Continued
You are so welcome here. Your posts are beautiful. Many of us are experiencing a deep spirituality that may or may not include organized religion. Christianity has always been part of my life. Prayer and worship bring me such a sense of peace and joy, so much so that it’s hard to describe. Yet at the same time, my consciousness is expanding with my spiritual growth and I know there is much more to life and afterlife than described in Christian tradition, more than I can even imagine. Mysteries abound and I’m good with that.
Hi @luminous if you are looking for a sense of community that a church setting provides but with an open and inclusive belief system that allows you to explore your spirituality, try taking a look at Unitarian Universalism.
(Disclaimer: I was raised Catholic but am not a member of any organized religion)
I agree with you - my spiritual awareness is expanding and struggles to be limited to religion, but at the same time, I struggle with the isolation of going through what I have experienced on my own, and spirituality can sometimes seem a lonely journey. That is why it is nice to discuss things here and to discuss our spiritual experiences.
I will take a look, thanks.
Have you looked into Quakerism? Like Unitarian-Universalists, Quakers are progressive and not dogmatic at all, but they are definitely a Christian denomination.
Yeah I did briefly. I dont think it is as popular here in the UK as it is in the US.
For now, I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed I guess with the things going on right now, hence my feeling of retreat back into Christianity going back and fourth in my mind at the moment. But I know deep down, there is so much more going on and I feel that I am restricting myself by staying inside a belief system.
This is actually the same issue I had when I realised the illusion of reality through spirituality. Everything I came to know and understand was shaped by human made belief systems, and I then realised, that a lot our struggles and suffering were as a result of these systems of beliefs.
I think I am in some kind of transition phase, and I am struggling to let go of this aspect. So there is a lot of back and fourth going on right now in my mind.
I get the struggle between human-made belief systems and realities and illusions of realities. I thought for so long that thinking outside the box of religion would send me straight to hell.
So as usual, now, something Biblical pops into my mind.
From St. Paul, who must have struggled, too, to the Corinthians:
@luminous I love the suggestions of UU and Quakerism. I have a third which is a relaxed form of Buddhism. The Insight Meditation Society has been a godsend for me. They have a few sites around the country.
When you speak of loneliness, I think of the Three Jewels, one of the many tenants of Buddhism.
The Three Jewels are
1. the Buddha (teacher),
2. The Dharma (the path or teachings) and
3. the Sangha (the community). The community you meditate with forms a godsend of connection.
I meditated with a small group in town for three years. We didn't do anything socially outside of our meditations, but once I was upset about something that happened to me, and after meditation I burst into tears. I knew I could cry there. They were kind and I felt safe with them.
That may be happening with a core group who are showing up M-W-F at the Circle of Light. It is easier when the meditations are in person than on zoom, but a bond is forming.
I think you read my mind, very recently I have purchased a Buddha candle holder for my bedroom.
I have looked at Buddhism before, especially since many of the books I've read on spirituality refer to karma and reincarnation. It probably is the closest thing if I'm honest, in terms of spiritual practice, that fits many of the things I have learnt about. I have also felt very interested in Taoism as well.