I think I qualify for this group now.

[More Than A Feeling]

Atheist to Buddhist to Christian to Secular Humanist to Buddhist (again)...I'd call that (relatively) unique, wouldn't you? Anyway, I don't know yet if I feel comfortable talking about some of the things that I am learning in my new practice, so I thought I'd begin participating here as a way to ease into it. It's just the kind of person I am, I like to hold my cards close to the vest (oh, who am I kidding, you used to need a crowbar to pry my cards away from my vest).

[stellanoir]

1. welcome !!!

Heaven and Earth

Always nice to have a Buddhist or spiritual seeker on board.

The more the merrier.

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Thank you for your warm welcome!

I would like it very much if you would tell me a little about your unique path.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Welcome

as a universal Sufi, I see all paths leading to the Goal.

And since you are Buddhist, I will share with you a Dalai Lama story:

A group of Sufis had an audience with His Holiness, and one asked him to tell them the difference between Buddhism and Sufism. His Holiness replied, "In Sufism, everything is. In Buddhism, nothing is. Same thing, no difference."

[I Have A Dream]

4. Welcome, Heaven and Earth. I hope that you feel safe here.

:hi:

[NMMNG]

5. Welcome Heaven and Earth

:hi:

[More Than A Feeling]

6. Thanks, Buffy!

I have to say, I was a little surprised when I saw your name come up in this forum, because of your prominence as an atheist. Which isn't to say you can't be a seeker on a unique path, of course, but of the familiar names from the atheist/agnostic forum (which I lurk on) you are the only one I have seen who partakes of this group. I hope I haven't offended you by pointing this out (as that wasn't my intent at all), but I am indeed curious.

[NMMNG]

7. Ah yes

It is the rampant misconception, both among the religious and non-religious, that atheists cannot be spiritual. Often they eschew spirituality but not always. I myself derive great spiritual joy from nature and animals. I also study Buddhism off and on, though I have no idea if I'll ever practice the Dharma. Only time will tell.

[More Than A Feeling]

8. *nods* Thank you for satisfying my curiosity.

I've often felt that it would be a great thing to be connected more intimately to nature, but I'm a suburban guy, so the closest I've gotten to nature is the prairie preserve near to my house, where it is impossible to find a path that isn't within sight or sound of the road. Just not majestic enough for my tastes. Clear, star-filled nights, on the other hand...those are pure magic.

[NMMNG]

9. It's impossible to find nature at home

My front yard is the size of a postage stamp and overlooks the street, and my backyard has a three-story apartment building in it. At work, however, we have a huge back yard with seven trees and lots of birds & animals to watch. They aren't really active right now, but come spring they'll be out like gangbusters, particularly in the mornings.

[LaurenG]

10. I have always thought that the atheists whom I know were far more

spiritual then those friends who pounded their bibles at me.


I think I tried to post something like this in the R/T forum once last year or so.
:hug:

[More Than A Feeling]

11. What does spiritual mean, anyway?

I've heard that word thrown around a lot, but I've never seen a convincing definition. If you can tell who is more or less spiritual, can you tell me what the standard is for determining that is?

[LaurenG]

13. Heh, the standard is relative I guess

A kind heart, one who works to do good and harm no one is the best I can come up with. That would be my short definition anyway. Oh and one who lets others alone to get through life the best they know how, probably non interference.

[More Than A Feeling]

15. What about: someone who creates/chooses the meaning of their life for themselves

rather than based solely on the authority of another?

[NMMNG]

16. #13 and #15 are pretty much in tune with my notions on the subject

While I sometimes read "holy books" I don't consider them my source of spirituality (or ethics/morality). To me spirituality has to come from within or it's just posturing.

[LaurenG]

17. Perfect, I think that is what I try to do consistently

I don't believe something just because someone else says I must. I do enjoy studying different schools of thought and tying them all together though, it gives the left side of my brain something to do. :)

[NMMNG]

12. Indeed

That's because we can actually sit back and be spiritual instead of digging through books of rules and regulations trying to appear spiritual.

[LaurenG]

14. ...

:thumbsup: :hi: