Spiritual Centre for Dynamic Living
Sunday I went to the Spiritual Centre for Dynamic Living, for their church service. It was the third time I went - I know a few people there, and was toying with the idea of joining the choir, as I knew 3 people (out of 7) in the choir. However, I came away realizing that I wouldn't be joining it as I knew I wouldn't want to be a regular. It's good for a church, but no matter how progressive the ideas, it's still a church, with 2 pastors that evolved from mainstay churches, and has all the limitations of one.
First, any church (or any venue for that matter, like TV) that hopes to have a large following must reach out for the lowest common denominator. Very basic ideas that have an undercurrent in many new age books. And not that challenging ones!
Second, despite lectures about connecting, and the one time of reaching to the next person and holding hands, there's not that much connection going on. Oh, there's time afterwords for saying how great the sermon was, but is there time for real connection - with all its sharing of the total human condition. Often hearing a great singer (with good lyrics) is more spiritual than sermons, as it communicates and transcends a bit of the universal state.
Third, if I am ever part of a regular group, it will be because I want to put something into definite practise and be CHALLENGED. That means having a bit more than really vague exercises over the next week. It means going dead up against fear, losing a bit of what I thought was myself, and gaining something more than I thought I had to begin with. (I actually did this last Saturday being in my first jam session ever, bringing a trumpet I hadn't played with in 2 years, and it was dead frightening!)
Spirituality has a lot of platitudes associated with it, but to me true spirituality has a lot to do with ruthlessness. Being ruthlessly honest with one's self and supporting friends - about one's own fears and limitations, and also about one's loves and struggles thereof. In fact - and this is one of my most favorite quotes, I see "Love is the Highest Truth". You can't journey towards love, whether it be self-love, love in a relationship, or altruistic love, without a total dedication to truth. (I don't see jaded cynicism as truth at all for some of you out there!) At that applies to a group - without there being a good space created so that everyone gets heard and listened to (though not necessarily by the operators of the group), it's very hard to get a good momentum going. Spirituality needs expression too!
First, any church (or any venue for that matter, like TV) that hopes to have a large following must reach out for the lowest common denominator. Very basic ideas that have an undercurrent in many new age books. And not that challenging ones!
Second, despite lectures about connecting, and the one time of reaching to the next person and holding hands, there's not that much connection going on. Oh, there's time afterwords for saying how great the sermon was, but is there time for real connection - with all its sharing of the total human condition. Often hearing a great singer (with good lyrics) is more spiritual than sermons, as it communicates and transcends a bit of the universal state.
Third, if I am ever part of a regular group, it will be because I want to put something into definite practise and be CHALLENGED. That means having a bit more than really vague exercises over the next week. It means going dead up against fear, losing a bit of what I thought was myself, and gaining something more than I thought I had to begin with. (I actually did this last Saturday being in my first jam session ever, bringing a trumpet I hadn't played with in 2 years, and it was dead frightening!)
Spirituality has a lot of platitudes associated with it, but to me true spirituality has a lot to do with ruthlessness. Being ruthlessly honest with one's self and supporting friends - about one's own fears and limitations, and also about one's loves and struggles thereof. In fact - and this is one of my most favorite quotes, I see "Love is the Highest Truth". You can't journey towards love, whether it be self-love, love in a relationship, or altruistic love, without a total dedication to truth. (I don't see jaded cynicism as truth at all for some of you out there!) At that applies to a group - without there being a good space created so that everyone gets heard and listened to (though not necessarily by the operators of the group), it's very hard to get a good momentum going. Spirituality needs expression too!
posted by Loving Awareness | 1/11/2006 06:07:00 PM
1 Comments:
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth
by Anton Szandor LaVey ©1967
1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
3. When in another’s lair, show him respect or else do not go there.
4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him cruelly and without mercy.
5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved.
7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
9. Do not harm little children.
10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him.
Post a Comment
<< Home