Oh, Those Dusty Old Religions – There’s A Better Way
Religions are powerful organizations and largely helpful gatekeepers that help people seek and practice their relationship with The Divine. In all, they point to a pathway of love, light, forgiveness, and more. They do their best, and for many, they are necessary starting points. After all, it makes our spiritual journeys easier when we consume a meal prepared, boxed-up, and heated for us.
Today’s major religions have endured for the ages because they do not challenge perception – they create and sell it. Religions memorize and preach, but true sages and masters continually study, look deeper, and seek to know the origins of the teachings around the conscious mind and divine consciousness. They deeply wish to understand The Eternal Being – where it came from and how it functions within us and around us.
How These Religions Are Limited
Addressing how the world’s major religions—Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism—might be seen as limited in their ability to penetrate, uplift, and transform global consciousness towards true liberation (moksha) in this life, and how they might impede individual growth or perpetuate delusions requires a nuanced approach.
This discussion involves examining both the philosophical underpinnings and the practical applications of these religions, recognizing that the interpretations and practices vary widely within each tradition. Here’s an overview based on the teachings and criticisms that have been discussed in theological and philosophical debates:
Christianity
Potential Limitations: Critics of Christianity often point to its institutionalized forms, which can sometimes emphasize dogma and orthodoxy over personal spiritual experience. This can lead to a focus on external conformity rather than internal transformation. The concept of original sin and the emphasis on salvation through belief in Christ might also be seen as limiting, suggesting a singular pathway to liberation.
Empowerment and Delusions: Christianity’s rich mystical tradition, with figures like Meister Eckhart and Teresa of Avila, highlights the potential for personal transformation and direct experience of the divine. However, the focus on exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ might limit explorations into other paths of spiritual growth, potentially fostering a delusion of superiority or separateness.
Islam
Potential Limitations: Islamic teachings emphasize submission (Islam means “submission”) to the will of Allah as expressed in the Qur’an and Hadith. Critics argue that this can sometimes limit personal freedom and encourage conformity over individual spiritual exploration. The legalistic aspects of Sharia law can also be seen as restrictive by those advocating for more personal spiritual freedom.
Empowerment and Delusions: Islam’s emphasis on community (Ummah) and its spiritual practices like prayer (Salat) and fasting during Ramadan are designed to cultivate discipline, humility, and a sense of belonging. However, the emphasis on strict adherence to religious norms might limit personal growth by discouraging questioning and independent thought, potentially reinforcing delusions of infallibility or righteousness.
Judaism
Potential Limitations: Judaism’s focus on law (Halakha) and tradition can be seen as limiting by those who feel it prioritizes ritual observance over spiritual exploration. The emphasis on a chosen people can also be interpreted as exclusivist, potentially limiting a universal approach to spirituality.
Empowerment and Delusions: The rich intellectual and mystical traditions within Judaism, including Kabbalah, offer deep pathways for spiritual exploration. However, the strong emphasis on community and tradition might limit individual expression and foster a sense of separation or superiority.
Buddhism
Potential Limitations: Buddhism’s emphasis on detachment and the concept of no-self (Anatta) can be misinterpreted as nihilism or passivity, potentially deterring engagement with the world. The vast diversity of teachings and practices can also be overwhelming, leading to confusion or spiritual bypassing, where psychological issues are ignored in favor of “spiritual” solutions.
Empowerment and Delusions: Buddhism offers a path to liberation (Nirvana) through mindfulness, ethical living, and meditation. However, the concept of detachment can sometimes be used to avoid dealing with personal or societal issues, potentially leading to a delusion of enlightenment without the necessary inner work.
Hinduism
Potential Limitations: The caste system, although not a direct teaching of Hindu scriptures, has been culturally linked to Hinduism and can be seen as a significant social limitation. The complex pantheon of gods and the emphasis on ritual might also be seen as diverting attention from the pursuit of moksha (liberation).
Empowerment and Delusions: Hinduism’s vast philosophical systems offer numerous paths to spiritual growth, including bhakti (devotion), karma (action), and jnana (knowledge). However, the focus on ritual and the caste system can perpetuate delusions of purity and hierarchy, potentially hindering personal and social transformation.
