Experience vs Theory

C. writes:

> I dunno, I wish people would spend less time talking about what they think and more about what it's like.
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Great!  So, .....what's it like?
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> Now, focusing on what it's like -- there's something worthwhile. For one  thing, everyone can play on a level playing ground -- your experience is  your experience.
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IN MY EXPERIENCE, I have also been in groups where one's own personal story held sway over all forms of communication. That mode also has its pitfalls.  In the group I participated in, one's expression of emotion about their "story" was the trump card which always squelched any attempted discussion of principles.

Striking a balance between one's own experience and one's highest understanding of a teaching requires that we somehow make the connection between the two.  For if my experience does not jive with my understanding of truth, then either I ain't paying attention to what's going on in my life, or my head is full of erroneous beliefs, or both.
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For another, an honest appraisal of your situation will  lead a whole lot farther than any amount of high-falutin "I wouldn't pretend to be an adept but here's the way the whole universe is put together." >
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Trying to appraise ones own level of spiritual development is risky business. Instead, a "dialogue" might be a workable approach for relating to others.

See: http://www.kfa.org/brief_intro.htm