Religion: Universalism

“All rivers lead to the same ocean.”

If you approached me with religion conversion in mind, you might be in for a pretty feisty debate. I always welcome passionate discussions to expand the mind.

I was only recently that I found a name to a religion nearest to my belief. Before last week, I never knew that there is an actual religious term catering to that very belief – “All rivers lead to the same ocean” as “Unitarian Universalism”, otherwise known as “UUism”.

I was tickled by an online test

My Favourite Question:

30.	A religion could encourage its members to find their own spiritual truths while unifying around the basic values held by all religions.
	# Yes, I like the idea of an open-structured religious organization
	# No, all of the members should all believe basically the same thing about God

My Answer: Yes

And the result – I am a Unitarian Universalist.*

“Many UUs appreciate and value aspects of Islamic, Christian and Jewish spirituality, but the extent to which the elements of any particular faith tradition are incorporated into one's personal spiritual practices is a matter of personal choice in keeping with UU's creedless, non-dogmatic approach to spirituality and faith development.”

“Unitarian Universalists encourage individual exploration of many different spiritual truths. They also tend to be politically liberal. It seems that you also see the importance of being open-minded and curious.”

Imagine a world with everyone believing in liberal religion and politics. No more tussles and heated debates on a fixed standpoint. No more pride and ego on who is right and who stands corrected. No more wars? Utopia?

Unfortunately though, this is the statistics of the test results they shared – Unitarian Universalism in US Adult Population: 0.30%

Isn’t it a wonder the world is in such chaos. There are only 0.30% broad minded folk who understand, appreciate and celebrate our differences.

That leaves a whopping 99 over percent of us who tussle over the “I’m greater then thou” concept thinking that everyone needs to be enlightened to “the right path”. Imagine a world spending weeks praying or meditating to different elements, and each believing that their element is the only right method of practicing religion and life. All others are just struggling to find the right path. Everyone else is doomed!!

What a way to live.

Thinking you are ‘holier then thou’ and more ‘enlightened then the next person’. That everyone else is lost except those which follow the path YOU have found.

Yes, all well and good.

Christians, practice and preach their faith. Buddhists, pursues enlightenment. Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Neo-Pagans, Spiritual-ites, Native Americans, Bahais resonate with their own personal religious beliefs too. Leaving the 0.30% UU-ites to spend time chatting and debating over all religions in an attempt to understand the pros and cons on what is being existing-ly practiced and what other else is possible. It fills some of our weekend thoughts and conversations.

By the way, now that I’ve been awakened to such a group of intellects, I would really like to meet more Unitarian Universalists. If you are one (or if you don’t know, don’t mind taking the test on the link below, and find yourself labelled to have an open mind) please do give me a tinkle anytime.

To all my other diversely divisional friends out there, do hope to meet one day to broaden our horizons on life and religion. Please do feel free to put me in my place if you deem I am out of it.

It’s never too late to start expanding our heads. And our heads can never seem to expand enough.

There is way more room to breathe in the broader side of life.

No limitations, no boundaries, no lists of do’s and don’ts or rights and wrongs.

Nothing carved in books or bricks.

Just open skies, good intentions and loads of fun exploring!

* Source: http://web.tickle.com/tests/religion/result.jsp?PREMIUM=Y&test=religionogt

The chart below shows the estimated numbers and percentages of Americans that identify as believers in each of the top 10 American religions.

After selecting the religions, our experts researched each one intensively, drawing distinctions between them and taking note of similarities. A preliminary survey of 3,000 persons with varying religious identities revealed the questions that helped us identify your religious compatibility.

Trina, your belief system is best suited to religions that value open mindedness

How do we know? While you were taking this test, we compared your religious beliefs against 10 of the world's most common religions. Your score shows that you share core beliefs with religions that encourage you to find your own spiritual path.

You are attracted to a religion that tolerates mixed beliefs about the existence of God and upholds the idea that there is something to be learned from every religion. You are open to a wide variety of religious and spiritual ideas. You are attracted to spiritual groups that are composed of typically open-minded and intellectual people who actively engage in individual exploration of many different spiritual truths.

Your belief system is 85% compatible with Unitarian Universalist religious beliefs.

