Ok, I'm reading (just started) this book: Girl Seeks Bliss. And I'm so excited that here's this book about practical Buddhism for trendy 30-something women. And I'm certainly no expert, but I think that at least some aspects of Buddhism really are compatible with Christianity. Recently, I've been struck by the fact that it's so helpful to simply accept what is, rather than being sad or angry or disappointed over what I think should be. And I don't see this as at all counter to Christianity.
My other big thing, at the moment, is Kimberly Wilson's Hip, Tranquil Chick: www.hiptranquilchick.blogspot.com. I just LOVE her podcasts. And she's totally what I aspire to be, in some ways. The hip, tranquil chick is someone who practices yoga, practices mindfulness off the yoga mat, and still appreciates cool clothes and fun lip gloss. Plus, Kimberly is all about pink. I totally feel like she could, in different circumstances, be my best friend or something. I just really like what she's all about. And, in fact, Girl Seeks Bliss, is a book she recommended in one of her podcasts.
So, I'm no expert about any of this. But I'm enjoying reading what I'm reading. And it's all making me realize that I want to be more committed to practicing both yoga and meditation, not that those two are clearly separable. And maybe I'll post more on this later, but I've also been reading about contemplative prayer as meditation, and that's fascinating too, although I'm not sure that I'm quite ready to incorporate it.
I don't know. I guess that I think it's good to think about being all Zen and accepting and in the moment. I certainly need more if it in my life right now.
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In settings which call for a signature line, I've used one from Chuang Tzu: The heart of a wise man is tranquil. I like what Thomas Merton said in his preface to a book of "imitations" (translations) from Chuang Tzu--in essence, he didn't think it necessary to defend his decision as a Catholic priest to draw inspiration from an ancient Chinese mystic. Granted that Taoism as practiced by Chuang Tzu is far more philosophical than many forms of Buddhism, I've still seen much to like in my occasional study of Buddhism. After five summers in China and almost fifteen years of broad reading in Chinese literature, history, and philosophy, I have found many turns of phrase and concepts that help to iluminate the deep human elements of Christian dogma that had felt more like dogma than spiritual life.
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