Rituals
This week’s podcast of On Being is a rebroadcast of a program recorded in 2009. The show “grew out of an invitation to Muslim listeners to reflect on what it means to be part of what is often referred to as ‘the Muslim world’. Muslims around the world are in the midst of the celebration of Ramadan which commemorate the date in 610 CE when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. This year, 2020, Ramadan is observed from April 23 to May 23rd. During this time Muslims use the rituals or practices of fasting, prayer and acts of charity to renew their spiritual commitment.
Each day the fast is broken with a meal called the iftar which is often a communal affair and a time to welcome the needy with food.
As I was listening to the podcast and the comments of those who observe Ramadan I was struck by how many experienced the fast as a time to experience what is like to be hungry and, thus, a time to renew their commitment to humility and compassion for others.
Of course this year Ramadan occurs during the visit of Covid-19 which changes some of the options but does not change the ability to renew one’s spiritual commitment.
Christians recently observed Lent and Easter which is also a time to renew spiritual commitment. Jews observed Passover from April 9 to 16 which is a time to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt.
All groups of humans have certain rituals. Many are associated with a particular religion but many are not. Most families have some rituals which are very significant to them. In and of themselves the ritual may not that elaborate or important. Each aspect of the ritual is a reminder of what is being celebrated.
One of the rituals which is important in many traditions is the gathering of family, friends and strangers. The meal may involve special dishes, food and prayers or toasts.
Almost all family and religious rituals acknowledge that we are a community who are responsible for each other and must welcome and take care of those who have been living outside our community.
Fasting and praying can be ways to ensure we are reclaiming the best of who we are as humans.
All of us take in a lot of negative energy throughout each day. In times such as these when the illusion of control and stability is no longer possible it may be especially easy to become angry, frustrated and inconsiderate of each other; to lose ourselves and become the worst version of ourselves.
We do not have to be religious to know that we need daily spiritual rituals to, as Father Greg Boyle would say, return ourselves to ourselves.
I am sure those readers who are Muslims would welcome non-Muslims to share in the practices of fasting and prayer to return to our best selves; our most humble and generous selves; the selves who can gather (even via zoom) to renew our commitment to take care of each other; to reclaim our freedom to live in harmony with all of nature.
Written May 15, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Rituals
This week’s podcast of On Being is a rebroadcast of a program recorded in 2009. The show “grew out of an invitation to Muslim listeners to reflect on what it means to be part of what is often referred to as ‘the Muslim world’. Muslims around the world are in the midst of the celebration of Ramadan which commemorate the date in 610 CE when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. This year, 2020, Ramadan is observed from April 23 to May 23rd. During this time Muslims use the rituals or practices of fasting, prayer and acts of charity to renew their spiritual commitment.
Each day the fast is broken with a meal called the iftar which is often a communal affair and a time to welcome the needy with food.
As I was listening to the podcast and the comments of those who observe Ramadan I was struck by how many experienced the fast as a time to experience what is like to be hungry and, thus, a time to renew their commitment to humility and compassion for others.
Of course this year Ramadan occurs during the visit of Covid-19 which changes some of the options but does not change the ability to renew one’s spiritual commitment.
Christians recently observed Lent and Easter which is also a time to renew spiritual commitment. Jews observed Passover from April 9 to 16 which is a time to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt.
All groups of humans have certain rituals. Many are associated with a particular religion but many are not. Most families have some rituals which are very significant to them. In and of themselves the ritual may not that elaborate or important. Each aspect of the ritual is a reminder of what is being celebrated.
One of the rituals which is important in many traditions is the gathering of family, friends and strangers. The meal may involve special dishes, food and prayers or toasts.
Almost all family and religious rituals acknowledge that we are a community who are responsible for each other and must welcome and take care of those who have been living outside our community.
Fasting and praying can be ways to ensure we are reclaiming the best of who we are as humans.
All of us take in a lot of negative energy throughout each day. In times such as these when the illusion of control and stability is no longer possible it may be especially easy to become angry, frustrated and inconsiderate of each other; to lose ourselves and become the worst version of ourselves.
We do not have to be religious to know that we need daily spiritual rituals to, as Father Greg Boyle would say, return ourselves to ourselves.
I am sure those readers who are Muslims would welcome non-Muslims to share in the practices of fasting and prayer to return to our best selves; our most humble and generous selves; the selves who can gather (even via zoom) to renew our commitment to take care of each other; to reclaim our freedom to live in harmony with all of nature.
Written May 15, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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