| We live in a world which can best be described as | | | | worth there can be no spiritual responsibility. |
| a dystopia. The nation states of the world have | | | | Lacking an individual system of spiritual |
| devolved to an extent that social mobility in many | | | | responsibility leads mankind to a state of |
| regions of the planet is non-existent. The disparity | | | | existence in which there is no accountability for |
| between the "haves" and "have nots" grows | | | | negative actions, thoughts or energies. |
| globally at a steady and insidious pace. | | | | This lack of spiritual self leaves a void in the |
| Veils of ignorance are fostered and encouraged | | | | existence of humanity, a void which soon |
| by governments seeking control of the masses | | | | becomes filled with the basal instincts of the |
| by means of instilled complacency. | | | | human animal, instincts of violence and prejudice, |
| Pseudo-democratic regimes offer a higher | | | | territorialism and hatred. |
| standard of living only to those willing to sacrifice | | | | This scenario leads inevitably to many of the |
| a self informed world view. | | | | events being played out in the headlines we read |
| Such a world is always just one small step away | | | | today. We see not just an increase in violent |
| from complete anarchy. At any given moment | | | | crimes, but an ever increasing level of brutality |
| circumstances may be set into motion which spiral | | | | and disregard for human life. We see the trends |
| humanity uncontrollably towards complete chaos. | | | | toward war and domination. We begin to see a |
| Recent events involving the after effects of | | | | spiral of devastation looming on the horizon. No |
| hurricane Katrina in the United States best | | | | institution, religion or government has the power |
| illustrate the nature of the human psyche at this | | | | to reverse these trends towards cataclysm. If |
| point in time. | | | | the collective mind seeks chaos then chaos will |
| Life for many of us defies all meaning. We | | | | rule. |
| struggle numbly from day to insubstantial day. | | | | Only the acknowledgement of our individual |
| Stressful experiences are mounted upon more | | | | spirituality has the power to alter the momentum |
| even stressful experiences. We look sometimes | | | | of our existence. Acknowledgement of our |
| at the lives that we endure and wonder if there | | | | spiritual worth leads to accepting responsibility for |
| must be a better way. True happiness seems | | | | our roles as agents of change. |
| always to be something relegated to others more | | | | There is hope. The growing interest in all matters |
| fortunate than us, constantly out of reach or | | | | of spirituality reflects an instinctive need to bring |
| beyond our power to realize. | | | | equilibrium to a world overburdened with |
| Governments offer little more than further | | | | negativity.Whether this interest is in Buddhism, |
| tension to what we often perceive as lives on the | | | | Meditation, Reiki, Christianity or any other form of |
| brink of complete disintegration. Religious leaders | | | | spiritual awareness, it matters only that the |
| and institutions mostly serve to further the | | | | individual finds a unique sense of spiritual self. |
| confusion and anxiety which we feel about our | | | | Only when the number of spiritually enlightened |
| lives. | | | | individuals has grown to a sufficient number will |
| Hope, more and more often, seems to be a | | | | the current global trends towards hostility cease. |
| fruitless endeavor, a waste of what little | | | | Only when the individual takes steps to |
| emotional energy we have left at the end of the | | | | understand the importance of the spiritual self can |
| day. We retreat back into the cold, grey | | | | spiritual death be reversed. |
| numbness of our minds and try as much as | | | | There is hope for you to find your spiritual |
| possible to forget any of the apparent myths we | | | | identity. All you need to do is accept the need for |
| have heard of this thing called joy. | | | | it and it will be found. You will be drawn |
| It is my belief that the human race is suffering | | | | instinctively, as many others have been, to seek |
| from a spiritual death. In fact most of the people | | | | information and guidance. It is most important |
| on this planet are spiritually dead. Without a sense | | | | that you select only a spiritual path that fits you |
| of spiritual self, the human experience is reduced | | | | personally; you will know when you have found it. |
| in meaning to nothing more than that of carbon | | | | Do not be swayed by the beliefs of others. |
| based life form. | | | | Develop your own beliefs. Above all, take personal |
| I share the view that the spiritual death of the | | | | responsibility for your spirituality and create |
| population, if left unchecked, will result in | | | | positive change. |
| catastrophe. Without a personal sense of spiritual | | | | |