Indian Food

Today I had lunch with my boss and co-workers at an Indian restaurant. The occasion was a farewell to one of our co-workers. It was really great to be able to actually have a conversation with the people I work with. We stay so busy when we're working we don't have the time for small talk. I've been working with them for four months now and don't really even know them.

The conversation turned to church when talking about one of our co-workers who drives three hours one way, three times a week to church and with all that driving, that's probably why her back has been sore lately. This is when I remained silent in the conversation and just listened. Every person at the lunch was a part of a specific church. Most go to various Christian churches with the exception of my boss, originally from India, who goes to Temple. I didn't mention that I don't go to church.

It's not like I think church is all that bad. I just haven't come across one yet that I fit in to. To paraphrase what I spoke about in my first posting: I was not raised with a particular religion, but visited several different kinds of churches as a child. Needless to say, with that kind of exposure to contradicting religions, I wasn't quite sure which people of faith deserved to go to Heaven. My mother said as long as I was good and believed in God I would go to Heaven. I believed her then and still believe now.

During that conversation I expected with dread to hear someone ask me the question, "So, where do you go to church," or "What is your religion?" Luckily, no one thought to ask, but on the way home, I had to ask myself, "so, Self, what is your religion?".

I'm having a really tough time answering that. I guess the simplest answer would be I don't have a religion. But, at the same time, I feel like I do. I suppose it's not necessary to label myself, but just for fun, I think I'll try.

I was also thinking on the drive home, what is the true definition of the word religion. I enjoy looking up what Webster says a word means in order to gain more insight on a particular subject. Of course, I looked up religion in the dictionary when I got home.

Religion, n. An acknowledgment of our obligation to God; practical piety; devotion; any system of faith and worship. Any system of faith and worship is pretty general. I guess I do have a religion, but I prefer to call it "My System of Faith and Worship".

Now that I'm looking up religion in the dictionary again so I can type the meaning I notice the next word is "religious". And I know I am not as religious with my system of faith and worship as I would like to be. The word after religious is "relinquish", to give up; to leave; to renounce! Now if this just ain't appropriate! I'll tell you why that excites me in a moment.

This word, renounce, is so appropriate because I had lunch at an Indian restaurant. Although, I didn't question my boss about the Hindu faith, I do know a little about it. Renunciation is a very important practice of a Yogi. I practiced spiritual disciplines of eastern religions diligently for six years. So, I know something about renunciation. I know it's hard. I am so attached to the physical things of this world, especially ice cream, watching movies, drinking too much coffee.

I also know that attachment to these physical indulgences isn't all that renunciation is about. Letting go of my self doubt, giving up the attitude that I really have control over things outside of my Self or my mind and renouncing the temptations of the ego. Renunciation is the practice I need to take up again to be more religious, devout, in my faith and worship.

The Bhagavad Gita, also known as the great Hindu poem "The Lord's Song" of the Mahabharata describes renunciation well in many verses. In fact that is basically what the whole poem is about. Here is a series of verses I came across today:

"Abandoning without reserve all desires born of the imagination, by the mind curbing in the aggregate of the senses on every side. Little by little let him gain tranquility by means of Reason controlled by steadiness; having made the mind abide in the Self, let him not think of anything.
As often as the wavering and unsteady mind goes forth, so often reining it in, let him bring it under the control of the Self.
Supreme joy is for this Yogi whose mind is peaceful, whose passion-nature is calmed, who is sinless and of the nature of the Eternal. The Yogi who thus, ever harmonizing the self, hath put away sin, he easily enjoyeth the infinite bliss of contact with the Eternal.
The self, harmonized by yoga, seeth the Self abiding in all beings, all beings in the Self; everywhere he seeth the same. He who seeth Me (the one Lord) everywhere, and seeth everything in Me, of him will I never lose hold, and he shall never lose hold of Me."

Who knew that eating Indian food with my co-workers would lead me to this contemplation of my religion, I mean "my system of faith and worship" and my level of religiousness.

So, in trying to identify my religion I wonder if I can call myself Christian. I know God exists and I believe in one true God, but many religions believe in one true God. That belief wouldn't make someone Christian. Some religions believe in many Gods, but do they mean literally there are many Gods or maybe they mean there are many attributes of one God that can be identified individually. Personally, I believe the latter. All the Christians I've met don't believe in reincarnation, although it is alluded to in the Bible. And I know through my personal spiritual experiences reincarnation is a fact. The Bible is my Holy book of choice, but I believe much truth can be found in many other Holy books of different religions. I also believe Jesus was sent here to bring light to the world and teach "love ye one another", but he was not necessarily The Son of God. We are all children of God. Jesus knew this and came to let us know this truth. Now I'm sure I could be offending any Christians reading this. I do believe Jesus is "the way, the truth and the light". I not sure I could explain why though.

This labeling of "my system of faith and worship" is starting to seem pointless. I will continue to strive to do God's Will. And just as Lord Krishna puts it in the Bhagavad Gita," Better one's own duty (duty refers to one's dharma, or in my own words, the plan God has for one) though destitute of merit, than the duty of another well discharged."

I'm just going to call myself a Christian Yogi.