From Real Ale to Real Happiness (was Female Spirituality)
Posted November 27th, 2009 by tejvan_13(#24160)
>>>>In Auckland I am involved in meditation classes for the public 80% of all those attending these free workshops are invariably women. Men are perhaps culturally disadvantaged here meditation is not perceived as a very masculine pursuit, and our professed commitment to a path will cause a long silence at any dinner party.
>Jogyata,
Thanks for your interesting question. I was brought up in Yorkshire on a diet, of meat, two veg, football and real ale. The idea of a spiritual life seemed more remote than Accrington Stanley making the European Championship. It wasn't that I thought dimly of the spiritual life, it was just that I never imaged it was something anybody actually did - apart from monks and nuns who were somehow different from us and born with some kind of in built saintliness.
I even remember as a teenager, gently teasing my sister (as only irritating younger brothers can) after she decided to become vegetarian. So imagine my surprise when five years later I am drawn to not just vegetarianism, but a life of inner contemplation, simplicity and self-discipline. It surprised my friends, it surprised my family, but, most of all it surprised myself.
The transformation was stark. The odes of the football terraces were replaced with the divine music of Sri Chinmoy.(http://www.srichinmoyinspiration.com/forums/24108) The peer pressure to drink as many pints as the poor liver would tolerate became replaced with an indefinable and pressing urge to discover the divinity within. This was no longer the unreal life of trying to impress others - it was the inner search - a personal self-transcendence, with only the inner pilot as witness.
To take up a life of meditation in the middle of an undergraduate degree is no joke. It seems everything is pulling you in a different direction. You are seeking the peace that passeth understanding, but, the prevailing hedonistic culture offers an unremitting stream of enticing, and noisy pulls to keep us in the social milieu.
But, when you have imbibed the inspiration of the great masters and tasted a glimpse of meditation. The ways of the world somewhat loses its appeal.
I learnt many things in those early days, not least the idea that the spiritual life is not just for pre-made saints. But, is a life meant for those aspiring to lead a better life, even if they still have innumerable weaknesses and frailties.
To go back to Jogyata's post, I can't say I get invited to many dinner parties these days. Maybe I move in the wrong social circles but, anyway, I would really struggle to generate any enthusiasm for gossiping about the housing market and the rigged voting system of Strictly Coming X Factor, or whatever it is.
Anyway, much to my surprise, the reaction of fellow hard nosed, hard drinking Yorkshiremen, was not at all what I expected. After overcoming the incredulity that I had become a mineral water drinking, tofu eating, meditator, there was almost a hidden admiration (or at least I think that's what it was....).
In the beginning, my parents were perplexed at some of the changes I was making 'Are you sure your all right?" was an oft repeated question. But, you can't lie to your mother. She saw the change and realised I was genuinely happy. What more would a mother want?
Outside of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, I often compete in bike races. People struggle to pronounce my name (Tejvan) and they struggle to pronounce Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team. But, there is often a sincere interest in meditation and the benefits it can bring. (one young competitor even told me he had been learning about Sri Chinmoy at school. He was definitely intrigued a poet and humanitarian would have his own cycling team)
Athletes can have a natural sympathy with a spiritual life. They may not believe in God, but, they can appreciate the idea of self-discipline and self-transcendence. And I think this is why the running community have always been very appreciative of Sri Chinmoy and his marathon team.
Well, that's just a few of my random thoughts anyway!
>>>>In Auckland I am involved in meditation classes for the public 80% of all those attending these free workshops are invariably women. Men are perhaps culturally disadvantaged here meditation is not perceived as a very masculine pursuit, and our professed commitment to a path will cause a long silence at any dinner party.
>Jogyata,
Thanks for your interesting question. I was brought up in Yorkshire on a diet, of meat, two veg, football and real ale. The idea of a spiritual life seemed more remote than Accrington Stanley making the European Championship. It wasn't that I thought dimly of the spiritual life, it was just that I never imaged it was something anybody actually did - apart from monks and nuns who were somehow different from us and born with some kind of in built saintliness.
I even remember as a teenager, gently teasing my sister (as only irritating younger brothers can) after she decided to become vegetarian. So imagine my surprise when five years later I am drawn to not just vegetarianism, but a life of inner contemplation, simplicity and self-discipline. It surprised my friends, it surprised my family, but, most of all it surprised myself.
The transformation was stark. The odes of the football terraces were replaced with the divine music of Sri Chinmoy.(http://www.srichinmoyinspiration.com/forums/24108) The peer pressure to drink as many pints as the poor liver would tolerate became replaced with an indefinable and pressing urge to discover the divinity within. This was no longer the unreal life of trying to impress others - it was the inner search - a personal self-transcendence, with only the inner pilot as witness.
To take up a life of meditation in the middle of an undergraduate degree is no joke. It seems everything is pulling you in a different direction. You are seeking the peace that passeth understanding, but, the prevailing hedonistic culture offers an unremitting stream of enticing, and noisy pulls to keep us in the social milieu.
But, when you have imbibed the inspiration of the great masters and tasted a glimpse of meditation. The ways of the world somewhat loses its appeal.
I learnt many things in those early days, not least the idea that the spiritual life is not just for pre-made saints. But, is a life meant for those aspiring to lead a better life, even if they still have innumerable weaknesses and frailties.
To go back to Jogyata's post, I can't say I get invited to many dinner parties these days. Maybe I move in the wrong social circles but, anyway, I would really struggle to generate any enthusiasm for gossiping about the housing market and the rigged voting system of Strictly Coming X Factor, or whatever it is.
Anyway, much to my surprise, the reaction of fellow hard nosed, hard drinking Yorkshiremen, was not at all what I expected. After overcoming the incredulity that I had become a mineral water drinking, tofu eating, meditator, there was almost a hidden admiration (or at least I think that's what it was....).
In the beginning, my parents were perplexed at some of the changes I was making 'Are you sure your all right?" was an oft repeated question. But, you can't lie to your mother. She saw the change and realised I was genuinely happy. What more would a mother want?
Outside of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, I often compete in bike races. People struggle to pronounce my name (Tejvan) and they struggle to pronounce Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team. But, there is often a sincere interest in meditation and the benefits it can bring. (one young competitor even told me he had been learning about Sri Chinmoy at school. He was definitely intrigued a poet and humanitarian would have his own cycling team)
Athletes can have a natural sympathy with a spiritual life. They may not believe in God, but, they can appreciate the idea of self-discipline and self-transcendence. And I think this is why the running community have always been very appreciative of Sri Chinmoy and his marathon team.
Well, that's just a few of my random thoughts anyway!
~
Tejvan