disciplined spiritual practice

Claude Anshin Thomas, a Vietnam combat soldier, Zen monk & peace activist discussed "At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace" tonight. A followup conversation with Amy, Bianca, and Connie really helped me developed and embody (see how nonchalantly I throw that word around now?) the talk, and I owe them great thanks.

First, let me say that the Unitarian Meeting House in Madison is a great example of how the experience of physical space influences us -- it is intimately majestic, reassuringly friendly, and yet comforatable with its tenous balance. I walked in and felt the good energy of "home." It's enough to make me further explore alleged the religion of Thomas Jefferson (although I feel I will ever be like TJ, who on June 25, 1819, wrote to Ezra Stiles, "I am of a sect by myself, as far as I know.")

This leads to my comments on the "disciplined religious practice" espoused by Claude Anshin Thomas. I agree with his call for mindfulness and loving compassion, and believe in honoring and respecting that we all have our path. I further agree that finding a "like-minded" community of friends is very important in terms of giving and receiving support. Having said all this, I amd still suspicious of the term "disciplined religious practice" -- as it brings me too close to my childhood experience with "dogmatic religious practice." I think the discipline needs to be self-developed, not externally imposed by the church.

Perhaps, though, my biggest realization of the night was academic. He repeated "thinking does not change living; living changes thinking." I immediately saw ties to my research agenda's three foci: Discourse, Design, and Experience. I would parallel his thoughts but also allow reversal: Discourse designs experience; AND experience designs Discourse. Of course, I look to Design as a component that is potentially activated by a third party -- if you, in your Discourse, engage in my design, perhaps I can give you an experience that will cause you to "bend" your Discourse. It's an external influence, but I hope not so "imposed" as to be imperialistic, or dogmatic. It's a reminder, or nudge, to reflect, or to experience things beyond your dominant Discourses. And. of course, this is all still in flux for me, so standard disclaimers apply.