Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary
definition of dogma is as follows:
Main Entry: dog•ma
Pronunciation: ‘dog-m&, ‘däg-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural dogmas also
dog•ma•ta /-m&-t&/
Etymology: Latin dogmat-, dogma, from
Greek, from dokein to seem a point of view
or tenet put forth as authoritative without
adequate grounds
While we recognize the positive influences of
organized faith, most religions, including
Buddhism for example, have their share of
dogma. Despite valuing many Buddhist tenets,
we detect plenty of dogmatic beliefs among its
followers. The following email sent to us from
a Buddhist who chants daily exemplifies our point:
“I think fate and destiny goes back to karma,
yes we have karma from previous lives, but we
created our own karma, so we also can change
it! Although we may not change all bad karma
completely, my master promised us that thru
chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo we can absolutely
reach enlightenment in this life time! And
we can expedite the changing process! That’s
the power of our chanting!
If you start chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
you’ll reach enlightenment way faster than
any methods you suggest. I’ve used the power
from my prayers (thru chanting) to overcome
obstacles in my everyday life and achieve my
goals - many times making impossible into
possible... Quite mystical, but also a lot of work”
We asked the gentleman who emailed us to
share how much closer he thinks he is to
“enlightenment” from chanting and exactly
how he has “changed” his karma, but he didn’t
respond back to us.
The Buddhist above states that his master
“promised” him that he’d reach “enlightenment”
if he chanted a certain verse. Chanting is a form
of meditation and can be used to become more
centered and to focus.
However, if you have further karma to work out
and need to come back for other lifetimes (that
may have been planned well before this one), all
the chanting in the world isn’t going to change
that.
As we always say, you cannot erase your karma and
bypass the earthly experience needed to balance
it. Sure, you can change how you react to it, which
can make the lessons easier to tolerate, but in
no way can you erase what your ego doesn’t like or
create what your ego wants if it’s not part of your
destiny.
Other forms of dogma linked to various belief
systems include the following:
*The “Harmonic Convergence,” (a label given, by
creative and opportunistic astrologers, to a type of
irrelevant astrological planetary alignment that has
been occurring regularly for eons) and other “cosmic
events” like it; promoters make bogus claims of
“unparalleled times” in the earth’s history, promoting
their web sites and selling their products, yet the only
“unparalleled time” is for them to take advantage of
the uneducated, misinformed, and those who are
impressed by far-out, “spiritual” sounding, New Age
notions; other key phrases commonly used include,
“now is a momentous time unlike any other,” and
“many facets of the Divine Plan are unfolding
simultaneously”
*Men need women in marriage in order to grow
spiritually
*Women can’t be spiritual or religious leaders
*Sex before marriage is a sin
*Directives issued by “ascended masters” through
“channeled messages;” these are sometimes valid,
yet so often bogus and long-winded cosmic fu-fu;
obvious red flags are if the “messages” are
biased-sounding in any way and/or deny the
fact that varying degrees of adversity in people’s
lives has a divine purpose
*Getting married and having children is the right
thing to do
*Divorce is a sin
*You can “Ascend” or “reach enlightenment” in
this life if you consciously choose it
*Because the Universe is changing, we aren’t
governed by the laws of karma like we used to be
*You can live forever; all you have to do is
“download” your consciousness into a clone of
yourself
*Once you die, all your “sins” are forgiven and
you get a “get out of jail free” card; you aren’t
accountable for your actions in this life
*You have complete free will while incarnated
and you can create anything you want in this life;
what the mind can conceive, you can achieve
*You have the right to anything you desire; it’s
your “birthright”
*Cursing is a sin
*Nudity is a sin
*Making a lot of money is a sin
*Taking a vow of poverty is the right thing to do
*Having a drink once a while will corrupt your
spirituality
*Eating meat isn’t very spiritual
*Vegetarianism is the most spiritual diet
*Listening to Rock music is not very spiritual
*Dressing provocatively is a sin
*If you don’t adhere to a particular belief
system, you’re doomed
*Select Feng Shui “cures” such as, “Beautify
the money area in your house and become a
millionaire!;” yes, we value many Feng Shui
concepts, but you can’t cheat fate through its
methods
Copyright © 2007 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo
Scott Petullo has been professionally employed as an astrologer, numerologist, and handwriting analyst since 1997. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona and has been exploring metaphysics since the early 1980's. Scott is a self-taught astrologer and numerologist, and received his Certified Master Graphologist designation from the Institute of Graphological Science in Dallas, Texas. www.mystictwins.com www.holisticmakeover.com
Stephen Petullo has studied metaphysical concepts since the early 1980s and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona that includes a minor in psychology. He has been doing consultations and intuitive readings professionally since 1997. He is a Reiki master-teacher, past-life regressionist, natural medium and channel, metaphysical consultant and has published a book and 20 audio recordings.