I am still following this string with great fascination. You touch on so many topics that have influenced my life, for better and for worse. My father, a very religious man, was 60 years older than my mother. My husband works for a major American Indian organization and with many Indians. Therefore, I think I have a pretty good idea of the way religion and spitiuality play a part in Indian lives. I had a teacher in college who, at a very vulnerable point in my life, tried to coherse me into being his model rather than do his job and teach me, leading me to study feminism very seriously. Finally, I encountered a very bad therapist in college who followed her therapuetic model very closely and threw in a great deal of her personal beliefs, essentially driving me deeply into depression, and leading me to follow a path totally uncompatible with my values, interests, and my gifts. My conclusion, chose your mentors very wisely. After my very damaging experience with therapy, I wouldn't attempt it again for many years. I struggled out from under the results or bad guidance alone for about 15 years. I tried everything else but therapy, which is what lead me to spiritual healing. I have met some very skillful healers who can do amazing things, who are reputable, and who I would have standing by me in surgery in a heart beat. It was one of the healers who urged me to find a therapist to help me out of the tangled maze that I was living in. You can't imagine my resistance to that suggestion. However, I finally followed her suggestion. It wasn't easy finding a good therapist. That is, in my opinion, someone who is bright and skilled in therapuetic techniques that are known to work, someone who has a reputation of applying them and getting results, and finally someone who helps their patient find their own way without imposing too many of their own values and morals on their patients. (And, just in case those morals and values come through, I'd suggest to anyone to chose a therapist who is someone like you would want to become.) Imposition of a therapist's values, particularly when conflicting values are already the problem, only cause more pain and confusion. And, I think that it is safe to assume that people struggling with sexual issues are burdened with much conflict over moral and value issues. It's my experience that good therapy leads one out of the conflict and toward what's true for the patient--not the therapist. However, I believe that Dr. Quest began by asking what is "spiritual growth." I think that I can answer that better now. I define "religion" as a set or rules, values, and moral judgements. "Spirituality" is the magic. I spent five days and the Omega Institute in a course taught by a Sufi mystic. One point that he made sticks in my mind. He said that when religions form the spirit is in them, but people always try to use that power for their own selfish benefit. When that happens, spirit leaves and appears somewhere else in a different form. Yet, people often continue to practice the religion. That still leaves Dr. Quest without a clear explanation of "spirit." It is my experience that it is anywhere to tap. With practice, you can become aware of its presence. It is the "collective conscience." It manifests as healing power and psychic powers. It will guide. Some people draw on it more strongly than others. It manifests differently in different people. In short, you can pick up many books, including William James', and get a pretty good idea about what spirit is.
Replies:
|
| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |
Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.