| Personally, I am tired of seeing Westerners | | | | Wanda and then preaching a Western approach to |
| adopting an Eastern stance for Personal Growth and | | | | spirituality in their native land? "Oh, yes this comes from |
| Connecting with Spirit. This comes across to me as an | | | | the New World. They are so much smarter than us." |
| unnecessary rejection of Western Practices and their | | | | Not! |
| ability to bring us to Source. I've been a Psychologist | | | | My approach to spirituality is uniquely |
| for almost 30 years now and my days as a therapist | | | | Western. I don't need any more words that are |
| led me through many avenues that allowed Spiritual | | | | difficult to pronounce or have hidden meanings that I'm |
| connection and heart felt sustenance to come through. | | | | told I cannot fully comprehend. Then why give them |
| I fear that all this Eastern emphasis, with its | | | | to me? That's how the religions of the world took |
| unique language and descriptions of events, is just | | | | hold, with sleight of hand and mysterious practices that |
| another simplified religion cast in the form of a New | | | | only their leaders could understand. I don't care about |
| Age approach. This disturbs me. All my | | | | practices that are shrouded in mystery. That is |
| professional life I have been working against religious | | | | always the case when you are trying to understand |
| intrusion into our human psychodynamics and here it is | | | | concepts coming from an alien point of view. |
| again. This is simply an old form of practice, largely | | | | What's wrong with being Western in your |
| alien to us in the West and dressed up as the new | | | | approach to spirituality? What's wrong with using the |
| authority on our journey to wholeness. I have no | | | | language of our forefathers mixed in with today's |
| doubt it works well in the East, but why do we need it | | | | adaptations? What's wrong with speaking the |
| here? | | | | language(s) you were born with and using those |
| I can appreciate the Western interest in foreign | | | | words to describe your spiritual experience? |
| ideas, manners of dress and expressions of | | | | I am at a loss as to why so many |
| spirituality. I see the seductive nature of something | | | | Western thought leaders believe they have to raid the |
| different, which for us, is mysterious. But different | | | | Eastern cupboards for the right words and concepts |
| does not necessarily mean good! And has anyone | | | | to describe spiritual experiences and practices. When |
| ever noticed the similarities between orthodox Christian | | | | you adopt another's pose you are neglecting your own |
| religious garb and these Westerners who dress like | | | | authority and discernment. You are stepping into a |
| Nepalese monks? | | | | land of fantasy because the Eastern mindset is as far |
| And what about our Christian and Western | | | | away from us as the moon. |
| names coming to us from Irish, German, French, British | | | | We are Westerners still settling into a new |
| and Western European sources? Is it necessary to | | | | land. We come from pioneer stock. Our ancestors |
| discard these as well so we can become a bunch of | | | | rode horses and walked across the plains of this great |
| Baba Ram Das' or Sri something or others? What's | | | | landscape we know as North America. They set out |
| up with that? | | | | to tame this land, as they say, and created a whole |
| I am quite happy with my French Canadian | | | | new world based on Freedom of Expression and |
| name and ancestry. I like being Maurice Joseph | | | | rugged individualism. We helped each other back |
| Raymond Turmel. It speaks of my heritage, my roots, | | | | then to not only survive but thrive in an untamed |
| my humble beginnings in a small industrial town and my | | | | landscape filled with wonder and untold possibilities. |
| location in the world as a Westerner who happens to | | | | I love North America. It is foundational to |
| speak both official languages of his native country. | | | | who I am. I also love Britain, France and all of |
| I also like being called Moe by my friends. | | | | Western Europe because I can see the footprints of |
| I've had that nickname since I was 14 years old. | | | | my ancestors there before they decided to cross |
| That's 50 years now. Online I refer to myself as Dr | | | | over to the New Word. Here at home I also have |
| Moe to signify I have professional training in psychology | | | | roots in Canadian Aboriginal culture going back 5 |
| but I am open and accessible as an individual. I don't | | | | generations. That makes me part of this land, and |
| know how Sri Moe Joe would work out. I don't think I | | | | this land is home. |
| would like it. | | | | I no more understand Eastern practices |
| I like my name; and I like my nickname. I am a | | | | than I ever understood the machinations of the |
| Westerner. I live in the so-called "New World." My | | | | Catholic Church. The East remains a mystery to |
| country is only 142 years old and I've been here for | | | | me. I like it that way. But when it comes to |
| 64.5 of those years. Isn't that amazing? My | | | | Spirituality, I'll take mine straight up, Western style, |
| ancestors go back to France and my main influences | | | | based in modern Psychology with roots going back to |
| are English and French. I love this combination. It is | | | | life's psychodynamics coming to us from Mythology. |
| unique and it is real. | | | | When it's cold out, I wear hiking boots, |
| I'm never going to turn my back on these roots | | | | comfortable pants, floppy hats and vests. I wear |
| and I'm never going to put on a gown and pretend I | | | | running shoes, T shirts and short pants in the Summer |
| am something I'm not. I am also not going to disavow | | | | and top it all off with some kind of baseball cap. I |
| the abuse I suffered at the hands of my French | | | | occasionally wear sandals. OK, so I let a little Eastern |
| Catholic religion. I have excavated and fully explored | | | | influence into my attire. I love the smell of burning |
| this part of my life through years of therapy and I | | | | wood year round. There is nothing cozier for me |
| worked hard to successfully rid myself of all abuse | | | | than a warm fire on a Winter's night or outdoors at a |
| effects inflicted upon me during my childhood. | | | | Summer camp. I do not care for incense. |
| This is a big part of who I am today. These | | | | I like words derivative of Latin and mixed |
| experiences shaped my life and guided me toward | | | | with French, English, Turkish, Italian, Greek and Spanish |
| spirituality which is my own Westernized Brand. | | | | influences. I like plaid shirts and knitted slippers. I'm a |
| Having helped others with these issues I know for a | | | | Westerner. If you want to talk to me about spirituality |
| fact that this approach works just fine for any | | | | then use words I can understand and practices I can |
| Westerner stepping into the Spiritual Arena. | | | | relate to. Do not ask me to change my name or |
| Psychologists have been telling us for years | | | | attire because I won't. That would be dishonest and I |
| that it is dangerous to reject any part of our personal | | | | have fought too hard to win Love for myself as the |
| history, or throw a big white gown over it for that | | | | person I am here and now. Why on earth would I |
| matter. That's beside the kick in the face you are | | | | want to abandon that? |
| delivering to your Western Heritage when you do | | | | I am quite happy with who I am these |
| reject who you are. You do not need to change your | | | | days. I've come a long way on my spiritual journey |
| name to become whole. You do not need to wear a | | | | and overcome many obstacles using the exact same |
| robe. You do not need to speak a foreign language. | | | | practices I delivered in my therapeutic work and again |
| Your Western heritage has everything you need to be | | | | with my Spiritual Growth Training Programs. I am |
| fully your self. There are enough challenges in your | | | | confident that my Western Brand of Spirituality will |
| own back yard for anyone to work through without | | | | take me where I need to go. I have already |
| adding alien layers of mystery and cryptic language | | | | connected with Source using these practices and |
| into the mix. | | | | Source informs me using the language of my culture. |
| Eastern religions and practices do not have a | | | | I overcame my own therapeutic challenges using |
| lock on helping people sign up with God. They do | | | | these approaches and I am stepping into the 5th |
| have approaches that are sympathetic to the Eastern | | | | dimension with the very same tools. Thank you for |
| mind, as it should be. Can you imagine an East Indian | | | | listening. |
| man or woman changing their name to Ralph or | | | | |