Some of you may have seen me around at E-Sangha where I post occasionally. I'm glad I was invited to this forum. Looks like there'll be some interesting discussions here. My (formal) practice derives from the Theravada tradition, although I find many Mahayana teachings illuminating and have certainly learned much (I think) from them. I teach at a university and am also researching into the politics surrounding the discourses and practices of 'spirituality' in contemporary society--i.e. I take the hypothesis that there are certain dominant and pervasive conceptions of 'spirituality' that overlook, ignore and diminish the transformative and emancipatory possibilites of what 'spirituality' can be;hence, I'm arguing for the need to contest such conceptions of 'spirituality' so as to open up the space for more ethically- and politically-enabling conceptions of spirituality to express themselves. It seems to me a forum such as this is a manifestation of the ethico-political impulse that drives the pursuit of spirituality.
Thanks for starting this, retro. Pleased to be here.
