A Variety of Religious Orientation.
Karl Marx famously called religion the 'opiate of the masses.'
Karl Marx was also… Karl Marx. A parasite drenched in resentment, birthing one of the most corrosive ideological movements mankind has ever known. But we digress…
Many seek religion as a form of existential comfort. “It’s all okay, heaven awaits you, you’re already good enough.” A warm pat on the head.
A friend in Toronto echoed something similar while fasting for Ramadan. He insinuated:
“Religion is nice because it tells you what to do. It tells you how to live, how to speak, how to act, what to do. There’s ease and comfort in that.”
I imagine many people relate to religion like this…
Both people who are religious and like it, and people who are not religious and do not like it:
“It’s just comfort.”
I’ve come to relate to religion and spiritual tradition differently.
I had no religion in my childhood. My parents were staunch scientific materialists and atheists. I never saw the point of religion myself, and I only ever heard critiques growing up.
I had my periods of militant atheism, agnosticism, and then full-blown psychedelic spirituality.
Over the decades, I’ve sampled the vast majority of religions. Read most of the world's Holy Texts. Spent time exploring Christian churches, zen monasteries, and extensive time on the yoga mat.
From the Shaolin to the Samurai, the Yogis to the Christian mystics, what I most appreciate is that there is a variety of religious orientation where God asks for nothing but the best of you, in all ways, at all times.
Adhering to the yamas & niyamas of yoga is a great challenge. The 5 Buddhist precepts, the 4 Bodhisattva vows, and the 8 Bushido of the Samurai. These are demanding and unforgiving. They are always on. It’s not a once-a-week Sunday morning feel-good sermon.
And I kinda love it.
Nothing has ever challenged me like the crucibles of serious spiritual practice.
Religions and spiritual traditions are the most effective outlets I have found to hone and cultivate the best in myself. They make me uncomfortable. They show me how much more I have.
The righteous path is straight and narrow. There is little room for negotiation.
"When you Trust, unquestionably, that where that Path takes you is not only in your highest good but in the highest good of all, you will be endowed with the strength of character to make those choices." — Eric Brown
Eric Brown
To act in integrity at all times. To speak the truth, no matter how afraid you are of what it will bring. To shudder at the thought of the magnified karma that awaits you on the other side of wrong deeds.
In my estimation, these are not meant for the weak-willed. I don’t believe they are possible for the weak-willed.
Perhaps many people dislike religion because they can’t handle it?
Not because it’s too soft… but because it’s too hard? They’re constitution and self-serving hedonistic orientation aren’t up to the task of the deep spiritual austerities. That’s a fun frame to toss around.
Instead of being a refuge for the ‘weakest of us’ in need of nothing but petty comfort and a warm hug, I see religion and spiritual tradition as a dojo for the best of us. Honing the character, morality, and spirit of those who dare enter these hallowed halls millennia in the making.
- My teacher Remi was a Christian monk for 20 years, living several of those in silence, earning 2 PhD’s, and is one of the most upstanding, impressive, fiercely loving people I have ever met.
- The living masters of the Shaolin, Zen, and Yogic traditions are equally some of the most impressive people I have ever seen. Grandmaster Shi Heng Yi comes to mind.
This is an aspect of religious orientation that I don’t see either side making…
Religion (& spiritual traditions) demand impeccability. And that can push you farther than you’ve ever been pushed.
Worth considering,
EB. ⛩️