Comments on: Spirituality, yoga, religion and joy http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/ The meaningful travel blog: Go travel, volunteer, explore Wed, 16 May 2012 03:45:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Yogesh http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-170 Yogesh Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:55:51 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-170 Every religion is great in itself and it teaches to be a nice human being. If we human realize that all humans are equals and should be treated in well mannered, I guess we will never need any religion to teach us joy of life. It's sad that you had bad experience Christian procession. I hope it will be just one of a kind experience. About Ganesh Chaturthi, it was very fond festival in India. Initially it had started only in Maharashtra with the purpose to bring people closer to feel them free , specially before pre-independence of India. Sooner it reached to masses of India. This festival became important in the freedom fight against Britishers. Every religion is great in itself and it teaches to be a nice human being. If we human realize that all humans are equals and should be treated in well mannered, I guess we will never need any religion to teach us joy of life. It’s sad that you had bad experience Christian procession. I hope it will be just one of a kind experience. About Ganesh Chaturthi, it was very fond festival in India. Initially it had started only in Maharashtra with the purpose to bring people closer to feel them free , specially before pre-independence of India. Sooner it reached to masses of India. This festival became important in the freedom fight against Britishers.

]]> By: Mariellen http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-169 Mariellen Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:19:46 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-169 Hi Suzanne, Thanks for your comments. I was writing from my own experience. I was born into a religion that didn't suit me -- and I feel very blessed that I have found a path that does suit me. I am very happy when others find a path that suits them, too, and allows them to open up to love and joy -- whatever that religion or spiritual path happens to be. I would not have written this post about a religion other than Catholic because that is the religion I was brought up with. The procession had an effect on me because of my past. I do not have a past experience as a Jew or Muslim. Mariellen Hi Suzanne,

Thanks for your comments.

I was writing from my own experience. I was born into a religion that didn’t suit me — and I feel very blessed that I have found a path that does suit me. I am very happy when others find a path that suits them, too, and allows them to open up to love and joy — whatever that religion or spiritual path happens to be.

I would not have written this post about a religion other than Catholic because that is the religion I was brought up with. The procession had an effect on me because of my past. I do not have a past experience as a Jew or Muslim.

Mariellen

]]> By: Suzanne http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-168 Suzanne Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:59:57 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-168 Just because you had a bad experience in the Catholic church doesn't mean Catholicism or Christianity in general is oppressive or its followers lack joy. That would be like saying a recipe isn't any good because when you made it, it didn't turn out. People are free to interpret God's word however they choose; it doesn't mean that's how it was meant to be interpreted. It's easy to throw out the baby with the bath water in doing so! In my church, there is much joy, happiness, laughter and gratitude, knowing that Jesus died for our sins- there is no sword of judgement hanging over our heads. We are free to love Him and worship him as we wish. I don't care if people want to criticize Christianity - it seems to be the politically correct thing to do these days - but I wonder if you would have written this posting if the people in the procession you witnessed were Muslim or Jews. Suzanne Just because you had a bad experience in the Catholic church doesn’t mean Catholicism or Christianity in general is oppressive or its followers lack joy. That would be like saying a recipe isn’t any good because when you made it, it didn’t turn out. People are free to interpret God’s word however they choose; it doesn’t mean that’s how it was meant to be interpreted. It’s easy to throw out the baby with the bath water in doing so!

In my church, there is much joy, happiness, laughter and gratitude, knowing that Jesus died for our sins- there is no sword of judgement hanging over our heads. We are free to love Him and worship him as we wish.

I don’t care if people want to criticize Christianity – it seems to be the politically correct thing to do these days – but I wonder if you would have written this posting if the people in the procession you witnessed were Muslim or Jews.

Suzanne

]]> By: Linda http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-167 Linda Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:44:56 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-167 Life is nothing without joy. so why would my spirituality not contain it? Life is nothing without joy. so why would my spirituality not contain it?

]]> By: Mariellen http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-166 Mariellen Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:33:08 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-166 Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, Rui. Of course it is true that what works for one person, will not for another. I was brought up Catholic, which did not work for me -- but which presumably does for millions of people. Yes, I feel truly blessed, and grateful, that I found a path that suits me and that opened doors I did not even know existed. Of course, it helped that I looked for it; that I made it my intention to find the right path; and that I took action based on that intention. God/the universe did the rest. P.S. I am really enjoying your lovely blog The Spirit Age at http://www.the-spirit-age.com/ Mariellen Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, Rui. Of course it is true that what works for one person, will not for another. I was brought up Catholic, which did not work for me — but which presumably does for millions of people.

Yes, I feel truly blessed, and grateful, that I found a path that suits me and that opened doors I did not even know existed.

Of course, it helped that I looked for it; that I made it my intention to find the right path; and that I took action based on that intention. God/the universe did the rest.

P.S. I am really enjoying your lovely blog The Spirit Age at http://www.the-spirit-age.com/

Mariellen

]]> By: Rui Umezawa http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-165 Rui Umezawa Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:46:20 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-165 Hmmmm. I am sorry you had such a negative experience. (But at least you had a joyous one a week earlier!) But not everyone approaches spirituality the same way. Tools and methods that work for a cheerful person, for example, may not be suitable for a depressed person. My teacher is fond of saying that all such disciplines are different doors into the same house. Everyone in the end arrives at the same centre. You are truly fortunate to have found a method that works for you. I wish you many rewards for your discipline. All the best, Rui Hmmmm. I am sorry you had such a negative experience. (But at least you had a joyous one a week earlier!)

But not everyone approaches spirituality the same way. Tools and methods that work for a cheerful person, for example, may not be suitable for a depressed person. My teacher is fond of saying that all such disciplines are different doors into the same house. Everyone in the end arrives at the same centre.

You are truly fortunate to have found a method that works for you. I wish you many rewards for your discipline.

All the best,
Rui

]]> By: Rasheed Hooda http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-163 Rasheed Hooda Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:59:50 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-163 "– does spirituality have to be serious?" Hell, NO! Rasheed “– does spirituality have to be serious?”

Hell, NO!

Rasheed

]]> By: Nora - The Professional Hobo http://breathedreamgo.com/2009/12/spirituality-yoga-religion-and-joy/#comment-162 Nora - The Professional Hobo Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:41:58 +0000 http://breathedreamgo.com/?p=907#comment-162 Religion doesn't necessarily need to be fun or funny to be attractive or appealing. But serious, somber, foreboding, unaccepting behaviour and rituals will win very few friends! Isn't it all supposed to be about love anyway? Shouldn't love be joyous? Thanks for this post, Mariellen. You continue to keep me thinking. Religion doesn’t necessarily need to be fun or funny to be attractive or appealing. But serious, somber, foreboding, unaccepting behaviour and rituals will win very few friends!
Isn’t it all supposed to be about love anyway? Shouldn’t love be joyous?
Thanks for this post, Mariellen. You continue to keep me thinking.

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