Nobody knows what is best for you but yourself. You should not worry about what the peanut gallery (this is how Abraham refer to the general public and others around you) says or thinks of you as long as you feel good and derive pleasure in what you are doing whether that is meditating or doing voluntary work.

No matter what you do, there is always going to be somebody who thinks it's not quite right. But then are you going to take what everybody thinks or says into account and change your behaviour to please them all. Of course not as it is not possible.

Your connection to source and your well being is what is most important. Personally, I couldn't care less if somebody said that to me as everybody has their own agenda.

It seems to me that you are on the right path. Keep doing what you enjoy which seems to be meditation and spiritual growth.

I think any practice we do in trying to become a better human being will be beneficial to all those we interact with. We cannot help others in any capacity if we do not feel good about ourselves.

Time spent in meditation is a way of connecting with who we really are and the source we come from; until we realize that connection in an experiential way then we cannot utilize our talents or express ourselves to our full potential, and the effort we give to helping others will only be halfhearted or done for recognition, as it will not be coming from our inner being but from our ego.

I would just try to accept the fact that your friend is not at where you are on your journey and continue what you are doing and what FEELS right to you. Since beginning my own awakening within the last couple of years I have met with a lot of resistance' primarily from my own ego, but I have also realized that we are in the minority. I would tend to look more at your friend with compassion because it is merely her fear based ego that is talking to you.

I believe the universe is in a continuous explosion of discovering what is possible. This includes everything good, bad, and in-between. Therefore everyones search & existance is a valid expression of the spirit, be it volenteering & helping others or sticking your head in the clouds.

But this is not the answer I will give your friend. Instead I will tell her this.

You know, you are right. Thank goodness that God put you on this earth so that the poor will not go hungry. God put me on this earth so that somebody can volunteer to put their head in the clouds. I'ts a responsibility that I take very seriously.

On the other hand you could allow your friend to plant the seeds of doubt in your mind & re-evaluate the purpose of your existance. but you will continue to suffer with doubt just because of a few words from a possibly well meaning and maybe mis-guided attempt to help you.

What your friend doesn't realize is that we are all in abundance. your friend's definition of that abundance is that there are hungry to be fed & her life's purpose is the fulfill that need. so she will continue to attract more and more abundance of the hungry and the needy. You, on the other hand, can choose your abundance from a decision of choice rather than reaction. but don't waste your time trying to explain this to your friend.

I have an aunt who has said that she admires my zeal for seeking and learning, but says that it's not for her. She prefers the comfort of "knowing" what she has accepted as the truth. There's a part of me that admires her for the peaceful acceptance I see in her spirit, but that's not me.

We are all different, with different needs and different passions. In spiritual life, there are those who prefer to focus on applying what they have accepted as their "marching orders" while other prefer to keep searching for deeper understanding and enlightenment, and usually do some good works along the way.

All individuals have to make that determination for themselves, or it won't have significance for them-- they'll feel no sense of ownership for their spiritual life. No one can tell you what's right for you. I'm certain, as you've already pointed out in your own case, that we will live out (apply) our beliefs at the right time and to the right degree for us.

Worry and guilt have no place in spiritual development and those who are doing good works out of impure motives will not benefit much from doing them. Even Jesus had to take time to get away from the crowds and take care of himself. (Matthew 14:13)

I think everyone is different even though we are all alike in some instances. You must do what makes you happy and you must go where your journey leads you for their are different paths, different roads, and junctions we must all travel and stop at and sometimes there are detours we must take to be rerouted to our right route we should be on in the first place and sometimes we need to slow down and stop at a place to gather needed and valuable information for our selves and sometimes to give valuable information to others.

You can not please all people all of the time and you can not please all people some of the time. You must stop and consider what you want to do and what is best for you.

As long as you have an personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and you are one with him and God than you will be guide to your different paths you must take in life.

Read your friend aura and see what is going on there and you might be able to help that person and than say I found this out while I was up there in the clouds and this will help you if you try this.

Continue to follow your dream and your road you much travel for this is your journey and she has her journey to travel as well.

Hope this helps.

Sweetheart you keep doing what you do and let your friend keep doing what she does. Hopefully you can learn from from your experience with her....try the words of your friend in your heart....if they sound true for you, then accept them for what they are. If they do not ring true for you...then accept them for what they are. Everyone can tend their own garden in the manner that works for them...and NO there is not a reason for being told anything....only for the experience....Live it, Love it, Let it go. Please dont judge it. Just accept it for what it is. Do this for all of life and you will soon discover how sweet life can really be.

again people judging!if you are happy that is what matters! listen in you!you can help other with out having to get out of your way to do so! some say you need to be very succesfull rich or have a piece of paper saying you know alot! to be really helping the world! and they are very far from the truth! help people around you when needed! you do not have to go to every charity voluntier work in the country! deal with helping other on your path!