| In almost every city in the world there is a building | | | | The only way, therefor, that we can enter into the |
| dedicated to a religion or philosophy that promises to | | | | heart of a religion and learn how to be one with God |
| free the human soul from the gates of hell. Hell can | | | | is by exploring religions ourselves. We can become |
| be considered anything from miserable way of living, | | | | whole by exploring the teachings of the mystics and |
| to purgatory where the soul is tried, or to a place | | | | by looking at the holy texts in various religions at a |
| where souls go to burn forever after death. All of | | | | deeper level. When we see these texts as |
| these religions and philosophies have one thing in | | | | metaphors about the behavior of humanity and the |
| common; they keep the "secret teachings," the ones | | | | inner workings of ourselves and our minds, we will |
| that connect us with God and give us freedom on | | | | have life. If not we will be religious dutifully. |
| earth now, for the insiders. One has to be truly | | | | The first step to this journey into the heart of God |
| dedicated to learn the mystical teachings of many of | | | | is to know that your religion has most likely been |
| these religions and philosophies. One must prove that | | | | corrupted. All religions have not, but many have. Any |
| they are diligent and loyal to the hierarchy of the | | | | religion that has demanded others to take up the |
| institution. Only then do they receive what I call the | | | | sword more than once-all of the time, in fact, is not |
| pure light. (This is neither right or wrong it just is, in | | | | a religion that necessarily believes in love as its central |
| many cases.) The pure light is the part of a religion | | | | teaching. It is not necessary to believe in love as a |
| that leads one beyond all of the readings, actions, | | | | central teaching. Many people live great moral lives as |
| and rituals to union with God and clarity about | | | | a result of following religions, but they never attain |
| one´s life in the world. | | | | the Kingdom of Heaven, the Divine mind, |
| Most religions and philosophies begin as mystical | | | | Satcittananda, or whatever we may call the power |
| religions. They start with one person who has found | | | | to live in peace and victory in this world and the |
| a path that leads to life. This person begins to teach | | | | world to come. The first step, therefor, is to realize |
| others. After the person is gone for one or two | | | | that something is wrong if people representing your |
| generations their disciples continue to teach the | | | | religion are speaking out to advocate for war and not |
| authentic way to connect with God. Something | | | | to advocate for relieving poverty and bringing about |
| happens after that: it becomes an institution. The | | | | justice. There is a problem. |
| institution has to sustain itself. It has to fit in in the | | | | The second step is to realize that your religion may |
| larger society and be respected. The teachings are | | | | not be the only one that is right. It is to realize that |
| watered down as the religion degenerates aligning | | | | there are many ways, many faces, and names for |
| itself with a corrupt, innate, power over system. It | | | | God. It is the human heart, the kind heart, plus the |
| becomes useless; its teachings become defuse light | | | | call of the Divine that leads us to unity, not |
| instead of the real pure light. Adhering to such | | | | one´s religion. If the religion that you follow |
| religions make the seeker feel that there is nothing | | | | has ever killed people who questioned or perceived |
| more than empty ritual, and a good feeling that | | | | things a different way, it is likely that the power |
| happens every so often for a few moments and | | | | people, the one´s who already ran society, are |
| then dissipates, or that there is nothing. People give | | | | the ones who established your religion to stay in |
| up on the idea of connecting with God. | | | | power. Still, at the center of the religion, there is a |
| Some people feel that they are connected with God. | | | | path to truth. It is only the mystic path. |
| They feel that their ego driven actions are | | | | One walks on the mystic path through contemplative |
| sanctioned by God, since they consider God their | | | | prayer and meditation. One must empty his or her |
| best friend. They manipulate themselves and trick | | | | self in order to be filled with the divine presence. This |
| themselves into committing atrocities. This time it is | | | | is done by sitting before the Divine and being still. |
| done in the name of God, instead of in the name of | | | | This is Sat Yoga, the yoga of being. If one cannot |
| themselves and personal gain. A war in the name of | | | | come to a place where he is just being, he cannot |
| God or in the name of gold has the same effect. | | | | commune with God. He cannot return back from the |
| People being tortured, shot, stabbed and raped feel | | | | source from which he came. That source is the |
| the same way if they are being abused for God or | | | | Divine by many names. If your religion does not |
| gold. People who drop their humanity to torture, | | | | teach you about this type of meditation or prayer, it |
| shoot, stab and rape others are also just as vile and | | | | is because the leaders don´t know about it. It |
| will never recover there innocence whether it is for | | | | is up to you to seek out such meditation and prayer |
| God or Gold. Easy prayers for forgiveness | | | | wherever you can find it if this is the case, or to |
| don´t work. It is love that the universe is | | | | delve deeply into the mystical tradition of your own |
| seeking. It is love that that which we call God is | | | | religion until you become one with God. In almost |
| seeking-a loving kind heart not a bended knee, | | | | every religion there is a mystic path. Unfortunately, in |
| prayer, or sorrow. For it is said that the only thing | | | | this troubled world, you cannot wait for anyone to |
| that will burn in the fires of hell is greed, anger, and | | | | show you the way any longer. You have to find it |
| fear. | | | | with yourself, or find a small group of serious seekers |
| All of this occurs because our religious leaders | | | | who will find it with you. Seek and you shall find, my |
| don´t know what they are doing. Many of | | | | friends, for as the Sufi Mystic Hafiz once said, "It is |
| them have never had a mystical experience and | | | | our destiny to turned into light." You don´t |
| don´t even believe that it is possible. This is | | | | have to wait for this to happen. Find a true spiritual |
| the problem. They speak forth and shine the light for | | | | community and you can do it now. |
| us but it is dim. It is useless. We cannot see by it. | | | | |