This is a serious poll that I hope will help me take a little step further away from my existential crisis, by hearing the revelations of the assembled repercurssors.

I am truly curious about this and hope for good participation by all persuasions of repercurssors. I will not make any sarcastic comments.

The poll is really meant for people who do some kind of practice, a practice that is a ritual of sorts for you, whether chanting 16 rounds, or smoking weed while dancing naked in your room listening to Bob Marley.

My interest is in the motivation and/or results, but please elaborate on the ritual if you feel comfortable.

How did you find out about my sadhana?!

I voted:

"All, or a combination of the above (please explain)"

however I want a category that is only:

'All, or a combination of the above' (without having to explain)

Is that possible..?

so are you going to elaborate? Is this a fertility rite or just a celebration of your private parts?

A serious answer for the serious poll: I voted for "It improves the quality of my day to day life". I have been doing silent meditation and mantra practice for the last few years. Why? Because I need it, I have strongly felt in need of some spiritual sadhana since I was 14.

of course, the explainations are optional. but I can't edit the poll.

From here on out let it be known: the (please explain) is optional. I was thinking though more of an explaination of why we do what we do rather than what we do

I chose it improves the quality of my day to day life.

Why?

I have no proof of heaven or hell or any sort of afterlife, have no wish for mystical powers, etc.

I simply experience a connection (or so I perceive) to something Higher than myself and my practices, magic, etc., are a way to continue or heighten that connection. This improves my life in the here and now without any need for a reward or avoidance of punishment. If such occurs, that's just icing on the cake.

I choose 'none of the above'. It doesn't have a place in my life anymore. I feel perfectly happy without it and I don't feel like I miss something.

nicely said indeed

I do some sort of meditation and utter some mantras just for the sake of it. In a way I feel that I am in a meditative state all the time, I am alive, right? Every step is a dance, every word is a song. Every pain is worth experiencing.
Existencial crisis, ontological anxiety, that is my religion. They are good.

Thanks!

My "sadhana" is more or less just a form of friendly reciprocation with my (either superhuman or imaginary - there is no evidence for either variation) friends. It requires no other motivation, so I vote "none of the above", although there may be side effects similar to the options the poll mentioned (improved life quality... prevention of hell-going... good sex... ).

why do I practice the form of religion or meditational, magickal, etc. practices, whatever they are?

because it makes sense to me. because it works for me. and because I like it...

None of the above here. I practice because my heart senses that there is something out there larger than ourselves, more than planet earth and our solar system. The persistence of dreams and synchronistic events also point to more than meets the eye. Humanity has sensed this "something more" for most of its history.

Somehow, I am drawn to be "in communion" with this "Something More." I also believe that we as humans are meant to develop to the greatest of our potential - which is to rise above the mere darwinian instincts. Humanity has great capacity for evil, but also great capacity for good. To explore the goodness to its ultimate conclusions is a goal worthy of the human race. I believe that the "Something More" came down as Jesus Christ to fashion the human race into all that it has the potential to be.

All I know is that if we as humans strive for the good and for all that humanity has the potential to be, that this world can be a better place. In the next world - which my heart believes in (although it does not logically make sense) and which Christ and the Saints have also showed us exists, heaven will be a place where those who know how to live without hurting others and exploiting others will be. We need to learn how to live in this fashion in this temporary time so that we can do so for eternity. Still, I don't see that the existence of an afterlife is my main motivation for faith and practice.

Even if I am completely wrong and this life is all there is, life and the world will still be better if I live for goodness and the fullness of human potential. Still, I believe that there is some help of Divine Grace for reaching that potential. For some reason, the "Something More" wants us also to share in that "Something More." This also is a call to share in eternity. For this reason, there is the afterlife. Somewhere there is this Ultimate Force for Light, Life and Love. Human life is the ability to tap into this Great Life, Life and Love. I do not believe that our limited human senses and perception can know all there is. Some things will never be measured by scientific means - perhaps these "things" are even beyond what we consider a "thing."


There is also some force for destruction and hate. This force will disappear if we refuse to submit to it. We have the free will to decide whether we are on the side of life or of destruction. Unfortunately, man often chooses destruction, believing that this is in his self interest. The path of destruction (and I mean a destruction that does not lead to renewed life - for some destructions are often good) does not give life to future generations and also reduces man to the basest instincts. I can't help but believe that we are meant for more than what Srila Prabhupada called "eating, mating, sleeping and defending" or what Darwin called "survival of the fittest."

I must admit that in all honestly I fear hell. Hell is the selfishness that exists on earth multiplied by infinity and eternity. To be forever in the state of pride, unforgiveness, self-centeredness, etc.. is unimaginable to me - it is more painful that the worst flames or gnashing of teeth. Seeing how horrible "sin" burns and pains here on earth, I want to avoid this as much as possible. I do not want to cause this pain to others either. I want to avoid hell here and hereafter.

Those who are in Hell (whether here on earth or elsewhere) have no desire to learn to live in peace. They have no will to ever admit wrong or mistakes. Their conscience is not bothered if their actions cause pain to other living entities. Such persons would rather hold on to their selfishness and pride than to say "sorry" or to care for others. These people hate heaven and to them heaven would seem even more "hellish" than hell. Often such people even justify their actions through "religion" - which is in fact a great blasphemy against all that is True and Good and Life-giving.

I don't believe that there is a God who condemns people to hell. It is ourselves that make that choice. Hell only exists because there are those who want to be there.

C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce is an excellent explanation of why Hell must exist if there is an afterlife.

I chose the first one "I expect to get something" but not really meaning "after I die". Just "in future" would be close enough. If I practice I can see things becoming better. Or not, if the practice is wrongly chosen.

Improving the quality of my daily life seems a valid reason to me if and when I practice something, whether spiritual or material. Sometimes I question the difference, the line drawn on water. Is a walk in the woods spiritual or material? What about my work as a nurse? My washing of hands and donning sterile gloves before surgery so that I can help minimize the risk of post-operative infection? My hobby of fencing, which requires strategic movements and is like an art in itself?

I want to see my entire life as sacred. I think that was the bottom line during my KC years, too, it just got buried somewhere deep under a pile of rules and dogmas.