"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop"
Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)

July 14, 2010

The World of Words - religion

I love the way people use words, and all the more fascinating if it's a off-beat usage. When I came across a quote by the Dalai Lama, I couldn't resist exploring the word 'religion'.

It's a word that conjures up images of extreme opinion, of having faith in something that isn't seen, an inner world of peace, a higher order, the reading and interpretation of words that cause people to disagree with passion. 

a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion


The quote below is a reminder that religion needn't necessarily denote spirituality. It's something you carry around without belief in fastidious wordsmithery; it's an intrinsic part of the person you are. It can be used to describe an ability, a characteristic of personality, and therefore something that empowers you.

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
Dalai Lama


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"Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing."
Oscar Wilde

Letters from the Edge:

Letter (n). Symbol or character used to represent speech.
Written or printed communication, transmitted by mail.
Edge (n). Line or border, brink or verge.
Edge (v). to put an edge on or sharpen. To rough ( a piece being forged) so that the bulk is properly distributed for final forging.