20 Questions For Every Spiritual Seeker

These questions are in response to a blog post on Brave New Traveler. They were asked to various spiritual leaders in the documentary film One. I wish I had answered these questions 10 years ago, although I have the feeling that they would be pretty similar to now. I don’t think my beliefs have changed so much as they have just become refined. I consider myself to be on a spiritual journey currently, so I am curious to see how my answers will have changed after this journey is over.

1. Why is there poverty and suffering in the world?

When I consider the causes of poverty and suffering my initial thoughts are greed, fear, and hatred. Hatred and greed come out of fear and insecurity. This fear seems to originate from the feeling that other people will take away the things we need to survive, such as jobs, food, and homes. 
Our bodies create the illusion that we are separate, and our minds support and even amplify this belief by feeding us negative thoughts. This is the source of the fear that I believe ultimately leads to suffering. 

2. What is the relationship between science and religion?
I think the philosophical part of religion asks the question Why? and science asks the question How? They are 2 entirely different questions, thus there is no reason for them to be mutually exclusive (it’s the part of religion that serves to make certain people “right” and everyone else “wrong” that creates all the problems). It is important to ask both of these questions. The religious people who think everything was created as-is lack appreciation for the incredible complexity that is life, and the scientists who think life is completely explainable through scientific study are missing (or ignoring) the mystery that is at the source of all life.

3. Why are so many people depressed?

The reason for depression is the same as the cause of suffering and poverty. The mind makes us believe that we are all separate, which leads to feelings of in adequacy and despair. We all need to wake up from the dream (or nightmare) that our minds have lulled us into.
4. What are we all so afraid of?
 
Off the top of my head- pain, hunger, loneliness, death

5. When is war justifiable?

Anything can be justified because justification happens in the mind. If your actions come from a place of pure love and wisdom, there is no need to justify them. My guess is that these actions will not involve war. 

6. How would God want us to respond to aggression and terrorism?

God has given clear instructions through Jesus, “turn the other cheek”, and Ghandi, “be the change”. We cannot change anything but our own state of consciousness. Once you become conscious, then you will discover the peace within that will change the world.

7. How does one obtain true peace?

It starts with paying attention to our thoughts. We begin to become aware of the patterns of our minds, and how those patterns are harming us. Once you learn to separate yourself from the mind, then you start to feel the freedom and peace that comes from living in the moment. For me, this is a constant daily process. 

8. What does it mean to live in the present moment?

Living in the moment means accepting and enjoying whatever is happening now, and not worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. Happiness exists in the present moment. Nothing that you do or change about your physical world can make you happy. You cannot be happy tomorrow. You cannot change what happened yesterday. But right now you can realize that this is the only moment that exists, and therefore you must live fully, now.

9. What is our greatest distraction?

The mind and its incessant stream of BS. 

10. Is current religion serving its purpose?

Religion teaches that God and people are separate, and therefore inhibits the realization that God and people, as well as everything else in existence are One. 
I don’t know what people consider the purpose of religion. I suppose some would say it is to save souls so that people will get into heaven. For me this would mean teaching everyone to act with love and peace, but for the church it seems to be teaching people to say that they accept Jesus as their saviour. But these are just words, which are meaningless. So far it seems that religion misses the point. 

11. What happens to you after you die?

I’ve always felt like the soul continues on in another form. After all, energy is neither created nor destroyed. That form may be another human or other living thing, or perhaps another form of energy. 

12. Describe heaven and how to get there.

Heaven is happiness. It is achieved by living in the present moment and realizing that you are one with the universe. 

13. What is the meaning of life?
I believe we are all supposed to find something we love to do, and do it with enthusiasm. First, we must strip away the false beliefs that have been taught to us, such as the need for money, power or recognition, and discover where our passion lies. 
I haven’t figured out what my passion is yet, but I’m really enjoying traveling through Africa, so I guess that’s all that matters.

14. Describe God.

I actually don’t like to use the term God, although I used it in this blog for ease of understanding and writing. The reason for this is that most people’s idea of God is basically a glorified Santa Claus. I mean, really?!
I like to refer to it as the Universe. It is the collective energy of everything that exists. We are all a part of God, and therefore we are a part of everything, and everything is a part of us.

15. What is the greatest quality humans possess?

Consciousness and awareness. With these qualities we can manifest great things through our actions. 

16. What is it that prevents people from living to their full potential?

The belief that we are all separate leads to feelings of fear, envy, and desire. These are mental blocks that prevent the flow of energy through our bodies, and keep us from seeing the truth and feeling the connection that exists between everything.

17. Nonverbally, by motion or gesture only, act out what you believe to be the current condition of the world.


18. What is your one wish for the world?

Wake up!

19. What is wisdom and how do we gain it?

Wisdom is the pure knowing that comes from our connection with God.

20. Are we all one?
Absolutely.