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I think I qualify for this group now.

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Home » Discuss » DU Groups » Religion & Spirituality » Seekers On Unique Paths Group Donate to DU
 
More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-16-07 06:18 PM
Original message
I think I qualify for this group now.
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).
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stellanoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-17-07 11:13 AM
Response to Original message
1. welcome !!!
Heaven and Earth

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

The more the merrier.
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More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-17-07 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Thank you for your warm welcome!
I would like it very much if you would tell me a little about your unique path.
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ayeshahaqqiqa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-18-07 03:54 PM
Response to Original message
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."

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I Have A Dream Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-18-07 09:14 PM
Response to Original message
4. Welcome, Heaven and Earth. I hope that you feel safe here.
:hi:

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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 12:51 AM
Response to Original message
5. Welcome Heaven and Earth
:hi:
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More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 01:44 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. Thanks, Buffy!
Edited on Sun Jan-21-07 01:44 AM by Heaven and Earth
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.
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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 02:15 AM
Response to Reply #6
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.

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More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 02:36 AM
Response to Reply #7
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.
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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 02:48 AM
Response to Reply #8
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.
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #7
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:
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More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 09:44 PM
Response to Reply #10
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?
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-22-07 06:21 AM
Response to Reply #11
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.
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More Than A Feeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-22-07 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. What about: someone who creates/chooses the meaning of their life for themselves
rather than based solely on the authority of another?
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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-22-07 05:04 PM
Response to Reply #15
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.
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-22-07 05:23 PM
Response to Reply #15
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. :)

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NMMNG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-21-07 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #10
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.
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-22-07 09:26 AM
Response to Reply #12
14. ...
:thumbsup: :hi:
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