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MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
Thu May 19, 2011, 03:09 PM May 2011

What are your Unique Paths, and What are you Seeking?!?

Last edited Fri May 25, 2012, 12:40 AM - Edit history (1)

I became a Rosicrucian back in the early 80's. However, I continued to do research on various Spiritual and Consciousness explorations along the way and let my membership in AMORC falter.

In '09 I once again renewed my membership and have continued to fill the void I had created by trying to do things on my own. I am finding a new sense of who I am and I'm glad I renewed my interest in AMORC. It has been a tremendous help with finding the "Master Within" and letting me become more aware of how to be myself.

How about you?

What are your interest?


71 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What are your Unique Paths, and What are you Seeking?!? (Original Post) MagickMuffin May 2011 OP
I'm a Buddhist Atheist. Odin2005 May 2011 #1
So am I. Skinner has approved a Buddhist group and will add it in a few days. nt oxymoron Dec 2011 #6
WOOT!!! Odin2005 Dec 2011 #8
Cool! Very glad to hear that. MH1 Dec 2011 #9
Buddhist agnostic here FreeState Dec 2011 #19
Some of my inlaws are Mormon. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #22
Cool all but one claims to be conservative FreeState Dec 2011 #23
Previously a Christian turned Buddhist onestepforward Dec 2011 #2
There seems to be a lot of DU Buddhist MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #30
Paths from Advaita to Zen; former and current atheist seeking mystic union with the Ground of Being GliderGuider Dec 2011 #3
Former PK and ordained minister now pursuing a similar path. I have a book recommendation Viva_Daddy Dec 2011 #15
Thanks for the recommendation! GliderGuider Dec 2011 #17
You're welcome. Viva_Daddy Dec 2011 #18
OK, here's a second, much bigger thank-you. GliderGuider Dec 2011 #21
Well, well. It turns out that I've simply (re-)discovered Pyrrhonism GliderGuider Dec 2011 #25
I like that. Hadn't heard of it either, but makes a lot of sense. Starboard Tack Jun 2012 #54
Mysticism is such a "godsend" for me MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #31
Same with me. Omniscientone May 2012 #51
Hi again, MM! I'm back reading Adyashanti... GliderGuider May 2012 #52
Zen Buddhist Psychonaut WheelWalker Dec 2011 #4
AMORC bases a lot of their teachings on Ancient Knowledge MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #32
Pure Hippy randr Dec 2011 #5
what comes next. i had a near death experience. it and lots of family roguevalley Dec 2011 #7
I just did an open meeting on NDE MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #33
My parents passed so fast that I could hardly know how to live. It makes you feel your own mortality roguevalley Jan 2012 #47
wow. this showed up here too. LOL! I will remember that. :) roguevalley Jan 2012 #48
My Father studied with the Rosicucians for many years.... Yooperman Dec 2011 #10
This Love is something I struggled with MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #34
I don't believe in god, religion, messiahs, mantras, I Ching, Elvis, Zimmerman, Yoko or me... Taverner Dec 2011 #11
I don't believe in those things either. Viva_Daddy Dec 2011 #16
Very interesting... whathehell May 2012 #50
That's what makes us unique MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #35
Yep. At the same time, I enourage EVERYONE to question EVERYTHING Taverner Jan 2012 #45
My higher vibration. Hard to find in politics, but anyway. freshwest Dec 2011 #12
Well we do have to push politics aside to achieve the higher vibrations MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #36
Playing with the String right now The empressof all Dec 2011 #13
String theory is an interesting theory MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #37
A friend of mine tama Jan 2012 #44
How do you know it's an Earth? Taverner Jan 2012 #46
But if all is infinite and all is possible The empressof all May 2012 #53
As all IS infinite and possible "We" exist and don't exist in form elsewhere...infinite ... sanatanadharma Dec 2012 #63
Soup... CJCRANE Dec 2011 #14
Ummmmm, SOUP MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #38
Slacker tama Dec 2011 #20
May you experience peace profound MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #39
Thanks nt tama Jan 2012 #43
I studied Buddhism for almost thirty years sky dancer Dec 2011 #24
Sense of self tama Dec 2011 #26
Those are good attributes to cultivate MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #40
I'd like to understand... CanSocDem Jan 2012 #27
Ask yourself, who or what is the "me" having the experience? Viva_Daddy Jan 2012 #28
The presentation I just gave dealt with consciousness and NDE MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #41
Encountered a Rosicrucian in the late 70's... CanSocDem Jan 2012 #29
He was probably being very truthful to you MagickMuffin Jan 2012 #42
I am a practicing Pagan/witch/magickian-ex catholic witchjoey Apr 2012 #49
Just a seeker. silverweb Jun 2012 #55
Post removed Post removed Jun 2012 #56
What a great question for this group, lol! LWolf Sep 2012 #57
You might want to take a look at Advaita (aka jnana yoga) as well. GliderGuider Sep 2012 #58
Thanks for the suggestion. LWolf Sep 2012 #59
My interest... TommyCelt Oct 2012 #60
I'm really weird I suppose. mmonk Dec 2012 #61
That doesn't sound weird at all. nt Still Blue in PDX Jan 2013 #64
mmonk - Weird? TommyCelt Mar 2013 #66
Gods, I don't know. Still Blue in PDX Dec 2012 #62
Putting it succinctly.. Hawaiianlight Jan 2013 #65
I'm not sure how to put it... KRansome83 Mar 2013 #67
Message auto-removed Name removed May 2013 #68
i'm studying Core Shamanism. workshops from the Foundation for Shamanic Studies 1handclapn Jun 2015 #69
very cool stuff Rose77 Sep 2015 #70
"All of the above" Rebkeh Nov 2015 #71

FreeState

(10,692 posts)
23. Cool all but one claims to be conservative
Mon Dec 19, 2011, 08:54 PM
Dec 2011

even though all but 3 voted for Obama. My family is very LDS but still very accepting of my partner and I (well most of them, there are a couple that have issues.)

onestepforward

(3,691 posts)
2. Previously a Christian turned Buddhist
Wed Dec 7, 2011, 04:05 PM
Dec 2011

over 10 years ago. Buddhism has bought more peace in my life and makes more sense to me. I'm still a beginner and enjoy learning

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
30. There seems to be a lot of DU Buddhist
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:15 AM
Jan 2012

We are always students, learning as we go. That's what I love about AMORC there are always things to learn and improve upon.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
3. Paths from Advaita to Zen; former and current atheist seeking mystic union with the Ground of Being
Wed Dec 7, 2011, 10:17 PM
Dec 2011

This is apparently possible only by discarding all beliefs and dis-beliefs.

Viva_Daddy

(785 posts)
15. Former PK and ordained minister now pursuing a similar path. I have a book recommendation
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 02:48 PM
Dec 2011

for you: "The Book of Not Knowing" by Peter Ralston. It's a very helpful guidebook for discarding beliefs.

I like religions that don't require me to believe anything. I don't need to believe in the sky when I can just look at it and see it (although I do have to remind myself that the sky is not actually blue - just as water is not "aquamarine" - it just appears that way).

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
17. Thanks for the recommendation!
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 03:22 PM
Dec 2011

Distinguishing between belief/disbelief and non-belief has been a key insight for me. It's hard to find writing on the topic, though. Thanks!

Viva_Daddy

(785 posts)
18. You're welcome.
Thu Dec 15, 2011, 02:16 AM
Dec 2011

There is a classic on the subject, Alan Watts "The Wisdom of Uncertainty". Ralston's book is the handbook that should have come with that classic.

I found Ralston's book very accessible. Don't let the many pages throw you. Ralston takes you step by step and builds gradually so you don't get overwhelmed. It's necessary to do this because the "process" of Not Knowing goes against a lot of programming we got from society.

