I'm thankful today for my mindfulness meditation mentoring group. It's my cohort that meets bi-monthly to discuss our Power of Awareness course. Several in my group were also accepted into the 2-year Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Certification Program so I'm looking forward to getting to know many of them better over the next few years.
Anyhow, today we had some extra time to discuss whatever we wanted so I decided to take advantage of the cumulative wisdom and asked if anyone else had found their mindfulness and meditation practice to be a doorway leading them out of their current faith culture. I wanted to know how others in our group were able to negotiate the awareness that there is no one right way and every religion is fundamentally the same? I was especially eager to get everyone's take considering we have a Quaker, a Jew, a Buddhist, a 12-Step Devotee, a Shaman, and who knows what else, in our group. I am keen to know how they are able to remain devout--if they are indeed devout--because I can't reconcile in my mind, nor my heart, a way to be true to myself and still participate and perpetuate my current faith culture's dogma and doctrine. I'd love to know how others do it or what they have done because they can no longer do it either. I guess too, I just want to know I'm not alone in this experience and if it's a universal experience for others of any faith?
The conversation that ensued was helpful in that others shared similar struggles. One lady in our group recommended I read Martha Beck's writings. I guess she was also raised devout Mormon and shares her truth journey. I looked her up on Amazon and am excited to read some of her books. She sounds fascinating!
Another gentleman shared his experience of leaving the Buddhist faith. All of us ultimately agreed that LOVE is what matters most and you need to follow your heart. There is no one right way for me to do things, and no one out there is going to be able to tell me what I should do as we are all having our own unique experiences. If you think about it, this is what makes life so interesting and fun. We don't have to look to someone else to try to mimic or copy. We get to create our own path. I am so grateful that the universe, God, Spirit, or the Divine Creative Force, gave each of us such a wide berth. "Go forth and explore," she says. "And have a blessed adventure!"
Anyhow, today we had some extra time to discuss whatever we wanted so I decided to take advantage of the cumulative wisdom and asked if anyone else had found their mindfulness and meditation practice to be a doorway leading them out of their current faith culture. I wanted to know how others in our group were able to negotiate the awareness that there is no one right way and every religion is fundamentally the same? I was especially eager to get everyone's take considering we have a Quaker, a Jew, a Buddhist, a 12-Step Devotee, a Shaman, and who knows what else, in our group. I am keen to know how they are able to remain devout--if they are indeed devout--because I can't reconcile in my mind, nor my heart, a way to be true to myself and still participate and perpetuate my current faith culture's dogma and doctrine. I'd love to know how others do it or what they have done because they can no longer do it either. I guess too, I just want to know I'm not alone in this experience and if it's a universal experience for others of any faith?
The conversation that ensued was helpful in that others shared similar struggles. One lady in our group recommended I read Martha Beck's writings. I guess she was also raised devout Mormon and shares her truth journey. I looked her up on Amazon and am excited to read some of her books. She sounds fascinating!
Another gentleman shared his experience of leaving the Buddhist faith. All of us ultimately agreed that LOVE is what matters most and you need to follow your heart. There is no one right way for me to do things, and no one out there is going to be able to tell me what I should do as we are all having our own unique experiences. If you think about it, this is what makes life so interesting and fun. We don't have to look to someone else to try to mimic or copy. We get to create our own path. I am so grateful that the universe, God, Spirit, or the Divine Creative Force, gave each of us such a wide berth. "Go forth and explore," she says. "And have a blessed adventure!"
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