Spirituality

In my opinion Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna were all trying to tell us the same thing. They had to work within the existing culture, which accounts for the few differences in the message, but overall they were obviously getting at the same principle.

It doesn't take away from the unique and special nature of each one, nor of the work that they each accomplished for the good of mankind. It only strengthens the message, that it was carried to so many people, and now in the age of information we are able to benefit from the words, and deeds of all three, plus many others who also saw this truth to a greater and lesser degree.

I am Christian in nature, culture and experience, so to me Jesus is very special, but it doesn't hurt me to think that his message was echoed in the words of others, and that it contiues to be heard in the words of others still. When I read the Gita, I feel very comfortable, sensing the same spirit within the words of Krishna, that I feel within the presence of Jesus.

From a human perspective it is just a balance, and always a question. I've noticed over the years, that the more questions I find answers to, the more questions it leads too. I don't know everything or even close. LOL I just learn how little I know, compared to how much is out there. There is one truth, but how can one hold it within one's mind. It is enormous. Only the heart has the capacity to grasp it in any way. The mind is just overwhelmed... or mine is anyway.

There is one universe, which amounts to a single God, but in another way there are so many entities within that universe that it is overwhelming. Thus the mono theists, and the poly theists were both seeing the same thing, just with different eyes. The Kabbalists, were part of the greatest monotheistic group ever, the Jews.. Yet they saw 'the facets' of God, and that caused them to seem, at least somewhat polytheistic. All the true polythisists, had very similar pantheons that more or less corespond to the Kabbalistic tree of life... which is very similar to the eastern idea of Chakras, the Western Tarot, the Kundalini system, the Middle eastern names of God, and so many other echos. It is the same story obviously.

Yet so many religions teach a sort of exclusive "Our way is the only way" sort of message. This is especially true of small factions within each religion. The various types of Chrisitans and Muslims who quibble about small details. It sounds like a series of fast food comercials in a way. Each one wants you to believe that their burger has some secret ingredient the others don't have, which makes it 'better' LOL. It is all pretty much the same though... and when it comes to small petty factions, they are all in error, because they get specific about the small things, while missing the larger point.

In general, with most religions, the prophet's speak their message. The scholars listen, interpret, write comentaries, and then the legalists make rules of conduct. The legalists get dogmatic about their rules, and the tiny details of the Scholar's writings. For some reason legalists are usually angry and warlike about their dogmas. Jesus taught only one Law, a four letter word called LOVE, yet his followers, have a list of rules as long as the Bible itself, and none of them ever crossed his lips, and they probably didn't even cross his mind. The rules lead to resentment, hypocracy, and hatred, the very attitude that Jesus taught against.

Religion is an artificial box that tries to package the uncontainable. It traps men's souls, in the service of things that are better left unserved, while keeping them from entering true spirituality. Within spirituality, we all have our own experiences, practices, and ways of connecting that work well for us. Other's may find other ways. The methods must not overshadow the goals, or we fall into religion.

My practice, and beliefs involve many things that are specific to me; My soul's own nature, my take on the truth, which I realize is limited by my own inadaquacies, My mission in life, My goals and callings, the life lessons I have learned, are all unique to me, though others may have similar callings, and experiences... or not. My own experiences may differ from those of others, and my nature may differ, but that is no reason for division.

I have heard the idea that there is no evil, and yet the books those people follow all speak of evil. To me it  isn't so much about whether there is or isn't evil, but that we all sense what is counter to our own natures. We all sense foreign and OTHER energies... both internally and externally. There is always a tendency towards evil intent, in all human beings, thus we sense in others, and in our selves things that aren't pure truth and positive energy. People sometimes have goals that are counter to the goals of others, and personal desire, often conflicts with the overall nature of a person. Whether you see this as ignorance, greed, bitterness, insecurity or just plain evil... well that is up to the individual intepretation.