I found it amazing to actually see how the vast amount of mediated secondary knowledge we acquire actually interferes with directly experiencing our environment.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
21. OK, here's a second, much bigger thank-you.
Sun Dec 18, 2011, 12:26 AM
Dec 2011

I ordered Ralston's book on Wednesday night and it arrived Friday morning. My partner and I have begun reading it together - I'm reading it out loud so we can both experience it simultaneously. We are now up to page 40.

What a remarkable book this is. We are both transfixed - this is exactly what we've been looking for. She and I are both on the same path (loosely called jnana yoga), and at about the same point. This is the perfect next step for both of us.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." This has happened once again thanks to your recommendation.

Namaste.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
25. Well, well. It turns out that I've simply (re-)discovered Pyrrhonism
Fri Dec 30, 2011, 10:24 PM
Dec 2011

Last edited Sat Dec 31, 2011, 01:16 AM - Edit history (1)

I'd never heard of that ancient Greek philosophical school of extreme skepticism, but it turns out to be very much where I'm at in my journey right now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhonism

Pyrrhonian skeptics withhold any assent with regard to non-evident propositions and remain in a state of perpetual inquiry. They disputed the possibility of attaining truth by sensory apprehension, reason, or the two combined, and thence inferred the need for total suspension of judgment (epoché) on things. According to them, even the statement that nothing can be known is dogmatic. They thus attempted to make their skepticism universal, and to escape the reproach of basing it upon a fresh dogmatism. Mental imperturbability (ataraxia) was the result to be attained by cultivating such a frame of mind.

It feels a lot like Buddhism in its aim to reduce suffering (achieve mental imperturbability) through non-attachment (suspending all judgments). Add a dash of Advaita, a dollop of direct experience and voila - a spiritual dish fit for No-One!

Starboard Tack

(11,181 posts)
54. I like that. Hadn't heard of it either, but makes a lot of sense.
Sun Jun 3, 2012, 06:00 PM
Jun 2012

How can one find enlightenment without having a perpetually open mind?
Just found this group btw. Nice change from A&A.

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
31. Mysticism is such a "godsend" for me
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:21 AM
Jan 2012

Hey there GliderGuider

It's what I live for, discovering the mystic within. Belief systems are strange indeed. I live within the boundaries of suspended beliefs.



Omniscientone

(12 posts)
51. Same with me.
Sun May 20, 2012, 12:51 AM
May 2012

Being the type of person to question everything, all the religious beliefs I was taught growing up just didn't seem to make sense to me. I finally picked up Mark Booth Secret History of the World and everything seemed to click. Since then I've read a whole lot of books on Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and Eastern and Western mystery traditions. However, for me moving from knowledge of this stuff to uncovering my own relationship with God in a mystic way has been more difficult. If that made any sense at all.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
52. Hi again, MM! I'm back reading Adyashanti...
Tue May 22, 2012, 11:27 AM
May 2012
Once you've put everything
on the table
once all of your currency is gone
and your pockets are full of air
all you've got left to gamble with
is yourself.

Go ahead, climb up onto the velvet top
of the highest stakes table.
Place yourself as the bet.
Look God in the eyes
and finally
for once in your life
lose.

I'm looking for knowing instead of knowledge. Being instead of doing. I want to not-want...

Hmmmm.....

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
32. AMORC bases a lot of their teachings on Ancient Knowledge
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:28 AM
Jan 2012

It's amazing to learn from the Masters from the Old School.

randr

(12,479 posts)
5. Pure Hippy
Sat Dec 10, 2011, 11:37 AM
Dec 2011

Studying Buddhism, living as organically as possible, and learning all I can from my grandchildren.
I also believe in Rock and Roll as a path to enlightenment.

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)
7. what comes next. i had a near death experience. it and lots of family
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 01:37 AM
Dec 2011

Death have made me know that the dead are right here and all that matters is love

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
33. I just did an open meeting on NDE
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:34 AM
Jan 2012

I started out using power point, but it had some issues. So, I imported all the slides into Final Cut Pro and made a video instead.

