Thoughts on a Cloudy Day - Political Views

I saw a button on a friend's Facebook page that said something like, "Jesus would like to know who this other Jesus is that you keep talking about." I guess that about sums up my growing dislike for the Republican party. I have shared with you my spiritual beliefs. So you know that if anything I believe in Jesus and his message, but not necessarily the messengers. That is even more so with the Republicans and their hypocritical rants about how we need God and Jesus. I hear over and over as they rail about people trying to take God out of this country, yet, if anyone is the furthest from acting in a Christlike fashion, it is Republicans. If you listen to their rantings, you wonder how they can on one hand be going on about immigration and unemployment, and in the other talking about how we are trying to make this a Godless country. Sorry, I thought we were all ready there. Of course the latest quotes regarding their refusal to extend unemployment benefits only cement this vision I have of them. When you have a Republican saying they don't want the unemployment benefit extended because these people are deadbeats, or another saying that the only way to get people back to work is to stop giving them money, then it only shows that one, they don't understand the problem they created, and two, they really don't care about the people they work for. Take that Kentucky Senator a few months back when they were trying to extend unemployment last time and he was blocking it. The news guy said about all those people who could lose their homes and be out on the street and his response was, "Too bad!".
If these people are so Christian, how can they act so unlike Christ? Do they really believe that if Jesus was walking the earth today, he would want to be a Republican? Do you think Jesus would want to deny immigrants a chance at a new life? Do you think Jesus would allow corporations to call the shots so they can willfully destroy the earth for profit? Do you think Jesus would put corporations over people? Over wildlife? Do you think Jesus would attack gays and treat them as subhumans?
I hate to break it to them, but if Jesus were into politics, he would be called a socialist. He would be working for equality for all. He would be working towards cleaning up the environment and saving the animals. Not a socialist like we were led to believe that the Evil Empire, the Soviet Union was, but true socialism. A method of government that would look out for the people and help everyone and all of creation.
That being said, I will never be a Republican because I believe in people. I put people first. I believe in John Lennon's vision in his song Imagine. Imagine no countries. No religions. No boundaries. Native American's in this country didn't have borders, fences, or other imaginary lines. Oh they might have had an agreement with a neighboring tribe that that they could hunt that side of the river, and we this side. However, when it came to the tribe, they took care of each other. When the hunters returned from the hunt, they first shared with the elders and the sick and then the rest was divvied up. They took care of each other. They also had respect for all of life. They lived in harmony and balance with their environment. Even when they took an animals life to feed the family there were prayers said. Quite in contrast to our current methods of locking cows in stanchions and force feeding them grain, hormones and antibiotics. Of course, it was much easier to act in a tribal fashion which was a form of socialism, when the population was small.
But I guess this still doesn't say where my beliefs lie. Well, let me take a step back to an anthropology course I took in college. The teacher wanted to show us that our beliefs may not be in alignment with our perceived political alignments. So he gave us a test that would let us know where our political beliefs might really be. In my case, I came out as a Democratic Socialist. Okay, well what does that say. Well, here is what I believe it means. That we the people should be in charge of a government that is there to help people. I believe that we should be a world not based on money or material goods, but on the achievements of people. Money should go away. We make only the things that we need and not have grocery shelves stocked high full of food that may eventually be thrown out once it hits its expiration date despite so many hungry people in the world. Think of how much different this world would be without the need for profit?
Think about what it would be like if you had a medical problem and you just went to see a doctor and had whatever tests needed to be done or whatever procedure needed to be done. No insurance companies to deal with, no worrying about deductibles or copays, just go in, and get it fixed? Imagine if you were hungry, just going to a store and not having to worry about having the money to feed your kids. If there were no need for profit, do you think that we would still be on oil? Maybe all those technologies that might have gotten us off oil would suddenly become real. Without a need for profit, maybe all those empty roofs would have solar panels and generating electricity. Going back to medical, maybe some of those medicines that were seen as having no profit because it would help so few people, might actually be made to help to heal those few people. Maybe more people would have jobs because corporations would no longer need to put profit over people. Of course, many of these people who have to travel long ways in order to make a decent wage, might be able to stay closer to home and maybe even do a job they might like even better. I know for myself, if there was no longer a need for money, I would return to school and get my doctorate in psychology and help people.
Now these ideas may be totally alien to most, but it is not really that alien. I recall in the Star Trek movie - First Contact, Picard offers Alfre Woodards character something from the replicator. She asks who to pay. He chuckles and tells her that they did away with money a long time ago. So if we can imagine it, why can't we, with apologies to Captain Picard, "Make it so!"
So in a nutshell, I don't believe in the heartlessness of our capitalist system that puts profits before people or the environment. However, I won't do ask so me say and leave. Rather, I feel that the only way to bring about change is to work from within. I will continue to push for social justice and care about people and my environment. We need to move into a new world where money is no longer needed and people are free to follow their hearts pursuits rather than toil at jobs that are unfulfilling, simply because it allows them to earn the money they need to pay their mortgages or rent, feed their families, and pay outrageous health costs.
Wouldn't it be a great world if a teacher was held in the same esteem as a baseball player? If a policeman was on par with an actor? Where a persons value was soley based on their contribution to the community and not on how many millions they accumulated? A world where every person is truly equal not just in words but in action? Think about it. Dream it.
My heart to your heart, one heart, one spirit.

