The framework that community itself—showing up for others, bearing witness, collective devotion—is the spiritual practice, not something separate from inner work.
Though Rabia lived in profound solitude and interiority, she was embedded in community—her disciples, her city, the human world. Her tradition teaches that community is not a distraction from spiritual practice but its natural expression. You cannot truly love the Divine without loving the person in front of you. This reframes belonging: it's not something you achieve individually and then extend to others. It's the practice itself. Belonging happens in the act of showing up, listening, witnessing, and being witnessed. For many caught between fitting in and belonging, this offers clarity: true community is built by people practicing presence together, not by people performing to maintain group coherence. The spiritual practice is the ordinary practice: showing up when it's hard, speaking truth with care, holding others' complexity, staying when you're uncomfortable. These practices build belonging. Practically: which of your communities ask you to practice presence? Which ask you to maintain an image? The ones asking for presence are your true belonging.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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