We just finished a lovely Easter celebration at my parents' house, with Easter eggs, candy and lots of fun. All of our kids were together, with cousins and aunts and all kinds of craziness. We had a great time. Traditional Christian holidays are always an interesting thing for me. I'm quite pro-Jesus. He had quite a lot of interesting things to say, and I find his teachings inspiring. However, I don't personally believe he was born of a virgin or came back to life. Is it a problem to celebrate this mythology, then? Am I being a hyprocrite? I prefer to think of it this way: every faith, and the mythology of every wisdom tradition, remind us of the essential mystical truths. Whether I'm pondering the resurrection of Jesus, the mindfulness of the Buddha or the rich knowing of Rumi, I'm really pondering the One. I'm connecting with the Divine presence in the form of the laughter of children, the beauty of nature and the love of those around me.
All religions, all this singing,
one song.
The differences are just
illusion and vanity.
The sun’s light looks
a little different on this wall than
it does on that wall,
and a lot different on this other one,
but it’s still one light.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time and space personalities
from a light,
and when we praise,
we’re pouring them back in.
-- Rumi
Labels: Buddha, candy, Divine, Easter, eggs, God, Jesus, Lezli Goodwin, mysticism, poetry, presence, Rumi, truth