TRUE NATURE has but One Truth

By Eric Rittenberry @POETIC OUTLAWS 

Religion, as we encounter it today, has been diluted to suit the tastes of the masses—sweetened and simplified, promising celestial kingdoms for those who merely ‘believe.’ Yet, this simplification strays far from the core of what religion once was—a fiery, transformative force that seeks to ignite the human spirit. 

As the ancients used to say: “If you die before you die, you won't die when you die.” Metaphorically understood, this points to a transformative experience where, while still physically alive, you undergo what feels like a spiritual death. This involves letting go of your superficial identity and all the trappings of materialism that come along with it. 

You no longer live on the surface of yourself. 

In this modern spectacle, belief has become a cage. As Krishnamurti pointed out, when religion becomes merely about belief, it shackles the mind, preventing it from soaring freely. Jung, too, was wary of “belief,” suggesting that organized religion often shields us from the raw, direct experience of the divine.

“People speak of belief when they have lost knowledge. Belief and disbelief in God are mere surrogates. The naive primitive doesn't be­lieve, he knows, because the inner experience rightly means as much to him as the outer. He still has no theology and hasn't yet let himself be befuddled by boobytrap concepts.”

Our minds, crammed with stale dogmas and hollow idols, sever us from the sacred truths that throb deep within us. To some in this desanctified era of reductive materialism, this might sound like the ravings of a mystic. Still, the wisest minds of history—the ancient sages and philosophers—understood this well.

Religion, in its essence, speaks a language of the divine that whispers directly to the soul. The profound religious historian Mircea Eliade reminds us that “a religious symbol conveys its message even if it is no longer consciously understood in every part. For a symbol speaks to the whole human being and not only to the intelligence.”

Consider how Christ, responding to his disciples' desire for concrete answers, stated, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Like many today, his disciples overlooked the symbolic meaning and, instead, longed for literal solutions and a Messiah to free them from the confines of their own flesh.

The disciples often found it difficult to understand Jesus' teachings because he frequently used parables—stories filled with complex religious metaphors and allegories. “I will speak to you in allegories. I will reveal secrets that have been concealed since before the foundation of the world.”

His approach, akin to speaking in riddles, seemed intended to challenge his followers to think deeply. This method effectively separated those genuinely dedicated to his teachings, who would persist in seeking understanding, from those less committed, who might become discouraged and abandon their pursuit.

Like Jesus, the sages of Hinduism understood that what we’re all seeking lies in the depth of our being. Metaphors and parables, like in Christianity, were used to awaken us to the “realms of gold that are hidden in the depths of our being.”

Reading these ancient texts through a literal lens dethrones the deeper meaning of the message. By reading them in the proper light of poetry, symbolism, and metaphors, you understand how these stories are like maps and guides for our own psychological development.

 “The imagery of myth,” Campbell writes, “is a language that expresses something basic about our deepest humanity.”

Religious language is deeply symbolic, and it's these symbols that both distinguish and connect different faiths. Each religion has its own unique set of symbols that define and differentiate it, shedding light on its distinct teachings while also creating boundaries. 

Yet, at the same time, the universal nature of these symbols allows us to dive deep and touch the timeless essence of the divine. This shared symbolism helps us understand the underlying unity and purpose of religious experiences across different cultures and beliefs.

Ultimately, what we term a “religious experience” isn’t confined to a particular organized religious practice. It is a profoundly personal, mythic journey toward the realization of one’s life potential—a journey of becoming more alive, more conscious, and profoundly human.

Once you’ve plunged into the ocean, 

does it really matter whether 

or not you believe in water?