Religion is a state of mind

This article seeks to present its argument from a theistic perspective. As a reminder, a theist is one who acknowledges, affirms and recognises the existence of the Divine. When we relate with the Divine, we are seeking to achieve the ultimate purpose of human life, which is happiness, here and now.

This can be done by creating meaningful life and positive relationships, having a good health and accessing and creating economic opportunities.

Therefore, “the common good is the good of all, the flourishing of each human, each creature, and the world”.

Theistically, one can achieve good life and relationships, good health, and expanding opportunities through the Divine.

The first type of being a theist is that of an “externalist perspective” and that is one who considers that the Divine, has a physical address somewhere in the universe, has humanoid or anthropological attributes (masculine, fatherly, judgemental, benevolent).

Such a Divine is also said to actively intervene and get involved in daily human behaviour.

The second type is that of an “internalist perspective” which considers that the Divine is an impersonal, sexless, formless, eternal and infinite life sustaining cosmic force or energy (called “ka” in ancient Egypt, “chi” by the ancient Chinese and “prana” in Sanskrit of India).

It is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.

These two types of theists relate with the Divine prayerfully or introspectively.

Prayer is a fervent request and a pleading of what one needs from a humanoid Divine who is perceived to be located externally.

To “pray” is a late 13th century term that meant, to “ask earnestly, beg,” to “ask earnestly, beg from a (power),” to “request, entreaty, attested from 1510s, contracted to pray in the 16th century.” Generally, to “pray” is to make a devout and fervent or persistent request, pleading or uttering a petition.

Prayer is an expression of the longing, petition or aspiring towards something you assume not to have from some power assumed to make it possible to have it.

The word “prayer” is applicable both in a court of law and in a religious sense.

Thus, the time of prayer should be the time of self-judgment and self-evaluation to see if individual daily conduct measures up to righteousness, justice, uprightness and sound discernment.

When one is introspective, it is not about what the Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or energy, can do for the self and others; but what one can do for the self and others using the indwelling Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or energy.

Plato asked, “…why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly examine and see what these appearances in us really are?” – Theaetetus, 155, A dialogue concerning the nature of knowledge, written around 369BCE.

From an internalist perspective, to have what you want comes by the power of your causation. Causation means actions have consequences, causes have effects and causality or causative energy is either a passive or an active power of every human being.

Everything is through the Law of Cause and Effect or Action and Consequence because nothing is simply destined or pre-determined by fate or by accident “let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

Those who are taught the word of Yahovah should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

Be not deceived; Yahovah is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” – Galatians 6:4-7.

You reap what you sow

According to the teachings of Buddha, the Law of Cause and Effect is made up of three essential guidelines; good deeds bring good results, bad deeds bring bad results, and your own deeds bring your own results.

There is a causal relationship between the choices and decisions of a person’s thoughts, words and actions with the results, effects and consequences.

Without that there is no possibility for accountability, liability and culpability of choices, decisions and actions.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” – 2 Corinthians 9:6; “But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors” – Hosea 10:13.

In Huna, the predominant pre-Christian and sustainable traditional knowledge of the people of the Polynesian Islands and the Maori of New Zealand, one is taught: “harm no one; think and say exactly what you mean; use positive speech; and take full responsibility for your life. Affirm a triunal view of life: a higher or divine self; a middle or unfolding self; and a lower or initiatory self.”

Interiorially, “religion” is the re-binding or re-connecting with the innermost essence, the Divine, that is, the life sustaining cosmic force or energy.

It is an intensely personal relationship between humanity with the greatest or absolute good

Religion is not an institution or an organisation, but it is a state of mind or a sense of being.

It is not loyalty to an organisation or another person, but the thoughts, words and actions for a deep connection to the inner essence and a delicate “balance between intellect, helpfulness and intuition”.

Internalists believe in the Divine hidden within and the need to effort fully overcome one’s ego and selfishness with a noble desire to discover the deep meaningful and purpose of life and sublime existence here and now.

Internalists are truth seekers about themselves and nature and thrive to live a life of good thoughts, words and actions.

They do not pray and do not do sacrifices nor observe any day because they do not seek any form of favour, gain and need/want from the Divine.

“Action is the outer sign of the invisible thought and desire, and in its very accomplishment gives birth to a fresh thought and desire. The three form a circle, perpetually retraced.

“Action is only the manifestation of that which is within, and where the thought is pure, where the speech is true and right, there the action must inevitably be noble…Be true in action; never pretend to be other than you are, for all pretence is a hindrance to the pure light of truth, which should shine through you as sunlight shines through clear glass.” – The Eternal Wisdom: A Theosophical Treasury” (Adyar, India 1978).

Internalists do not seek for anything from or pray to the Divine, the life sustaining cosmic force or energy, outside of themselves because they see it as being a beggar to themselves.

They internally discover to realise, and then externally actualise their own divinity through moral rectitude and a sense of duty and service to positively impactful to humanity.

Either we stick to the procedures, traditions and customs of human-made doctrines or we realise the essential meaning and the deep intent of the human authored texts.

Historical or literal narratives are thick layers that have kept us sleep-walking and rendered the meaning and purpose of life elusive.

Shingai Rukwata Ndoro finds time to freely read and reflect. For feedback, contact him at [email protected], and read more of his writings on www.shingaindoro.blogspot.com