In Reply to: Re: Actually, I didn't get you yet!! posted by Farmer on February 06, 2007 at 03:22:05:
We can't really meet those who want to remain in solitude, can we?
However I have met people who have come out of their period of solitude, on a trip like you say, and yes, many do seek to consolidate their ideas with other teachers, either through books or visiting with others who are like them.
But it doesn't have to be either solitude or congregation. I meet a lot of people on a daily basis, who are on a journey, but neither seek to congregate nor remain in solitude.
They believe in something, sometimes in a Creator, sometimes in the Universe, sometimes not, and sometimes they know there is something but don't know what. They are usually on a journey to varying degrees, tucking away an idea they believe to be true but can't prove, and updating it when they come across "evidence" to confirm, or evidence to the contrary. They might be influenced by ideas from popular culture such as The Force from Star Wars. (Of course I don't mean the ones who get silly like www.partridgefamilytemple.com!) They might read books, sometimes but not always in the New Age "category," which help them along with their ideas, and are very open to input as long as it does not resemble religion. To them religion is what brings about 9/11, the crusades or "Tora Tora Tora!"
These people are neither in solitude or congregation, but they are on a journey of their own. Most of them never make overt attempts to seek out people who are on a journey just like themselves in order to congregate. In fact they never make it a goal to share their deep beliefs, and I only know about them because I bring up the topic. If they congregate with people of similar values, it is not overtly based on what their spiritual beliefs are. They are simply eclectic. Some are shallower and consume whatever new idea comes their way, blown about by every wind. Others are solid, unmovable, adhering to a lifelong personal faith or philosophy they will take to their graves.