Matt J wrote:There is always a reason to turn away, not practice, and continue to do what we do. It is the mind's way of keeping everything the same.
It's not clear that this is so. I think you're glossing over some important things.
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Vasana wrote:If some people are judgemental or snooty, that's reflective of them as people and not you or the Dharma you're going to receive.
In case you haven't noticed, people usually hold their judgments of others in high esteem and don't think those judgments are "mere opinions." In think you are unduly downplaying the social aspect of religiosity.
I'm not sure what ideas you have about what 'fitting in' and 'keeping up' with others means but they might be assumptions... It's only a big deal if you make it in to one.
Those who do fit in and are able to keep up with others have easy talking.
Anyway, I'm not complaining. I do wish though that religious people would be more straightforward when it comes to naming the actual requirements for membership in a religion, and not name just the politically correct ones.