Thoughts on a Cloudy Day - Religion Part Deux

In part one of my ramblings on religion, I talked about my journey and how I came to be. In this one, I would like to expand on some of my feelings on religion.
For me, the difference between religion and spiritual paths is dogma. While many people will classify Buddhism as a religion, I prefer to think of it as a spiritual path or philosophy. Why is that? Well, to quote Buddha Gitama Siddhartha, "Do not believe what you hear or read. Do not believe what your teachers tell you, not even if it comes from me. But know what is true in your own heart." For me that sums it all up. You are not being told what to believe or how, but are rather offered a path which you may choose to walk or not. To me that is the essence of a spiritual path.
Religion on the other hand, is tied down with dogma. My upbringing was Catholic so I will focus a bit there, but I will touch on what I know of a few of the others.
The Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church was basically founded when Constantine convened a council in Nicaea in 325 AD. I will use the more standard Anno Domini rather than the newer CE, Christian Era. Emperor Constantine had won the battle of Milivian Bridge believing that he had won the grace of Jesus when, as the legend goes, he baptized his troops in allegiance to Jesus after a bishop suggested it was the way to win the war. He did, and thus he then decided to create the church with the motto of One God, One Church, One Empire, One Emperor. Two factions within the church were competing and finally another council was called in Constantinople in 381 AD to revise and expand the creed to its present form. This is what we know as the Nicene Creed, "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty....". In reciting this creed, you were basically giving your allegiance to God, Jesus, and the Roman Empire, henceforth known as the Holy Roman Empire.
So while many proclaim that Peter built the church, in reality it was Emperor Constantine under the guidance and council of bishops. In any event, the Nicene Creed then became the basic dogma of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
Now, to take a step back, prior to Constantine's conversion, Christians were persecuted in Rome. Add to that, there were many Christian sects. After Constantine's conversion, the new Catholic Church turned on the other sects. Either you joined with them or were killed or driven out of town. One has to wonder what Jesus would have thought about that. So in order to get everyone aligned under one Christian umbrella, a basic set of beliefs was created and everyone was expected to follow or, well, they were killed.
Not a very auspicious beginning to a religion, but it held and grew. Fast forward to the Middle Ages and the south of France. Another Christian sect was taking hold. The Catholic Church was losing parishioners and in some cases priests to the new Christian sect in the Lanquedoc region called the Cathars. Whether spawned by the corruption in the church or just seeking a new way, many more started to switch to the Cathars new religion. The church did not like this competing religion taking away from their stronghold in France, so they conspired with the King of France to have the Albigensian Crusade. In essence, like the Crusades against the Muslims, it was meant to wipe out the Cathars. There is one legend that tells how the soldiers came to a village and ordered them to turn over the Cathars. The villagers were sympathetic to the Cathars, and refused to do so. A lieutenant asked his superior what they were to do. It is said that he replied, "Kill them all, God knows which are his". The Cathars last hold out was at Montsegur in the Lanquedoc region. It is said that they managed to hold off the advancing soldiers long enough for some of the men to sneak their treasures, one rumor has that one such treasure was the holy grail. To his credit, Pope John Paul II apologized for this travesty before he passed.
At this point, you may ask if I am bashing the Catholic Church. While it may appear so, I am merely showing the dark side of the church, in order to emphasize a point I will make further in. But allow me to continue, if I may.
Now one would hope the atrocities sanctioned by the church stopped there, but given the Papal Bull issued prior to Columbus leaving in search of the new world, it was only the beginning. Basically, the papal bull stated that if indigenous peoples would not convert to Christianity, explorers were free to do with them as they please and take their lands. I might add, this Papal Bull is still in affect today and all efforts to have it rescinded have been rebuffed. The Council of Grandmothers, a group of indigenous elder women from around the world had gone to Rome to meet with the Pope. At first, he had planned to meet with them, but when found out what their intention was, he was called away on business. Needless to say the indigenous people didn't convert and Columbus and his men did some horrendous things. If people knew the truth they wouldn't be so adamant in honoring such a cruel man. You can read some of it yourself in the book, Lies My Teacher Told Me.
Of course, the atrocities did not stop with Columbus as more explorers followed in his footsteps and into Central America and South America, wiping out the Mayans and Aztecs, and other indigenous peoples. If I remember correctly, it was Cortez who came into the valley in New Mexico and saw the Acoma Pueblo high atop a mesa. It's mica windows beaming in the sun glowed and made Cortez think he found the city of gold. He laid siege, but being as there was only slim paths up the side of the mesa, he was quickly repelled. He returned a second time and finally overtook the mesa. Soon the friars arrived to Christianize the Acoma people.