We had a good turn out and everyone was very interested in the subject.

What comes next? Well I think we all return to the Source. The all encompassing Source Consciousness. Same as it ever was!

If you would like to PM me about your experience then that would be awesome. I me some NDE stories.

roguevalley

(40,656 posts)
47. My parents passed so fast that I could hardly know how to live. It makes you feel your own mortality
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 07:52 PM
Jan 2012

and I remember wondering how long I had to live myself. So I made contact with two psychic mediums, George Anderson and Laurie Campbell. Laurie is a part of the Arizona State University Afterlife project and she had been someone I researched before contacting her. She works with the FBI and police to solve murders and she had a show on Discovery Science Channel where she and a partner looked for answers to murders. George Anderson is considered the greatest medium alive and is the most tested.

When I contacted Laurie she told me over the phone 60 things that were known only to me. Even sibs didn't know. I had never spoke to her before this and she said no info, just yes or no if I ask. She only asked about three times. She said my mother was young and awesome, that she had been met by my dad when she came over. She said it was like 'stepping from one room to another' and that she and Daddy were with me all the time. She then went into detail to describe the layout of our house which has a very unusual fireplace. She talked about the 'red birds' which were cardinals. We have them all over the house because they were Mom's favorite bird. She told of the Christmas tree in the yard, a small pine that Mom wanted to make into a Christmas tree. She told me that i had to "CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!" which I had decided not to do that year. She said feed the birds, which was a family project for us.

One of the things I do for a control for me with mediums -besides going to the greatest pros around- is to have a couple of things that only I know and set up. I had taken all the pictures of my family including relatives that were born in the 1800's and invite them to come to the meeting. I ask them to come, that I love them and to show up. All through the seance Laurie kept talking about the 'old people'. She explained it meant people from way the hell back in time. She said she had never experienced that before in decades of readings. She told me about my great grandpa Scott and told me about a 'jeep' going here and there. I told her I didn't know what that meant but she said its okay. Sometimes it takes a while before things make sense. A year later I bought a Honda Element that sort of looks jeep like.

I was told about old dogs and family, about the house and Mom's desire to live outside during the winter rather than spend hard times in Alaska with the snow and cold. It was the most awesome experience of my life. It changed me so fundamentally I could face anything. This came before the NDE.

Roguevally, who will send a PM about George Anderson and the shadow man.

Yooperman

(592 posts)
10. My Father studied with the Rosicucians for many years....
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 09:52 PM
Dec 2011

He got me interested when I was in my early 20s ...but lost interest for some reason. Pursued Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's books I guess. He really struck a cord in me and actually helped me free myself from religious dogma.

I have researched past lives and all that comes with that knowledge. Studied various deep questions and came up with answers to all to some degree. However, for every answer I found created 2 more questions! Eventually I realized I was not smart enough nor is any human capable of understanding all that is. So there has to be a much more simple reason we come here to learn.... and that is to realize that the only truly important thing is to cultivate the Love energy and those bonds of connection we have with others.

Simple... not much else matters. Love is all there is and if you live in the Love energy you cannot fail.

Peace

YM

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
34. This Love is something I struggled with
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:37 AM
Jan 2012

Especially with how upset I got with people like Limbaugh, Beck etc. with their constant barrage of hate mongering.

However, I have learned to send Love and Light to them. It was extremely difficult at first but I have found it easier to do as the days go by.

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
11. I don't believe in god, religion, messiahs, mantras, I Ching, Elvis, Zimmerman, Yoko or me...
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 05:16 PM
Dec 2011

Complete Materialist here - what you see is what you get

HOWEVER, I am always searching and all of us are on our own paths

Do what you can not to step on the flowers...

Viva_Daddy

(785 posts)
16. I don't believe in those things either.
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 02:51 PM
Dec 2011

However, the evidence of science (if it can be believed) says that we can only see approximately 4 or 5 percent of all that is. Most of "what is" is not visible. Physicists call it Dark Matter and Dark Energy. I personally don't like the terms, but then I'm not a physicist.

whathehell

(29,783 posts)
50. Very interesting...
Fri May 18, 2012, 02:46 AM
May 2012

That we can only see "approximately 4 or 5 percent of all that is".

