Seeking spiritual nourishment
I was fascinated by three items on faith issues (Mercury, January 29).
First, Lyn Hurst pointed out that Islam, as a religion not a race, was a lifestyle choice. The compelling point that, in this country, we are allowed to choose how we practise our faith, if we wish to do so, was made by Malcolm Elliot. His journey from the Church of England to finding a home in the Quaker practice resonated with my own gradual shift from Anglo-Catholism [sic] to Soto Zen Buddhism.
The focus on mindfulness and meditation as a central aspect of Zen practice was an underlying theme for the Bishop's description of the newly-refurbished Launde Abbey as "one of the last bastions of hush". His challenge to seek out places of silence is what Zen Buddhists and Quakers do.
I was also delighted to read that the Prince of Wales described Launde Abbey as a "place of retreat for people of any faith and no faith".
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this valuable facility could be opened occasionally for a retreat that brought together people of all faiths and none to share the opportunity of finding "spiritual nourishment in an otherwise hectic world".
Kevin Commons, Wigston
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