New Forms Of Religion

This reading is very important not only for the young generation but also for the old generation. The traditional conventional orthodox and dogmatic religions are not relevant to the young generation. The great ship of the fundamentalist religion seems to be sinking and as Laurence Freeman says," the resurgence of on an unprecedented scale on the contemplative scale of the contemplative dimension -indeed heart-of religion." Though I am of the old generation, I am on the same wave length. We all have hunger to walk on the spiritual path, a path of awakening and actualizing of human potential - self-actualization, self-realization.
The traditional dogmatic religions cannot quench or fulfill our hunger and quench our thirst. Spirituality light up our inner light. It is beyond praise and blam, and has no space and time boundaries. It dwells in all of us. Contemplative practices open the inner door to see it. It brings all people together and creates brotherhood and sisterhood- harmony. Contemplation by itself is not enough. It has to join hands with action. I know it and try to live my life by implementing contemplative practices. It is an everyday practice. I experience heartfelt joy and contentment.

I love how Dalai Lama responded to a question asked by a reporter, "What is your religion?" Dalai Lama answered, "Compassion and loving kindness is my religion and I live by it." This reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi's response to a question, "What is your message?" And he said," Life is my message." As the author says, "We all seek wholeness". We all feel longing for wholeness. I relate to these wise statements by doing selfless service, by holding a hand of a someone feeling pain, by relating to someone compassionately and kindly who is suffering, and by unconditional positive regard. By practice it gets easy, effortless, and natural. And I feel fulfillment and gratitude. Life is a blissful journey, a pilgrimage.

​Namaste