I agree with your observation that “meditation alone rarely succeeds in fully opening the gates of the mind and heart.” As someone who has sung countless hymns in Christian churches, sung the Kiddush in a Reform temple, meditated in a variety of settings, and attended 14 gazillion 12-Step meetings since 1986, it all seems like part of one mysterious tapestry to me.

The One Dharma reading from a few weeks ago is a good example: the description of “The Void” from Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa is almost identical to the Apostle Paul’s description of God: “in God we live and move and have our being.”

I think we’re all just grateful to be part of this Magical Mystery Tour.

Larry

Lisa, you attended by choice with an open mind and found something of benefit.

Bob, you “had to go” I’m guessing as suggested by your attorney to help your case.

I think choice plays a huge role with everything.

My son just called me from court where he faced his third drinking-related charges today. With the first and second charges he “endured” court-ordered classes which obviously didn’t help. This time, he seems to be experiencing some sort of metamorphosis, though I can’t say whether AAese is starting to ring for him or the $3000 he lost to court/lawyer fees has shaken his foundations. That’s a lot of dough for a 24 year old. In either case, “IT will only work if HE works it.”

I think anonymity is a great thing, and the buzz words/phrases are a way of saying, “we’re with ya, we’re not judging ya,” Everything is somewhat repetitive after you’ve done it for awhile.

BTW, AA is “not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause,” which is why (I’m assuming) someone asked Lisa to open with meditation at their regional!

When I’ve attended, I’ve never left feeling like we had church. Pleasant feelings. Insights, but church? Nada. Not even close. In fact, it’s very shallow in that it only touches one tiny area of your life.

Hey, Bob, do you consider the prayer of the Burmese monks (elsewhere on this blog, they’re seen holding posters pleading for prayer) to be a form of magic? If Buddha isn’t a diety, then who are they praying to?

Lately, I’m noticing that by simply holding out hope or a wish with a yearning that is so continuous to wake me and stay with me throughout the day, I’m astonished to learn that my “wish” has been fulfilled without ever having knelt and began with “Our Father.” Is that not prayer? And is that not somehow similar to a loving-kindness meditation, for instance?

Maybe you have been around a great deal of Christians who sought to find differences with you rather than common ground, and thus you are very angry with them, but please understand that all of us aren’t here to persecute you as a Buddhist. There are still many good people in the world. And Bob magic happens all the time. Just go through life being and it will find you.

The more I read about Judaism/Buddhism/Taoism, the more magic I’m experiencing from Christianity. It really is amazing how all religions/philosophies intermingle, and I think it’s because I’m realizing the power of “letting go”, which is also a big AA thing. I think it’s nice to branch out and hear the same thing in as many different ways as possible.