createitlibrarian (Amanda)’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2019)

createitlibrarian (Amanda)’s comments from the Secular Sangha: A Secular Buddhist Group group.

“Little Book of Hygge”

I’d like to add I have gotten to hear Noah Rasheta speak in person and have gone to one of his retreats. Those two events planted a seed for me to study Buddhism.

I'm interested in eastern philosophy in general, particularly yoga (which is basically where some of Siddhartha Gautama's ideas stem from). I'm also interested in pantheism (the universe is God). Dawkins actually called Pantheism "sexed up atheism."

I have been using the Calm App, though I do sometimes use YouTube or "The Little Book of Mindfulness." I sometimes do my own unguided and will usually fall into meditation during yoga practice at some point.

I'll go ahead and keep track of my Calm minutes here though, as that seems the easiest approach given the app automatically updates my time.

Calm Meditation Time: 28 hr 32 min (1/9/2020)

"For Small Creatures Such as We" by Sasha Sagan

This book was so beautiful. I love how Thich Nhat Hanh compares us to cookie batter given we are essentially made up of the same genetic components. We are different components of the universe recycled.

I also like that he's says "even when we have pain in our heart we can still enjoy the many wonders of life." What a beautiful thought. It's best not to just stop living because something painful is happening. It is possible to block it out of your mind for a while when enjoying other life content.

The book describes all sorts of ways you can alter consciousness and how we do that every day. I feel like meditation and yoga throughout the week really helps me to be more present in my consciousness and take my life challenges one step at a time, remembering life is a journey, not a destination.

My name is Amanda. I have been studying Buddhism off and on for the past few years. I definitely don't abide by the more supernatural claims, but I enjoy much of the philosophy. I've been having a hard time with grieving multiple deaths this last year and have been managing an autoimmune disease. Applying some of the Buddhist philosophy to my life has helped in managing major stressors and has helped me process emotions.