I am a seeker. To that end, I have read and attempted to learn from some of the most profound spiritual thinkers of our day including Tolle, Rohr, Beckwith, Steindl-Rast, Chödrön, Beckwith, Thich Nhat Hanh, Young, Dali Lama, Osteen, Chittister, Ram Das, to name a few.
Despite differing perspectives, most share of a set of common beliefs: connectedness, living in the now, importance of gratitude, universalism, abundant love, the negative impact of the ego, and spirituality. I am especially connected to spirituality since science and history have taught us that just because we can’t perceive or measure something, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist (e.g., the world is flat, elephants don’t have a language).
Religion offers similar constructs (a) life after death (in some form), (b) connectedness in worship, (c) all-embracing agape love, and (d) comfort and compassion in difficult times.
But what religion and spiritual leaders really offer us is certainty, and it is compelling. Despite believing that the other side is “unknowable”, I continue to be drawn to those who are convinced that they have an answer. I think that this explains why cults and semi-cults are able to attract people. All that a seeker needs to do is join and, she too, will get the answers.
If only it were that simple.
Angela Rieck was born and raised on a farm in Caroline County. After receiving her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland, she worked as a scientist at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. Throughout her career, she held management jobs at AT&T, HP and Medco, finally retiring as a corporate executive for a large financial services company. Angela is also a wife, mother and an active volunteer serving on the Morris County School Board for 13 years and fostering and rehabilitating over 200 dogs. After the death of her husband, Dr. Rieck returned to the Eastern Shore to be with her siblings. With a daughter living and working in New York City, she and her dogs now split their time between Talbot County and Key West, FL.
Bill Mackechnie says
That’s it? What was the point of the article? It sounds like an introduction and left me with a great sense of uncertainty.