 Spiritual: March 28, 2007 Issue [#1623] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your Spiritual Newsletter Editor this week.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths.
I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love,
respect for others, sharing other people's suffering.
On these lines every religion had more or less
the same viewpoint and the same goal."
The Dalai Lama
"If we take the world's enduring religions at their best,
we discover the distilled wisdom of the human race."
Huston Smith
Those of you who use spiritual or religious themes in your writing probably already know that even though the "packaging" may be different, the major religious traditions of the world have more in common than one might realize at first glance. For as the Dalai Lama noted, they share many of the same core values.
For instance, most Christians are familiar with the "Golden Rule," from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 - "In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." But Christianity isn't the only religion to profess this teaching. Notice how similarly it is expressed in other religions:
Baha'i Faith "Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself." Baha'u'llah, Gleanings
Buddhism "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18
Confucianism "One phrase sums up the basis of all good conduct, "loving kindness." Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." Confucius, Analects 15.23
Hinduism "This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you." Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself." The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith
Jainism "One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated." Mahavira, Sutrakritanga
"Judaism "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary." Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a
Taoism "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218
Isn't it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and historical times, offer such a similar teaching? Whether one finds a path to God through Hinduism or Islam, Christianity or Baha'i, this foundational belief is the same - treat other people the same way you wish to be treated. I can't help but wonder how different the world would be if religious people realized that what we share in common is so vastly more important than the ways we differ. Because when we focus so much on our differences, we find ourselves divided, at odds with people who could easily be our friends and allies.
Think about some of the issues that divide us, and how many are based on erroneous religious perceptions. Whether it's a local dispute about what books are appropriate for high school students to read, a national debate on legalizing gay marriage, or ongoing violence between different religious groups - the result is the same. We become polarized by our assumption that ours is the only valid truth, create a situation of "us vs. them," and further alienate ourselves from one another.
The "Golden Rule," shared by so many spiritual traditions, doesn't merely exhort us to kindly intentions toward people who are like us. It implies a universal application toward all others, including those of other religions, cultures, races, age groups, social classes, genders, and sexual orientations, etc. But in order to practice this universal wisdom, we must take the risk of getting to know one another, especially those who are different from us. Good advice for everyone, especially writers, as doing so can only enhance our writing.
Ready for a challenge? Get to know a religious tradition that is new or unfamiliar to you, and try to find the common ground between it and your own spiritual background. Write about it, if you'd like. My hope is that you'll find more in common then you ever imagined!  |
Here are a few items I found around the site that reflect the theme of "doing unto others" in a variety of ways - some overtly, and some more subtly. I hope you enjoy them!
| |  | Invalid Item
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#1113481 by Not Available. |
| |  | Kindness Multiplies (E)
She thanked me for the referrals. As I paid the bill, I said, "Kindness begets kindness."
#1230361 by Kenzie  |
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This item number is not valid.
#1116642 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
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#398409 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1235582 by Not Available. |
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1235130 by Not Available. |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Thanks for the great response to my first Spiritual newsletter (about interconnectedness)! I've included some of those responses below.
Please feel free to send me items that you would like to see featured in a future Spiritual newsletter, along with ideas for future themes!
From Diane 
Interesting topic, Sophie. I often think of how we are all connected and the impact the smallest thing can have on people we might not even know. It's interesting to note that many religions, as you pointed out, promote the idea of interconnectivity. I hope you take this further to explore the thoughts behind these religions as I've always found religion interesting, but haven't taken the time to look much further beyond my Christian roots. This knowledge would help to expand my writing in that I can integrate different backgrounds and add a richness to the characters that I wouldn't otherwise have. Thanks for a thought provoking article.
 Thanks Diane. I'm glad you could relate to the topic, as well as connect it to your own writing experience. I do plan to do more with Interfaith connections in future newsletters, as well as exploring the variety of spiritual and religious traditions out there. If you have suggestions to offer about specific ideas or areas of interest, please let me know!
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From zwisis
An excellent first newsletter, Sophy. It's sobering to remember that while man's humanity springs to the fore during times of crisis we could all do more in our everday life. A smile really can mean so much, even to a complete stranger!
Exactly, Ink! Even the smallest gesture, or lack thereof, has an impact on the rest of creation. Being more aware of it, and being intentional about our words and actions, can help in ways we may never imagine.
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From spidey 
This is one of the best Spiritual Newsletters I've read in a long time. I've been thinking about this idea quite a bit lately. You've explained this so beautifully and eloquently and also with much respect to all faiths. I hope this newsletter has a positive effect on all those who read it.
Thanks Spidey! Glad to have tapped in to something you had already been thinking about. If you have other ideas or suggestions to offer for future newsletters, please send them my way.
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From Katya the Poet 
Fabulous newsletter! The interconnected of things and the respect for many paths to God are beautiful themes here. Thanks for the items you selected for us to read and consider, and thanks for including one of mine!
Thank you, Katya, for allowing me to use your beautiful poem, which helped illustrate what I was trying to say about our interconnectedness.
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From Bhaskar
Congrats for taking over as an editor of the spiritual newsletter. The world needs spirituality! (Perhaps not religion -- but definitely spirituality).
Thanks for the congratulations, Bhaskar! And I agree about the world needing more spirituality. I understand and respect the human need to organize and create "religion," but I also believe that we can explore our spiritual selves in a variety of ways, which may or may not include traditional religious institutions.
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From hdelphyne
Hello Sophy, I appreciated your opening comments, which give voice to our diversity in spiritual understandings/practice. I also enjoyed your opening story - the Rabbi parable offering insight into our connectedness. The collection of writings you've chosen reflect the diversity. Thank you for this.
Thank you for your kind words, Thea - glad you liked the theme of the last newsletter, as well as the items I chose. Thanks also to darkin, Wren , Elfycia Lee ☮  , and billwilcox for your words of appreciation.  |
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