that even if that was the case then, really.. "so what?" It's the judge's perogative. Elements of bias exists in all contests anyway no matter how objective a judge tries to be - be it on grounds of religion, preference of form, theme, mood at the time etc etc. Poetry Soup guidelines actually encourage Soupers to "Study the past winners of a contest sponsored by that member" if they want a better chance of winning. Just my thoughts. Cheers - Gary
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/16/2023 5:42:00 PM
True and yet, if we extrapolate, if one person expresses something, it is reasonable to assume twenty others may feel likewise but haven’t said it. Doubt is reasonable. If anyone reaches out, I’d say an attempt should be made in mindfulness, to clarify.
Date: 7/15/2023 11:39:00 AM
Seeker, I enjoy your contests and your lines of inquiry. I have my own faith and spiritual way and it may not be yours or any other persons, but I write for you and you accept my poems and my beliefs in a poetically way, and I think you accept all beliefs no matter the religion, I suggest to people just write on what you believe to be true for you.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/15/2023 7:46:00 PM
Yes, Constance. There are different coordinates at which we may be in our respective soul journeys. Each journey should be respected, allowed to develop, without any external influence. It’s like water flowing downhill. All streams eventually join the river, the river, the ocean.
Date: 7/15/2023 5:28:00 AM
Alas, it seems the "my God is bigger than your god" conflict persists....If there is only ONE G(g)od then he/she cannot get any bigger of smaller.....IT JUST IS. i enjoy your contest ... they are subtle sign posts on the path of my journey.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/15/2023 10:31:00 AM
Yes, the ‘my daddy is stronger than your daddy’ is how God has been classified in the religion vs religion battle. What a pity, more so considering that identity (ego) is actually illusionary, which we recognise if we are free from concepts and conditioning.
Date: 7/13/2023 9:49:00 PM
I do not find you biased toward a specific religion, etc. I just find your topics very difficult because my personality is so different from yours, but when one of your themes is something I can relate to, I do try it, and you have given me some wins, which felt really nice . Everyone is so different here. It is what it is.
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/13/2023 10:10:00 PM
Yes indeed. I recall you had a trophy win once. God bless.
Date: 7/13/2023 6:37:00 PM
I have entered your elevated and inspiring contests since I began Soup and preferring value systems aligned closer to your own is not something you do. The proof is in the spiritual pudding, my entries, one or two have not made the cut (I went off on a tangent) and I still keep my spirits up. I detect no bias in your assessments. A lot of confusion and social strife is due to the fact that people confuse religious with spiritual. Please do not change anything, because you are not allied with any religion or sect, still we can relate to the loving spirit within us which should entice everyone, regardless of any denomination or non denomination at all. Please don't stop! ~Anaya
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Unseeking Seeker
Date: 7/13/2023 8:27:00 PM
Thank you, Anaya. No, I don’t intend to stop but at the same time, wished to make my stand clear to all. About religion, I have nothing against it. It points out the way. We have to walk upon it, however, in thought, word and deed, without any thought crutch, without resistance borne of conditioned belief.

