Division

Written by Mikhayah
Thursday, 31 August 2006

The traditions throughout the world of human spiritual expression are many; and
within each are additional variations (often differing so much - one from the
other - that they barely resemble each other). Yet, at the core of each of these
spiritual expressions is an underlying truth upon which each is founded, and from
which each evolve.

In a similar manner, the human genome itself is of a singular species - though

each manifestation is a distinctive, individual expression of that species - each
within a given national, ethnic expression. Though these expressions are diverse,
they are all part of the expression of the human species as a whole. And yet, so
many fixate upon the illusion of "you" and "i"; and worse, upon the illusion of
"us" and "them;" of "my nation, my race" and "their's."

The world today is being ripped apart at the seams by groups, religions, sects and
terrorist political agendas which perceive their particular cultures' expressions
of spiritual truth as correct to the exclusion of all others.

Brothers and Sisters, listen quietly to the sounds around you. Go into a quiet
room and reflect upon every sound humming around in the unobserved quietness of
the world around you. Allow your sense of hearing to expand outward. What new
sounds do you hear that you otherwise had not?

Now, feel your skin from the inside out. Feel the pressure of your skin wrapped
upon your muscles and bone. Feel every little sensing hair on your arms like a
cat's whiskers. Feel your clothes laying on your body and even the pressure of
your body on the seat in which you are sitting. Alternately, feel the pressure of
your feet making contact with the floor. Feel your weight distribution on the
bottoms of your feet.

Now turn this expanded awareness off. Disregard these feelings. If you have never
before attuned yourself in this manner then it will not be difficult for you to
turn this off. Even if you do not deliberately try to turn this off, in time you
certainly will lose focus, just as you commonly do not focus upon the inhalations
and exhalations you take in and release.

This awareness is a slight taste of the state of pure being, pure "Eheyeh." This
is the awareness of the prophets, a'immah, mystics, shamans, tzaddiqim,
boddhisatvas, and sages. While the layman's awareness quickly disperses, the
awareness of the holy ones remained attuned to these things, and far, far more...

These people did not take God's blessings, God's mercy for granted. They did not
take the Universe itself for granted. They did not take their lives for granted.
They did not take their bodies for granted. Not even one single inhalation or
exhalation was taken for granted by these people. For this reason, they were chose
from others around them, and instructed by the Angels to guide humankind.

They were chosen for their reciprocity. God blessed them from the moment in which
they were conceived; from the moment their cells formed uniquely and began
replication. They were given capital and they invested wisely for their Master.
For this reason their Master chose to promote them to positions of greatness. This
is one level of meaning in Jesus' Parable of the Talents.

Brothers and Sisters, what religion of man did these prophets speak of or utter
the name of? Judaism? Judaism, Yehudiyot, is the name for the culture of Judea.
This is a fine culture, and within it are spiritual teachings, scriptures and the
like. But the religion of the prophets is not bound by cultural expression;
whether Jewish, Hindu, Roman, Arabist or the like. We must understand the
difference between the cultural wrappings within which these teachings were
expressed and the teachings themselves.

Did these prophets teach "Christianity?" Today there are Christian Jews who call
themselves "Messianic Jews." Why? Because the word "Christian" means "Messianic,"
or "Mashiachi." How many Christians do you know who even TRY to be "Messianic" let
alone achieve it? How dare this term be used so lightly by Billions of people?

What about "Islaam?" Muhammad made it clear that the prophets throughout the world
taught only ONE religion. So what is this title "Islaam?" What is this banner
"Islaam?" Islaam is not a title, it is an `Arabic word to describe the practices,
the actions, the fruits of one who ACTIVELY Submits to God. Can a person never
wash a single load of dishes and yet be called a "Dishwasher?" Can one never plant
a single plant and yet be called a "Gardener?" What a ridiculous idea. Where are
the "Muslims?" Those of you who are truly "Muslim," unite together with the
"Muslims" of all cultures, languages and traditions who love, serve and submit to
God.

Brothers and Sisters! Did Muhammad seek division? Did Jesus? Did Moses? Was it
they who divided from others or was it others who divided from them? If a person
is attacked in an Alleyway they are clearly justified in defending themselves. Yet
if they go out looking for trouble then they are guilty of oppression. We must
understand the contexts of history, the contexts of the prophets or we will fail
to grasp the meaning of their teachings.

Didn't Moses marry a Midianite and an Ethiopian? Didn't Jesus fraternize with the
outcasts, and speak of the greatness of the Samaritan over his native Judeans due
to his actions? Didn't Muhammad marry both a Christian and two Jewish women? My
God, how the people today would reject the prophets of old!

If we wish to move forward, if we wish to follow the practices and lives of

prophets, then we must look beyond what the man-made religions of the world tell
us. Everyone says that their traditions are unique, best, and from God. But what
do their actions reflect? Ask yourself if their actions are actions of God? Ask
who their actions alone appear to benefit? Ask if they appear to mimic this Rabbi,
this Marja`, this Shaykh, this Pope, Preacher or the like, or if they live the
life of the prophets in the days of old.

Yes, Jesus told us that we will know a tree by its fruits. We know the religion
peddlers today by their deeds rather than their words. Talk is cheap, but actions
are what counts and actions cannot be faked. A bad man cannot persist in
continuously doing deeds of righteousness, and a good man cannot perform actions
of unrighteousness. This is common sense, and for that reason the famous Imaam
Muhammadu-l-Baaqir said that "Reason" was the first of all creation. We must
understand these things with wisdom.