Monday, November 13, 2023

Inward Journey

        During my ministry, especially in those years when I had supervisory responsibility, I encouraged those whom I was supervising, to do their "inner work."   "Inner work is any form of deliberate and ongoing reflective practice that increases awareness of self, others, and the systems in which complex social problems arise."

    It's very helpful in ministry, allowing one the self control to respond rather than instinctively react. Naturally such self knowledge is also beneficial in all human interactions. 

   Seldom have I come across it so explicitly in literature as this. "Auntie Mei came from a line of women who could not understand themselves, and in not know themselves had derailed their husbands and orphaned their children." Wednesday's Child, Yinyun Li  p. 42

   "To thine own self be true" but how can one be true to an unknown self?

Takk for alt,

Al


There was a significant entrance fee to visit the monasteries, so that is a source of income for them.

1 comment:

Michelene said...

This is a very good definition of inner work. You forgot to mention the process can be challenging.