Under Construction
Happy Imbolc to you all! Today marks the start of spring—possibly my favourite season. All over the land here I've been seeing snowdrops emergings and daffodils beginning to wake up. Last night was also a full moon, so I hope that implies an auspicious springtime ahead!
Finding the Quakers
N.B. This page refers to Quakers in Britain. Quakerism in other parts of the world can vary.
Today I would like to share with you the story of my relationship with the Quakers. The story begins while I was at university, at my local Buddhist centre, where I was a regular member of their young persons' group. After a few years of regular practice with this group of lovely people, I found great refuge in the sangha there. Studying at university certainly brings some stress and diffuculties, so relying on this refuge made it much more managable, and supported my practice greatly.
When summer came, and I graduated from university, I found myself back at home without a local sangha. My nearest Buddhist groups were at least a 30 minute drive away (as opposed to the 10 minute walk I had at university), so regular attendance became very difficult. What surprised me was the great sense of lack that I felt, being divorced from a spiritual community. Of course, I continued my practice on my own, and occasionally joined sanghas in person, but I still felt that I missed belonging to a local group dedicated to peace.
One sunny Sunday morning, I found myself outside of a Quaker meeting house. As I saw others being greeted and entering through the grand wooden door, I decided to join in. Knowing very little about Quaker faith and practice at the time, I was happy to be welcomed in with many warm smiles, and a gentle explaination of Quakerism.
Who are the Quakers?
Quakers are a spiritual community with historic roots in Christianity—officially known as the Religious Society of Friends. According to their website, they are best known for their 'silent worship', and their 'work for peace and justice'.
Quaker Faith
Quakers can be characterised by their four testimonies, which I paraphrase here from their page on Quaker faith:
- Simplicity
- Living a simple live, focusing on what really matters.
- Truth
- Connecting to the deepest truths through silent worship; speaking and living with honesty.
- Equality
- Each person is a 'child of God'—all people are to be treated with respect.
- Peace
- Quakers are famous for their history of peace work; 'It comes from our belief that love is at the centre of existance'.
Personally, my favourite aspect of Quakerism is their openess to people of all faiths and none. While the tradition originated from a Christian group, Quakers today may or may not identify as Christian. In my experience as a Buddhist, I have felt nothing but welcomed and at home in Quaker spaces, even more so than other Christian groups. This reflects their belief, which I similarly hold and honour, that there is 'that of God in everyone'.
Quaker Practice
At the heart of Quakerism are Quaker meetings, where people gather together and sit in silence for an hour. The Bible and Quaker faith & practice are also available to read quietly. The meeting is completely egalitarian—there are no priests, ministers, or ordained persons—everyone is welcome to give ministry.
Within the silence, Quakers sit with open hearts and search for connection, which may move someone to give ministry.