Spiritual Thoughts...

I was greatly inspired by Bruce Lee's philosophy, which he sought to promote through his method of Jeet Kune Do, that taught that fixed forms (in his case martial arts) can become, due to their 'fixed' traditional nature, dead and spiritless. Because that's often what happens with religious philosophies too - after the Founder first expresses the Living 'Way' to others. We (humanity) acknowledge the merit in the religion / philosophy and then 'fix it in time', so to speak, and (unwittingly) slowly begin to calcify it. This causes it to lose much of the original intent and vitalism with which it was first given. As ages pass the effect continues. The further through time we travel - the more room there is for calcification: 'Only we understand the meaning of the Truth that was once delivered' people start saying as groups vie for ascendancy with their particular interpretation of a message that was first conveyed hundreds or even thousands of years ago. We've all heard that kind of thing. And, like 'Chinese whispers' the further the message gets removed, the more the original Spirit can become diluted, even by well-meaning people (we all have our own ideas and points-of-view and this cannot help but 'colour' things when we research, analyse and seek meaning in something). Then, polarisation and factionalism can start creeping in and sadly, sometimes, things can even be perverted so grossly that people can use one form (religion) to justify committing crimes against people living outside of their form (religion). Therefore - personally - my philosophy is one that encourages me to notice all that expresses creativity and Love in any religion, philosophy or 'moral' code and seek to follow its guidance. And - for me - all that does not (ultimately) express love is a distraction. A quote that I hold dear is: 'My religion is Love'. In the Bible it says: 'God is not the God of the dead, but of the living' (Matthew 22:31-33). Love in action is a vibrant Living force, not a fixed, rigid form. If the world lived the Way of Love that's extolled by all mature religions and philosophies think how wonderful it would be. Rather than factionalism, we would be finding the good in all - and saying instead: 'Vive La Difference!'

I recently discovered these words; the first saying by the Buddha, the second by the Prophet Mohammed, the third by Al-Ghazali and the fourth by Idries Shah which I think are apt additions to the thoughts I've expressed on this page. See what you think...

When it agrees with reason...

'Do not believe in what you have heard; do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations; do not believe anything because it is rumored and spoken of by many; do not believe merely because the written statements of some old sage are produced; do not believe in conjectures; do not believe in that as truth to which you have become attached by habit; do not believe merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. After observation and analysis when it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.'

Gautama Buddha

Quoted in Max Muller, Three Lectures on the Vedanta Philosophy (London, Longmans, Green and Co., 1984)

We don't know it all...

The Koran was 'sent in seven dialects; and in every one of its sentences there is an external and an internal meaning ....I received from the messenger of God two kinds of knowledge: One of these I taught...'

The Prophet Mohammed

The Sayings of Mohammed, from Nadarbeg K. Mizra, Reincarnation and Islam. Madras: 1927.

Doctrines and sects which divide...

'Know then, my brothers (may God direct you in the right way), that the diversity in beliefs and religions, and the variety of doctrines and sects which divide men, are like a deep ocean strewn with shipwrecks, from which very few escape safe and sound.'

Al-Ghazali

Unbounded Light - The Inward Journey. Compiled and edited by William E. Williams (Nicoilas-Hays, Inc 1992).

What The Devil Said

Once upon a time there was a dervish. As he was sitting in contemplation, he noticed that there was a sort of devil near him. The dervish said: 'Why are you sitting there, making no mischief?' The demon raised his head wearily. 'Since the theoreticians and would-be teachers of the Path have appeared in such numbers, there is nothing left for me to do.'

Idries Shah

The Way of the Sufi. Idries Shah. Penguin Books 1974.

(c) Kerin Webb 2007.

Kerin Webb: psychic medium, clairvoyant, channeller and past life reader, based in Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.