My Past Blog Posts

 
Where’s Hiya Sharma?
Date Posted: 3/6/2024 6:10:00 PM
Contest ‘I Am’
Date Posted: 2/16/2024 5:59:00 PM
Consciousness correction contest judged
Date Posted: 11/30/2023 4:50:00 AM
Musings on faith contest
Date Posted: 10/10/2023 2:54:00 AM
Warning! Phishing soup mail
Date Posted: 9/25/2023 10:08:00 AM
Dolce Far Niente contest
Date Posted: 9/20/2023 3:11:00 AM
Clarification on the themes of my contests
Date Posted: 7/13/2023 8:03:00 AM
About dates on poems
Date Posted: 6/11/2023 6:25:00 PM
Screen of Awareness contest update
Date Posted: 5/20/2023 8:08:00 PM
PS software censoring words
Date Posted: 4/25/2023 8:43:00 PM
A wisdom download contest finalised
Date Posted: 4/24/2023 4:04:00 AM
A wisdom download poetry contest - update
Date Posted: 4/6/2023 5:46:00 AM
Death of a loved one poetry contest
Date Posted: 4/5/2023 10:31:00 PM
Now that we are here Poetry Contest update
Date Posted: 3/19/2023 6:51:00 PM
‘Now that we are here’ poetry contest update
Date Posted: 3/16/2023 1:17:00 AM
Break the mirror poetry contest judged
Date Posted: 3/13/2023 3:36:00 AM
Break the mirror contest
Date Posted: 3/7/2023 5:49:00 PM
Deja vu contest finalised
Date Posted: 3/2/2023 6:39:00 PM
Source of our awareness contest judged
Date Posted: 1/26/2023 3:42:00 AM
Be careful
Date Posted: 12/20/2022 11:58:00 PM
Thought rested awareness contest finalised
Date Posted: 12/11/2022 6:46:00 AM
Journey without movement contest finalised
Date Posted: 12/5/2022 7:04:00 PM
Use of apostrophe in poem title
Date Posted: 11/29/2022 8:19:00 PM
Just before release contest finalised
Date Posted: 11/27/2022 8:08:00 PM
Fraud soupmail
Date Posted: 11/22/2022 6:07:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
5/28/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/28/2024 Thought of the day Coupletsin,
5/28/2024 Hide and seek Dodoitsuheart,spiritual,
5/28/2024 Pheromones mingle Dizainjoy,peace,
5/28/2024 Spherical vision Sedokaspiritual,
5/27/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/27/2024 Thought of the day Coupletjoy,silence,
5/27/2024 Angst Rhymeangst,
5/27/2024 Phoenix rising Free versemuse,
5/27/2024 Be to become Nonetspiritual,
5/26/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/26/2024 Thought of the day Rhymeintrospection,
5/25/2024 so spake simple Simon Quatrainsilence,spiritual,
5/25/2024 Who am I Quintillaintrospection,spiritual,
5/25/2024 did we know this Than-Bauklove,simple,truth,
5/25/2024 Hidden in plain sight Rispettolight,space,spiritual,
5/25/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/25/2024 Thought of the day Free versecourage,earth,spiritual,
5/25/2024 All is within Rhymesilence,spiritual,
5/25/2024 Dreams within dreams Juejudream,life,spiritual,trut
5/25/2024 Flickering awareness Dizaini am,light,self,spiritual
5/25/2024 Religious fundamentalism Ottava rimareligion,
5/24/2024 Zen mode Free versejoy,spiritual,
5/24/2024 Thought of the day Rhymeheart,silence,spiritual,
5/24/2024 the true path Than-Bauklove,spiritual,
5/23/2024 Surfing the bardo Terza Rimaspiritual,sunset,
5/23/2024 The bigger picture Sedokalove,spiritual,universe,
5/23/2024 Slowing down Quaternsilence,spiritual,
5/23/2024 Zen mode Rhymedeep,introspection,spirit
5/23/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdesire,lust,
5/23/2024 The guru chakra Sonnetspiritual,
5/22/2024 Heart gentle eye mindful Otherspiritual,
5/22/2024 hush the blush Footlesilence,spiritual,
5/22/2024 Crown chakra Quatrainspiritual,
5/22/2024 Ascent Rhymebird,spiritual,
