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Excerpt #3
Chapter Twelve:
Embracing the Mystical
I view all extensions of spirituality with a lens of twofold caution:
does the 'community' of belief address others, or is
it based in ego? Can it be tied to a sacred text or base? Profound
wisdom of discernment with contemplative self brings us to know the
difference. It's like my experience of the Minneapolis Uptown
Art Festival and later festivities, years ago. I remember dancing
with my college roommate in afternoon sun of the reggae band, Shangoya,
surrounded by booths of opals, pottery and artwork. The fun continued
into the evening and many of us drove to a party in St. Paul. We
mingled as we listened to Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones and filled cups
of frothy, keg beer. While we enjoyed living in the fun of the moment,
we saw others choosing a different reality--they were stoned. They
spoke to no one, they never moved, they simply sat 'in their
own Private Idaho' as we used to say. The buzz from their
pot most certainly provided an escape, a numbness, but they totally
missed the reality of the party and the memories of fun shared by
everyone else there. Was that their intent?
People behave similarly with spirituality. They look for the 'buzz' or
escape it provides, but forget to use it as lens with which to view
reality and move into truth of place in the world. The complacency
of this particular view of spirituality lies in its temporary 'fix' or
moment of bliss; it lacks transformation. Spiritual truth is active,
not passive. Further, for many, these experiences remain in Ego rather
than heart. For example, I hear women comparing the 'best' yoga
classes to take, people enrolling in meditation competing for the 'best' experience
of meditation, and churches providing the most 'popular' place
to be spiritual. Indeed, people even measure their spirituality in
human terms. Studying spiritual books, enrolling in classes, and
competing to meditate deeper will provide steps of reflection and
prepare us for contemplation, but the intent is always growth and
transformation, in order to take spirit to others. We continue to
live in this world and discern. We are not monopolized by a materialistic
society of Ego because we are holding the 'get out of jail
free' card the entire time. Heartfelt experience is catalyst
for mindful presence and knowing our place to change and affect our
world. The abundance of living and acting accordingly moves us into
the power of ultimate experience. Our truth is a life of living differently,
abundantly, miraculously. We recapture the dream of being created
for intent. Women, we are called to get up off the couch and join
the party.
Mindful discernment also gives vision to see Truth of intent in
religious communities, defined by base as tied to sacred roots and
text. I was shocked to read a few years ago about the prevalence
of cults in our culture:
The cult problem is so prevalent, the chances of a family member
joining a cult are greater than a family member catching chicken
pox, four times greater than contracting AIDS, 90 times greater than
contracting measles, and 45,000 times greater than contracting polio.
We frequently see a great deal about bult tragedies in our media:
Jonestown, Waco, Heaven's Gate Ð but the facts regarding
cults are rarely divulged to the general public Ð www.factnet.org, 'Danger
of Cults is Growing'
All diverse religious choices, as healthy communities of spirit,
have stood the test of time and are built from sacred text. I once
searched a questionable religion and discovered a leader who centered
the membership upon himself. Cult leaders keep the focus of love,
devotion, and allegiance on themselves. Ironically, very much in
state of Ego. Authentic faith-based religious communities focus on
God, Buddha, and Allah. Discernment is lifelong. Protect your spirit
and the spirit of those around you Ð it's as easy as a
quick search online, or a question to someone you trust to know.
The consequences of unhealthy religion are devastating to mind/body/soul.
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