Can resonate with almost everything you've written here.
Though I treat the topic of religion like sex with my wife...that's private, thank you!
Maybe I bring a Judaic anti-missionary/"member of the tribe" view to religion, where my community of practice only need concern itself with outreach insofar as it's a public relations matter...
what a great post. I was having this conversation with my brother, sister-in-law, and wife on vacation and when they asked if I was "religious now" I said yes. I also got that frisson of aliveness when it seemed like I had surprised them. But I didn't have the two-part meaning here that would have been useful--yes, I'm doing all the things that seem like they mean "religion," but I'm not doing the "I believe and defend the dogma" thing, which seems to be a key part of what they were meaning.
Part of your post had me thinking back to CTR's Shambhala book: "When you walk into this world of reality, the greater or cosmic world, you will find the way to rule your world—but, at the same time, you will also find a deep sense of aloneness. It is possible that this world could become a palace or a kingdom to you, but as its king or queen, you will be a monarch with a broken heart. It is not a bad thing to be, by any means. In fact, it is the way to be a decent human being—and beyond that a glorious human being who can help others. This kind of aloneness is painful, but at the same time, it is beautiful and real. Out of such painful sadness, a longing and a willingness to work with others will come naturally. You realize that you are unique. You see that there is something good about being you as yourself. Because you care for yourself, you begin to care for others who have nurtured your existence or have made their own journey of warriorship, paving the way for you to travel this path. Therefore, you feel dedication and devotion to the lineage of warriors, brave people, whoever they have been, who have made this same journey. And at the same time, you begin to care for all those who have yet to take this path. Because you have seen that it is possible for you, you realize that you can help others to do the same."
Can resonate with almost everything you've written here.
Though I treat the topic of religion like sex with my wife...that's private, thank you!
Maybe I bring a Judaic anti-missionary/"member of the tribe" view to religion, where my community of practice only need concern itself with outreach insofar as it's a public relations matter...
what a great post. I was having this conversation with my brother, sister-in-law, and wife on vacation and when they asked if I was "religious now" I said yes. I also got that frisson of aliveness when it seemed like I had surprised them. But I didn't have the two-part meaning here that would have been useful--yes, I'm doing all the things that seem like they mean "religion," but I'm not doing the "I believe and defend the dogma" thing, which seems to be a key part of what they were meaning.
Part of your post had me thinking back to CTR's Shambhala book: "When you walk into this world of reality, the greater or cosmic world, you will find the way to rule your world—but, at the same time, you will also find a deep sense of aloneness. It is possible that this world could become a palace or a kingdom to you, but as its king or queen, you will be a monarch with a broken heart. It is not a bad thing to be, by any means. In fact, it is the way to be a decent human being—and beyond that a glorious human being who can help others. This kind of aloneness is painful, but at the same time, it is beautiful and real. Out of such painful sadness, a longing and a willingness to work with others will come naturally. You realize that you are unique. You see that there is something good about being you as yourself. Because you care for yourself, you begin to care for others who have nurtured your existence or have made their own journey of warriorship, paving the way for you to travel this path. Therefore, you feel dedication and devotion to the lineage of warriors, brave people, whoever they have been, who have made this same journey. And at the same time, you begin to care for all those who have yet to take this path. Because you have seen that it is possible for you, you realize that you can help others to do the same."
Yeah... this really hits. Thank you, Derek.
Your new band: Monarch & the broken hearts