Fast forward a few more years to the USA and the push westward. Native Americans were thought to be heathen savages and the churches moved in to Christianize them. Soon, Indian Boarding Schools were set up and children were ripped from their parents and forced to go to the schools where they were beaten for speaking their language or performing their ceremonies and prayers. They were treated horrendously, but the motto was, "Kill the Indian, but spare the man". Some of the horrors we hear of the modern church were mild compared to what went on in these schools. In some cases, years afterwards, mass graves were found at the schools.
And of course, that takes us to modern times and the pedophilia that was going on in the church. Often times it was out right ignored, other times priests were just shifted. Even today, you can go to church and hear how the church is under siege and how people must support the Pope as he is under attack. Not one word for the victims of these savages. Yes, I called them savages, and one has to wonder back with the Indian schools and Cortez and Columbus, who were the real savages?
So why did I bring up this dark history of the Catholic Church? Well because these days we are hearing just how awful the Muslims are. We are told they are a religion of hate. We are told that they want to kill everyone who isn't like them. We are told we must wipe them out before they get us. Yet, if anyone bothered to learn about Islam, they would find that it is also supposed to be a religion of peace just like Christianity. As a matter of fact, Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet. Yeppers, the Christian Jesus was seen as a prophet, maybe not necessarily the Son of God, but a prophet. The thing that really tears me up is that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are related! I guess it is just like the competing Christian religions where they just have to wipe each other out until there is only one. After all, there can only be one true religion. At least that is what the priest said when I took my kids to church on Easter. Last Father's Day I had to write about the priest at another church who was telling everyone in the church to not listen to any New Age person. He said, they believe that God is out there, when we have been teaching you that God is within you. Whhhhhhaaaattt!! Rewind! I grew up being taught by the Catholic Church that God was out there and he was pissed at me. If I didn't go to a priest and confess my sins and beg forgiveness and say fourteen Our Fathers, sixteen Hail Mary's and do four hundred rosaries, I was going to burn in Hell! Yet, most New Age people tell me that we are a part of God and we all hold a spark of God within us. In some instances, they say we are God. So methinks, someone was drinking a bit of the Christian Brothers before his sermon.
Now of course, there are quite a few more than just the three main religions. There are many variations of Christianity from the Methodists and Baptists, to the Church of the Nazarene and others. There are also different factions of Jews, two that I know are Hassidic and Orthodox. Given the fighting in Iraq, we became aware of some of the many factions of Islam.
You can see how your beliefs stack up against the various religions by going to the Beliefnet.com site, www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx and taking the quiz. You might be surprised. Who knows, maybe you should be Bahai' or Pagan, Quaker, or Druid.
I just want to bring one more thing up. You would think that different factions would be somewhat similar. Take the Methodist, I believe there are two distinct groups and neither recognize the other. As a matter of fact, one pastor was so moved by 9/11, that he decided to take part in the ecumenical service. Mind you, this was to help bring healing to all those people. Yet, the church turned on him and a call came up for his excommunication. Why? Because in taking part in the ceremony, he was giving tacit recognition of these other religions. Is this what Jesus intended?
Now, Praveen will have to forgive me, but I haven't gotten to read the copy of the Bagavid Gita that he gifted me. I do thank him, and it is in the pile of books I still have to ply through. The Bagavid Gita is the Hindu holy book. Now I don't know much about Hinduism. I know it is one of the oldest religions in the world. However, my issue with that religion is the caste system. I'm sorry, to me all men and women, are created equal. There is no one stands above me, nor below me. I know there is great wisdom in the religion, I just have a tough time with the caste system. One of my favorite teachings from Hinduism is, "There are many paths up the mountain. The only one not getting to the top is the one running around and around telling everyone else they are on the wrong path.".
That pretty much sums up my beliefs. It is also why I try to learn about these other religions. Oh, I could take the easy route and listen to the media or the chain emails, and just hate Muslims because someone else said I should. I would much rather take the time to remove my own ignorance and share what I learn with others to help remove theirs. Only when we do so, can we finally learn to respect each others path.
There is no such thing as the one true religion. The only true religion, is the one that resides in each of our hearts. As someone once told me, if a religion has to tell you that they are the only true religion, if it requires that you pledge allegiance to their creed, run!
As for myself, I prefer to walk a spiritual path that is unbridled by dogma and myopic beliefs. I prefer to do as the Buddha suggested and believe what in my own heart is true.
As my Hindu friends say, Namaste!
My heart to your heart, one heart, one spirit.