I've experienced a few instances of mental telepathy and a bit of precognition...Had someone else

claimed these experiences before I had them I would have been very skeptical of their story.


That being said, it's very hard to tell someone who's experienced something

that it's non-empirical and therefor "impossible"....I know what I know.

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
45. Yep. At the same time, I enourage EVERYONE to question EVERYTHING
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 06:35 PM
Jan 2012

There are no sacred cows, only black cows. And those work best with a splash of vodka and kahlua.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
12. My higher vibration. Hard to find in politics, but anyway.
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 11:22 PM
Dec 2011

When I'm ready to stop playing this role on planet Earth and go to something else here, I will. Got some more stuff I wanna learn. It's fun now, but it's a choice.



MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
36. Well we do have to push politics aside to achieve the higher vibrations
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:42 AM
Jan 2012

Otherwise it is very difficult to do

 

tama

(9,137 posts)
44. A friend of mine
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 07:48 AM
Jan 2012

had a vision of those other Earths, or children of this. They had animals and other forms of life even funnier and more amazing than this one, it was a beautiful vision.

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
46. How do you know it's an Earth?
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 06:37 PM
Jan 2012

What if that brane's physics is un-conducive for any life? And who's to say, by that brane's laws, that an 'Earth' would form?

The empressof all

(29,100 posts)
53. But if all is infinite and all is possible
Wed May 30, 2012, 10:29 PM
May 2012

"We" exist and don't exist in our current form elsewhere...an infinite amount over...

sanatanadharma

(4,074 posts)
63. As all IS infinite and possible "We" exist and don't exist in form elsewhere...infinite ...
Mon Dec 31, 2012, 04:55 PM
Dec 2012

...as though, existing dream forms of the limitless-existent-sentience known as "I AM".
Only on the altar of the power of the self-existent-truth of sentience, all else can go or stay, sentience remains the constant to know or to know nought that anything happened.

CJCRANE

(18,184 posts)
14. Soup...
Tue Dec 13, 2011, 01:30 PM
Dec 2011

That's not what I'm seeking, just noticed that's the acronym for the group.

*S*O*U*P*

Don't know if that has any significance...

sky dancer

(1 post)
24. I studied Buddhism for almost thirty years
Fri Dec 23, 2011, 11:35 AM
Dec 2011

Now I'm interested in "embodied spirituality". Knowing what is going on in the present moment, in my body, my emotions, my thoughts, and the environment.

Cultivating presence.

 

tama

(9,137 posts)
26. Sense of self
Sat Dec 31, 2011, 05:25 AM
Dec 2011

Proprioception: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception

There's a story about an anthropologist visiting a Siberian tribe. Hunters of the tribe could not find the deer where they usually were at the time of year and came to the shaman to ask advice. Shaman told them to go to another valley, they did as told and came home with enough food so that the tribe will not starve. Anthropologist asked the shaman: "How did you know where the deer are?" Shaman answered: "How do you know where your hands are?"

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
40. Those are good attributes to cultivate
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 04:51 AM
Jan 2012

I wish you well on seeking your knowledge.

My teachings definitely teach how to deal with thoughts, emotions, and the ego. It amazes me how much I have found out about myself as a result of these lessons.

 

CanSocDem

(3,286 posts)
27. I'd like to understand...
Tue Jan 3, 2012, 10:37 AM
Jan 2012


...the nature of conciousness. And be able to apply that understanding to enhance this world I'm experiencing.

I've tried religion, drugs, education and first hand experience in an effort to better appreciate what my world is offering up. I'm still at the "experience" stage but now I take a longer look at the why of that experience.

I'm almost certain that knowing why something is happening to me will greatly enhance this world I'm experiencing.

.

MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
41. The presentation I just gave dealt with consciousness and NDE
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 05:02 AM
Jan 2012

It definitely is a complex subject. I think the most profound experience I've been discovering is that we all belong to one consciousness, but as individuals we have our individual consciousness. So, knowing that we are all of one mind, has afforded the opportunity to connect to this consciousness whenever I feel the need.

I too, have used various methods to experience my own consciousness. I have had some wonderful mystical experiences because of my dedication to wanting to know myself.

 

CanSocDem

(3,286 posts)
29. Encountered a Rosicrucian in the late 70's...
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 09:26 AM
Jan 2012


...when I was hauling freight across the lower 48.

This particular morning at a loading dock in LA, Ca, I went into the adjoining coffee shop to hire a lumper to help unload. Those are usually pretty competitive environments with lot's of people trying to get the job.

Before the door had closed behind me, this 'old' black guy was by my side, giving me his pitch. I was a little hesitant because he had to have been the oldest Lumper for Hire, that I'd ever seen. But he persisted with charisma and a sly appeal and won me over.

I had to ask him politely, of course, at the same time complimenting his physique, how old he was...

I don't remember exactly anymore, but he was in his mid-70's.

So we worked away piling buddles of magazines on pallets and pulling them out of the trailer and onto the dock. Chit chatting as we worked, we got talking about the power of the mind, from the smallest incidents to the biggest, most radical presumptions. It took a while for all this to come out but we were soon talking about the power to heal.

Because we were in such agreement on so many things, he told me "...I'm not supposed to tell you this but I've been a Rosicrucian for decades...".

As I drove him towards his home, the job done and him 65 dollars richer, he said that he owed his vitality to being a Rosicrucian...and the fact that he needed the money, knew where to get it and had a nice conversation for free.

His life was full.



.

















MagickMuffin

(17,133 posts)
42. He was probably being very truthful to you
Sat Jan 14, 2012, 05:07 AM
Jan 2012

One of the degrees is totally devoted to the human body and health and healing. We all have this power to heal, it has just been suppressed all our lives. That's why it is so important to re-educate ourselves about it.



witchjoey

(1 post)
49. I am a practicing Pagan/witch/magickian-ex catholic
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 02:10 AM
Apr 2012

I am not a Wiccan, nor a Christian, but I practice magick. I consider myself a witch, but I do not conform to modern paganism as others do, in the neo-pagan material I read. I recently had my baptism in the catholic church revoked in writing, after I contacted the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. I read on many forums that this is not possible, but I have the revocation in writing from the diocese in N.Y.
peace and magick to all.

joey

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
55. Just a seeker.
Wed Jun 6, 2012, 06:28 PM
Jun 2012

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Grew up very sheltered, a good little Catholic girl. The "real world" was a devastating shock, but I began to recover after a couple of years, and to explore other beliefs and ideas. This has been an ongoing process with lots of phases and changes, but it all keeps coming back to union with universal Love (actually not so far from where I started).

Currently, I'm mostly in a panentheistic/pagan/Buddhist mode -- learning how to sense the divine in those I have a hard time loving or even liking, learning to maintain an inner serenity no matter what else is going on, and learning how to remain consciously aware of that universal Love connection at all times.

That's a lot to learn and I expect it to take a very long time.



Response to MagickMuffin (Original post)

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
57. What a great question for this group, lol!
Sat Sep 8, 2012, 03:10 PM
Sep 2012

What I am seeking:

enlightenment, balance, healing

Paths? Any that help get me there. I AM a lone wolf, completely untrusting of organized groups. So I tend to hang out on the fringes of many groups, take what resonates, offer what I feel called to, but never adopt any one total path.

I believe that all, or almost all, paths have the same destination, and something worthy to help along the way. I prefer to focus on the commonalities of various paths, and choose from those universal agreements what seems needed on my own unique path.

I have incorporated elements of various christian sects, buddhism, various native american and pagan systems, some new age stuff...

Edited to add: also logic and reason.