It’s crucial to recognize that these perspectives are not universally held and that each religion contains a diversity of views and practices. Many adherents find profound liberation and transformation within these traditions, and there are ongoing reforms and movements within each religion that seek to address these criticisms.
Paganism
Paganism encompasses a vast array of traditions and beliefs, often characterized by polytheism (belief in many gods) or pantheism (belief in the divinity of nature), and lacks a single, unified doctrine or scripture as found in monotheistic religions. As such, it offers a diverse spectrum of paths for spiritual exploration and connection with the natural world.
However, like the major world religions, paganism can also face criticisms or limitations in its ability to transform global consciousness or liberate individuals in this life. Here’s a look at some potential aspects where paganism might be seen as limited, as well as how it might empower individuals or perpetuate certain delusions:
Potential Limitations
Diversity and Fragmentation: The wide variety of pagan traditions—ranging from Wicca and Druidry to reconstructionist traditions that aim to revive ancient religions—means there can be a lack of unified vision or cohesive community. This diversity, while enriching, can also lead to fragmentation and make it challenging for individuals to find a path that leads to deep, transformative spiritual growth.
Marginalization: Pagan practices and beliefs have historically been marginalized, misunderstood, or stigmatized by mainstream societies, often due to their pre-Christian origins or because they differ significantly from the dominant monotheistic religions. This marginalization can limit paganism’s ability to influence global consciousness by keeping it at the fringes of societal acceptance.
Lack of Institutional Support: The absence of centralized religious authorities or institutions in many pagan traditions can lead to a lack of resources for education, community building, and spiritual guidance. While this can encourage individual freedom and exploration, it may also limit the ability to systematically address social or ethical issues from a pagan perspective.
Empowerment and Delusions
Empowerment through Nature and Ancestry: Paganism often empowers individuals by fostering a deep connection to the natural world and a reverence for the cycles of life and death. This connection can inspire a sense of responsibility towards the environment and a strong personal ethic of sustainability and harmony. Additionally, many pagan paths emphasize honoring one’s ancestors and heritage, which can provide a sense of belonging and continuity.
Potential for Delusions: The emphasis on personal gnosis (spiritual knowledge) and the experiential aspect of paganism can lead to a subjective approach to truth and spiritual authority. While this can encourage personal growth and autonomy, it might also foster delusions if individual experiences or interpretations are not critically examined or balanced with a broader community or ethical framework.
Paganism’s strengths lie in its diversity, its emphasis on personal experience, and its deep connection to the natural world. These aspects can offer paths to liberation and consciousness transformation that are distinct from those found in monotheistic or institutionalized religions. However, like any spiritual path, it requires careful navigation to avoid the pitfalls of fragmentation, marginalization, and the uncritical acceptance of personal or communal beliefs. As with all religious or spiritual traditions, the potential for growth and transformation within paganism largely depends on the intentions, actions, and openness of the individual practitioner.
Old Religious Tech
Whether the religion enables individuals to make up their own rules or not, they mostly push and sell outdated technologies. They believe they are timeless, but they are not. They believe they found the truth and that’s it. They have The Universe in a box – and they put their labels on it.
This is not inherently bad, it’s just unfortunate to have so many people believing things that have nothing to do with their spiritual evolution. They are misled at best. That said, the most earnest seekers will do all they can to dive more deeply into their relationships with their divinely inspired concept or invisible friend – and they will eventually arrive at pure love and truth – much to the chagrin of their religions’ leaders and “prophets.”
While the great sages and enlightened masters could rest on their traditions and falsehoods to satisfy the comforts and misconceptions of their followers, they are committed to looking deeper into the nature of the Self and The All That Is so that humanity may one day be free.
Ford gave birth to the The Mustang in 1964. Imagine if they stopped there. Imagine if they never developed the latest technology and the 5.0 Coyote engine. There is always something more, something deeper, and something more profound to understand and embrace – within ourselves and with regard to all of reality.
The ancient and pure sages throughout spacetime continue to look deeper and deeper into the source of reality and the trajectory of the soul and spirit. They serve us at our pleasure, not their own. And they rebirth to repeat themselves so that one day, we might remember the truth, without needing to seek it.
What Is The Soul?
