With the holidays upon us it's an opportune time to recall the grace connection that links various spiritual beliefs:
Hinduism:
Hindus believe in the great eternal spirit of the universe, called Brahman, and in the sacredness of all existence. Every person's spirit is part of Brahman. Trees, forests, and flowering trees received special reverence, too. Hindus maintain home altars, and worship many gods and goddesses that represent aspects of Brahman. Hindus appreciate all religions as ways to the divine source. Gandhi was a famous Hindu. Though slight, gentle, and mystical he was resolute in his service to social justice and peace. He studied law in Chicago, was an admirer of Jesus, and ended British rule over India through non-violent resistance. He famously led a 200-mile hike to the sea to protest an oppressive salt tax. Like Gandhi, Hindus aim to create inner peace that they send into the world. Their Grace connection: Treat all living things as you would be treated. Lend a hand to all that exists in the natural world.
Buddhism:
The Buddhist tradition dates back over 2,500 years. Buddhists believe in the ultimate peace of nirvana, beyond the physical world. Nirvana can be found in one's own heart, by living, speaking and thinking peace. Buddhists keep altars at home, and use prayer flags to send their good thoughts to the world. Through prayer and meditation, they practice love and compassion for all people, and hold special reverence for nature, especially forests and trees. The 14th Dalai Lama is a beloved global symbol of Buddhist faith. He won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for encouraging peaceful solutions to world problems and awakening us to our shared responsibility for one another and the planet. Their Grace connection: Hurt not others with that which pains you.
Native American:
The Great Spirit is the creator of all, including Mother Earth who is alive. Native Americans consider all nature and all beings holy. Iroquois Chief Oren Lyons said, 'We have...simple respect for all life, for the trees, for the rivers, the fish, the animals.' Their highest value is for what is in our hearts. They are guided by respect: for the Great Spirit, for Mother Earth, for the Tribe (people), for Individual Freedom. Their prayer stick sends prayers on the breeze to the Great Spirit. One of the most beautiful writings was Chief Seattle's famous address to Congress, 'As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. The earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you. No man, be he Red man or White man, can be apart. We are all brothers after all.' Their Grace connection: Live in harmony, for we are all related.
Islam:
Allah is the Muslim word for God. Fourteen hundred years ago the prophet Muhammad brought the people a message from Allah. Muslims follow Five Pillars: Belief in one God, in ritual prayer five times a day, in giving to the needy, in fasting from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan to increase compassion and community, and in making a pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city and birthplace of Muhammad. Muslims believe as servants of God, they walk the earth in humility, and show respect for all nature and animals. Rumi, the 13th-century Islamic saint, poet and philosopher hailed from Afghanistan. In the west he is consider one of the greatest and most popular mystical poets ever. Jordan's modern day Queen Rainia, a seeker of peace and justice for all people, stands in the world as a beautiful impression of Islamic wisdom and grace. Their Grace connection: Do to all men, nature and creatures as you would have done to you.
Judaism:
The Jewish religion is over 4,000 years old. Jews believe in one God as creator of the entire universe and that he gave Moses the Ten Commandments for living. And emphasize kindness and respect toward all animals and nature. Their tenets forbid pollution and abuse of the environment. The Jews spiritual practices aim to create a strong sense of connection. Their synagogue and homes are their two most important places where they perform their spiritual practices. A greatly admired symbol of the Jews was the martyred Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who together with his Foreign Minister Shimon Peres shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for their combined efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Their Grace connection: What you yourself hate, do to no man.
Christianity:
Christians believe in one God who sent his son Jesus 2,000 years ago to be a spiritual teacher, healer and leader. Christians follow the teachings of Jesus. Their foremost precept is to love one another, and to love God. Concerning all of nature Right Reverend Robert McConnell Hatch wrote that we are here as stewards and '...do not really stand alone but are a part of an intricate web of life in which all the parts are related to one another, and where the well-being of one part depends on the well-being of all.' Their local Church is the center of their community. They believe the light of candles speeds their prayers. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an inspiring Christian leader, and admirer of Gandhi. He held a PhD in Theology, won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, and was a renowned orator. His 'I Have A Dream' speech was given before an audience of 250,000 gathered on the Washington Mall at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. It is considered the greatest speech of the last century. Their Grace connection: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Goddess:
The Goddess has been worshipped by people around the world in various forms and by different names for tens of thousands of years. Archeological discoveries, artifacts, cave paintings, art and architecture tells of a very ancient, widespread belief in a universal Goddess. The basic Goddess belief is to free the world from fear, and fill it with beauty and grace.
Some refer to Goddess religions as 'pagan', which means 'of the earth' because Goddess traditions are intimately connected with nature, the seasons, elements and cycles of life, with physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness.
Goddess cultures are cooperative, peace loving, egalitarian, non-hierarchical, non-punitive or judgmental. They are at heart affirming and arts and creativity oriented. Many who follow the Goddess way, maintain home altars and practice meditation and life affirming rites.
From as early as 27,000 B.C. Goddess societies were highly refined, sophisticated, and spiritual. Throughout Europe, the near and middle East (where Islam, Judaism and Christianity were formed over 200 centuries later), from the Balkans, and around the Aegean and Mediterranean a Goddess religion was followed. Sophisticated monumental and multi-level Goddess temples, buildings, shrines and cave sanctuaries date from before 18,000 B.C. In India, North and South America, and throughout Africa, Goddess worship was the primary spiritual practice.
We become our spiritual conceptions. When the Goddess lit the world, it was a golden time of spiritual elegance, magic, beauty, love, truth, compassion, wisdom, and connection. When the Goddess fled, her feminine values that embrace caring and harmony were vanquished too.
By distancing from the Goddess who unites all, humanity disconnected, and civilization was fragmented. We disconnected the physical from the spiritual and eternal. People from Nature. Males from Females. By disconnecting from the Goddess, females lost the singular archetype of their beautiful ways of wisdom, intuition, compassion, magic and miracles. By denying the Goddess for over 2,000 years, we've denied women and nature. The planet needs the Goddess for wellness, balance and peace. The Grace connection: We are all graced, not guilty.
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© 2008-2012-Suzanne de Cornelia. http://suzannedecornelia.com All worldwide rights apply. This article may be reprinted on websites as long as the entire article, including website link and resource box are included and unchanged. Suzanne's novel "French Heart" will be released in December 2009. Friend Suzanne on FaceBook, follow her on Twitter @SuzanneDeC