Addiction #28 – Religion (Part 2 … a Way to Freedom) 05/01/12
LICKING THE RAZOR’S EDGE
Addiction #28 – RELIGION
(Part 2 … a Way to Freedom)
“I prayed and received no clear answer, until I started praying with moving feet.” ~ inspired by Frederick Douglas
Each of us has a unique relationship with the Divine that only we can ourselves truly comprehend. As such, each of us must decide for ourselves which parts of that relationship are “healthy” and which are addictive; which parts bring Peace to our lives by bringing Joy to others – and which parts keep us shackled to the shadows of desire and lust and judgment and fear.
In all likelihood, part of your current spirituality is empowering you to be a Force for Goodness in your community, while another part is keeping your True Self locked in the fearful solitude or apathy and inaction. Only you can free all of You to know a Joy-full reunion with whatever you feel God to be.
Only you know where the door to your cell lies, and only you can walk through that door once you choose to push it open. In the meantime, here are three keys to help you unlock that door – three keys that can unlock that portal, and help you prepare its knob for that one final turning …
TIP #01: BECOME YOUR OWN PASTOR
Essentially, it is high-time for us all to lead our own expeditions into the Great Unknown that is courageous Kindness. It is time that we thank our current “spiritual leaders” for all they have done to help get us ready to set forth – thank them and hold them close … and then set them free.
Faith cannot become strong while another keeps us afloat, and we cannot find our own way back to our version of God while we are still tied to another’s boat.
We are all more than ready to set out on our own to see what LOVE truly holds for us. It is true that those who seek will find, and yet there can be no real seeking until we choose to stop blindly following. Only the mind that is open to discover on its own is a mind that is truly free, and only the mind that is truly free can finally open its heart to fully embrace the Divine.
We no longer need the blessings or the advice of our gurus, preachers, ministers and masters. It is time that we set forth to become the one who blesses – it is time that we set forth to become the Great Teaching.
The world no longer needs those who merely study and learn of enlightenment.
The world needs us to step forth with a Love enlightened.
TIP #02: LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
It is a simple Truth that the more bold the Love, the more power it contains – and thereby the more Peace it generates. In the world of the ego, there is nothing more terrifying than caring for those who despise or ridicule or reject or condemn us. As such, in the world of addictive religion, there is nothing that requires more courage – and therefore nothing that is more powerful, than actively caring for those whose spiritual beliefs oppose our own.
This doesn’t mean that we must agree with their ideals or support their theologies or take part in their rituals. It DOES mean that we must choose to actively – and openly – and gently – and humbly – and sincerely … LOVE them.
TIP #03: PRAY WITH MOVING FEET
Addictive religion resides in frozen ideologies and feebly selfish prayers. Powerful spirituality, on the other hand, is free and flowing – with the Power of its Peace matched only by the smoothness of its practicality.
Every religion has facets that are unique, so finding the differences between your own religion and the sects and doctrines and creeds of others will always be easy … It will also always be divisive. In fact, doing so will ensure that the distance between you and all others will continue to grow; it will ensure that you will never be able to serve them or care for them or help them in any potent way. It will ensure that you will never be able to truly touch them at all.
On the other hand, at the core of every religion – yours as well as all others – is a LOVE perfect & unconditional; a LOVE that must be given to be known – especially given when we least want to do so, especially given directly to those people with whom we least wish to share.
And, when we choose to give that Love anyway – when we choose to do so irrationally; without any selfish motive or vain hope or desirous expectation, then what blossoms within us thereafter is the greatest gift of all.
For in the moments that we do so, we finally meet the Divine face-to-face … and realize that It was within us all along.
It is in these moments that we finally “go to Church” for the very first time.
“The true atheist is the one who denies God’s presence within the least of those nearby.” ~ inspired by Doris Day
“I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my sinful life at the foot of the cross, and yet they weren’t giving me anything to pick up in its place.” ~ Shane Claiborne
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
LOVE is the only prayer worth praying – the LOVE that is a body in motion – the LOVE that can only be prayed with two arms open, two palms upturned and a heart that is smiling & wide open.
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