But did you know that even though Unitarian Universalists have mixed beliefs about the existence of God, they tend to share the belief that there is something to be learned from every world religion? It appears that you are also open to a wide variety of religious and spiritual ideas. By accepting differences between individual spiritual beliefs, Unitarian Universalists come together under a few broad and inclusive moral ideologies. They pass their beliefs from generation to generation through their church's literature and their teachings, both of which draw on many of the major spiritual texts from a variety of religions. Typically open-minded and intellectual, Unitarian Universalists encourage individual exploration of many different spiritual truths. They also tend to be politically liberal. It seems that you also see the importance of being open-minded and curious.

Direction: Only Positive

"If you hold an anti-war rally, I shall not attend. But if you hold a Pro-Peace rally invite me." - Mother Teresa

I haven’t yet met anyone who hasn’t at least heard of Mother Teresa.

I have, however, not had to explain anything whenever I mention her. Lights just come on in people’s eyes when they hear her name.

There’s just something about kindness and compassion that warms us past our hearts and right to our very core.

Did you get the essence of the message why Mother Teresa refused to attend war rallies?

Before I heard that quote, I struggled to explain why I was against anti-depression classes, support forums for the weak and troubled, and yes, even charity donations.

Anti-depression class drowns you in further details and sharing of depression.

Forum of the weak for the weak form a support system so they don’t feel alone in their troubles, but is that the best way to address the issue?

Charity donations focus to acknowledge the handicapped and shouts out a need for help. Charity campaigns and donation drives paint pictures of disabled people, and embeds a belief that they are weak and needy, when the handicapped are just as able to give as a physically able person.

The mind doesn’t understand no.

Tell it not to think of the keys in your hand, and yes, you automatically focus on the keys in your hand.

I slipped up once and casually said to a friend who was carrying quite a few things, “Be careful. Don’t trip.”

He whipped around and stared at me,

“What did you just say?!”

“Ooops”, I smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry. Forgot. It doesn’t work that way.”

Then grinned and said,

“Walk safe! Be healthy!” =)

Our minds move towards the things we focus on.

Keep telling yourself to stay away, and somehow, it keeps coming back to haunt you.

Another friend asked me yesterday night, “What is the best form of self defence?” He asked me to sleep on it and I did.

Here’s the answer I found…

The best form of defence is not having any reason to have any form of defence. The fact that you need self defence gives in to the fact that you may be attacked in some way. I’m not denying the usefulness of martial arts and weaponry or even a pepper spray in your purse, but the idea of having to be on alert and defend yourself means you are unable to trust and there’s a load of evil you need to prepare yourself against.

I’d rather live free.

I’ll have no form of defence. If I am struck down by the blade of a murderer, or shot by the rifle or a robber, then this is no world I want to live in. The murderer and robber have done me an unspeakable favour of letting me leave a place of violence.

Murderers and robbers are but messengers of what we as a society have done to ourselves.

I won’t live with walls around me. I’ll have no defence.

I will however break down walls and surround myself with friends and people I love and trust.

The best form of defence, and the only defence I might consider, are the people who envelope you in love.

I Am Hopeless

A family friend revealed that my dad had been going around labeling me hopeless.

His exact words, “Your dad may think you’re hopeless but I think I have your problem solved at least 49%”.

I wasn’t too sure about the solution he recommended, but what resonated was his first six words, “Your dad may think you’re hopeless..”

From daddy’s girl to the hopeless black sheep in the family. How does one come to that?

I could have kicked and screamed inside in indignation, but what hit me instead was the fact that he was right.

Everyone is entitled to their points of view, and he had one which was valid from his point of view.

I am:

1. Jobless – despite the fact that I was physically able and had a degree to back me up.

2. Lost – without a clear focus or direction on where I was headed. I pretty much appear to have my head in the clouds at this stage of my life.

3. Living with Parents – I should be able to afford myself by now, but its been a struggle just keeping up with the lifestyle I’d like to have and the inflation rates. (Did you notice price of flour hiked up over 60% from RM1.60 to RM2.60??)

4. Single and 27 – no grandkids in the midst for him to dote on.

Yes, he did have a point.

Again, everyone has their point of view. Fortunately, his point of view wasn’t mine.

