Meditate not Medicate (or caffeine-ate!)

I'm not one to preach or judge another. But if I were a minister, all my sermons would have the same theme as a message: Don't go to church on Sunday. Build your own temple within and carry it with you wherever you go.

It's quite hypocritical to be "good" one day out of the week or only on appointed days.

Having a personal spiritual practice or daily rituals that promote peace of mind and goodwill towards others seems more useful than rites and dogma that you don't truly connect to.

Freud did say that, "religion is the opiate of the masses." It never ceases to amaze me how inventive human beings are when it comes to mixing self-medication with the abdication of personal power.

It's a dangerous cocktail because it tastes so damned good!

But you're right Laura, when we have our priorities straight, then we don't crave those harmful temptations.

Today I went to Agape, which is called a Spiritual Transformational Center, or a church, or a congregation of spiritual beings, etc. We meditated, and I could not turn off the thinking. The more I tired to turn it off, the more I thought. The key here, I believe, and something I heard someone say yesterday, "When you're struggling with something, it means you haven't surrendered it yet." Let go and let God. Give it to the Universe. And take a breath.

Amanda:-)
So good to hear from you...and i am with you.
I find it hard to be a joiner when it comes to my
spiritual practices...the whole journey is so personal and so mysterious.
Thanks for your insights!!!

I used to go to Agape...loved it...always seemed to
make me cry. Anyway...yes is is hard to shut uyp in there...today I was "thoughts central" during my meditation...I just decided to let the thoughts coming in and going out be like akind of meditation...I surrendered to my mind and it;s doings...
I felt a lot better and actually ended up getting something out of the experience!
I just emailed you...will touch base when I get back.
XXX
Laura