by Aurelio
Arreaza
When one
studies and understands the main concepts and
teachings of the great religions, it becomes obvious
from their similarities that they come from the
same source of
inspiration: God Divine Energy. Even if these concepts
were not so similar, it is obvious that there cannot be
a Supreme God for each different part of the world.
Thus, we
must realize and accept that there is only one God, one
Truth, and many religions. No religion has the
exclusivity of God or Truth, for all were created by men
inspired by the same and only God, just to help others
fulfill the strong spiritual needs we all have.
We must
realize that all religions are directed by human beings,
and none of us is perfect. Therefore, they are not
always well-directed and many mistakes are committed.
Sometimes we can experience the blessing of finding a
swami, a rabbi, a monk, or a priest with a high level of
consciousness and love, but this is rare.
Thus,
for our own good and regardless of circumstances, we
must develop a private and personal relationship with
that harmonizing being or force that we call God.
Thereafter, we can enjoy the benefits and rituals of one
or more religions, accepting what sincerely feels right
and rejecting what does not.
When a
religious leader insists on proclaiming the exclusivity
or superiority of his religion, or on teaching confusing
dogmas or rituals, he is not coming from God but from
his own confused mind. These kinds of men are not very
helpful; on the contrary, they are creating negativity,
separating man from man, brother from brother, creating
confusion and hatred.
Only
when most of humanity realizes that there is only one
God and many religions, then mankind will get on its way
to evolving towards higher levels of well-being.
All
Religions are Sustained by Us
We
all have a strong natural need to somehow give spiritual
nourishment to that part of God that dwells inside of
us. Besides, it is the only way to attain peace of mind,
feel good, and successfully go through life. As we try
to fulfill this imperative need, most of us attend a
church or a temple or some kind of congregation or
other, thus sustaining such organizations with our
attendance.
As many
of us know, for most, the only way to get ever closer to
God's harmony and well-being is by consciously
practicing various spiritually-oriented activities. As
this requires some effort, especially at the beginning,
it is usually easier to perform these practices in the
company of other people as a source of inspiration and
support. The main reason religions came to exist,
created by men, is to offer all of us a favorable
environment to worship and practice. The word "religion" comes from the
Latin word religare, which means "to unite, to bind
together . . . to unite with God".
It can
be wonderful to be part of a religious group that is
really helping us become better and happier human
beings, but, when this is not the case, we must find
another way to better satisfy such an important need
through another group or organization, or whatever feels
right.
If we
are really honest with ourselves, we know what feels
right. Thus, to fulfill the imperative of spiritual
nourishment or when looking for the right place to
fulfill this necessity, most human beings, at some
point, attend some kind of church or temple or group,
usually getting something positive out of it. Yet, to be
really successful, we must realize that this is an
individual process. We can only reach higher levels of
consciousness and well-being by sincere conscious
practice in our homes, by our own individual effort, not
by blindly attending a temple, synagogue, church, or
mosque.
Therefore,
we must have respect and tolerance for other people's
individual process. We should accept and respect that
each person or group of persons may have a different way
of approaching worship, or a different way of getting
closer to God's harmony; it all depends on their level
of consciousness. We should realize that most people do
their best to fulfill their spiritual needs, and they
can only follow their own process.
We are
all brothers and sisters created by one God and living
under the same roof. We are not feeling and
understanding God's will
and love when we do not accept, love, and respect all of
creation, beginning with ourselves. Those who do not
accept and tolerate other people's religions or ways of
worship are not with God.
Thus, to
get closer to God's wonderful well-being is ultimately
an individual effort; we do not depend on any religion
to achieve that. Yet, all religions depend on us.
One
night, before going to bed, I went out to see the sky;
it was clear, full of stars. So the next morning I got
up at four-thirty and, in Robert's car, drove to Key
Biscayne to watch the sunrise.
In the
windless, quiet space I walked towards the middle of the
beach and placed a towel on the sand near the water, sat
in cross-legged position, facing the ocean, and
concentrated on my breath.
Each new
breath made me feel better ever more love and peace
and joy. I felt very grateful for all the love and all
the protection and all the beauty that my Father was
letting me experience.
Opening
my eyes now and then, I waited and waited as the sky
turned clearer consciously breathing, sometimes
looking, enchanted by the ever-changing purples, pinks,
violets. Just breathing and looking at those
spellbinding colors, absorbing them all deep into my
being. Intensely waiting for the ultimate priceless
gift.
Each new
breath brought more joy, peace, well-being. I breathed
deeply, fully, trying to fill my entire being with all
the best my Father would give me. Deeply, fully....
Finally,
the great ball of fire started to appear, gently, slowly
emerging from the water, so exciting, so generous, so
powerful. Amazing vision, magical performance of nature,
miracle. I remained there, fixed, until all the
magnificent vision was up in the air.
