Turning Mirrors into Windows

Well today I went to the library. I abhor doing research online and in a sense I am treating this line of self-discovery as I would a paper for school. I think it is important I learn the correct facts as what I learn may lead somewhere. What better place to do research than a library. I found a book that I figure is small enough and simple enough to start with and sat down to read the introduction.


It is set up in question answer format, son asking of father. So far I have learned that Hinduism is incredibly tolerant as a religion and by most is considered more a way of life than an organized religion. It believes all paths to God are valid and should be respected. Considering this is what I personally believe all on my own this is point numero uno for Hinduism. Also it encourages the education in all religions as it helps us to understand our own path to understand the paths of others. Point number two: I am all about learning about anything and everything. As journalist Sydney J. Harris said, "The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows"  Rather than just seeing ourselves we are then able to see the world outside. The rest of the intro mainly focused on things that would help the reader understand the stance from which the author was talking. 

So far I like the book and I'm hoping the book teaches me a lot. I think that when we are searching for spirituality it can sometimes be tempting to latch on to the first idea, the first thing which we like. But I think it is crucial to understand what you are attaching yourself to. So far Hinduism sounds enlightening and close to my own ideals, but I am well aware that I know very little about it and there may be things I do not like about the way of life as well. Only time can tell and in that time I will educate myself so as to see the world and this faith more clearly.

And so it begins...

Not so very long ago I discovered chakras. They seemed to make sense to me; to resonate as something very real and applicable to my life. Some people consider them to be "hogwash" and group them with things like horoscopes and tarot cards...nifty parlor tricks and nothing more. I however researched them for a couple weeks, taking out books from the library and looking online to find out what backed this practice of balancing your chakras. I found many things that reassured me that I was not being my crazy self and that this could actually be "real"; valid even.

However, my practice only lasted a short time before I became ill.

Recently things have turned around for my mental health leaving me with more energy and motivation to better myself. This seemed like a natural course to follow, to look up my chakra info again, to pull out my meditations and readings, and apply it yet again. I also procured a CD and guide system which is helping me learn more about it in a way which is easy to understand. Through this it was pointed out that the chakra points in the human body also correspond to major ganglia and neural hubs. This reassures me further. I love when science backs up this kind of stuff. Gives me a chance to thumb my nose at those who think I'm silly.

So I listened to the intro recording. It was about 42 minutes. It was informing, relaxing, and kinda re lit my fire for this. I'm also pairing these meditations with exercise and eating well. Physical body needs care too after all. But it occurred to me today that I didn't know what religious faction chakras fell under. which is odd after all my research. so I *ACK* wiki'd it (I won't even go into the wiki thing. merely a stepping stone) which led me to look up many other things. and lo and behold it falls under Hinduism. "Ok" i think to myself "let's find out a little more about Hinduism." having never taken a religious class in University and having lead a sheltered Christian life as a child I realized I knew nothing. Well a lot of my personal beliefs about spirituality and acceptance fall amazingly close to Hinduism...so now I have another thing to learn about. Whether I decided to "convert" is one thing but my curiosity is piqued.