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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
6/12/2024 The heart Dodoitsufreedom,heart,spiritual,
6/12/2024 What is eternal Quaternintrospection,spiritual,
6/11/2024 The Word Ottava rimacreation,deep,heart,poetr
6/11/2024 Zen mode Enclosed Rhymespiritual,
6/11/2024 Thought of the day Juejujoy,silence,spiritual,
6/11/2024 retribution Versedeath,evil,sin,
6/10/2024 Prayer vs Meditation Sonnetprayer,silence,spiritual,
6/10/2024 slow down Rubaiyatspiritual,
6/10/2024 Choose your weapon Than-Baukheart,introspection,love,
6/10/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
6/10/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,spiritual,
6/10/2024 Our life our choice Juejuintrospection,spiritual,
6/9/2024 Rapture Sedokajoy,love,
6/9/2024 The path to freedom Ottava rimaspiritual,
6/9/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
6/9/2024 Thought of the day Rhymedream,life,spiritual,
6/9/2024 Musings on faith Rhymefaith,god,religion,spirit
6/8/2024 Dr Eben Alexander Rhymedeath,deep,introspection,
6/8/2024 Silence please Quintillasilence,spiritual,
6/8/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
6/8/2024 Thought of the day Coupletspiritual,
6/8/2024 Dying to be me Rhymedeath,heaven,
6/8/2024 God search Monchielle Stanzagod,spiritual,
6/7/2024 Awake weary pilgrim Quatraingod,heaven,joy,light,love
6/7/2024 Zen mode Quatraingod,joy,rainbow,spiritual
6/7/2024 Thought of the day Coupletjoy,silence,spiritual,
6/7/2024 Agape love Sedokalove,spiritual,
6/7/2024 divine magnetism Than-Baukspiritual,
6/6/2024 upon ego death Dizainlove,spiritual,truth,wisd
6/6/2024 Zen mode Sonnetgod,heart,joy,love,spirit
6/6/2024 Thought of the day Coupletgod,spiritual,
6/6/2024 Piercing the veil Suzette Primemuse,poetry,silence,spiri
6/6/2024 A gentle breeze Rhymespiritual,
6/5/2024 Encased in form Rhymegod,love,silence,spiritua
6/5/2024 A speck of dust Rispettodesire,introspection,prid
6/5/2024 Zen mode Rubaiyatjoy,pain,spiritual,
6/5/2024 Thought of the day Coupletsilence,spiritual,truth,
6/5/2024 Introspection Sonnethate,heart,introspection,
6/4/2024 Love alone is real Juejulove,spiritual,
6/4/2024 What is our love index Layintrospection,love,spirit
6/4/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
6/4/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,spiritual,
6/4/2024 Monk mode Dodoitsujoy,spiritual,
6/4/2024 What is our love index Sedokalove,spiritual,
6/3/2024 Hmmm Rhymeforgiveness,introspection
6/3/2024 Zen mode Rhymespiritual,
6/3/2024 Thought of the day Coupletspiritual,truth,
6/2/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
6/2/2024 Thought of the day Juejupeace,spiritual,
6/1/2024 He has only just begun Free versegod,magic,spiritual,
6/1/2024 Enriching the whole Free versespiritual,
6/1/2024 Follow the scent Ottava rimajoy,spiritual,
6/1/2024 Bliss continuum Juejujoy,spiritual,
6/1/2024 Zen mode Free verseself,spiritual,
6/1/2024 Thought of the day Free versedesire,introspection,sile
6/1/2024 What is real Rhymelight,love,spiritual,trut
5/31/2024 An ocean of light Didacticspiritual,
5/31/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/31/2024 Thought of the day Coupletfear,introspection,peace,
5/31/2024 practicing the presence Free versesilence,spiritual,
5/31/2024 Stillness Free verseintrospection,silence,spi
5/30/2024 Stand erect Than-Baukintrospection,
5/30/2024 Zen mode Juejuspiritual,
5/30/2024 Thought of the day Coupletintrospection,language,
5/30/2024 The inconvenient truth Ottava rimaintrospection,muse,poets,
5/29/2024 Break the mirror Balladespiritual,truth,
5/29/2024 Zen mode Free versespiritual,
5/29/2024 Thought of the day Coupletlove,
5/29/2024 Becoming the flame Sonnetjoy,light,love,spiritual,
5/29/2024 Alone Quatraingod,light,spiritual,
5/28/2024 Extracts from The Kybalion Rhymesilence,spiritual,wisdom,
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

