Though this is a spiritual and not religious Program, I believe that The Principles originate in religions. Im lucky to live in a land (India) that has allowed religious freedom and allowed various divergent (and often conflicting) faiths to flourish. And in This Great Journey, Ive encountered Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, ISKON, Sikhism and now Im firmly grounded in Hindu beliefs. The Concept of having a God of Your Own Understanding has flourished in Hinduism and Im practicing it daily.
It is now my great desire to learn about Judaic and Shaman religions. These two religions have no followers here. There was a time when Judaism was prevalent on the west coast of India and a Jewish Price had his own territory. But the Moors destroyed that kingdom in the 18th century and later Catholic Portugese ended it.
What remains is one Jewish synagogue in Cochin and many in Bombay. I visited that site in Cochin and sat in meditation and felt a strange feeling come over me. At the end of the day, after a good music event, I went back to my hotel room and slept. I then had a very vivid experience; I was in a trance like state, the room was full of a Golden Light, I was gazing at The Light and saying in a Silent Voice "Yehuda, Yehuda". Then I woke up. I later learnt that it meant "Praise".
I was mesmerized by The Light Experience. This was similar to the experience Id had at the start of The Journey, 25 years ago. Many years after the First experience, id casually mentioned this to a woman member from New York who was Jewish and she had said: "that Light has to be maintained everyday".
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
I absolutely have found much more closeness with the God of my understanding and my own spirituality working and applying,to the best of my ability,the Steps in all areas of my life......I work daily to keep my line of communication open and to "fall' less as I allow the commitment (11th step) and the work and summary(each step and the 10th)I am able to release the fear,to really make an effort to stop and smell the roses and to see the light in my grandaughters eyes.To savor the moments,in recovery and seeking an ever closer contact with my Higher Power whom I have always called God,but not always relied on ,listened to and sought the care of..The internal joy of seeking God and helping others (not seeking to be noticed )and hearing the birds sing,the overwhelming joy of unconditional love,smelling the rain coming and the awareness of my 'NOW' existence being a product of grace and mercy...There have been so many "miracles" that have taken place in my life many I have just taken for granted but my increased awareness and spirituality allows me to live more closely to my Faith beliefs,that is being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I have not seen. To sit in a tree,in the early morning darkness,as dawn approaches and the creatures of the forest come alive and those nocturnal ones head to rest,to feel the warmth on my face from the sun after an hour of cold darkness,to watch two squirrels play and birds chase each other and to see the prey I have been hunting and Just For Today maybe not pull back the string to fly an arrow are all part of that spirituality for me, as I would talk to myself leaving the area and speaking with my God and seeing what else was in store for the day!!!! Each day thru that spirituality I can remain ever more teachable,,at times it seems to take longer to penetrate this old hardhead but I am making progress...Living the NA way has had a life changing effect on me and my wife and children also tell me on them..WE may not know how to descrbie 'SPIRITUALITY; in words but with daily work I do believe we feel it....................
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
