Q:   If God/Light is One, why the many religions?

The many religions exist because travelers and cultures are different; these differences in religious form exist to help people better understand who they are.

In this matter, there is both an internal and external reality.  The internal reality is the spiritual experience of God/Light; for all religious forms, the closer you get to God/Light, the more this experience is singular. Externally religious forms differ; religion puts on different clothes because the climate and traveler’s need vary.

Imagine religion as a beautiful woman. One day she travels to a land where it is cold.  By necessity, she puts on a fur garment to keep warm.  The next week, as circumstance dictate, she travels to another land where it is much hotter.  In order to adjust, she sheds the fur and adorns a cotton dress.  

Depending upon the day you meet her; you will describe her outward appearance in a different way. Yet beneath the clothing, she is the same beautiful woman and any difference in appearance may confuse travelers. 

It is like this with religion.  Travelers get caught-up with the externals; argue about the clothing and forget about the singularity of inner experience.

* *

The River

Before the Word was written

It was inscribed

On the hearts of travelers

With God’s Pen.

The stars and all the heavens

Sing God’s Story.

The land and all the waters

Proclaim His/Her Glory.

God sent Moses

And this Book was the first.

For the Hebrew people

A golden verse.

The River has flowed

And always will,

Feeding the forest

And caressing the hill.

God sent Jesus

With the message of Love

And humanity killed

The beautiful dove.

The River is One

Wherever it flows;

The direction it takes

Only God knows.

God sent Mohammed

Who was the Seal:

Mohammed taught us all

To bow and kneel.

We shall journey the River

To every stream

And humanity will live

A wondrous dream.

It is promised

The Dove shall return

And in every heart

The Light will burn.

Every traveler will experience

The parts of the whole

And journey the River

To the Divine Soul.

-SB

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Check-out my two books: Sufism for Western Seekers: Path of the Spiritual Traveler in Everyday Life and The Ferryman’s Dream.  Both books are available through Amazon.com or local bookstore. 

If you are interested in learning more about universal mysticism and Sufism contact: drbitkoff@yahoo.com.