To me, proselytizing isn't telling people of your faith or quoting scriptures of your faith, it is more that "You have follow my faith or you're wrong (or going to hell)" mentality. I have seen so many people do this, even to fellow people of their own faith! I have had Christians tell me I am not a true Christian for various reasons (Other faiths, like yours, don't do that very often or not at all).
You're welcome. I have found that most faiths have more in common that they have different.
Just to give you a little more information about myself.....
It's a LONG story, but I'll keep it super short. I was born and raised a Methodist and practiced Christianity for the first 18 years of my life, and have practiced Buddhism for the last 12, more than half of that time was serious, while the rest of easing in and exploring.... although I guess there is in a way only 'on or off' the bus so to speak
.... this is where I find my most solid footing. I've done lots of religious study, exploration and participation during this time.
While I did step away from reading the Bible daily for a year or two, upon hearing a Buddhist monk once speak on some hopeful converts being told to go back to their birth religion as it contained all they needed to know, I had picked the Bible back up as part of my reading study-devotion-meditation. And through a vast network of reasons and experiences I was able to start to see 'myself' in the Gospel stories again. I took 'birth faith' to mean 'How we Knew when we were children', just like Jesus said, and for me that meant that descriptions of 'other' religion's "God/Ground of Being" resonated with me.... and over time I felt I was able to get to the 'Heart' of the matter when reading a particular text.
But what really changed for me was when I started volunteering at a Christian run Drop in Centre as a Spiritual Counselor, although I think of it as more of a 'spiritual friend (the meaning of my user title) and was for ALL people on the streets that needed a warm place to sit inside, a cup of coffee, some games or a talk.
I was 'Christian' enough for them, since I was baptized and 'believed' in the Trinity (although for me it's more a working metaphor/explanation, but I can meet people where they are at for sure in the frame work), and read the Bible regularly.
The Mission for us was 'To be a Christ like example'... heck! that's how I've practiced Christianity my whole life... and I could REALLY get on board with this part.
It was a Catholic Centre, open to all Christians as volunteers but to all people who needed it, and I was able to find some reading about Mysticism while at the Diocesan retreat-centre library and I have to say, this was a missing link I needed for a long time.
I often looked at Sufism as a great idea I wish Christianity had.... well..... it DOES it would seem.... and this also lead to Kabbalah reading, but that is another rant
...... Most of all what it gave me was a authentic language to speak to people about how I experience Jesus' message.
So what the monk said about 'It all being there' was true after all, more than I thought!!!!
It was amazing for me to be able to put my processing of the Bible through dharma language into use more actively in Bible study with myself, BUT also to have those words resonate and help people with their own Christian struggle.
One major thing that happened often was after helping relate a Biblical idea, lesson or advice to another via Dharma-ese people would tell me ''You're a good Christian'', which for a while I thought was perhaps Ironic.... but after a while I decided that maybe trying to be a good Buddhist made me a good Christian?.... and then after longer I decided there wasn't really any difference as they are both a tool and expression for me to get to know my True Path.
The other major thing that happened and the point I wanted to bring up is that for the last year I have attended an Anglican Church, in two cities since I moved across the country, and have found it quite to my liking. There was a retired Anglican Priest that would invite me weekly, when we volunteered together, to come to church with him.... Peter was a vegetarian, went on retreats, knew about Eastern words associated with meditation styles, so we could talk easily, since he himself meditated in the Christian tradition and had even smoked a little grass in his day... so I thought "This is a guy I really like and respect so maybe I'll do it
'for him'. I trust Peter... if he can be a Priest and be who he is... maybe there is room for me?
Well the first week felt good and socially it was good too... out reach, acceptance of same sex couples/marriage and the like... there was even a striking of the singing bowl and 5 mins of silence after the Gospel.... not to mention that "Via Media" is their theology, which means 'Middle Way', a synonym for Buddhism, which made me LoL a little bit at that funny over lap
I liked it, I didn't understand exactly why, but it felt 'right' ... so for the last year I've been going to Anglican Masses. I also attend a regular Buddhist meeting, a Abrahamic Scriptural reasoning group (where I'm not sure what 'side' to read from) and to further confuse what 'side' I read from I've also been attending a Mosque sometimes and have made several Muslim friends that I talk regularly with about Islam. However... further confusion... in Scriptural study group I meet with very often the Jewish folks are the once shaking their heads in agreement with what I say when I speak up to give my take on a verse!!!!
Funny stuff.... So Honestly... I don't know what to call myself Label wise... this is why I chose Dharma, as it means Truth. I dare not even say it just Buddha-dharma as I also am deeply moved by Hindu-Sikh-Tao scripture as well.... Znc I feel that I practice the Abrahamic Dharmas.... even though this isn't how they are usually addressed.
Yes... it's funny to me
Most people I know call me a Buddhist, even though they know I go to Church regularly, but I just HAD to tell you this whole story... sorry it wasn't very short at all, but ACTUALLY I left out SOOOOO many details of the journey I've been on in the last 12 years since stepping outside of 'just christianity' and while it's at sometimes confusing, I feel I'm doing an okay job of creating order from the chaos
OK... I'm red carding myself for talking too long
:namaste
SageTree
This one is for me
[youtube]IZqAnIp5dMQ[/youtube]
YouTube - ‪Poetry by RUMI -- Only Breath‬‏
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