God doesn’t know your name and couldn’t care less about you and your problems.
Being spiritual but not religious is a funny way to look at life. And can be dangerous in a world filled with myths, superstitions, and ignorance.
FEAR Is Your Enemy.
President Roosevelt’s inaugural address reminded that our fear is our only fear. Here are his actual comments:
So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
There are many “spiritual concepts” in these few words. His words hold many clues to help us step from the darkness into the light.
NOTE: The context for my thoughts is spiritual, NOT political. I intend to reveal a path to personal harmony and empower your quest for happiness.
We live in a very divisive time. Only our actions and efforts can change our future, as a nation and individually. Only by knowing our unique truth and taking the right actions can we change our future.
Those in power count on and capitalize on, our apathy and ignorance to stay in power. We are responsible for electing individuals who ignore the wishes of their constituents. Knowing our truth stops what “paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
The spiritual and sensitive among us have a vision of a world that works for everyone. But trying to survive distracts them from acting bring about their vision of the world. The consequences (karma) being a republic that is NOT accountable to those who they serve.
My personal opinion about what victory looks like doesn’t matter. But my worldview is that it’s time to “Humanize Mankind.” Here’s a high-level overview of what a humanized society looks like:
- A safe place for all travelers on Spaceship Earth to be themselves and live lives in harmony, free of fear.
- A Global System of Governance that stewards our journey into the future.
- A society where everyone has equal access to all opportunities, rights, and privileges.
But you may be wondering what any of this has to do with God. Let’s see.
Whatever God is, it’s not what most organized religions promote. Mankind invented the God(s) of religion(s) after his image and to serve his interests.
God is an abstraction—an infinite intelligence that governs our universe. We are beginning to comprehend this intelligence in pragmatic and scientific terms.
Being spiritual versus religious forces a reevaluation of the concept of God. We intuitively know there is more than meets the eye (our physical senses). But we can’t ascribe these intuitions to the God of man.
I am making deliberate use of masculinity in these observations. I do so to emphasize the toxic arrogance of our forefathers. It’s my assertion that by “Humanizing Mankind,” we begin to allow healing to occur. Before we can heal, we must diagnose the source of the problem(s).
Our egos want to feel unique, acknowledged, and have a meaningful place in society and the universe. It’s human nature to want to feel “special.” This need has driven humankind’s behaviors since we became self-aware. The need to be special had man create God-figure (a parental surrogate).
Man created a fatal flaw happened when he located God outside of ourselves. We invented a game we could never win. But we devised a way to add meaning to our otherwise meaningless existence.
You may be thinking that my point-of-view sounds harsh and mean. But as Joan Rivers would say, “Oh, grow up!”
The fastest way to grow up spiritually is to do this simple experiment.
Sit naked in your favorite place and get comfortable. Then, in your dominant hand, gather the following: hope, faith, and prayers. Gather the best your God, your deity, your savior has promised you.
In your other hand, collect your poo.
In a quick look into the future, what will happen? What outcome or result will show up in your life? Which hand will get filled first?
Will your God save you? Provide for you? Keep you from dying from dehydration?
If you think that this isn’t the way God works… I call bullshit. You should get a different God. Better yet, go within to experience salvation personally.
By the way, it is possible that when your body is close to death, you will have a spiritual experience. This is the basis for Native American Vision Quests, but will it be your God that you experience? Or is there something else happening.
How does this make you feel? If you’re still reading this, you’re either intrigued or think I’m a heretic.
Whatever what you feel, please know that I have no answers for you.
A cornerstone of being spiritual and a grown-up, is deciding for what your truth is. What works for you. What answers make sense and work in your life.
As an example, I will cite the life of Gautama Buddha. His spiritual quest began with a question about human suffering. This quest led him down many paths seeking answers. Eventually, he sat alone under a tree determined to find answers or perish trying.
He found what he was looking for, an experience of oneness with all there is. This experience brought him peace and an understanding that transformed his life. He set about sharing what he experienced. He also prescribed a process to have that experience yourself.
Thus meditation became the process to experience what he experienced personally.
You may be asking, “What’s the difference between Buddha’s sitting and what we did earlier?” This difference is where you direct your attention. Prayer, hope, and faith lead your attention outside of yourself. Meditation, as Buddha taught, directs your attention within.
Remember the fatal flaw man made when inventing God? Seeking life answers and guidance outside our self will never fulfill us. Never provide meaningful and satisfying experiences in our life’s journey.
You may ask, But TS, how do I know you’re telling the truth?
My answer is that “It “feels” right.” And I invite you to ask a better question. “Terry, how can I experience this myself?”
My advice: Meditate, starting today and enjoy the journey. Spiritual growth is how you turn retreat into advance.
Let’s start getting happy!
Great article! I’m getting taking responsibility for myself however life has that show up. This life is mine to craft, to change, to experience and until I set happiness as my personal goal and strive towards that because that is my desire, then all the meanderings are just me not taking that responsibility.
Thanks for the straight talk!