Here’s the reason why I’m sharing this story …

I remembered something over the weekend. It may sound simple and idiotic, but bear with me please.

Do you realize how badly you can affect kids?

One simple remark, one light gesture and they absorb like sponges.

You may not realize, but they are observing and noticing everything around them. They are learning new to savour all their senses - sound, sights, taste, touch, smell. They have everything on alert. Everything is new and fresh to them.

A world of little butterflies and bunnies and rainbows and birds.

And yes, also a world of adults with whispered words or anger and rage.

They absorb everything.

Every positive and negative energy is embedded into them at their tender years. Every snide remark thrown or words of doubt.

Why are you so lazy?

You’re so clumsy! Why can’t you be more like your sister.

You’re so stupid!

Or in my case, hopeless? =)

My point is this. There may be things in your childhood that has affected you without realizing it.

My mom was slow and stupid (but I beg to differ, with evidence! =D), hence now, she is a woman who doubts her judgment. Almost all decisions are made by her husband .. right down to what to eat for dinner every night.

My dad is grumpy, angry, old and negative. And that I find to be true. But what I also found out, is that there is a reason he is that way. It stems from issues when he was a child – lack of love and support from the ones he needed from the most.

And how does this affect the next generation?

If not addressed, imagine these two individuals, carrying the burden and scars from childhood onto their children. One with deep self doubt, and one with rage from a world that wasn’t just.

Children absorb like sponges. How do you think their childhood would be like living under the care of people who have childhood issues themselves?

A vicious cycle? Perhaps.

And how do we play a role in all this?

Simple.

Are you caught in such a cycle?

Do you promise yourself never to be like your parents and end up, yes, just like them?

Simple, you can put a stop to all this nonsense.

Imagine if I believed what my dad said. I am hopeless. I’ll likely spiral into depression and believe I have no use and purpose in this world. If my own dad believed it, it must be true. Our parents knows us best after all. Where will this lead me? Probably start another vicious cycle and let it whirlwind into something big.

It starts and stops with you.

The people closest to you have the strongest effect on your emotions.

Choose the people who affect you wisely.

I have in recent months met so many amazing individuals with such positive energy. They reminded me that there is so much more to life - that we can do so much and give so much more.

I resigned in August 9^th 2007.

According to my dad, that was the worst thing I’ve done. I’m now hopeless.

For me, that was the best thing I’ve ever done in my 27 years.

Life Changing Turning Points

Most of our lives we’ve been told what was right or wrong - what to say, what to do, and even how to think.

Then along comes this little bird (sometimes with a loud speaker or a sledge hammer) that starts asking…

What am I doing here?

Why am I doing what I am doing?

What is my real reason for being?

Why am I so unhappy?

or even simply…

Why me?

Many people at one point reach a crossroad or turning point in their lives. As Yvonne Foong said, sometimes it takes a disease, and sometimes all it takes is a knock on the head to wake us up,

But let’s not wait for tragedy to have our life unfold shall we?

Let’s instead, use a little imagination and fast forward our growth in a more fun way.

If you die tomorrow, what will you be doing now?

The answer to that is a huge difference between what you should do and what you want to do.

What you want and can do gives you freedom of choice.

What you should do just gives you anxiety attacks and stomach ulcers.

We often fall victim to our ‘should-do’ lists.

Making a change appears hard. You have to go through a whole new learning cycle. Once again you start afresh with a future unknown.

What about the risks?

What if you fail?

Your outlook, attitude, thoughts, actions, and possibly even your friends and loved ones will change.

You will make mistakes. Your hidden weaknesses and strengths will emerge. You will need to learn defeat and accept failure. You will need to learn to be honest with yourself and to ask for help.

It is a whole process of change that leads you into a new life. You may fail, look utterly stupid, get hurt and hurt others in this process. You may lose everything – your job, friends and family. You may feel illogically guilty, scared, and/or alone.

Fear can lock us into a corner or surge us into action. Unreal, unfounded, fear creates phobia and unhealthy habits. Real, healthy, factual fear, however, helps us plan in advance to avoid pitfalls and hardship that may slow us down. Use fear to your advantage.

