Greed and Spirituality

We are in one hundred percent agreement about the exclusivity of the wealthy in several religious (but not spiritual) groups.

Jesus made his Message available to all. Holding a religious conference in a luxurious hotel only betrays an economic motive, rather than an honest and more spiritual one.

This can be a real tragedy for an honest heart in search of truth. It is a real shame.:(

This reminds all of us just how pervasive, and hence, invisible, is this kind of conartistry. So-called "teachers" who have their eyes on only the big hbucks are a danger to themselves and to society. Greed is an especially horrible mindisease, and when it infects a "teacher," the infection is spread far and wide. One of the best approaches is to make sure that we never support such greed-mongers. An even better response is to expose them at every opportunity.
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Education!

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Congratulations; you are making a most wise decision to invest in your own mind. No better, more important decision is possible!:) Education will repay you many times, very richly, and continuously, for the rest of this life, and beyond! It is a great delight and pleasure to hear that you are taking a course in "world religion."

We can all learn so much from each other; closed-minded and closed-hearted "Christians" could learn an immense amount of spirituality from the beautiful symbolism of Hinduism and the spiritual psychology of Buddhism.

Keep up the good work, my friend.:) Never stop learning, listening, and growing!:)

Religion and Mysticism

I am in fullest agreement with what [your friend] has to say. I am a bit notorious for my statement, oft repeated, that "religion is the worst idea in the history of the world, but spirituality is the best." Your friend sadly, but understandably, misuses the word "mysticism," as a counterpoint to "reality." But Reality is precisely the very subject around which pure mysticism ennucleates! (Older writers called "reality" simply "truth.") [Your friend] is a man of refreshing passion. But when it comes to mysticism-- a subject that I have carefully studied for well over thirty years, and about which I have written more than twenty books-- he is a little confused. For true "mysticism" is, more often than not, the nemesis of religion-- especially in its orthodox forms. There is a galaxy of difference, as you know, between spirituality and
religion. And mysticism is squarely and consistently on the side of spirituality, even when it (as it often does) must speak against divisive religions.
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Religion and Spirituality

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Religion and spirituality are a galaxy apart. The former was originally designed to be the handmaiden of the latter, but it has almost never worked out that way! Religion has regularly, throughout all history, shamefully supported war, bigotry, and innumerable divisions within the human community. Love (spirituality) never has!

It all comes back to definition: Religion is all the stuff outside [churches, most books, Bible-study, ritual, ceremony, candles, public prayer (a contradiction in terms), etc., while the much-higher spirituality is an "inside" job; it is Love.]
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"Lovelight" magazine

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We truly, deeply appreciate any ideas for our monthly Lovelight magazine. However, it is a magazine of high spirituality. That is, it is not a magazine of religion. (The same is true of the uld, this present infosheet, the "Universal Love Digest." This is its "sister magazine" online.) We are very interested in the presentation of great truths. But we are not at all interested in the doctrines (dogma) of any
particular church or denomination.

Thus, we use, and are open to, texts from the Bible. But, if these are too numerous, they start to get a bit overwhelming; worse, they start to look like religion (dogma and doctrine) rather than purest spirituality-- which is the practice of universal, unconditional, and consistent Love.

So, please feel free to send in anything, any time, if the piece feels more spiritual than religious.
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Time and Love

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Anyone can say anything about her love, about whom she loves. But it is how a person spends her time that shows what and who she really is. That in which you invest the most of your time is your most important subject, your "religion." For some people, it is worry, regret, fear, and other negative states. For the person of wisdom, her most important investment is Love.

She truly, practically loves others in the only way possible. This is not pretty poetry or claims or statements. It is by spending her time on those whom she loves.

You love most the persons on whom you spend most of your time. If you spend no time with a "loved" person, in what real, practical sense is she being "loved"? Time is the gold of the cosmos. We love most those with whom we share the gold.:)
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The Joyful Way and Religion

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The text inviting people to follow Jesus, and where he says, "come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest," is an invitation specifically directed towards Jewish people. Their religion had become for them a huge task, involving several thousand laws.

But this invitation also extends to all people. Here, Jesus was contrasting the simplicity of the spiritual Way with the religious path.

It is still this way. There are so many rituals and tasks that must be done in a religious life: Going regularly to a particular church, giving money to that church, singing hymns, lighting candles, doing Bible-study, saying public prayers, participating in regular social activities. In some denominations and cults, you are expected to sell, or otherwise work for, the religion.

The spiritual person needs none of this. She has one simple assignment, and that is to love-- whenever possible, whomever possible. She does not need to study the Bible, for her life is based upon the personal interior direction of the Spirit of Love, not upon ancient books and laws. That is why the enlightened never argue about Scriptural dogmas and doctrines.

Laws create legalism, and this can drive one from the direct Presence of God. Legalism and religions separate people, often to the point where they cut each others' throats, all in the "name of God." Religions often harm people psychologically or emotionally. For example, many teach the monstrous doctrines of eternal hellfire or Armageddon-- both equally horrific. For both support and imply a "monstergod."

While religion keeps its members "busy," often with useless "make-work" for the church, true spirituality is light and easy. For, in another place, Jesus says of this same Way, "My yoke is easy, and My burden light."

The deeply, truly spiritual person can afford to "drop" religion: Her "church," like her God, is everywhere. Her every act of Love is an act of worship. Her every thought of Love is her deepest prayer. So, wherever she goes, she is "in church," and whatever she does or says is her true "worship." So, she has no need for a church or, for that matter, a human leader to tell her how to live.

Religionis coldly intellectual, while spirituality is a warm matter of a heart ignited by Love-- Love for self, others, and all living creatures. This is the Love of God, and there is no other.

I do not recommend that people drop their churches. I do not recommend that people hate their churches. But it is true that, after much prayer, meditation, and preparation, a deeply spiritual person might be ready to "rise above," or "outgrow" her church. If and when so, she can then live safely and very happily without any "religion" at all. Her life-design is between her and Jesus or God. She ceases to follow the advice or laws of any priest, guru, or minister.

She has become spiritually independent, as a fully functioning spiritual adult. Unlike the dozens of laws of any religion, the Way of Jesus has only one law. It can be most simply summed up in a single word:

Love.

It is this: Love everyone, serve everyone, and forgive everyone. As John said, if a person lives in Love, she is living in God, and God in her. So, in that wisdom, she no longer has any room for religion or a church.

Religion, for the spiritual, is like a second-grade class in school. Second grade is not "evil," but once you move beyond it, you just do not go back to the classroom (church). Instead, you go out into the world with what you have learned, and try to apply it to real life.

The sad aspect of our society is that people never feel "ready" to leave the second grade. And their teachers-- gurus, priests, and ministers-- do everything possible to keep anyone from growing up into independence. For they are on gigantic egotrips, and they really often believe that a person should stay in second grade forever. This is how religion retards, holds back, and even cripples people when its real task is to aid them to grow. A good minister, priest, or guru should help a person do everything possible to outgrow human teachers and leaders, and to stand on her own. One problem, in their view: This would make them obsolete and unnecessary, and this scares them.

The great spiritual teachers, by contrast, wanted all their students (disciples) to grow up and stand on their own. Jesus said, in John, that if he did not "go away" to the "Father," the disciples would cling to him. But instead, he did want to go away, and send them the Paraclete (Helper or Comforter), the Holy Spirit. And the Buddha said, "Be a lamp unto yourselves."

Embracing a true spiritual Way makes us stronger and wiser. It makes us more loving and compassionate, serving others and being sensitive to their needs. It is like taking a breath of fresh air; I know, because I used to be an abject, fulltime slave to religion.
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