Nice question.
Or lack thereof?
I'm just curious how others here have come to their faith or religion, why they feel it is right for them, or what it means to them. A lot of people search yet can't find what they seek spiritually.
I came to my faith by "giving in." I only practice two belief systems Catholic and Buddhism. Everything else are practices rather than actual religions.
I wasn't raised religious. Mother took us to church because she wanted a perfect Christian family, two kids-boy and a girl, labor dog, and a white picket fence (no joke. She wanted this). I came to Christianity because of knowledge. I wanted to be a nun and remember I did because I just wanted to study the Bible. So that's what I did in most my teen years.
Had brain surgery, lost my interest due to depression. Then I met my Catholic friend and went to Mass with her for over 15 years. I made the jump, became Catholic. Never regretted it.
So that's where my faith started, really. Joining the Church. I learned about prayer, devotion, and sacredness
secrecy. I learned about turning from old habits and developing new. I learned support and family acceptance.
However, I've been in college for over 12 years and I always came back for the thirst of knowledge. Catholicism is about the heart but for me, to get to that "spiritual feeling" I travel back to my mind.
I can't remember where I learned about Buddhism, but from it, I practiced Zen for a good couple of years. Then, a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist took me to their temple and I stayed for a good half a year.
Then I started learning about the Sutras from Pali suttas to Mahayana (since the Zen thing stuck). It wasn't something I needed to believe. It was something that "made sense." It didn't become a conversion like taking the sacraments.
I gave in.
It was a realization to reality; and, now I am on the journey of
how to live it rather than what to believe first. It became a foundation.
I felt it's right because I feel that the mind is the source of all emotions or what we define as our "heart." Catholicism is a heart faith and I felt I was floating on emotions. So, now I float on knowledge. I also found that Bodhisattvas role is to help others to enlightenment by using different means and analogies appropriate for people to reach that state. So I took public speaking, started going into a career that gives knowledge and helps people communicate with each other. I'm taking language because of it.
I don't know if I can say "it" means a lot to me. The closest I can get is "I love life." I value life and living. I came through a lot to be here; so, no matter what the religion is called, as long as I can give knowledge, help others, and practice a foundation regardless if it's giving offerings to The Buddha, practicing the Dharma, or visiting my grandmothers at Mass, everything is a part of life -- or a a part of god--
I can't see spirituality any other way.
So, I gave in.
