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How powerful is the Western construct of religion? Why is it that no matter what religious or spiritual belief systems that we choose; as we ingest and implement it's principles into our heads and daily lives it pops out the same: Doctrinated; dogmatic; a curriculum; policies; procedures; rules; regulations; do’s and don’ts and once again putting the spirit into a box, in a world of unlimited taboos. It’s like western society and culture, we create an institute of fears or agents of control. We feed our already existing conditioned state of not trusting ourselves and we allow this new “spirituality,” to be our front running excuse of being different. It is only a cosmetic mask ,what lies beneath is the same old western religious construct. We only seem to be obsessed and curious about what a person has and if what they have, is it right? Is it wrong? Where’d they get it? Were they baptized properly? How do they pray? When do they celebrate their god? Did they go through proper initiation? Did they get this did they get that? Did they say this? Did they say that? If they haven’t done it this way…then they must do it that way. Or if they did it that way, then it was wrong, they should do it this way. Not giving any credence to the one true Supreme Being, that people might just feel, see, taste touch and think differently. Amazingly we like to think we are intelligent people and we are all in good character, good faith; and we walk in MAAT. We’re saved and we pray diligently. But I have yet to meet the first person of any system, to ask a fellow follower or person of faith, or a person of another path, “So could you share with me some of your blessings?”. Or to ask the question…”How has stepping on this path brought you transformation, do you feel any different, more enlightened, how has it helped you become a better person, how many of your fellow men/women have thanked you for your work?” Why can’t this conversation, this exchange, be about giving respect to a person who has made a commitment of stepping onto the path of doing the work of the Source and the Universe? Because those that seem to know the answer, or “the way” ,I’ve had the pleasure of having dialogue with some of these people and realized they were often behind in their bills, not having any transportation, looking for jobs or working menial ones; hating the white establishment that they worked for; still part of the masses that have to pay for the high prices of gas, food and insurance if they have any; not looking in the best of health; could not express any humor within a 30 minute conversation; talked consistently of the political, religious and political education systems as if the rapture were tomorrow. And yet these same people claimed the universal knowledge of the ONE and that you may have stepped on to the wrong path, the wrong way, with the guidance of the wrong person. Still feeding into the western construct that you must think, act and talk this way if not, the dark forces of whatever faith you adhere too will be upon you. And then we often wonder why our prayers are not heard. Paths get confused, rituals don’t manifest, and family and associates have conversations about us at the family reunion. That in our quest for spirituality we become too spiritual. In other words all this great light that we have received has blinded us like a police officer that puts the flashlight in our eyes that renders us blind or the high beam lights of an oncoming car. We are so enlightened with the gift of sight we don’t see a damn thang! We only see the things in our heads. Our hearts have left the room. Compassion is an afterthought. Empathy is bitter. Dogma is now alive and well. My path is better than your path because you didn’t do this and you didn’t do that…this way. That should really make the Supreme Being happy that you’ve elected yourself second in command. So I ask the question, Why do we continue to embrace fear, insecurity or my way is the right way? Question: are we all conservative Republicans? Religious fanatics? Morality police? The ethical Gestapo? Or we simply made the mistake, that what works for us, is definitely the recipe to work for others. Wouldn’t it be simple just to be ourselves…… enlightened beings accepting others for what they have chosen to be or pray to. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that the BEST system, is the system that works BEST for you. And if YOU believe it, so it is!! Ashe |