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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2007OT: Purrs for the spirit
I don't know what the hell I am anymore. Once upon a time I embraced Sikhism with joy and still believe in the core message of the gurus: that all are equal, that all the world's visions of God are One; that we must work for our livings so that we may share what we have. And now what happens? I miss church: the experience of worship, to do it in my language. To not have women pull their children from me for fear of contact with the Polack, the Goree, the infertile, as if these things are a disease. To participate. What the hell happened? And am I just reacting to other human beings or is there a real conviction to go back to Catholicism; and how can I possibly tell my husband when already there are many who believe that I converted for the sake of getting married, just so a big fat aging Polack can get a husband? Maybe Fritzianity is the choice? Who knows anymore? Sit back, think about God (dess) and pet my five mini-Basts while thinking on the higher powers? If you can spare me a few good purrs, I would be much grateful. Right now I'm spiritually verkocked. Blessed be, Baha > Once upon a time I embraced Sikhism with joy and still believe in the core > message of the gurus: that all are equal, that all the world's visions of God [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > believe that I converted for the sake of getting married, just so a big fat > aging Polack can get a husband? Yuck, do people in the Sikh congregation actually treat you that badly? I'm sorry that you have to put up with that, if they do. What does Louie have to say about that? (Not implying he's responsible for doing anything about it, but I'm wondering what his thoughts are on it.) I can't imagine that would make you feel like you belong with that group. <sigh...> It's really depressing that so many people, from so many places and traditions, are so fearful and bigoted. What is a Goree, by the way? Purrs, Joyce >Yuck, do people in the Sikh congregation actually treat you that badly? >I'm sorry that you have to put up with that, if they do. I get most of that mishegoss from the women. The gentlemen tend to look the otherway unless they happen to address Louie for something, and then I receive a cordial greeting, but otherwise it has become kind of icy. >What does Louie have to say about that? He's none too happy, and very aware that many of the family resent the fact that he "married out," that eh married someone not of the culture (and therefore the ethnicity; there are many who cannot separate religion from culture and consider the race to embody both.) Many have griped to Louie's face that he could gladly have had an arranged marriage with such-and-such daughter among the congregation, and Louie would not have had it; he didn't want an arranged marriage. many of those he saw were too unhappy. >What is a Goree, by the way? A white woman, and not used in a polite way. Not as offensive as saying "The n-word" in reference to people of the Black community; it's kind of like saying shikse for a Gentile girl. Shikse is someone who isn't Jewish, but some people use it to imply that the girl has lower morals and not a lot of brains. Sorry; I do tend to slip in those foreign words into stuff a lot don't I? Blessed be, Baha >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha Purrs being sent Baha I go thru stuff like this all the time. It is hard sometimes to have multiple beliefs or be stuck in the middle of them. I have come to realize what guides me is the ones that love me and have loved me. Whether it be the powers above / below , the two legged or four legged kind. It is all what is in the heart what makes the belief(s) possible. Not what people say or do it is what is in your heart that makes the difference. I will add a little prayer to those purrs for you and add a candle for you to be your guiding light Purrs are on the way.  SignatureJoy Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them. --Nathaniel Hawthorne >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha > I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha Purrs on the way, Baha. I kind of know how you are feeling, I think. Those women treat you that way? Well, rain on them. That is so wrong, so unbelievable anti-everything-Christlike-I-can-think-of. What religion could possibly condone that behavior toward a fellow human being?? I also understand your longing for familiar worship. Hang in there. Prayers sent that you find the answers you're looking for. Sherry > Maybe Fritzianity is the choice? Who knows anymore? Sit back, think about God > (dess) and pet my five mini-Basts while thinking on the higher powers? If you > can spare me a few good purrs, I would be much grateful. Right now I'm > spiritually verkocked. I love buddhism and my yoga teacher blends it with yogic philosophy in a wonderful way. