Being Spiritual Without Being Religious
I recently read that there are over 4,200 different religions on our planet today. Some of these religions are tucked away in the small pockets of our globe while others sweep around the Earth with an incredible force.
Throughout my life, I’ve had the opportunity to see a vast array of religions.
My family had some part to do with that but it was my diverse group of friends and other acquaintances that are the ones who opened my mind and heart to different walks of life.
Growing up in Salt lake City, Utah, I spent over the first decade of my life going to the Mormon church with my grandparents. During the early part of my college life, I joined my dad as he went to a baptist church just outside of the city of Seattle.
After my seemingly brief experience at the baptist church, I eventually found a non-denominational Christian church that was literally right down the street. It focused on a few other aspects that the previous places of worship didn’t mention.
Still, that didn’t fully cultivate my attention.
Aside from my experience with these different churches, I’ve had many close friends who’ve practiced various other religions.
From my great childhood friend who is Jewish. To my buddies from India that I met in college, one of whom is Sikh, and the other Hindu. To my Somalian friends in Seattle who are Muslim. Or my yoga buddy who practices Buddhism, my cousin who is atheist and one of my best friends who is agnostic; not to mention my friends here in Atlanta who practice New Thought.
Being exposed to all of these different religious, I’ve realized one thing.
That is..
How similar these religions truly are.
Different messengers, bringing the same message.
- Honor the Life which enables you to be
- Do good to your fellow man, woman and planet
Balance Along the Pathway
There’s an incredible connection tying all these religions and beliefs together. Connections that we can apply to our lives today.
Let’s take a closer glimpse:
Christianity – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Jesus the Christ
Do good unto others and honor the *Life within you.
Jewish – If I am not for myself who will be for me? Yet, if I am for myself only, what am I? And if not now, when? – Hillel the Elder (born 110 B.C.)
Use your life to honor yourself, but also to honor the lives of others, now. All are an illumination of *Life.
Sikh – “Of all the religions, the best religion is to repeat God’s Name and to do pious deeds. Of all the religious rites, the best rite is to remove the filth of evil intellect by association with the saints.” -Guru Arjan (5th Guru of Sikhism)
Honor the *Life within you and do good deeds unto others. Remove all the filth that prevents you from being and sharing the greatest you.
Hindu – “The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.” -Bhagavad Gita
“No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come” -Bhagavad Gita (sacred Hindu scriptures)
We are empowered by *Life Itself and can use that *Life to do good. Doing so, no negative can come unto us.
Islam – “What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured.” -Prophet Muhammad
“If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests.” -Prophet Muhammad
Do good unto others and put your whole trust in the *Life within you, the same *Life that is in all.
Buddhist – “However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you If you do not act on upon them?” -Buddha
Be drawn to do good to others and free yourself through thoughts, choices and actions.
Atheist – “Whatever we are, whatever we make of ourselves, that is all we have – and that, in its profound simplicity, is the meaning of life.” -Philip Appleman
How you spend your time on this Earth is important. You create your meaning of life.
Agnostic – “In the long history of mankind (and animal kind, too) those who learnt to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.” -Charles Darwin
*Life works harmoniously and we flourish through the practice of good deeds and collaboration with others.
New Thought – “No man need prepare to meet his God, he is meeting Him every day and each hour in the day.” – Ernest Holmes
*Life is everywhere present. Honor It and you will effortlessly honor all.
There are 2 incredible connections tying all these powerful religions together are:
- Honor the Life which enables you to be
- Do good unto others (and all of life)
*Please feel free to substitute the word Life with God, Allah, Jah, Light, Love, Energy, Divine Presence, Essence, Universe, Infinite Intelligence
Wisdom of the Wise
Today, let’s embrace this wisdom, applying it to our lives by releasing petty judgements against others and for a moment opening our minds to include all the people of the world.
As we do let’s remember these Keys of Wisdom:
1 – Honor the Life within you
2 – Do good unto others (and all)
From this day forward, regardless of what religious path we may or may not be on, let’s try and apply this wisdom and knowledge passed down through the ages.
Thought
“Do you have any challenges about other people’s beliefs and religions? If so, why do you think that is so?”
Let us know below. We can all learn from one each other.
Peace
Happiness
Compassion
Respect
Jeffon Seely
Three Key Life