I walked
back to the car feeling absolute, complete well-being. I
left having realized why so many people, since very
ancient times, have worshiped the rising sun.
Main
Differences among the Great Religions
Perhaps
the most important difference between the religions
originating in India and those originating in the Middle
East is their concept of God and our relationship to It.
To the
religions originating in India, God is everywhere, in
all of nature, within us. Thus, God is absolutely close
to us, most accessible, and easy to relate to. We can
and should relate to It directly and individually, and
establish a beautiful and rewarding relationship with
It. We do not need mediators such as monks or priests
between us and God. Most of the people who devote their
lives to the practice and teaching of these Oriental
religions, such as swamis or monks, are not mediators
but instructors just instructors of the activities
they consider necessary for others to practice in order
to get closer to God.
In the
religions originating in the Middle East, especially
Christianity, the concept prevails that God is above and
beyond, far away from us, looking down from some distant
point, observing everything we do in order to judge and
punish. Thus, God is not easy to reach, not easy to
relate to, too good to be near us. Here God is
considered, by most, to be some powerful being mainly
concerned with watching everything we do in order to
approve or disapprove and, depending on our behavior,
send us to heaven or to hell after death. We can relate
to him individually, but we also definitely need the
help of mediators who, supposedly, are much closer to
God than any of us.
These
two distinct ways of relating to God make a great
difference to the millions of followers of the great
religions. In the first there is the definite chance of
establishing a real, positive, and beautiful
relationship with God; but in the second, so many of
these mediators, so far from God's truth and ways, often
create confusion and negativity.
Another
important difference is that the religions originating
in India teach that we can experience the bliss of
heaven here and now, that we can get to be "one
with God" during this life on earth. It only
depends on how close we get to God's harmony and will by
conscious, daily practice of the right activities.
The
religions originating in the Middle East, especially
Christianity, mostly teach that, depending on our
behavior here on earth and on God's judgment, we either
become worthy, or not, of experiencing heaven, but only
after we die, in the afterlife. We must wait till after
death in order to get the best reward. Yet Judaism does
not talk much about the afterlife.
The
first concept is certainly more attractive, more
compassionate, more Godlike. If we can attain the
experience of heaven during this life on earth, then we
have much more motivation to try to get closer to God's
will, for it is now that we can be sure we are living
and feeling. This concept seems more realistic and
humane, and makes life much more interesting.
The
second point of view seems abstract, unrealistic, and
unfair, imposing hard conditions for the highest prize
and portraying God as a ruthless judge. It is a concept
somehow devoid of God's compassion, constant help, and
love, a concept which our hearts cannot really accept
and which creates confusion in our minds.
The
Concept of Sin
The
third significant difference is that the religions
coming from India have no concept of sin. A man simply
commits errors or mistakes and suffers the negative
consequences, then reams from the negative experience
not to commit the same negative actions again.
It is
human to err and learn. It is a continuous learning process without guilty feelings, and this is why we are
here. It is a process of getting ever closer to God's
harmony by gradually learning to avoid negative actions.
The spiritual pain and negative results of the
experience will lead us to learn right from wrong.
The
Middle Eastern dogmas, especially Christianity, mainly
teach that we all are born sinners, that a man commits
sins and that these negative actions can only be
forgiven through repentance before God or through one of
Its earthly representatives; a priest. Here a man is
considered a sinner and deserves punishment and scorn.
This
concept creates guilty feelings in individuals and the
whole group, who are constantly criticizing and judging
one another, ready to start committing new sins since
they can always be pardoned. Here it is difficult to
learn and evolve for the better because improvement does
not depend on us but on the will of God.
It
becomes almost impossible to have healthy communities
with the concept of men being eternal sinners, bad
persons. This negative concept of sin certainly
contributes to much of the aggression that constantly
disturbs the relationships among human beings.
The
teachings of the Great Masters have always been very
clear and simple. It has been some of the disciples and
organizers of religion who have established complicated
and mysterious dogmas in order to appear as the only
ones who understand God and who therefore act as
mediators. As they appear to have spiritual ascendancy
over the rest of the population, they can also exercise
a great deal of control.
About The
Author
Aurelio Arreaza was born
in Venezuela. He was raised in a socially
confused, "conservative" atmosphere, and had a negative religious influence. Early in life, however,
he started looking for a "direct contact with God", which he
deeply felt as the only thing that could help him understand the real
purpose of life and give him the strength to pursue it. Aurelio is currently living at
the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts. This
article was excerpted with permission from his book "The Highest
Knowledge" published by Blue Dolphin Publishing, P.O. Box 8, Nevada
City, CA 95959. Visit their website at www.bluedolphinpublishing.com
e-mail: bdolphin@netshel.net
Orders: 1-800-643-0765.
This article was excerpted from
"The Highest Knowledge by Aurelio Arreaza"
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