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > I love buddhism and my yoga teacher blends it with yogic philosophy in a > wonderful way. I forgot, purrs on your spiritual quest. Remember, it's the journey that matters. Paying attention is prayer. Love yourself first, for you cannot give what you do not have. Treat others as they would like to be treated. Be generous with your time and resources. SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >can spare me a few good purrs, I would be much grateful. Right now I'm >spiritually verkocked. Purrs for your feelings and for difficult situations. Nobody feels comfortable being part of something that marginalizes them, and a bigoted attitude that someone is not really a part of their society can be self-fulfilling. If you do end up falling out of Sikhism, it won't be your fault, and it won't validate the people who doubted you. Baha, You've been on my heart all day and I'm sure some of those loud motor- purrs from Paulette and Emma were for you. I've been thinking two things: 1. When I was in college and trying to decide what to do with my life, my wonderful choir director and professor said, "Follow your heart." I did, and the rest is (so to speak) history. Wondering if your heart is telling you to go back to church. If it is, you should listen. I happen to be a Protestant Christian but I go to the local Catholic church for Compline (Gregorian chant in Latin) every Saturday night and it is probably the most peaceful moment of my week. 2. I was reading the end of "Prince Caspian", the second of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, to my daughter (adopted-- I'm "infertile", I guess you could say, by being single!) and Aslan bounded into my mind-- of course Paulette bounding across the room like a little lion at the same moment Aslan, in the book, was joyfully bounding around with Susan and Lucy and the recently-freed Naiads and Dryads and other Old Narnians probably helped. I don't know if you like this sort of book, but I re-read all the Chronicles of Narnia at least once a year because God speaks to me through stories. If you need to see God being joyful, loving, and somewhat like a cat, maybe Aslan will encourage you. One of my favorite passages from Prince Caspian, chapter 11: "Aslan pounced. Have you ever seen a very young kitten being carried in the mother cat's mouth? It was like that. The Dwarf, hunched up in a little, miserable ball, hung from Aslan's mouth. The Lion gave him one shake and all his armour rattled like a tinker's pack and then-- hey-presto-- the Dwarf flew up in the air. He was as safe as if he had been in bed, though he did not feel so. As he came down the huge velvety paws caught him as gently as a mother's arms and set him (right way up, too) on the ground. "'Son of Earth, shall we be friends?' asked Aslan." (C.S. Lewis) Maybe you feel like that right now? Purring that you will soon feel the comfort of the Great Paws. Cantate I haven't read the Chronicles of Narnia in ages. Maybe that's what I need: an Aslan to bounce me around like a playing cat. Big Brandy, with her predominant golden color, might do as a substitute in a pinch. She's a good little morale officer, and has a gift for making people happy being around her. Blessed be, Baha >Baha, > >You've been on my heart all day and I'm sure some of those loud motor- >purrs from Paulette and Emma were for you. I've been thinking two >things: >If you do end up falling out of Sikhism, it won't be your fault, and >it won't validate the people who doubted you. I'm worried about Louie, the devil take the rest of the congregation; he already has his insecurities. I'm so worried he'll be disappointed in me; that he'll think me untrustworthy if I return to the church, because if I go back on one word how many else can I go back on? Like my credit rating going into the toilet over one lousy charge card... Blessed be, Baha > I'm worried about Louie, the devil take the rest of the congregation; he > already has his insecurities. I'm so worried he'll be disappointed in me; > that he'll think me untrustworthy if I return to the church, because if I go > back on one word how many else can I go back on? Like my credit rating going > into the toilet over one lousy charge card... Yikes, I see what you mean. Could you discuss it with him? I should think it would make him more insecure if he didn't think you trusted him enough to communicate your feelings about this (which will probably become obvious if they aren't already), or, to state it in a more positive way, it might make him feel more trusted and trusting if you could. Purring for him too, now. Cantate > I'm worried about Louie, the devil take the rest of the congregation; he > already has his insecurities. I'm so worried he'll be disappointed in me; > that he'll think me untrustworthy if I return to the church, because if I > go back on one word how many else can I go back on? Hmm. In my mind, spirituality should be a personal thing, something you follow because your heart tells you where you need to go. That doesn't mean it can't be shared with others, of course - obviously for many people, community is a very big part of their spiritual life. But shaping your own spiritual path to conform to other people's needs and expectations seems very limiting and constraining, and therefore, defeats the whole purpose of spirituality, which is all about expanding and growing. Has Louie ever said to you that he *needs* you to be part of his religion (and religious group)? Is sharing that with a spouse a critically important part of marriage, for him? If not, then I think he should be willing to give you