There have been a lot of stories on this blog lately about hazing, and alcohol related injuries or deaths in the greek system. I would venture to say that the people involved in those incidents were probably not using their group's rituals and ideals to "create the spiritual space they are seeking".
When thru rituals and formalities you create the spiritual space you're seeking, the process will have a powerful effect on your experience.
When you lack the inner dimension for that spiritual experience you are aspiring to, then rituals become formalities, external rations.
In that case, clearly, they lose their meaning and become unnecessary customs -- just a good excuse for passing time.
What about you? Does/did the practice of our ritual inspire you to reflection and create a "spiritual space"? Did it have an effect on your experience? Or was it just an excuse for passing time?
