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The Trouble with Religion 

Ibrahim ansari

These are strange times for those of us who are drawn to the spiritual element. Probably somewhere along the line we tasted the divine; and since that moment its splendor and radiance always outshines all the other distractions. We decided to do everything in our power for just another sip. 

That is when we discover that things get complicated when people get involved. Power- whether it is knowledge, money, fame or position- corrupts. Always, unless checked by a creditable hierarchy whose job it is to maintain the purity and quality of the message. Otherwise it seems inevitable for an infection in a spiritual endeavor to arise and inflame something so seemingly innocent. If distortion is so predictable, what is the cure? 

The process of re-purifying a spiritual core belief requires change: an anathema to most of us. Change requires a set of tools most of us are not familiar with or have not learned to use properly. Like any tool, these get better with practice. They are: 

Thinking: observing and reflecting on possible outcomes, intentions, purposes, strategies and options, 

Effort: determining and planning a course of action to help maintain focus and commitment over time, 

Time: estimating how much time is realistically required, 

Sense of humor: If you can't laugh about it, what's the point? Or, in other words, keeping a sense of lightness and positivity when things get difficult or contrary. 

Regarding thinking: It often helps to articulate what you have learned from your observations and experiences so far. This can be done in any form, such as writing, painting, drawing, or extreme sports. Thinking requires you to sometimes apply the empirical method: what worked and why? What did not work and why? Of course this is all intellectual and uses the brain to deduce certain patterns. In Sufism we talk a great deal about listening to the heart. Perhaps it is like thinking with the brain, only one's heart is the calculator/intuitor/revealer. Being able to hear the heart's responses also requires practice and effort. We have spent much of our life discounting the heart's requests and prompts. This might be the right time to regain that ability. 

Regarding effort: This push towards a new beginning is hard for a number of reasons. One is that there is no better way to value the product of your hard work then you achieve your goal. We value something when it has taken a lot of work to achieve it. Another is that you are rewiring your brain. Neural pathways don't just change because you want them to. A process using muscles and intentions in unfamiliar ways require practice over time. As the new pathways emerge the practice becomes easier and eventually you have acquired a new 'habit'. Effort also informs the universe that you want to tread a new road. The universe may hear you and accomodate your goal with opportunities not accessible or available without effort. 

Times itself is an odd substance. It is hard to wrap one's head around something so intangible yet impactful. But as humans we can learn to become masters of time

Salaam Alaykum, murids, seekers, curious and interested listeners,

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