Albert Herdianto Widjojo
By using the word ritual in the broadest sense to the specific, which relates to the wider community to individuals, let me ask, how many rituals in our lives?
Most of these rituals are obligations or necessities, others are considered to be known benefits, some are just habitual pleasures, a small part of it is believed that it is very useful for our overall existence.
Some people consider all the rituals to be useful, while some others consider them to have no meaning at all. It doesn’t matter which point of view is right, or truer. But it’s good if all the ritual can be questioned, what are the important reasons, and keep asking, until the rest of the answers are ignorance, mental deadlock.
Repeat the questions, then separate all the answers; which comes from knowledge originating from outside, and that comes from within ourselves, original self. Squeeze all the answers and deadlocks into a drop of the essence of life, then submit completely to what is considered the Source of Life. If the answer comes, and the answer is dogmas, theories, formulas, various pretexts, loan knowledge, refusal, and not an awareness, then all the rituals will not be able to satisfy the will of the soul, who really hopes to be recognized, and the reason why it came to be “I” on earth.
It is not important, to regard this question as truth, but it is important to answer the truth of our existence, as an entity or as something that lives together with everything else. Don’t you think?
As an illustration for this post, I quote the writings of Anthony de Mello S. J. from his book THE SONG OF THE BIRD
THE GURU’S CAT
Each time the guru sat for worship with his students the ashram cat would come in to distract them, so he ordered them to tie it when the ashram was at prayer.
After the guru died the cat continued to be tied at worship time. And when the cat expired, another cat was brought into the ashram to make sure that the guru’s orders were faithfully observed at worship time.
Centuries passed and learned treatises were written by the guru ’s scholarly disciples on the liturgical significance of tying up a cat while worship is performed.
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Question of
Do you have certain rituals, whether related to religion or belief, tradition, fulfilling spiritual or emotional needs, strengthening social ties, providing social and moral education, showing respect or submission, allowing someone to express one’s affiliation, get social acceptance or consent for some event or ritual that is sometimes done only for the pleasure of the ritual itself, or which is of a very personal nature?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Are rituals important to you?
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Yes
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No
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It depends.
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Users voted 10 times.
Q: Do you have certain rituals, whether related to religion or belief, tradition, fulfilling spiritual or emotional needs, strengthening social ties, providing social and moral education, showing respect or submission, allowing someone to express one’s affiliation, get social acceptance or consent for some event or ritual that is sometimes done only for the pleasure of the ritual itself, or which is of a very personal nature?
Yes (6 votes) – 60%
No (4 votes) – 40%
Q: Are rituals important to you?
Yes (4 votes) – 40%
No (3 votes) – 30%
It depends. (3 votes) – 30%
My friend, I do not have any rituals – in our country this happens in a minority
Oh, I see, my friend. Thanks for your depiction.
I have some rituals … morning coffee on the terrace, afternoon walk etc. … these are rituals for my soul
When you say that it is rituals for you soul, then it must be very useful.
Rituals are … passed down usually with no real meaning or distorted/biased meaning …
Like only the male can lead a funeral or major Chinese “rituals”?
I LOL at this!!
Oh if waking up and going to my PC/phone is a ritual too then yes … I’ve one or two at least!
hehe :p
What you call first is the TOR of a ritual.
Of course, the habit to check your PC / phone as soon as you wake up is a ritual too…
It would depend on if the word is ritual, or if the world is Ritual. If it is the second than I have some i cherish, if it is the first then not as much.
I understand what you mean, Doc. This is just a way to explore what we always do, habits, or something that must be done whether it is still meaningful or useful or not. Thanks for your thought.
I thought I was going to answer no, but after reading the comments. I do have a daily ritual. Coffee, social media, feed animals, check the garden and go to work.
Yes, Kim. Many people don’t realize their own rituals. Unfortunately, not all rituals are useful – something often called empty rituals – but tie us to something. In a broad context, that could mean futility.
Is going to church considered a ritual? Maybe not I do not do it everyday. I go to work 5 days a week. Another post to get us all thinking this morning lol. Great photo!
The church is also a ritual, though not every day. As long as you do it wholeheartedly and know the reason and meaning of the ritual, it is good and necessary.
This post is just to make us more aware of the meaning and benefits of our ritual, or find out more about it, dear friend.
I have no ritual. Every day is different and I take them as they come ?. Funny story and meaningful, the one with the cat.
Thanks for your thought, Gogata.
Hmmm… Not many people like you, my friend. Some people even have rituals by tidying up toiletries, making sure everything in the house is organized as desired, or tidying up work equipment; camera, weapon (my dad used to do it), etc.
The cat’s story simply reminds us of the basis and meaning of our rituals, if we have, and whether we know it.
Yup, and it also shows that sometimes we do things, but we don’t know why.
I know many people that have may rituals, that’s ok for them, but not for me. A ritual means that you must follow some rules and there are times when it’s impossible to do that. I simply prefer to enjoy every little thing life gives me. ?
I am very happy with your last statement “enjoy every little thing life gives me”
As an Asian and living in a province we have several rituals and tradition, we inherited from the old traditions and rituals, too.
That’s for sure, my friend. Do you participate and doing it with full awareness and understanding the benefits? Coz is the most important thing, right?
AT home? sure… here yes I also do what they do a little if I am invited, if not I don’t
My ritual is morning coffee, reading the mail, playing with Dolly.
I have a prayer before bedtime
It’s good that you know what you always do and the purpose or benefits, Branka.
Absolutely I have rituals. Drinking my coffee first thing in the morning is my first one.
Mediation, long deep breaths, is one I do when needed. The treadmill is another.
I could go on. Love your photo Albert. A favorite blue.
Coffee, Uuft… It’s a fun and important ritual, Carol. The treadmill is very useful, and meditation, hmmmm… it’s an important way to be explored again and again.
That blue stuff is just a fragrance burner, right?