5/22/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
5/22/2024 Thought of the day Coupletlight,love,spiritual,
5/22/2024 An ethereal scent Ottava rimadesire,joy,memory,spiritu
5/22/2024 Slow down dear Juejupeace,silence,spiritual,
5/22/2024 To be touched by God Monchielle Stanzagod,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Zen mode Rhymejoy,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Thought of the day Coupletpeace,spiritual,
5/21/2024 Why are we in bondage Rispettofreedom,
5/20/2024 Keep it simple Rhymepoetry,poets,
5/20/2024 how still is our stillness Free versesilence,spiritual,
5/20/2024 Zen mode Layspiritual,
5/20/2024 Thought of the day Coupletmoon,spiritual,
5/19/2024 Ascent Rubaiyatspiritual,
5/19/2024 Burn the book Dizainreligion,self,spiritual,t
5/19/2024 Who am I Ottava rimagod,space,spiritual,
5/19/2024 Let go of to get to Sonnetheart,joy,silence,spiritu
5/19/2024 Zen mode Free verseheart,joy,light,self,
5/19/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/19/2024 Easy breezy Layspiritual,
5/19/2024 Parallax Enclosed Rhymeintrospection,
5/19/2024 Judgmental eye Sedokaintrospection,judgement,s
5/19/2024 Just before we exhale Sonnetremember,spiritual,
5/18/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/18/2024 Thought of the day Layspiritual,
5/18/2024 Silence speaks Rispettolove,silence,truth,
5/18/2024 Idle musings Rhymeintrospection,
5/17/2024 Heart lotus blooms Free versegod,heart,joy,light,love,
5/17/2024 Look closely Juejuheart,joy,peace,spiritual
5/17/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/17/2024 Thought of the day Verseintrospection,spiritual,
5/16/2024 the vaporised self Rhymejoy,spiritual,
5/16/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
5/16/2024 Thought of the day Layheart,love,spiritual,
5/15/2024 We confess Ottava rimablessing,god,i am,joy,spi
5/15/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/15/2024 Thought of the day Coupletblessing,god,spiritual,
5/14/2024 If only you knew Rhymespiritual,
5/14/2024 Zen mode Rhymeintrospection,joy,spiritu
5/14/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,silence,
5/13/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/13/2024 Thought of the day Versedesire,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Be to become Free versei am,silence,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Rainbow body Dizainspiritual,
5/12/2024 We fell Didacticintrospection,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/12/2024 Thought of the day Coupletdeath,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Vibrant aloneness Rhymejoy,lonely,spiritual,
5/12/2024 Holy Spirit Rhymespiritual,
5/12/2024 Say it like it is Free versejoy,spiritual,
5/11/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/11/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,
5/11/2024 What are friends for Sedokafriendship,
5/10/2024 Monk mode Ethereejoy,love,spiritual,
5/10/2024 The roadmap Kyriellespiritual,
5/10/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/10/2024 Thought of the day Juejugod,joy,love,
5/10/2024 The fangs of fate Rhymefate,spiritual,
5/10/2024 Who am I Rispettospiritual,
5/9/2024 The throat chakra Rubaiyatspiritual,
5/9/2024 Wake up weary hermit Sedokadream,i am,self,spiritual
5/9/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/9/2024 Thought of the day Coupletangst,god,peace,
5/9/2024 Invoking grace Than-Baukjoy,love,
5/9/2024 choosing to suffer Than-Baukangst,desire,fear,hope,
5/9/2024 Show me God Sonnetgod,spiritual,truth,