The soul is merely a collection of memories, experiences, and karma, born from pure consciousness. A memory of an experience and the experience are like night and day. The memory is like a footprint, while the experience is like the actual foot.
You are a collection of impressions of thoughts, intentions, desires, actions, experiences, relationships, memories, and the resulting karma, traveling from life to life without consciousness or awareness. This cycle keeps us firmly rooted in desire and the resulting suffering. This is the cycle we are trying to break.
The cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth, desire, and suffering is called Samsara – and we are seeking liberation or Moksha. We rebirth and repeat this cycle due to our unfulfilled desires. We dissolve this cycle by practicing Sadhana – the spiritual modalities that can free us for all time. This includes meditation, pure yoga, prayer, spiritual rituals, forgiving everything, releasing all that ails you, and selfless service.
Breaking Free
Breaking free from paradigms and religious structures that you feel limit your expansion toward liberation involves a multifaceted approach, focused on personal growth, critical thinking, and exploration of diverse spiritual paths.
Here are some strategies that can facilitate this journey:
1. Self-Reflection and Introspection
Identify Limitations: Begin by identifying what aspects of your current spiritual or religious practice feel limiting or misaligned with your personal growth and search for liberation. This could involve doctrines, practices, or community dynamics.
Clarify Your Values and Goals: Understand your core values and what liberation means to you personally. This clarity will guide your exploration of new paths.
2. Education and Critical Thinking
Study Diverse Beliefs: Learn about various religious, spiritual, and philosophical systems beyond your current framework. Exposure to diverse beliefs can broaden your perspective and reveal alternative paths to liberation.
Cultivate Critical Thinking: Approach what you learn with a critical mind. Assess teachings and practices not only on their historical or cultural significance but also on their relevance to your personal growth and liberation.
3. Experiential Exploration
Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can help detach from limiting beliefs and foster a direct experience of consciousness beyond structured paradigms.
Experiment with Different Spiritual Practices: Participate in practices from various traditions (with respect and openness) to see what resonates with your personal experience of liberation.
4. Community and Dialogue
Seek Supportive Communities: Find groups or individuals who are also exploring diverse paths to liberation. Communities can offer support, understanding, and shared experiences.
Engage in Open Dialogue: Discuss your questions, doubts, and insights with others. Dialogue can be a powerful tool for reflection and growth.
5. Personal Development
Work on Personal Growth: Liberation is not only a spiritual or religious pursuit but also involves personal development, including emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-awareness.
Therapy and Counseling: Professional support can be valuable, especially if you’re navigating complex feelings about leaving a religious tradition or exploring deep-seated beliefs.
6. Creative Expression
Use Creativity as a Tool for Exploration: Art, writing, music, and dance can be mediums for expressing and exploring your spiritual journey, allowing you to transcend conventional language and thought.
7. Patience and Perseverance
Understand It’s a Journey: Breaking free from limiting paradigms and moving toward liberation is a process that requires time, patience, and perseverance. Expect challenges and setbacks as part of your growth.
8. Ethical Living
Align Actions with Values: A liberated consciousness often involves living in a way that reflects your highest values and ethics, contributing to the well-being of others and the planet.
9. Stay Open to Continuous Learning
Embrace Uncertainty: Accept that the journey toward liberation involves continuous learning and that your understanding and beliefs may evolve over time.
Finally
Breaking free from limiting religious or spiritual paradigms is deeply personal and varies significantly from one individual to another. It’s about finding a path that resonates with your understanding of liberation, fostering growth, and contributing positively to the world around you. Remember, liberation is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
The dedication, discipline, and choice is up to you. The Shankara Oracle can be a tremendous help toward your clarity, deepening, and liberation.
Author: Shri Krishna Kalesh
Shri Krishna Kalesh is a mystic who guides people as a Spiritual Guide, Intuitive Reader, Dharma Teacher, and Coach. He has served thousands of people toward their healing and expansion - through personal sessions, mystical readings, courses, and retreats. His mission is to help others source their own boundless creative genius and joy, embody virtue, find clarity, and master their lives. Shri Krishna Kalesh created The Shankara Oracle as a divine portal to The Unlimited, All-Knowing, All-Conscious Universe.