the space to follow your own path. You may be married, but you are still individual people. A marriage shouldn't keep the participants from fully being who they are - it should encourage that. If he *does* need that from a wife, then you probably have some tough times ahead. I don't mean to imply that it's irreconcilable, but you might have to really work on it together to come to a solution that's livable for both of you. And even if it's not critically important to him that you share his religion, no doubt he will be disappointed. But you know what? Disappointments happen in relationships. People change over time. A good relationship can be flexible enough to deal with changes and with some losses, provided that they're not basic needs, and also that each partner allows the other to have (and express, when necessary) whatever feelings they might have. So it would probably be a period of adjustment for him, where he does feel a sense of loss and disappointment. But it's not your responsibility to live your life in a way that doesn't work for you, just so he won't feel a sad feeling. Your main responsibility is to respect his feelings and be present for him - to care about what he's going through, but not to sacrifice your own needs in the process. Also, even if he's disappointed with the way things turn out, that doesn't mean he's disappointed in *you*. The latter phrasing seems to imply that your very character has let him down. But there's nothing wrong with your character just because your current religious activity isn't meeting your needs. OK, end of sermon. If I keep posting, you won't need another church! :) Joyce > > I'm worried about Louie, the devil take the rest of the congregation; he > > already has his insecurities. I'm so worried he'll be disappointed in me; > > that he'll think me untrustworthy if I return to the church, because if I > > go back on one word how many else can I go back on? >Has Louie ever said to you that he *needs* you to be part of his religion >(and religious group)? Is sharing that with a spouse a critically important >part of marriage, for him? Louie's never enforced it or anything; he never expected to have a Sikh wife and it made him happier than anything when I first told him I wanted to join him in the congregation. It is a meditative kind of worship; less preaching than a long praise-the-Lord session. But the Bible says there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak, and the meditative thing isn't working for me of late; I want to participate. I can't do it at Gurudwara. Not because I'm a woman or anythiing, but because aI hadn't had that ceremony of Amrit, my "bat mitzvah." I can't because of the language limitation. There's a big to-do now about making services biligual. The purists say hell no, it was meant to be in Punjabi and doing bilingual kirtan would dilute the scriptures and faith for the young ones; others like me say it would make Sikhism more acessible to Westerners who are right now ignorant on it. And then there's the issue about how I get crap from the women of the sangat or congregation; that's a whole other ball of wax. And I feel this big thing about going back to Catholicism if only to determine what I'd been rebelling against all these years, and determine if it's a real conviction in that direction or some other kind of reaction. Blessed be, Baha >> > I'm worried about Louie, the devil take the rest of the congregation; >> > he [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > years, and determine if it's a real conviction in that direction or some > other kind of reaction. I know how hard it is when you feel you can't share your worship with your community. But you do realize that you are a huge threat to those women don't you? You are married to a man you love who loves you. They aren't so sure. Your husband not only has no problem with you not having children, he married you knowing you could not. They are pretty sure the only reason their husbands married them was for the children they hoped to have. They worry that they will have enough children to please him (and his family), that they are of the hoped for sex and that their children will behave properly. They aren't so sure where they stand if they cannot have children. What happens to them if their husbands also start to look for a partner they love and who loves them. They were raised to do what they were told and to marry whom they were told. At least the older women were. They are expected to raise children who will also be obedient. But they aren't in Punjab any more, their kids expect and insist on different things. They may even socialize and marry outside their culture. It makes it harder for them to convince their children "we don't do things that way" when you and Louie are right there in front of them. I hope you find what you are looking for. Jo >I know how hard it is when you feel you can't share your worship with your >community. > >But you do realize that you are a huge threat to those women don't you? Another thing we've discussed. Up to a couple days ago I'm not sure Louie realized just how horrid i felt; and i didn't realize that he knew I was getting the cold shoulder and that I was really getting a species of backhand from those around me. That was an error of mine. (Have to