My Photos


photo

ps_IMG_0738.jpeg

Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
A Change of Heart Sonnetblessing,christian,faith,
Know Yourself Free versegod,introspection,wisdom,
Someone Who Used To Be You Blank versedream,lost love,love,
Elevating Heart Free verseappreciation,devotion,hea
Jesus, My Beloved Free versejesus,
The Sounds of Bliss Sonnetromantic,
Open Up Free versefaith,hope,love,
Mind Dance Free verseappreciation,beauty,bird,
I See Him Rhymeblessing,faith,god,hope,i
Mindful Free verseblessing,life,light,
Held By a Thread Versespiritual,
The Die Is Cast Free versedeath,grief,journey,lost
On Rivers of Love Free verselove,river,
Where the Wind Blows Quatrainwind,
Just Breathe Free versefaith,hope,inspirational,
Always Rhymedream,friendship,poetry,v
Swift, the Rills Rhymeanalogy,appreciation,deat
I Thought I Knew a Thousand Songs Free verseloss,love,
Home Sweet Home Free versebeautiful,home,love,
Love Will Heal the World Free verselove,
Belief - 1 Free verseblessing,encouraging,god,
Dancing Girls Free verseage,
Death Whispers In the Night Verseautumn,death,grief,hope,l
A Reflection of His Love Free verseappreciation,caregiving,
Teasing Kiss Rhymerain,
His Gift Free versefaith,god,inspirational,l
Gentle Harbinger Coupletangel,beauty,bird,blessin
Oh Dreamy Boy Dizainromance,
Soul Mates Free verseheart,inspirational,love,
Come Into My House Lord Versechristian,family,
Avalanche Shadormaflower,life,light,prayer,
Eye of Horus and the Seat of Me Free verseblue,faith,i am,love,sky,
With Eternal Sent Bliss Two Hearts Reborn - a Collaboration With Robert Lindley Rhymedesire,husband,longing,lo
Always Waiting Free versegrief,
I Am But a Grain of Sand Rhymecharacter,how i feel,phil
Flowers of the Heart Rhymecare,garden,growth,heart,
Quietude Rhymesilence,
Nothingness Free versemuse,
Love Rhymeheart,love,
Whose Muse Elusive Dew Rhymedestiny,life,lost love,mo
The Supreme Source Rhymespiritual,
If I Die Daddy Free versechild,dad,death,
Holding Back Tears Rhymedeep,imagery,metaphor,
All Is Alright Free verseblessing,christian,faith,
Rush of Summer's Breeze Sonnetlove,summer,
Enchantment Free verseinspirational,
Hummingbird Walk Free versepoetry,
Make Peace With Time Rhymeappreciation,grief,inspir
Hope Is the Path Rhymehope,
Hope Free versehope,
Praise of Peace Free verseappreciation,butterfly,fl
A Sprinkle of Wit Rhymelight,poetry,truth,
Joy and Kindness Free verseinspiration,
After It Rained Free versebeauty,environment,rain,
Summer Lace Rhymebeauty,day,love,morning,n
Eternal Life and the Total Self Rhymedeath,
This Withered Threshold Rhymeautumn,nature,
Hypnotized Rhymeinspiration,love,
The Dissolving Heart Free versemuse,
Into the Distance Otherpoetry,
A Marvelous Feeling Free versemusic,
Waves Played a Symphony Rhymelight,morning,
Capture My Heart Rhymegod,love,
Flight Free versebeauty,death,flying,freed
The Light and the Veil Sonnetfaith,god,light,
Rest, Don't Quit Free verselife,
Union Rhymebeauty,extended metaphor,
Effervescence Free verseanimal,appreciation,beaut
Soothing Tomorrows Free verseemotions,love,
But a Moment Free versedeath,imagery,nature,rela
Behind His Knowing Eyes Rhymedeath,
Aura of Her Magnificence Free verselove,poetry,romantic love
Pirouetting On Cloud Banks Free versedesire,fantasy,introspect
Aurora Spills Free versemuse,
A Chorus Sang Its Last Concerto Elegybeach,emotions,
Above the Silence Free verselonging,love,peace,silenc
The Homecoming Narrativeamerica,father,home,mothe
Conversation With My Soul Versegiving,love,wisdom,
My Stolen Garden Free verseflower,garden,
If This Was My Last Poem Free verseromance,romantic love,spi
Amazing God Free verseappreciation,blessing,god
The Boy Stares At You Free versefate,grave,hate,pain,pove
The Edge of Loneliness Free verseloneliness,sad,
Life Has Been Divine Free verselife,
The Legacy of Life Rhymelife,
Love By Any Other Name Free versegood night,kiss,longing,l
Love In Pompeii Free versedeath,kiss,love,together,
He Shines Free versechristian,faith,inspirati
The Blue of You Free verselonging,love,
Life Is So Precious and For It One Must Fight Rhymedeath,deep,heartbroken,lo
I Remember Years Ago Potd Free versememory,
Some Distant Shore Quatrainflying,
Blind Rage Sonnetanger,husband,success,tha
Devoutly Walk In True Grace With the Lord Trioletinspiration,
Healing Power of the Drum Free verseinspirational,native amer
Winter's Hue Haikusilence,snow,winter,
Paper Plane Sonnetangst,anxiety,betrayal,em
Pa Said Free versepoetry,
Chalice of Ambrosial Dreams Free versedesire,fantasy,imagery,lo
My Love Rhymedeath,husband,i miss you,

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
Regina Mcintosh United States Flag United States Read
Susan Lawrence United States Flag United States Read
Arturo Michael United States Flag United States Read
Gabrielle Jordan United States Flag United States Read
Winged Warrior Canada Flag Canada Read
Skye Awenborn Sweden Flag Sweden Read
Mike Gentile United States Flag United States Read
Bill Baker United States Flag United States Read
Line Gauthier Canada Flag Canada Read
Lady Labyrinth Australia Flag Australia Read
Susan Ashley United States Flag United States Read
Emile Pinet Canada Flag Canada Read
Betsy Rodriguez Mexico Flag Mexico Read
Silent One United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Kathryn Search United States Flag United States Read
Jose Vazquez Mexico Flag Mexico Read
Ink Empress Maldives Flag Maldives Read
Hiya Sharma India Flag India Read

Book: Shattered Sighs