Should You Design Your Own Religion?

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Gangaji
Satsang Foundation
Boulder, Colorado

Thank God, what is truly sacred is free of all our definitions, conceptualizations, and limitations. When a religion and its accompanying rituals overflow with the mysterious Presence, wonder, insight, and unspeakable realization are served. When it is lifeless, flat, devoid of essence, it becomes a hindrance to understanding the mystery of God.

Our world story would never have benefited from the great teachers and their messages had not traditions developed to support and spread the word. However, it's just as important to remember that most of the great spiritual teachers rebelled against the traditions of their time. Both Jesus and Buddha were considered anti-traditionalists, outlaws even. And the realization of both Christ and Buddha is beyond what any ritual can capture.

To live freely, one must be aware of what can never be captured. Be aware of what is eternally free of both religion and nonreligion. Free of cynicism, free of ritual. Free also to be found anywhere, anytime. One must recognize awareness itself as that which is free. Then rituals may be celebrated or forsaken and nothing is either lost or gained.

All that really matters is to tell the truth. And this telling reveals truth at deeper and deeper levels of understanding. If this be ritual, it is a living, 24-hour ritual -- the ritual of Life which includes all.

The Reverend Rodger Broadley
Rector, Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany (Episcopalian)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Whether we like it or not, mixing traditions is happening on a large scale. There are several religious Jews in our congregation who like the work we're doing with AIDS and the homeless. One of them said he doesn't know how to tell his parents he's going to an Episcopal church. Most of the Jews I know would rather do anything, go off to an ashram or whatever, than become a Christian.

The problem with inventing one's own practice, though, is that ritual is meant to connect us to other people who are doing the same thing. Therefore, the desire to create meaningful ritual unconnected to any tradition is problematic. People want their personal spiritual lives to be affirmed and they see the traditional church as denying personal experience, so they go their own way. But doing it together does strengthen the spiritual journey.

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