My Photos


photo

ps_IMG_0738.jpeg

Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
A Change of Heart Sonnetblessing,christian,faith,
Someone Who Used To Be You Blank versedream,lost love,love,
Know Yourself Free versegod,introspection,wisdom,
Elevating Heart Free verseappreciation,devotion,hea
Jesus, My Beloved Free versejesus,
The Sounds of Bliss Sonnetromantic,
Always Rhymedream,friendship,poetry,v
I See Him Rhymeblessing,faith,god,hope,i
I Thought I Knew a Thousand Songs Free verseloss,love,
Love Will Heal the World Free verselove,
The Die Is Cast Free versedeath,grief,journey,lost
On Rivers of Love Free verselove,river,
Open Up Free versefaith,hope,love,
Belief - 1 Free verseblessing,encouraging,god,
A Reflection of His Love Free verseappreciation,caregiving,
Where the Wind Blows Quatrainwind,
Held By a Thread Versespiritual,
Mind Dance Free verseappreciation,beauty,bird,
Swift, the Rills Rhymeanalogy,appreciation,deat
Mindful Free verseblessing,life,light,
Flowers of the Heart Rhymecare,garden,growth,heart,
Gentle Harbinger Coupletangel,beauty,bird,blessin
Home Sweet Home Free versebeautiful,home,love,
Just Breathe Free versefaith,hope,inspirational,
Soul Mates Free verseheart,inspirational,love,
Rush of Summer's Breeze Sonnetlove,summer,
The Homeless Gentleman Rhymecare,
Death Whispers In the Night Verseautumn,death,grief,hope,l
His Gift Free versefaith,god,inspirational,l
Teasing Kiss Rhymerain,
Make Peace With Time Rhymeappreciation,grief,inspir
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
Nothingness Free versemuse,
After It Rained Free versebeauty,environment,rain,
Love Rhymeheart,love,
Summer Lace Rhymebeauty,day,love,morning,n
Come Into My House Lord Versechristian,family,
Devoutly Walk In True Grace With the Lord Trioletinspiration,
I Am But a Grain of Sand Rhymecharacter,how i feel,phil
Hypnotized Rhymeinspiration,love,
An Excavation Verseintrospection,life,
All Is Alright Free verseblessing,christian,faith,
The Supreme Source Rhymespiritual,
Amazing God Free verseappreciation,blessing,god
Holding Back Tears Rhymedeep,imagery,metaphor,
Whose Muse Elusive Dew Rhymedestiny,life,lost love,mo
This Withered Threshold Rhymeautumn,nature,
I Held Her To My Heart Quatraingranddaughter,grandmother
A Sprinkle of Wit Rhymelight,poetry,truth,
Eternal Life and the Total Self Rhymedeath,
Oh Dreamy Boy Dizainromance,
Aurora Spills Free versemuse,
Avalanche Shadormaflower,life,light,prayer,
Neither Silent Nor Still Free versechristian,feelings,god,in
Intertwined Rubaiyatlife,
Hummingbird Walk Free versepoetry,
Dancing Girls Free verseage,
The Legacy of Life Rhymelife,
Love By Any Other Name Free versegood night,kiss,longing,l
Rest, Don't Quit Free verselife,
Some Distant Shore Quatrainflying,
The Time Between the Seasons Rhymelife,seasons,
Praise of Peace Free verseappreciation,butterfly,fl
The Dissolving Heart Free versemuse,
Always Waiting Free versegrief,
Into the Distance Otherpoetry,
Flight Free versebeauty,death,flying,freed
Quietude Rhymesilence,
If I Die Daddy Free versechild,dad,death,
A Marvelous Feeling Free versemusic,
I Wish For You Love Terzanellelove,
Enchantment Free verseinspirational,
Soothing Tomorrows Free verseemotions,love,
Capture My Heart Rhymegod,love,
Pirouetting On Cloud Banks Free versedesire,fantasy,introspect
Conversation With My Soul Versegiving,love,wisdom,
Behind His Knowing Eyes Rhymedeath,
Song of Stars Free versebeautiful,heaven,inspirat
Hope Is the Path Rhymehope,
Wave of Fantasy Versedream,fantasy,
The Edge of Loneliness Free verseloneliness,sad,
The God I Know Free versefaith,god,hope,inspiratio
Composed By Our Love Rhymemusic,
The Homecoming Narrativeamerica,father,home,mothe
The Light and the Veil Sonnetfaith,god,light,
Life Is So Precious and For It One Must Fight Rhymedeath,deep,heartbroken,lo
Life Has Been Divine Free verselife,
Journey Free verseanalogy,destiny,life,
He Shines Free versechristian,faith,inspirati
Love Song Haikuhurt,
Once Upon a Time Lived I Rhymelife,
Above the Silence Free verselonging,love,peace,silenc
Winter Blues - I Cry For Color Free versedepression,loneliness,lon
Blind Rage Sonnetanger,husband,success,tha
Love In Pompeii Free versedeath,kiss,love,together,
I Remember Years Ago Potd Free versememory,
Hope Free versehope,
Empty Vessels Free verseheart,introspection,judge
Union Rhymebeauty,extended metaphor,

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