Thoughts on a Cloudy Day - Religion

A friend in Australia asked me about what I believed. This was a question that was posited to me by my psychologist about ten years ago also. So just to put it out there, I thought I would give my view on religion and spirituality. Mind you, these are my views and they may not agree with your own. I firmly believe in the Hindu teaching, "There are many paths up the mountain. The only one not getting up the mountain, is the one who is running around and around it telling everyone else they are on the wrong path." So let me start at the beginning.
I was raised in an area that has many Christian churches but not much else. Growing up, I was raised Catholic as that was the religion of my parents, though neither practised unless you called having seven kids and propagating the faith, being good Catholics. I went to church every Sunday, usually at my grandmother's, so went to Sacred Heart and listened to my godfather and his sweet tenor voice. I would have been thought of as a good Catholic boy. Some even had visions of me being the one to become a priest. Yet, I always was bothered by some of the things said in the church, especially the Nicene Creed which went up my spine for some reason. As I got older, I made my confirmation and at times even my brothers and sisters would call my Father Ed. Yet, somehow I felt the church was not my home. Oh, I had read the bible through a couple of times and understood a lot of it, but there was a lot of contradiction between what Jesus was teaching and what I heard from the pulpit each week. Somehow, I didn't feel it in my heart.

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

That was the crux of it though, the dogma of the Catholic Church did not agree with my own reason or even made sense. Yet, I continued on. I did a stint in the Air Force and outside of talking to God and finding the only place I felt good was in the woods, my spiritual life took a rest. Though upon leaving the Air Force and returning home, I would still be called Father Ed by some. I eventually caved, and became a Youth Minister. Kind of like dipping your toe in the water before taking a plunge. It was a good time and I loved working with the kids. I remember one who was taking passages from the bible and berating his fellow students in his confirmation class. I turned to him and told him that what he was saying was not what was meant and that he was taking it out of context. I then recited the whole passage by memory. The nun watching this exchange came up to me afterwards and said that she was glad someone finally put him in his place. Not what I meant, but by this time I had heard a lot of people taking bits and pieces from the bible and twisting them for their own ends.
Now my room at the center was the old sacristy for the chapel on property. So it was kind of detached from the rest of the building and I was alone in this big empty room. They had built a bathroom in there so I wouldn't have to go back to the main building just to use the john in the middle of the night, so it was my own little world. It gave me a sanctuary that I could just talk to God. Ever try it? Just talk like you would your best friend? Most importantly, shut up. How many of us just keep jabbering on and then walk away and say he doesn't listen. We don't give him time to answer. One of the things that I was still having trouble with was the whole idea of Catholicism. I kept asking why was I there? I didn't belong. I was told that I was a holy person. I have been many times. This is why others call me Father. They see that holiness in me and because I was Catholic equated it to being a priest. Yet, this was not my path. As I found out later, there was a purpose for me being there at that particular time, but still, I had to run.
I felt that I had to prove to God that I was not a holy person, so I got into an ill advised affair with a married woman. There God, see, I told you. It didn't last long and she was empowered to leave her husband and move away. I spiralled down into deep depression. I would not leave my room or shower, or anything. Yet, one day, I decided to go for a walk in the woods. We had acres of woodland behind our house so I could just get lost if I wanted and no one would be around. As I walked, I was shaking my head.
What do you want from me God? Why are you doing this to me?
I am not doing this to you. All I have ever asked is that you be yourself and open your heart and show the way.
But I don't believe in the Catholic Church. I am not going to make a good priest.
Who asked you to be a priest? All I asked is that you open your heart to others. By showing your light, you will light up others.
So you don't want me to be a priest?
Do you want to?
No.
Then, why would you even consider it? You are a special person. You have all ready touched many people and helped them on their journey. That is all you have to do. You can walk whatever path you choose, just keep your heart open.

Well, I went back home, took a shower, shaved, and had something to eat. I had a lot to think about.

Well, time passed and I had gone through one marriage. We still loved each other, but her mother did not like me much any more since I had told her no once. We kept in touch through the years. I found myself back at my mother's and foundering. I was never much for dating but a cousin introduced me to a friend of theirs. She was very Catholic. She seemed to like me and quite frankly, Catholicism was the only religion I knew at the point, so I accepted that part. It lasted nine years and I had a breakdown, so I was seeing a psychologist to help put the pieces back together.

Eventually, we managed to get the pieces together, but it begged the question, who was I? We started to investigate many aspects of myself. Finally came the big question, what do you believe spiritually?

Well, everyone thinks I should have been a priest. Maybe all of this was because I ran away from that. I refused my calling, so I am being punished.

She shook her head. I didn't ask what everyone else thought. I asked what YOU believed.

