Spiritual knowlede

In The Roman Empire, in the second century, there were almost a hundred different Gnostic sects. All these sects were at loggerheads. All were convinced that they had unique knowledge about how the world is designed. Everyone else was wrong. There were also many other competing sects, mystery orders and philosophical schools.

If you're looking for ancient words of wisdom to give weight to your spiritual beliefs, it doesn't matter what spiritual beliefs you have, you can find what you're looking for in the second century Rom.

You can also, of course, find proof that your beliefs are valid in ancient India and China. You can find spiritual wisdom everywhere in the ancient world, but you can't find it here, in your own world.

Gurus

If you are listening to a guru, do not listen to what he is saying. Pay attention to what he forgets to mention. What do you expect to get from an Indian guru who forgets to mention the horrors of the caste system and the misogyny in Indian spirituality?

This applies also to Western spiritual teachers who change their names to Hindu names. There is no perennial wisdom. There is only perennial nonsense.

A relaxed mind

Almost all people here on earth define themselves in ethnic, religious or political terms. Moreover, many of those who have no interest in ethnicity, religion or politics, nonetheless live according to a belief system, a belief system that they are not aware of. For example, they can be convinced that they have to climb the career ladder and become something great in the eyes of others, or they may be convinced of that life is utterly pointless. Not many people have begun to wake up yet. Almost all the people are in some kind of mesmerized state of mind.

To consciously opt out to be a follower of any religion or political ideology is extremely offensive to some people. In many Muslim countries this is a serious crime. You can be sentenced to death. It is better to keep this position for yourself, also here in the western world


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It can be enormously painful to leave a religious cult. Many former cult members can bear witness to how painful it is to lose all friends. Sometimes they also lose their family. The emptiness and loneliness can be overwhelming. It can also be very painful to abandon a political or a philosophical ideology. It can be painful to abandon a destructive lifestyle. Even abandoning common everyday assumptions what life is all about can be painful. It is painful to wake up.

Why abandon a belief, an idea, a habit or an assumption if it is so painful? Isn't it better to follow the line of least resistance? Isn't it better to stay in your sect, church, or political party? Why complicate life so much? Why not just keep your beliefs, your drinking buddies and your family? Why not just stay in the warmth of your community?

Because, if you've come this far, there are no options. You simply can't stand to hear more drivel. You simply have to get out and get some fresh air.

Resignation

It doesn't matter which path you choose in life.
All paths lead to the same goal.

Unreal

Materialism and spirituality are just words, mental concepts.

Reality itself is not material or spiritual.

It is impossible to talk about the true nature of reality without using words.

We will never know what reality is like, really.

Dark thoughts

It's not just politicians and oil company executives who are reluctant to limit the carbon dioxide emissions. People all over the world want cheap gasoline. We also want pleasant room temperatures and cheap airline tickets. We don't want to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases

We also want cheap food and cheap clothes. That the production of cheap food requires toxic chemicals and terrible factory farms, and that cheap clothes require extremely low wages for the textile workers, is not something we care too much about. It's only a very small percentage of the world’s population who are trying to reduce their environmental impact and who are trying to avoid exploiting other people. Therefore I don't think there is a future for humanity.

Words

There are so many different kinds of Islam that the word Muslim can mean almost anything. There are also many different kinds of Christianity. There are no Christian ethics and morals. There are many different kinds of “Christian ethics and morals”. American right-wing Christianity and Liberation theology have nothing in common. Saudi Arabian Wahhabism and Sufism are totally different ways of interpreting Islam. It's meaningless to speak of Christianity and Islam. These words don’t mean anything. Being human, however, is to be human. To be a human being means something.

Designations, religious as well as political, can cause terrible wars and conflicts. These designations are not just covers to hide underlying motives. Sunni or Shia, Hutu or Tutsi, Catholic or Protestant, Serb or Croat, nationalist or liberal... A religious or political designation is not just a pretext to pick a fight. The designations are the causes of conflicts. We don't attack those who we believe are on our side, who describe themselves in the same way as we do. For those who live in Iraq the designations Sunni and Shia are extremely important, although all Iraqis really belong to the same group, humanity.

What distinguishes a Sunni Muslim from a Shia Muslim? What distinguishes a Jew from a Palestinian? Some believe in Santa Claus and others believe in the Easter Bunny? How can different beliefs be so enormously important?

Why is it so important with fictitious identities? Why is it so difficult to abandon a fictional character? Are you like an actor who doesn't change clothes when you go home after work? Are you sitting there on the commuter train as Hamlet or Ophelia? Why is it so hard for you to simply be human? Why is it so incredibly important for you to dress up and pretend to be someone else?

Is it possible for a human being, do you think, to not classify himself or herself, as something other than a human being? Is it possible to drop all religious or political identities? Is it possible to opt out? Why is it so difficult? I mean, you don't need to belong to any particular group in order to do the laundry or the dishes. Most of the day you totally forget about how you are labeling yourself. What makes it so difficult to extend this natural mindset to all of your day.

It's difficult to leave a destructive cult. I can understand that. You will lose all your friends. But it is possible. If you happen to be a Muslim it is even more difficult. A Muslim who wants to leave Islam is committing a serious crime and can be sentenced to death. The only option for him or her is to pretend to be a good Muslim, to go through the motions, to play a game, and try the best he or she can, to stay sane.