I affirm you and your path.
P.S. I actually think we can learn a lot from others. But the deepest self-awareness, of course, comes from inside. But absolutely, no one can tell us what is necessary or sufficient for us. I so agree. That's a scary prospect for many. It takes courage to embark on a path which is - in the end - uncharted. As each one's path, even in a faith tradition, is entirely unique.
]]>People who get an illegal abortion and end up in the hospital will end up costing their plan MORE!]]>I'm sorry... but that's what will happen!
The law of unintended consequences!
I personally revel in the flowering of so many wonderful faith traditions! I love the idea that Muslims pray 5x a day! And I love the Call to Prayer:
]]>There is something so freeing and wonderful about a religion that has all those things and more - and NO institutional set-up or dogmas!
And people who come from a background like that are open to discussing! And able to see the ONE behind all the manifestations. (which is basically Vedanta)
These may be very good people to get to know here! I give you my blessing. How can it harm you? There's a lot of wisdom in each tradition. We can learn from that. Remember stilli, "there are other mansions..." Look that up!
]]>I recall how Ghandi tried to teach "non-violence" to children. But found that people cannot really learn to give up violence till they have owned their anger and aggression.
I think that bears on this.
]]>Regarding your last sentence. That's what you've chosen to do. It's not necessarily what others have chosen. I myself prefer NOT to try and sway anyone to choose what I've chosen. Though I have chosen differently than you. Indeed, I've chosen to very much regard religion - and I'm actually interested in the ideals of all the of them. Though if you read the mystics and people of wisdom from nearly any faith, they all urge that people do need to choose a path or practice and stick with it. (My own advice, that I've followed, is to stick with traditions that have centuries if not thousands of years behind them.)
Nevertheless, I suspect that most who come here to TPM and are sincere and very good souls - and that it is possible to seek wisdom and compassion both inside a faith tradition or outside it. We all make choices for our very personal reasons. And I assure you that those who "choose" to practice a faith usually live that out in a unique and personal way - and that their understanding of it (or of god or any faith at all) develops and deepens and transforms over time.
Peace be with you. I do completely value your own personal decision here. This is such a fraught topic. So I'm honestly amazed at how civil, respectful, and open everyone is being on this thread.
]]>I had the most wonderful conversation with a neighbor two doors down - at the end of August - at a little ice cream social they have before sending the kids off to school (the third annual...). This guy is an ordained pastor and wishes he could afford to do that - instead of Plan B, as he put it (his current line of work). There we were, in the middle of kids and adults and ice cream, having this wonderful, wonderful conversation about spiritual things. I later put together a little reading list for him and gave him some advice. That wherever we are, whatever our duties, that is like a sacrament for NOW in our life. (See if you can find Jean Pierre Causade's book on that.)
I so empathize with your concerns, stilli. It's so hard to find one's way in a society that partly wants you to be a "brainwashed" zealot on the one hand and offers too little real depth on the other hand.
Not sure if any of this was helpful. But I send my love and I totally trust you to work your way forward.
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