Hmmm, no one ever really asked me that. I went on to tell her that I was most comfortable in the woods. It was there that God and I had the greatest conversations. I would spend hours there. Everything was like family. I would sit in this glade with the sun filtering through the trees and just watch the birds and rabbits and squirrels going on about their business. Every now and then, one would stop and look at me. Once I swear a squirrel waved. Maybe I am not as cured as you think. You know, I kind of think that it is like the Force from Star Wars. In some way we are all connected. Every tree, shrub, squirrel, rabbit, bird, deer, and human are all tied together somehow. Remember, that scene when Obi Wan sat weakened as they were on the Millenium Falcon. Luke asked what was wrong. Obi Wan said he felt as if millions of lives were just ended. That is what I believe, something like that.
She then went on to tell me that Karl Jung, the protege of Sigmund Freud believed something very similar and was trying to prove it. George Lucas had studied Jung and used that as the basis for the Force. So my thoughts weren't quite so far-fetched. Search your feelings, Ed.
She then told me that I should start looking at other paths and see if maybe there is one that is more close to my own spirituality. So began an amazing journey of discovery.
Having Celtic roots, I decided to start with the Druids. I read up on the Druid spiritual ways, but let me tell you, some of those names are just too hard to pronounce. Though, I think I have the Tuatha De Danann down. It was fascinating to learn, but not close enough to how I felt. I then learned about shamans, curanderos, laika, and other indigenous healers around the world. I was starting to see something in these that I could believe in. I started to learn about Native American people in the Americas before Europeans overran them. I found something in their way of life, in their culture that agreed with me. The problem is that because of so many charlatans, hucksters, and frauds, many Native American tribes are wary of inviting anyone into their inner circle. So for the early part of my investigation, I had to rely purely on books. On this you had to be careful because you didn't really know the writers background, so they could just be leading you on.
I had joined a group on Tribe.net that dealt with shamans. A Cree friend Way of the Spirit, invited me to join her group, Native American Prayer and Wisdom. It was a great group from which I learned a great many things. I was also invited at this time to join some groups on Yahoo, Native American Family, Native American Circle, amongst others. I started really learning quite a lot. I also took the things I had taught myself and gave back. Eventually, Way of the Spirit decided to leave Tribe.net and asked if I would take over her group. So for the next six years or so, I dedicated myself to learning and teaching. I would often post things I found on Yahoo and shared things that I was being taught.
I wondered if this was my path because it felt more at home than I had ever been in the church. I had to drop my kids off one Christmas Eve morning and had time to kill before going to my in-laws for lunch. I decided to go out and spend some time at the reservation. Getting there I found the gate was closed, so I went down Bell Rock Road to the water hole and sat there and said my prayers and gave an offering of tobacco as I had been taught. I closed my eyes and laid back across the granite boulder there.
You will come to be known as White Wolf. This is your path. Continue to learn the healing ways for you were once a great healer. You will be again, when the time comes.
