Reflection paper on the experience of a student that visited a Native Essay

Reflection paper on the experience of a student that visited a Native American Sweat Logde - Essay Example Though I lacked a deep understanding of the Native American theology and religious beliefs, still the sweat lodge experience left me feeling cleansed and refreshed. To begin with, before I actually experienced the sweat lodge ritual, I felt a bit anxious and curious. I was really eager to be a part of a religious experience that is so important to the Native American culture. Yet, I also felt anxious and a bit afraid, doubting my ability to understand the larger meaning and relevance of a Native American sweat lodge ceremony. Irrespective of this, I decide to approach the whole experience with an open mind and to restrain myself from being judgmental of a theological tradition that was new to me. I am glad to say that I did not comes across any major hurdles in being a part of the sweat lodge ritual I attended. I realized that the theology marking the sweat lodge ritual happened to be profound, yet easy to grasp and relate to. I found that the people who belonged to the Native American tradition or those had attended a sweat lodge ceremony before had taken great care to prepare them self for this ceremony. Eager to know more about it, I questioned some of them as to how they prepared them self for the sweat lodge ceremony. I found out that they had resorted to fasting, prayer sessions and some cleansing rituals to prepare themselves well in advance. It was really moving to find out the sense of reverence and respect with which these individuals prepared them self for the sweat lodge ceremony. It clearly showed the kind of spiritual importance and relevance they associated with this ceremony. So I decided to pray with these people, to be able to relate to the whole experience with a sense of reverence and solemnity. The attitude of many of my partners there amply conveyed to me the fact that I was going to be a part of something really deep and sacred. I