Joyous Chee: How are We Different From Religions?
Well, let's face it. Many New Agers and seasoned metaphysicians often feel that they are above and better than the people involved in religions. I must admit that I have been quick to judge at times myself. We often judge religions as controlling, dogmatic and that many of their practices do not make sense. The list is so long that I think somebody out there could probably write a book called Why New Agers Disagree with Religions.
Yet, have you ever wondered how a religious person might look at us?
I recently read a personal Gaia channel by Pepper Lewis where the client had asked:
What about what my sister calls the New Age? Is there any more truth in that compared to the older, more traditional religions?
Gaia: No. The New Age is no different than the other religions. It teaches, preaches, and prays as all religions do. It calls itself by other names and considers its generations special and unique. It understands its tasks to be more difficult than others and believes its rewards will be great accordingly. This is but another interpretation of separation, it is less than whole in its premise.
The excerpt made me pause and think.
It reminded me of those times when I took a step back and asked myself how I am different from the religious. Sometimes, when I am in gatherings with friends, I will speak up on my beliefs and share my understanding on certain issues. Am I preaching? I think I am threading on a very thin line. Well, many of you know how difficult it is to explain metaphysics to others who doubt you. At those situations, we are probably running in our heads, "Why do they not understand us when it makes so much sense?" Yet often, those friends do not even want to talk metaphysics with you.
This can be so frustrating but we can have a different perspective and understanding by putting ourselves in their shoes. Do you remember the over-zealous christian who intercepted you by the road and preached that only by turning to Jesus and their church, you can avoid hell? Now, many New Agers are actually not much different. Instead of being condemned to hell, you are condemned with karma or the prospect of returning for another incarnation. I know a friend is just joking when he teased another for want of trying, "Are you sure? Do you want to return for another lifetime?" Yet, the joke shows how deeply this idea is ingrained in our minds. Just like the religious, there are New Agers who often judge others and think that they are the only ones going to be "saved" unless you become one of them. Join us or perish.
Really, how are we different from religions? We can say that religions have many differences from one another. For example, Christianity and Islam do not believe in reincarnation but Buddhism and Hinduism do. On the other hand, there are just as many differences in the new age and metaphysics community. As a group without doctrines and clear organisations, almost everything goes. I suggest that you do a simple test. Pick a general subject, say "Karma" and go talk to a few New Age teachers or healers. I believe you will possibly get as many versions of answers as the number of people you ask.
Well, my argument here is that the religious look at you just as how you see them. Just as you might not want to pick up a religion, why do you suppose the religious or others will want to take up your beliefs?
In the end, I realise, it is not about belonging in which group - religious or not. We have Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and many other wonderful people in the religions. They are unanimously hailed as great people and role models for all. Do they know a thing about channeling, vibrations, dimensions, energy healing, extraterrestials or the ascension ideas? Perhaps and perhaps not. Does it matter? Think of the most loving people around you. Aunt Mary could be the ordinary lady who is hardly educated and yet takes care of the stray animals around your neighbourhood. Johnny could be the ordinary guy who never ever reads Cosmic Lighthouse or a holy book and yet dedicates his life to care for the orphans and destitutes. These people may or may not be in a religion. These people may not ever come across a single metaphysics idea or even understand what the words "New Age" or "Metaphysics" mean. Yet, they do what they do because of their natural instincts. Do you suppose that they will not go to Heaven if there is one or not ascend to a higher realm if there is ascension?
My point is simply this: there is only love and this is what we are made of. It is our identity and if you argue that you have nothing, then you are still capable of giving love freely. Perhaps the only cost is your conscious choice to do so. It matters not if you are in a religion or on another spiritual path. These are man-made movements so that we have something to follow or affiliate with. It is impossible to be without beliefs when we are humans. Even the belief that there is no God is a belief in itself. Hence, it is only a matter of which set of beliefs you choose. Ironically, the "founders" of the religions do not even know of the religions that they are supposed to have founded. Jesus was never a christian, Gautama never a buddhist and Lao Tse never a taoist and I believe Kuthumi will tell you that he is not a New Ager. The common message that they teach is simply about love. Love for yourself, love for others, love for mankind and love for all creations.
We cannot truly teach another, except through the example of our own love.
Do we ever need to preach about anything? Kryon has commented about this and I wholeheartedly agree. We simply have to be examples of love. Just be as loving as we can. Love is universal and love transcends all boundaries, races, cultures and ages. There is never a need to tell others about the wonderful metaphysical ideas you have discovered. We cannot truly teach another, except through the example of our own love.
If there is ever a necessity for creating a benchmark to measure a human being's "success", then I say it should go by how loving one is. If there is a game that we should play, then let it be one which we compete on who is the most loving.
Be joyous and of course, loving.
About the Columnist
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Joyouschee hopes to add love, light and joy to the world through Cosmic Lighthouse Metaphysics Magazine, which he co-founded with Lee. He is also a part-time past life regression therapist and runs a video production and web design business to help promote positive causes. |