explain something here: at all Sikh services, men and women sit on opposite sides of the main hall where the Holy Book is kept. It hadn't occurred to me how much or how little he was seeing from the guys' side.) I think you're right; I think there is a huge sense of threat, maybe even envy; many of these women did not choose their husbands and they do not enjoy the freedom I do. Infertility is a pain in the @$$ at times but it brings its blessings as well; I am able to give my patronage to the local arts, and volunteer my public relations and other services for the shelters. maybe i couldn't do it if I was popping out kids and worrying for them all the time. maybe I ought to look at myself like Athena: giving up the "respectability" of parenthood for the benefit and betterment of the polis, my community; Athena is goddess of urban civilization and the arts. And maybe you're right: because i can choose my life, I am a threat. I made what is called a "love marriage" in India, and to do that in that culture, it takes a will of iron. Blesed be, Baha >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >Blessed be, >Baha <<<<<<<<<<<<<<Baha>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> FWIW, since I have made peace with my non-practicing, critical Catholicism, I think there are different kinds of faith-- the unthinking kind, and the thinking kind, and the second kind is naturally harder-- and that seems to be what you've got. That means you may never be fully comfortable faith-wise, and you may have to find a way to become comfortable with your discomfort. There, does that sound confusing enough? ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War >>I don't know what the hell I am anymore. >> [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > find a way to become comfortable with your discomfort. There, does > that sound confusing enough? ;) I understood you at least. Some of us long for a sense of belonging, but because of our very natures will not find it. But I figure God made us this way. And he/she has his/her reasons. I too find a great deal to admire and believe in Sikhism. However it can be very insular even when it tries to be open and accepting. Maybe because its believers are still only human after all. Liz, I don't know what you personal experiences have been with your temple. But sometimes if you want a place at the table you have to ask for it. Do you have a spiritual adviser or friend you can discuss how left out you feel? Jo >Liz, I don't know what you personal experiences have been with your temple. >But sometimes if you want a place at the table you have to ask for it. Do >you have a spiritual adviser or friend you can discuss how left out you >feel? I have buddies who are Christian, a couple of Wiccans too; in the Gurudwara, oh HELL no. The leader of the congregation doesn't speak English! For our wedding, we had to write up phonetic spellings of my name and my parents (a prayer for the dead and dying was offered in their absense, as my father was too sick to leave Poland then) and even with it broken down that poor man tripped over his tongue. Louie and i are discussing options now. I may end up doing a Saturday Mass and going to Temple on Sundays to keep the peace; it's the same God anyway, isn't it? Blessed be, Baha That means >you may never be fully comfortable faith-wise, and you may have to >find a way to become comfortable with your discomfort. There, does >that sound confusing enough? ;) Now I am officially going "What the...?" Blessed be, Baha Another off-the-wall thought-- what would happen if he went to church with you? If Sikhs believe that "all the world's visions of God are One", he should be willing. Even if not for himself, as a part of your background going to church might be a way, for him, of knowing you better. I would worry, though, about the reaction of the church people! Cantate I've hinted at it and while he said he's willing to go to other services for certain occasions, he's well adamant about saving Sunday mornings for Gurudwara. Like I offered to take him to a Mormon service so he could understand where I'd spent seven years of my life and he's not quite willing to spend a Sundays there. Not because it's Mormon but because the Gurudwaras here meet on Sundays. I may have to walk with a foot in one (in this case among the Catholics) and a foot in the other: Mass on Saturday evenings and Temple on Sunday mornings. I wouldn't have a problem, myself; I spent my childhood going to Mass one day, and to a Baptist or Assemblies meeting the next. My parents were jerks but because I didn't have my brother's talent in music and sport I was indulged in one way: I was allowed to go to any religious service I wanted as long as i went to Mass once a week, any day. I didn't feel like I was violating Rome, just having another religious adventure. Blessed be, Baha >Another off-the-wall thought-- what would happen if he went to church >with you? If Sikhs believe that "all the world's visions of God are [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Cantate Ah! I didn't know they met Sunday mornings as well. Good thing that some Catholic churches have Saturday Mass. Do you think that sounds like a good solution? You do need to feed your own emotional and spiritual needs. > I wouldn't have a