You may live with uncertainty for a while, but it is all in preparation for a new direction in life.

You may need to confront some demons within yourself or even those within loved ones. The fears that have been holding you back all this while may emerge that much stronger to pull you back once again. External voices and opinions of others might start putting doubts in your heads. These are tests to see how serious and sure you really are about your goals.

The truth is, before having the fun you seek, there’s preparation to be made.

First, you need to spring clean and air out your life. The cleaner your path, the fresher your new beginning, Too many of us are not willing to take the effort to clear out what holds us back. Some fear loosing what we have in storage, not realizing that it is this very baggage that weighs us down both emotionally and physically. We subconsciously block our own paths by raising mental barriers of why it cannot be done. We give in to the noises in our heads and from external parties and doubt ourselves because it is easier then challenging them.

If the idea of change scares you too much, don’t throw it out just yet. Incubate it. Place it on a shelf. File it away. It may illuminate again one day, and you may be that much stronger to take on that new challenge.

Turning points are action points that push us forward. Embracing them means change. It can be both scary and exciting. It rushes the blood of risk-takers and connects them to others. It brings the low risk takers out of their cocoons to act and create.

Healthy, growing and successful individuals have all sorts of people in their lives. They understand that one point of view is but a flat screen. Two adds on a little dimension. Now imagine, 10, 100, 1000 or a million points of views. A view so holistic and whole that you’re filled with the fullest image life can bring.

Friends and perceived enemies give us new perspective. With a broader perspective, we find a more balanced view. With a balanced view, light and clarity sets in, and we start to understand why things are. When we start to understand, we gain the knowledge and wisdom to help ourselves and others succeed.

Money & Power

I wish I could introduce all of you in person to a man who earns over a million a year (I cant recall which currency).

A man with the exuberance, energy and passion of a 20 year old, the pure angelic childlike eyes of a 5 year old, and the wisdom of someone beyond 100. He is timeless, ageless and someone so magical we connected almost instantly. He understood two things exceptionally well .. flow & energy.

He spotted my soul 10 metres away in a crowd and we had a blast sprinting across the ballroom like twin flames ablaze. We were working together as mike runners for two days at a wealth dynamics workshop.

I never would have guessed that by volunteering to help, I would soon learn magic, beauty and perfection. But above all, I learnt the strength of love… unconditional timeless love.

Some see wealth & money as something evil. Here is where I learnt to remember that money is but a tool or weapon. It is only evil if you use it for such. It is evil if you let it make you evil.

Money is so powerful an energized tool, it can bring out the best or the worst in you.

Just before the conversation on Africa that inspired the article ‘A Flavour of Famine’, my globe trotter friend and I chatted about just this topic – money.

Him

“I still think money is the key to everything...

esp when it comes to charity/research.”

Me

“agreed”

“money is a very powerful tool”

”i mean you and me work our entire lives out 5 times over, but will hardly make an impact on anything”

”y not?”

“what i mean as individuals....eg: volunteering your time”

“but in the extreme case of bill gates, he has poured so much money into charities/research .....”

“and that at least gets things moving...”

“so maybe work hard, and let yr money do the work”

“yeah .. i think thats more effective then what NGOs do”

”NGO's happen because of contributions..”

“NGOs depend on ppl like Bill Gates”

“so, do u plan to be rich?”

“erm, I want to....but i don't think it will happen as a wage-earner”

“any other means then?”

“business/lottery, unknown dead relative”

“hahaha ... hunting for a dying millionaire uncle?“

“yeah so far its been futile”

“heir to a china estate”

“dont you wnat money too?”

“of course”

“loads of it”

“so much i don't knw what to do with”

“ok....”

“but for what main reason...love/power/security or freedom?”

“u mean purpose of money?”

“i want money to spread love”

“and peace”

“the world disturbs me”

“i want to change it”

“apparently it is said that humans' motivation for money falls into that 4 basic categories”

“well, love i guess”

“love means wanting people to like you”

“hardly”

“i'm nvr bothered with ppl liking me”

“i just get angry and frustrated when i see ppl suffer”

“its so unnecessary”

“not me...i get angry when animals suffer”

“yes ... thats even worse!!”

“animals r so innocent!!”

