The Courage to be Different

For sure, people like Jesus and the Buddha are forever kept in honorable places, but men like Hitler and Stalin, probably not. This is where we have to reflect, with mindfulness, and discover our true intentions and align them with what is good. When we let the little demons (“maras” in Buddhism) guide our actions, we fall closer into uselessness, to God and humankind, and risk being separated (divorced) from our deepest self.

Like St. Paul wrote, “battle evil by doing good.” There’s no use to meeting violence with violence. The maras know all the tricks anyway. There are no surprises. I suggest expressing sincere appreciation for those that you love, helping when you’re able, and practicing non-reactivity in stressful situations. Wisdom, peace, and love are all valuable aspects of the one being, don’t hesitate to learn from the elders too. There is much wisdom to be gained in heeding the advice of wise women and men.

One notable feature of working on the side of good is what I’ve heard called the “persecution imprint.” When we choose to practice peace and loving kindness in our everyday lives, we begin to bear the mark of God. Places we used to frequent become less and less palatable to us. We may feel rejected by our old life, and new places may need to be examined before we can partake. This is “the cost of doing business” with holiness; His enemies become our enemies. Don’t fret though. There are plenty of good people out there who will love the new you, but not all of them. If you find yourself “loved and respected by all” you may not have made your final choice yet. This is okay. It’s what reincarnation was instituted for. But when you choose, choose wisely and know that you’ve made your choice and not someone else’s.

This brings me to people with multiple religious affiliations. This is also okay, provided they both can respect each other. I practice Buddhism, but I love Jesus too. The practice of Christianity is largely lost on me, but the teachings of Jesus, even though translated many times, invite me into peace and fulfillment. Don’t put a nail in your spiritual coffin by putting too much power in an institution. Instead let the spirit and your better judgment lead you to places meant for you. Good is on the side of good no matter what foreign country it's in. Surely God wasn’t absent in the formation of any of Earth’s peoples.

The Buddha taught that we are all Buddhas, and that we are all enlightened by our very nature. However, there are not multiple Buddhas, so what does this mean? If there is one God, or one enlightened being, then we all share in that divine DNA. Richard Rohr writes that what is true in Jesus, regarding human divinity, is true in all of us. That divine spark is in all of us. May you find your spark now.

Peace and loving kindness, and if you bear the stigma, Jesus said, “…great is your reward in Heaven.”