Last Friday night as I was leaving my yoga class, I said to my friend, "Have a good weekend and a Happy Easter!" Then I quickly added, "If you celebrate it, that is" so as not to offend. In reflecting on this brief exchange, I realized that the Easter message is a universal message that can inspire all of us, Christians and non-Christians alike.
Whether you fully believe in all of the details of the Resurrection story, I think we can all relate to the symbolism and themes surrounding the Easter story: hope, joy, new life, rising from the ashes. In many ways, Jesus' way of being mirrored Buddhist principles. Jesus ultimately accepted his suffering as a necessary part of life, despite a brief spell of wishing it were otherwise in the Garden of Gethsemane. For without suffering, could we even have a resurrection story?
Suffering is an integral part of the Easter story, and suffering is an integral part of each of our stories. Sometimes when we're in the midst of our suffering, we feel alone and abandoned, as Jesus did in the garden, thinking we're the only one who is suffering. Inwardly or outwardly, we may be screaming, "Why did this have to happen to me or my loved one?" or "Why did God do this to me!" When we begin to realize that we are not alone in our suffering, that's when peace will settle in. No one is spared from suffering, not even Jesus. One time I remember reading a chain email where everyone had put their heavy crosses, or burdens, in the center of an empty room and people entering the room were asked if they wanted to take up someone else's cross. No one did. This story reminds us that as difficult as our suffering might be, there is always someone else who is bearing an equally heavy, if not heavier, burden than ours.
But the primary message that the Resurrection story brings is one of hope. As painful as our suffering may seem, "a new day will dawn for those who stay long." (Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven) In my earlier life I experienced several major tragedies but, for some reason, I emerged to be a woman who is filled with hope and positivity about life. Where did this come from? I honestly don't know but I believe the concept of grace that M. Scott Peck describes in the last chapter of The Road Less Traveled played a part. Perhaps it is my spirituality that saved me, my strong belief that there is a higher meaning and purpose to this life. I feel that my purpose, in turn, is to inspire hope and joy in the lives of others.
Many people are turned off by religion these days...about the bureaucracy, hypocrisy and rules. Jesus was none of that. He was a truly enlightened being whose primary message was that of love...love of self and love of neighbor. How can anyone argue with that? I used to think that I had to go to a church to connect with Him, but now I know I can experience Him anywhere and everywhere because God is within each of us. How can you find a way to connect to the god within your soul? If you don't like religious institutions, then perhaps meditation, yoga or a walk in nature will be your route.
As you can see, I have integrated ideas from Christianity, Buddhism, a psychiatrist and, yes, even Led Zeppelin. Some people may think this is sacrilegious. I do not. I think the problem with religion is that often its followers become tribal, rigid and defensive. How can the light get in? Yet, true growth in spirituality comes when we realize that we are more the same than we are different and that there are many paths to enlightenment.
Whether you fully believe in all of the details of the Resurrection story, I think we can all relate to the symbolism and themes surrounding the Easter story: hope, joy, new life, rising from the ashes. In many ways, Jesus' way of being mirrored Buddhist principles. Jesus ultimately accepted his suffering as a necessary part of life, despite a brief spell of wishing it were otherwise in the Garden of Gethsemane. For without suffering, could we even have a resurrection story?
Suffering is an integral part of the Easter story, and suffering is an integral part of each of our stories. Sometimes when we're in the midst of our suffering, we feel alone and abandoned, as Jesus did in the garden, thinking we're the only one who is suffering. Inwardly or outwardly, we may be screaming, "Why did this have to happen to me or my loved one?" or "Why did God do this to me!" When we begin to realize that we are not alone in our suffering, that's when peace will settle in. No one is spared from suffering, not even Jesus. One time I remember reading a chain email where everyone had put their heavy crosses, or burdens, in the center of an empty room and people entering the room were asked if they wanted to take up someone else's cross. No one did. This story reminds us that as difficult as our suffering might be, there is always someone else who is bearing an equally heavy, if not heavier, burden than ours.
But the primary message that the Resurrection story brings is one of hope. As painful as our suffering may seem, "a new day will dawn for those who stay long." (Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven) In my earlier life I experienced several major tragedies but, for some reason, I emerged to be a woman who is filled with hope and positivity about life. Where did this come from? I honestly don't know but I believe the concept of grace that M. Scott Peck describes in the last chapter of The Road Less Traveled played a part. Perhaps it is my spirituality that saved me, my strong belief that there is a higher meaning and purpose to this life. I feel that my purpose, in turn, is to inspire hope and joy in the lives of others.Many people are turned off by religion these days...about the bureaucracy, hypocrisy and rules. Jesus was none of that. He was a truly enlightened being whose primary message was that of love...love of self and love of neighbor. How can anyone argue with that? I used to think that I had to go to a church to connect with Him, but now I know I can experience Him anywhere and everywhere because God is within each of us. How can you find a way to connect to the god within your soul? If you don't like religious institutions, then perhaps meditation, yoga or a walk in nature will be your route.
As you can see, I have integrated ideas from Christianity, Buddhism, a psychiatrist and, yes, even Led Zeppelin. Some people may think this is sacrilegious. I do not. I think the problem with religion is that often its followers become tribal, rigid and defensive. How can the light get in? Yet, true growth in spirituality comes when we realize that we are more the same than we are different and that there are many paths to enlightenment.
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