SATSANG
– SEEKING TOGETHER
Continuing
the Spiritual Journey
Next Meeting : Saturday 11th October, 1.30 - 4.30 p.m.
Friends Meeting House , Wolverhampton
A Reflection on our New Satsang Programme
Spiritual Life has been likened to a
Journey. This is a journey that each Spiritual Traveller must and will take.
Our Journey is unique. However, as with all journeys, it can be helpful to
share parts of it with others. This for me, is the value of the Satsang
Companionship, a companionship of Spiritual Travellers, from different Faith
Traditions and no Faith Tradition who meet regularly to explore their journey with a spirit
of mutual respect and support.
For the past 20 years a group of us have
met regularly here in the West Midlands and we will shortly resume our new Annual Programme. With this in
mind, it may be helpful to reflect on our last meeting and to introduce the theme
for our next meeting on Saturday the 11th October, at the Friends
Meeting House in Wolverhampton . Before that I want to briefly outline the underpinning of our last
and new programme – basically Spirituality for Adults in the 2nd
Half of life.
Our spiritual life is a journey and many of
the mystics , in reflecting on this, have suggested that it has two main stages
of parts. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan Monk, refers to these as the 1 and 2nd half of life. I find this
quite helpful. These are not chronological , they are more a question of
developing personal and spiritual awareness.
Karl Rahner, one of the foremost Christian theologians of the 20th
century, reflecting on the challenges posed by both modern science and
evolution and Mysticism, wrote ‘ The Christian of the future will be a mystic
or he will not survive at all’. This informed a series of talks delivered by
Sister Ishpriya in Dublin
In any event
Rahner’s words apply to people of all Faiths. For as we continue to evolve as
co-creators on this awesome and evolutionary journey with and within the
Mystery we are faced daily by the new revelations of science and spiritual scholars, that challenge our pre-conceived and often patriarchal ideas of the major Faith Traditions. In addition, the Mystics of all Spiritual Traditions advise us to be wary of definitives as all is ultimately Mystery. But it is time to return to our Satsang theme..
In the first half of life, we develop a
sense of the Mystery which we often refer to as ‘ God’. For the vast majority
this is heavily influenced by family, culture and Faith Tradition. I can only
relate my experience. I was born in Catholic ( Roman Catholic) and raised in
that strong tradition. Much of it was about meeting a God who was Judge and
Jury. A God who laid down rules ( in Tablets of Stone ! ) and a set of strong moral guidelines. It was a
foundation that emphasised the parental nature of God and my position as a
child. This provided a firm foundation but also fed me merely on ‘milk’ and not
solid food.
Our task , as we mature, is to grow into an
adult, take personal responsibility and develop an adult faith and a solid and
mature relationship with the Mystery at the Heart of Creation. . This is
serious 2nd half of life Spirituality and one that poses us some very fundamental
questions which demand reflection and a personal response .
At
our last Day of Reflection in July 2014, we began to look at 3 of these
questions. Each question requires an individual response.
- What is our 1st Decision ?. Do we believe that there is a Source or Mystery behind creation or do we not believe. It faces us with the classical Theist or Atheist question
- What is Spiritual
Awareness ? Is it the same or is it related to cognitive and emotional
awareness or to the different levels of neurological and psychological
awareness?
- How can we simply
live?
Our next meeting on Saturday 11th
October , at the Friends Meeting House , Wolverhampton , will reflect on two further issues or signposts on the journey and
the questions they give rise to.
We will look at two video clips from Sister
Ishpriya. One of these will focus on symbols and the other our common Global
Family
All are welcome to attend
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