meditation: apologies to persons of faith
 

In my post first post on another thread, regarding Shinzen Young, I may have inadvertantly offended persons of faith when I said, in pertinent part:

I have learned to experience pain, sadness, sight, sound, joy, you name it, as just sensation, without (when I’m lucky) attachment or aversion. And so have avoided (per my psychologist) any real depression even as my body starts to fall apart, as we all do in the end. And all without any aspect of what might be called “faith.” Just taking the pieces of any particular situation apart, until they are down to manageable bite sized pieces. [Emphasis added.]

What I meant to say was that meditation could be quite meaningful (for me) without "faith" on my part. I was reminded of my error when I listened to Shinzen’s YouTube based Welcome to New Viewers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvk99BRxlPw a little while ago. Indeed, almost all of the great religions of the world have deep meditative traditions, practiced by men and women often of great faith. My words were ill-chosen at best, for which any and all who were offended have my apology.

I simply wish that I had started my post with this clip, insted of jumping right into Google TechTalks.

I have since amended the post to indicate that - for me personally - there is no requirement of faith in the practice of meditation. But as Shinzen notes in the clip I have just linked to, he was speaking from one of his retreats at a Carmelite Monastary where he and his students were made entirely welcome. As are persons of all faiths within the meditative community.

Mike

Eliquently said Mike.
I use meditation, hypnotherapy & guided imagry for the pain. It has brought me to new beliefs that the mind is so incredibly powerful for the pain to get through each day.

Words and expressions so often misinterpret our thoughts and intentions...
If only we could communicate without the boundaries and restrictions of words and labels...

I think we are all united here on the board in finding comfort in our own individual ways, and along the way, sharing our discoveries with eachother.

We have convictions, beliefs and traditions, and different paths of being in the world, and also for exploring beyond the world.

Tolerance and kindness toward eachother foster a sense of caring, which enhances our healing and well-being...

I enjoy our diversity, and our individual and collective search as we navigate through our lives and our challenges..
Hope4thebest :grouphug:

Mike - when do you sleep??

Your thoughtful contributions are always appreciated.

XOXOX Sandy

Thank you Mike for all of your posts. You are always there to answer questions, find solutions and give us hope. I am a devout Christian, and I was in no way offended by your post. I am ordering the disc and the book. Thank you again, for always caring and helping all of us.

:hug:Sandy