Creator? How will I know what to do? I have no teacher. I only learn what my friends share with me. How can I learn to heal others?
You are thinking in narrow ways. There are more ways to heal than using herbs or prayers. Look back over your life. You have always been a healer. You have always brought comfort to others and helped them through difficult times, by your words. Words are powerful medicine. They can raise a person up, or dash them down. Your words bring healing to others. Remember when you were a youth minister? Did you not bring healing to others there. You did not feel you belonged, but you were where you needed to be. Know that you are never alone and that I am always here to help you.
I wish I could believe all this. I feel like damaged goods at times, especially after my breakdown.
Do you recall what you learned about shamans. They often journeyed within and were torn down or apart by their spirit guides. Then they were made anew. You did this in real life. You were stripped of all those things that clouded your mind and kept you from seeing your true path. There will be a time in the future when all that you are learning will come back to you and you will know why you have had to endure the things you have gone through. Just know that your words are powerful. Even the most casual word may have a positive affect on someone's life.
I wish I could believe it all. I really do.
I will give you a sign. Today you will receive a drum with a wolf on it. This will be my sign to you. Seeing this, know that even the strangest thing that is asked of you, has purpose. Now go, it is getting late and people will start worrying about you.
Wado Creator. I give thanks to you.

I headed out to my in-laws with this whole "dream" in the back of my head. The food was great, everyone was laughing and having a good time. The time came for gifts. They were passed around, and as usual, wrappings were thrown at my sister-in-law Cheryl. I sure do miss her. Then a gift was passed to me. I opened and saw the face staring back and me and almost broke down right there. There was the wolf drum. I think my reaction caught my mother-in-law off guard. She thought I didn't like it. How could I tell her what I had just gone through?

Later, after relating this to a Cherokee friend, she said that the name was most fitting for me as she had been watching me. She said that in Cherokee mythology, the wolf was seen as a pathfinder and teacher. She said that I have been doing that in the groups, showing people the way and teaching. She said that I lived up to my name and gave me my Tsalagi name, Unega Waya, White Wolf.

Well, my journey continued on for many years after that. I have continued to learn and grow and give back as I could. I have kept my heart open and welcome most everyone to my circle. One day, I may come to understand this path I have been led on. I do not regret taking that first step. I have experienced a great many things. When asked to go to New Mexico and perform a ceremony it became a mission. A mission of love for all people and a prayer of unity. I was led to create a symbol of that unity. The sacred turtle. On its back is the representation of the four races, red, yellow, black, and white, with the center section of the shell being the coming together of all. It is my prayer that we can somehow make it through all that we are going through. That the blinders of separation will be removed and that we will see beyond doubt what the Lakota have always said, Mitakuye Oyasin. We are all related.
My heart to your heart, one heart, one spirit.