How lame is it that I am just now staring Faith straight in the face? I’ve not being able to pinpoint how I lost Faith, or how long I went without It, and now, in seeing Its re-emergence in my life, I have to ask, ‘what is Faith?’ How did It re-emerge, or more likely, how did I miss that it was here all along? Ah, sweet awareness! I am still not sure what Faith is, though I suspect it has something to do with my reclaimed feeling of surfing the Tao.
You won’t hear me prattle about religious faith, cuz that’s not where I’m coming from- though I’d say I’m somewhat of a Zen Buddhist/Taoist/Yogi/Earth Mystic. Enough for ya? It is has been through a vigilant, practical practice of noticing that Faith has re-emerged in my life, or that I have re-emerged to It. Not through prayer or belief. In fact, I am seeing quite clearly that belief and Faith are not the same thing, no siree, Bob. I’ve been down the prayer/belief road and found well nigh nothing there for me- perhaps some inspiration in ritual, which I hold a special place for, but few practical tools for living my life. I needed more structure and practical direction to get the gist of where The Universe was coming from. I’m not saying the prayer thing is of no use, I’m saying either it doesn’t work for me as I understood it, or I did not know what prayer really was about.
Some of my current thoughts on what Prayer is not:
You won’t hear me prattle about religious faith, cuz that’s not where I’m coming from- though I’d say I’m somewhat of a Zen Buddhist/Taoist/Yogi/Earth Mystic. Enough for ya? It is has been through a vigilant, practical practice of noticing that Faith has re-emerged in my life, or that I have re-emerged to It. Not through prayer or belief. In fact, I am seeing quite clearly that belief and Faith are not the same thing, no siree, Bob. I’ve been down the prayer/belief road and found well nigh nothing there for me- perhaps some inspiration in ritual, which I hold a special place for, but few practical tools for living my life. I needed more structure and practical direction to get the gist of where The Universe was coming from. I’m not saying the prayer thing is of no use, I’m saying either it doesn’t work for me as I understood it, or I did not know what prayer really was about.
Some of my current thoughts on what Prayer is not:
Mumbling some mumbo jumbo in a building with a bunch of other folks where everyone droning on together sounds like a devil worship scene from a 70’s horror flick or a bad made-for-TV version of an Orwell classic.
Prayer is neither wishing, asking, begging, nor entreating (I love when I get to use ‘nor’).
Some of my current thoughts on what Prayer is:
a verb.
a doing.
a noticing and an awakening.
ultimate responsibility and ultimate freedom.
working it out with The Universe.
Being.
Prayer is all the above and none of the above (that’s the zen answer, thankyouverymuch).
Sub ‘Faith’ for ‘Prayer’ above. Same results.
I like your questions, and your conclusions...
ReplyDeletePrayer functions for me when I approach it as a mantra. Calms the mind and allows me to focus on my intent. Although I don't actually pray TO anything/anyone.
During my years as a Christian I "recieved the gift of speaking in tongues" - whatever the fuck that means. Done research into the whole glosallalia thing and it seems there's no concensus opinion within the scientific community.
Anyway, babbling out loud while focusing my intent really helps me to get to the space I want to be.
Although nothing satisfies the soul like a good sit :)