Bliss and Wisdom ~ Greg J

Taking a new walking route yesterday, I noticed several small businesses in the shopping center next door.   

Which of these offices would you visit? 

I have pursued each of BLISS & WISDOM for years, and here they are with one-stop-shopping. 

Rats. Circling the first floor, I did not find BLISS & WISDOM. Nor were they visible on the second floor.

SCHOLARS ACADEMY might have helped, but it was closed. 

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Taking a cue from DR SMART PHONE, I found “Bliss & Wisdom”. It is a multi-site Buddhist foundation, “hoping to purify people's hearts and convey the values of respect for life.” Specifically: “Wisdom is the realization of the true nature of reality (emptiness), while bliss is the profound, lasting peace of nirvana achieved when the mind is fully liberated from suffering, ego, and ignorance.”

The online brochure and a small sign at the elevator led me to adjacent doors in back. One door was labelled SENSORIUM and the other read, LET GO BOUTIQUE.

The doors were locked. It remains a mystery to me which door would open to Bliss and which one to Wisdom.

These Buddhist perspectives and my fruitless search have much in common with the dourest book in the Bible:

‘Absolute futility,’ says the Teacher. …
‘The sun rises and the sun sets;
   panting, it hurries back to the place where it rises….
All the streams flow to the sea,
   yet the sea is never full.
To the place where the streams flow,
   there they flow again…
There is nothing new under the sun.'
(Ecclesiastes chapter 1)

I'm glad that the bulk of Hebrew and Christian scriptures find fulfillment in the Creator's love, if not also in an earnest journey:

But godliness with contentment is great gain,
for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
(1 Timothy 6)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
(Psalm 111)
 
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork….
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
    which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy….
 
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple….
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19

Therefore do not be anxious,
saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles seek after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6

So I tell you
to ask and you will receive,
search and you will find,
knock and the door will be opened for you.
Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find,
and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.

Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake
if the child asked for a fish?
Which one of you would give your child a scorpion
if the child asked for an egg?
As bad as you are,
you still know how to give good gifts to your children.
But your heavenly Father is even more ready
to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Luke 11


But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5