problem, myself; I spent my childhood going to Mass one day, > and to a Baptist or Assemblies meeting the next. I didn't feel like I was violating Rome, > just having another religious adventure. That makes a lot of sense to me. When I was in college I went to Friday welcoming-the-Sabbath synagogue (in Hebrew) in the evening and a Baptist church on Sunday mornings, and occasionally went to Mass on Wed. at 6:00 a.m. (the only option besides Sunday mornings in that small town). My beliefs agree with my "Sunday church", but sometimes in my relationship with God I like a more liturgical and formal service. It helps me to remember reverence as well as intimacy towards the Almighty. Just curious, what language are your Sikh services in? You commented that you wanted to "worship in your own language" (assuming that is English?). Living in Japan, I go to Japanese church, and as I mentioned, the Compline service I attend is mostly in Latin. I don't have a problem worshipping formally in another language, but generally use the English Bible for my private everyday worship (I say "generally" because sometimes I look things up in the original language or Japanese. Sometimes that opens up a new side to the verses.) Hope you're getting a little less frustrated because of all the people in this group who are jumping into this discussion. I love to watch the support and encouragement that always turns up in this group. Cantate >Ah! I didn't know they met Sunday mornings as well. Good thing that >some Catholic churches have Saturday Mass. Do you think that sounds >like a good solution? You do need to feed your own emotional and >spiritual needs. I've thoguht about it. So many parishes in Buffalo are collapsing. The suburban ones appear to be growing though, and maybe I can find a Saturday or midweek service. >Just curious, what language are your Sikh services in? You commented >that you wanted to "worship in your own language" (assuming that is >English?). Kirtan - the "priase and worship" part of a Sikh service - is always in Punjabi. So are the announcements to the congregation, major services like weddings and funerals etc. Kids go to Punjabi school like Jewish kids go to Hebrew school, and mastery of the language is a requirement for the Sikh equivalent of bar/bat mitzvah, the ceremony of Amrit. I am called "Keshdhari" which means a person who is orthodox enough to keep the regalia of the faith, including Kesh or long hair, but I am not a candidate for Amrit; nor do i think I will be anytime soon. I just can't figuire out if I am reacting to people, or have a genuine conviction to return to the Catholic church... Blessed be, Baha > Kirtan - the "priase and worship" part of a Sikh service - is always in > Punjabi. So are the announcements to the congregation, major services like [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > think I will be anytime soon. I just can't figuire out if I am reacting to > people, or have a genuine conviction to return to the Catholic church... Wow, that is really interesting! Cantate >That means >>you may never be fully comfortable faith-wise, and you may have to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Blessed be, >Baha We aims to please. ;) {{{{{{{{{{{{Liz}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. It doesn't matter *what* you are, it matters only *who* you are. The label isn't important, its the content that counts. You think the Divine gives a hoot whether you call yourself Mormon, Sikh, American, Woman, Baha, Liz, Wife, Geek or whatever other labels you & other people use for you, or is He/She/it/Them looking into your heart, yoru soul your spirit and taking into account what is in there, the unspeakable, unwordable stuff? > Once upon a time I embraced Sikhism with joy and still believe in the core > message of the gurus: that all are equal, that all the world's visions of > God > are One; that we must work for our livings so that we may share what we > have. has this belief changed any? > And now what happens? I miss church: the experience of worship, to do it > in > my language. That doens't strike me that you are rejecting Sikhism, only that you are findingit difficult to navigate and feel comfortable through the cultural components that are wrapped up within Sikhism, just as mnay people get confused between islam and the culture that one finds in the Middle East and parts of Asia. > To not have women pull their children from me for fear of > contact with the Polack, the Goree, the infertile, as if these things are > a > disease. To participate. What the hell happened? And am I just reacting to > other human beings or is there a real conviction to go back to Catholicism Personally, I think you are reacting to human beings. Still, perhaps because Sikhism grew out of a culture that is foreign to you, whilst the culture that you were in whilst youwer Catholic is familiar, you are alittle homesick? Can you do both without disrespecting each religion? Note that there are nasty, mean spirited, bigotted people everywhere, in all religions. i dare say even Buddhists have their share of @ssholes. > and how can I possibly tell my husband when already there are many who > believe that I converted for the sake of getting married, just so a big > fat > aging Polack can get a husband? Give your