Oh, how many problems there are in the world today! Let us count the ways: hunger, war, homelessness, drug-abuse... the recession, the budget crisis... foreclosure, divorce... gotta have that car, gotta have that painting, gotta have that girl / that guy, gotta lose weight... am I wearing the right outfit?... how's my hair look?... will I get into the club tonight?... is my car cool enough?... will I get that job?... will I find my soul mate?... will I make my parents proud?... will I? won't I? can I?... We could go on forever.
A Course in Miracles tells us in today's meditation that it would be impossible to solve all the varying problems we perceive in the world. What we must do is recognize that there is only one problem - that we believe we are separate from one another. Every other supposed problem stems from this incorrect line of thinking.
This afternoon I went to a Toso - a Buddhist gathering where a group of people chant with one another and discuss Buddhist topics. It's sort of like a prayer group. Everyone chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which literally translates to "I devote myself to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law." For a much more in-depth analysis, visit http://www.sgi.org/meaning.html. Basically, in chanting this phrase, we pray for world peace.
Now, I don't consider myself a Buddhist, nor a Christian, nor do I classify myself under any other specific religious denomination. Nonetheless, my belief in God is evident. I also believe that we each have our own personal connection to God (even so-called non-believers). There are many pathways to enlightenment, yet they are all laid with the same stone. The core of all the great religious and spiritual beliefs is the same: Love. Love thy neighbor. Love thyself. Treat all of God's creations with care. Follow your bliss. Forgive, and you shall be blessed... We've all heard these or some variation thereof throughout our lives.
Love, in its highest form, is all-inclusive. Love does not exclude or divide. Only our egos can make us believe that we are separate from one another. We project our feelings of fear, anger, hurt, and guilt outward so that situations will present themselves to justify our separateness. Yet if we forgave, if we loved, if we smiled and blessed and brought joy to one another instead, we would no longer see ourselves as divided. The problems of this world and in our own individual lives would all disappear.
How wonderful it would be to have no more sickness, no more hunger, no more poverty, and no more war. What a relief it would be not to worry about what we are wearing or how much money we are making. What a joy it would be to see one another as One, to send one another good tidings and love, to forgive one another when we fall short... to recognize the Christ, the Buddha, the Light, and the Love in one another... to know that we are not alone, we are not apart - and nor could we ever be.
Until tomorrow,
Journeyman
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