 

GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
58. You might want to take a look at Advaita (aka jnana yoga) as well.
Mon Sep 10, 2012, 06:34 AM
Sep 2012

For people who blend logic and reason with their seeking, it is a very natural fit. Nisargadatta, Ramana Maharshi and a number of Western teachers are worth investigating.

It has turned out to be the capstone for my own search, which went through all the same places yours is going, for the same reasons.

TommyCelt

(850 posts)
60. My interest...
Fri Oct 5, 2012, 02:04 PM
Oct 2012

I'm Catholic and a professed Secular Franciscan. I've become disiilluioned with the hierarchy of my Church and am exploring other sacramental Churches ('Catholic' without the 'Roman...they're out there!) I'm interested in non-violence, peace, service to my community, and healing the world (spiritually AND physically).

I see wisdom in many MANY paths. My hero is Thomas Merton.

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." ~TM


Pax et Bonum!

mmonk

(52,589 posts)
61. I'm really weird I suppose.
Sat Dec 15, 2012, 07:59 PM
Dec 2012

I'm sort of a cross between Buddhist, Franciscan, Native American spirituality, and knowledge seeker of the universe and science.

TommyCelt

(850 posts)
66. mmonk - Weird?
Fri Mar 1, 2013, 04:21 PM
Mar 2013

That sounds like a perfectly walk-able path to me. Lots of overlap between all of the spiritualities you mention.

Pax!

Still Blue in PDX

(1,999 posts)
62. Gods, I don't know.
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 07:28 PM
Dec 2012

I don't feel all that unique, but apparently I am because I am not in sync with a single person in my family.

I'm a garden variety non-Christian neopagan of no particular tradition.

Unfortunately, I'm married to a very nonspiritual Catholic and I went through a born-again phase when I was raising my children, and the spiritual teachings I gave them during that period "took." They now are appalled that I have moved on from the conservative Missouri Synod Lutheran that I was in the 1980s.

I'm surrounded by batshit crazy conservatives, a couple of whom I actually gave birth to, and at least today I am questioning my sanity.

Maybe I should have posted this in the mental health support group!

KRansome83

(7 posts)
67. I'm not sure how to put it...
Thu Mar 14, 2013, 10:02 PM
Mar 2013

I'm not sure of how I can put this but just in my own words. I usually describe myself as a recovering Christian just trying to find my way spiritually in this life and remain connected to The Source. I am a firm believer that we all are spiritual beings with unique vibrations and unique journeys. I go through a lot of daily meditation done in solitude in order to be in touch with what I call my highest self. Since "waking up" and breaking free from Christianity, I have never felt freer to live and freer to be, and I feel that I have achieved peace with myself. I still recognize that there is a higher power over me which I often refer to as The Most High or The Source as I did earlier, and I choose to let The Source be my guide as The Source dictates to my spirit, not through some written word or set commandments, guidelines, or whatever.

I have been labeled many things from an indigo to a rainbow child, from healer to shaman, and many more, but if I were to identify with any of them it would be an indigo as that would best describe me and perhaps some of my world view too.

Response to MagickMuffin (Original post)

1handclapn

(105 posts)
69. i'm studying Core Shamanism. workshops from the Foundation for Shamanic Studies
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 07:58 PM
Jun 2015

it is really fascinating and very real, I have another weekend workshop on Soul loss retrieval and 'Extraction'. essentially a form of alternative healing using a special energy supplied by compassionate spirits.

read Cave and Cosmos by Michael Harner.

it is about making relationships with Compassionate Spirits who want to help us. before the Christian invasions humans had a Symbiotic relationship with beings in another dimension called the Non Ordinary Reality. evidence this system has been found in caves about 70,000 year ago, maybe over 100,000.

it is very easy to do, 85%+ of people journey their first weekend workshop.

Rebkeh

(2,450 posts)
71. "All of the above"
Sat Nov 21, 2015, 04:10 PM
Nov 2015

I aim for the common thread they all share, that "thing" or "essence" or ... whatever one may call it that is present in all things.

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