husband the credit he deserves, sweetie. Tell him your concerns, the hurtful things people have said, the 'foreigness' of the service, but also reiterate the beliefs of Sikhism you still hold as true. Perhaps you are being lead to create a group of Sikhs who practice in English and have a more 'western' style of service. > Maybe Fritzianity is the choice? Who knows anymore? Sit back, think about > God > (dess) and pet my five mini-Basts while thinking on the higher powers? If > you > can spare me a few good purrs, I would be much grateful. Right now I'm > spiritually verkocked. Have you tried Univeral Unitarianism just for a break? it took a long time for me to come to terms with my beliefs. The don't have a label, but the major influences are pentecostal Christianity, Athiesm, Wicca & Quakerism. But I have no doubt that is no the end of the list, because I've still got more to learn and more 'building' to do.When I talk to some Wiccans, they are offended by my Christianity, When I talk to some Christians they are offended by my Wiccan & Athiesm influnces, the liberal branch of Quakers seem to have a philosophy that is close to my own, but I can't go to their meetings (too far away). So I go to my husband's Catholic church sometimes, I sometimes do quick Wiccan circles, sometimes I speak in toungues, and sometimes I just get right annoyed with all religious trappings and say 'sod it' for a while (Which means I must be a part-time athiest) when i can't cope with the contradictions any more. I just know there is some sort of superior entity out there somewherwho for some reason seems to be interested in little old me.... and it doesn't matter so much what label I put on myself, nor what particular style i adopt, as long as my focus is on Hir. If listen to Hir, trust in Hir, then what difference does it make whether I focus on Hir with a group of Wiccans, or a group of Quakers or a group of Christians. Indeed, why is my relationship with Hir anyone else's business anyway, how can they possibly tell me what is best for my soul when they have no clue about that relationship? Listen closely to what your Deity(ies) are saying to you, and sod the bigots and the narrow minded. They should be working on getting their own relationship right with their God(dess) before they worry about anyone else's. I"m more than happy to chat to you about this via e-mail if you just want to rant & rave a bit more. Mind the spam trap in this one, or use the one i usually post to Catslaves from (my work one). And yes, purrs coming to you. Listen to your cats, they *know*, they were made by the same artist you were, but aren't confused with all those words and labels that we dumb hoomins use to confuse and obfiscate theTruth. Yowie >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >Blessed be, >Baha It sounds like you just want a church/temple service in your native tongue without having to deal with bigotry. Truth is there is no church or temple without bigoted people in the congregation. I have Christian friends who alternate between churches so each can have services in his or her native tongue. You may need to find a Unitarian church or find a way to be happy being spiritual without a church while doing lip service at hubby's church. Good luck. Debra in VA See my quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere If you are feeling "homesick", why try something new? Trying a compromise like Mass on a weekday or Saturday and the Sikh group on Sunday sounds like a good thing for your marriage. Let us know what happens. Cantate >It sounds like you just want a church/temple service in your native >tongue without having to deal with bigotry. Truth is there is no >church or temple without bigoted people in the congregation. You're right. I know that @$$holes come in all types and I'll never be free of that kind of thing. After thinking awhile part of what I am missing is a sense of participation; there is a part of me that wants more than a meditative sort of worship. I don't consider it as just giving lip service to Sikhism. Its core teachings are true to just about all the faiths: God is God, we're all equals, we must share what we have of the fruits of our labours niot for us but for the other guys we're giving to. The virtues of the religion i still agree with and believe in and I don''t thionk there would be a problem with doing both kirtan and mass. My sister in law goes to synagogue with her husband; but then Mark never went looking outside the synagogue. I just want to have a fuller experience. meditation is good when it is time, but there must be a time to open and up and speak--and DO--as well. I want to give real service to wherever I turn that is sacred. Thar's my point of conflict: how to serve both. Blessed be, Baha > I don't know what the hell I am anymore. > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Blessed be, > Baha Lots and lots of hugs and purrs, Polonca and Soncek >I don't know what the hell I am anymore. I've been thinking about you first posted, though haven't had any illuminating comment to post. But I just wanted you to know that I think of you when I light my yoga candle before practice - questions of the spirit are not quickly answered, I know. Susan M Otis and Chester |
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