Lynn J Kelly reminds us that we have a choice. Do we just read, or do we practice? Our level of sincerity and commitment to our path will be self-evident in our behavior.
Many thanks to Lynn and Martine Batchelor for their words of encouragement and wisdom.
Life Matters 
Okay, I’m kind of a tech moron. I think I’ve been commenting on these on the original blog, not on your site, Patrick. Chock it up to me being a goofball (and that nice Buddhist lady is like, “Who the hell is Patrick?” 😉 )
So, here’s my latest comment, anyway:
Another thought-provoking post, Patrick! I appreciate the Buddha’s injunction to “try before you buy.” 🙂 He will therefore not be offended that I am not a Buddhist, which is more than a lot of spiritual traditions will give.
“How can we know whom to trust?” is a really good question. As someone who has traveled down “spiritual” paths that later seemed very wrong, I appreciate this. Looking back, I realize that there was no wrong path, only one that was right for me at the moment, served me for a time, and then stopped serving me. I opted into something in a state of terrible anxiety. But it gave me space to heal, to awaken further, and I knew when I had outgrown it.
My own answer to that question, then, is personal resonance. And the more contentment I find, the keener my sense of what resonates with me at a soul-level and the more mature my choices. I’ve learned to trust that Universe will guide me from wherever I stand and from within (or without) any system of thought.
Thanks for these posts! I really appreciate how you draw wisdom from many different voices!
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Thank you for your comments and encouragement, Camilla Wells Paynter. Your description of your journey reminds me of the Maya Angelou quote: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
We learn more together. _/_
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