“ok well basically the theory is that most people would say either Freedom or Security.....but the theory of unconscious motivation seems to suggest that most people want money for love or power”

“love n power”

“mks sense”

“yup..apparently there's a test to determine that....and most people fall into love and power when they would say otherwise”

“to get love or power?”

“yup...”

“meaning to say those that say they want money for security or freedom, r more likely to fall into the other 2 categories”

“well, where do i lie? .. if its to get away from anger and frustration?”

“dont know..what is the 1st thing you'd do when you have lots of money”

“and do not sugar coat it and say 'give a chuck to cancer research’.”

“depends on what crops up which gets me angry”

“becos we all know money is mostly for selfish purposes”

“yes .. “

“i'm glad i found someone who agrees”

“i got a huge badgering when i said that”

“badger them back..throw them a raccoon”

“hahaha”

“and where am i gonna find a raccoon?”

“a stuffed one”

“i'm glad you're not gonna hurl some poor animal”

“yup that's me”

“anyways ... to answer yr q”

“lets say if i see that bunch of stick thin african kids”

“i might just build an estate there”

“fund a kids shelter”

“teach them how to survive”

“get them to teach others”

“ok ok...so maybe you are one of the rare ones who takes care of other before themselves”

“well, i guess i'm still taking care of myself .. i dun wanna feel angry”

”you;re telling me the moment you have this bunch of money in yr account, you're doing the africa thing?”

“i hv a feeling thats the 1st thing i'll do”

A Flavour of Famine

The moment I laid eyes on the tiny bone thin body with the vulture hovering at back*, my blood froze & tears started streaming uncontrollably down my face. I was 14 of age.

That week, I suddenly cried for no apparent reason. My parents figured there was something deeply wrong with me.

For quite a while, the mere word ‘Africa’ was like a piercing cold blade through my heart.

How could such a thing exist?

We have the technology and know how to send people to the moon, but we can allow a child to starve to death. How can that be??

How many days, weeks, months(!) has this baby girl gone without food? How can I take another bite knowing someone else needed it so much more??

Imagine the amount of energy spent on deceit and lies every day around the world.

Now, imagine re-directing that same energy to feeding the starving kids of Africa.

I was surprised when a friend I admired started by saying it was all too hopeless. He is a globe trotter and a soon-to-be-pilot. Very well read and I respected both his knowledge, wisdom and powers of deduction.

His advise,

“I don't know...it is a good cause...but there're just too many problems with africa..”

“other than famine, malaria, aids...civil war”

“the reason why people or so poor in africa is mainly cos their governments are corrupt”

“and if you are going to change anything you should finance a coup to remove the head of state...”

My response,

“so we need good health care”

“we need to bring down the head”

“what else?”

“Stop arms trafficking”

“it's just too much, and all of these contribute to one big prob...”

“even if you try to help out one small group of starving kids, more are being killed in tribal strive/so forth”

“you're suggesting dont start?”

“sounds too hopeless i guess”

“no it is your choice to do what you feel is best”

“u mean no one has started??”

“well, Everyone tries.....and of course everyone is doing something...”

“but?”

“but i'm just saying that the african situation is qutie hopeless...i dunno”

“well .. isn't hopeless just in the mind?”

“cant we break it down and tackle it one by one”

”yeah you're right on that..”

And here’s where the magic unfolds =) . His knowledge sharing starts flowing and I gain more strength from him once again.

“well, oprah is already starting some elite school for africans i read somewhere, so maybe these kids can effect some change.”

”so she has that part taken care of “

“one down”

“whats nxt?”

”bill gates is the largest donor to AIDS research so that's next”

”and Trina WOng will be tackling famine sometime in the near future..”

“hahahah .. u got that right boy!

“can u fly me there?”

“maybe fly some food cargos for me?“

“i wanna teach them to grow their own food .. and cook”

“i loooove cooking!”

”yeah but before you teach them, u better find a way to water yr crops...with all the drought going on...”

”maybe you could fund genetically modified food research”

”yeah ... i hv to think of the most elaborate water irrigation system ever”

“and think of something more advanced then hydroponic foods”

* Source: The death of Kevin Carter and one indelible image

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2006/08/the_death_of_ke.html