Modern spiritual leaders, events and influences

There are many ways in which man seeks the unknown, both old and new. Here are some of the figures and places of Spirituality that have impacted on various people in the last century. They are merely some that stick in my memory and I give no recommendation about belief, or acceptance, but they are there and I just record them. They inspire or have provoked a time of discussion and thoughtful inspirations in many. They are in no order of influence or importance or credibility. You may consider some false, some as holding the truth, but they have all influenced people of our times. For periods in our history we have been so involved in our own beliefs and paid no heed to those of others and there have also been times like the present when there is more awareness that some challenge our doctrines and fiercely we defend what we hold as true and feel the need to attack what others hold as true. This need to protect what we feel is true often leads to an exaggerated reaction of extremes where the core of our belief is abandoned by a blinkered adherence to select precepts that appear to justify over-reaction and wider concepts are forgotten. This applies to all faiths and many in the politics of government or religious hierarchy who have a limited understanding of the value of the human state. As in anything, when we concentrate on a particular narrow idea we forget the bigger picture of who we are and who we should be and the value of everyone in our species. Do we forget why we have religions? The quest to understand our place and how to relate to the universe and the questions of  where it came from and how should we find our place in this life. Religions are the quest to understand is there a divine and how should we respond to that understanding. Naturally we aim at survival and presumably honourable happiness so why is the criticism of the state of others part of that personal quest? Look to thyself alone and leave others to their own personal struggle. Assist, but do not attack. Defend, but do not defame. Love, but do not feel justification in any form of superiority, judgement or hatred. Look to thyself first, always and last.

Meher Baba - In the Sixties when eastern mysticism gripped the imagination of so many, he was one who attracted devotees through his message of peace. I was not one who paid much attention to him other then a mild intrigue, but there were many of my friends in those Hippy days who felt something in his example. That period was perhaps the first time that Eastern beliefs began to infiltrate the consciousness of western youth. Was it justified or was it a need. The influence persists still and a little of the East is now a part of the West for all in many ways little noticed unless you look.

Fatima - Perhaps the most influential religious shrine of my youth was Fatima, as one of my teachers was heavily involved in the society that promulgated the messages of Our Lady to three peasant children in Portugal. It was during the cold war that such messages and signs had such significance to me. Right is a photograph of the crowd of 100,000 who watched the miracle of the Sun dancing in 1917. I attended all night vigils and saw obvious truth in those days. Today I am more sceptical and I have as yet to decide if this is good or bad. The search continues I guess. Renewed these days is an interest in the unusual and on extremes the fascination with conspiracies, angels and the periphery of core religious belief.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama - One of the great universally accepted  leaders of our spirituality no matter what your religion or lack of it. A man of obvious gentleness and wisdom. He has consistently earned the respect of the world through his many tours and his kindness and his compassion. It is so hard to be consistent throughout one's life, but he inspires many, not only those who look in awe at the mysteries of Tibet. It is strange that we make such a big deal of the rule of China over Tibet, but seldom is it mentioned that the British also had their period of rule. However the political situation does not diminish his reputation in a world short of truly great men.

Lourdes - I grew up on beliefs in such shrines as Lourdes and Saint Bernadette Soubirous' visions of The Blessed Virgin. I travelled there in 1975 and it was a profound experience being surrounded by thousands of pilgrims in constant prayer and candle-lit procession. I met a girl there who had no idea where she was, but was overcome by the atmosphere. She was actually trying to find a beach in Spain to surf. Missed it by a long way.

Padre Pio - Again in my days of searching for signs of mystic intervention I examined the famous Padre Pio. He was famous as a confessor because he apparently would know the sins of the penitent before they were spoken and the stigmata bleeding from his hands, feet and side remained a mystery throughout his life. In 2002 he was canonised by John Paul II.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Of course he was one of the identities that filled the pages of newspapers and fan magazines in the late Sixties when the Beatles had a brief interest in his meditation and teachings. They grew disillusioned and eventually abandoned his directions during that time of seeking in the days of Flower Power, but his influence remained in the expression of their music.

A phenomenon of recent decades has been what is called fundamentalism in all the major religions. I am not sure who put such a tag on what, to me, appears to be no more than the emergence of radicalism that stems from a bias towards a literal interpretation of beliefs and ignores scientific fact, cultural perspective and love, which is or should be at the core of most belief. When I say literal, I mean a particular interpretation of the written word, for even then we read or translate an idea according to our own bias. Often I see it as the result of a lazy mind, which finds it simpler to berate others to justify one's own perceived superiority.  Perceived or recognised unfair distribution of wealth can cause frustration and anger on one hand and on the other, greed is often the source of a need to maintain dominance. Also blind belief can be an excuse for or a subconscious expression of a more secular political ambition. How anyone can be so sure of being right when millions can hold to truths that have other names mystifies me. Are we so sure of ourselves? Surely we all search and surely it would be better to share our understandings, find commonality and all progress from there. All religions develop, change and grow, and to me it would be obvious that if the human condition is worth it, we should be advancing together and towards a common understanding, not strengthening hatreds born of ignorance and more damning a laziness of the mind. Many mistakes are made in understanding because we are human - not because we are evil. Why is the central strength of so may religions the need to specifically define what is presumed to be wrong in others? I do hear more of what is considered to be bad than how we should be nice to one another, but then again I am subject to what the media will tell me of the statements of those in religious power. Xenophobia in the media is truly rife.

Do we pray? Do we believe in angels? Do we clutch at crystals? Do we gather strength from pyramids? Do we believe in magic? Do we think that God will help us win the Lotto, and is God on our side when we go to battle? Do we think of anything but our pleasures or our survival in the immediate?

 Symbols strengthen our resolve and aid us in focusing our thoughts. We have several senses and they are all bought into play when we experience life within and around us. We are perhaps body and soul  and they are inseparably united to make us what we are. We need to touch, see and hear that which we try to understand. The sound of  a hymn or a chant can aid in lifting the spirits, the sight of an image can remind us of a thought and all about us teaches or as some prefer, the absence of an image leaves the mind clear to contemplate the divine unhindered. I would like to have the freedom to choose what is best for me and even that may vary from time to time. To everything there is a season.  There are so many ways to contemplate the meaning of life.  None of us are the same, so dictated adherence to the ideas of another is not the answer. If we were all identical in thought and obedience the human condition would not grow, understanding would not change or ever progress and we may as well have no freedom of wonder or questioning and thus would we be human anymore? Why would we bother?

The Ankh, symbol of life - either the sandal strap of Isis or a penis sheath.

 Updated April 24, 2007