Perversion of religion

Over the centuries, religious scholars have attempted to interpret and translate the ancient wisdoms from the various avatars, prophets etc. Translations upon translations have been done. Interpretations upon interpretations have also been done. And today we have four major religion in the world. And within a single religion we have numerous different views and thus differing sects. Within sects themselves we have differing branches. And each branch while they may share general principles may also have their own opinion about what can or cannot be done. Some of them are so opinionated in some instances to the extremes. E.g. hardcore Lutherans think all other christian sects go to Hell.


I personally believe that the original teachings from the mouth of the avatars or prophets are essentially the same. They have, in my humble opinion, intended to bring forth universal truths to us all. Think of it this way:


The people at various parts of the world have different context (in this aspect, soul development stage). The Avatars and Prophets, in their attempt to bring forth their "teachings" tells it in parables such that it can be received by the people at the particular part of the world where they are at. Telling it in other ways may have resulted in the people/civilization there not being able to receive the teachings. It would have blown over their heads with their eyes going "blink blink". Telling it as they did resulted in the people there receiving part of the teachings as much as their cups could receive. And in my humble opinion, if the people there had practiced the way the Avatars/Prophets said they should (or shown), it would all ultimately lead to the same source.


Lets take Buddhism for example: The teachings was revealed the first time to the eventual practitioners of what would eventually become Theravada Buddhism. If the practitioners practice according to what they were originally told, it should eventually lead them to what would eventually be known as the Mahayana path. Similarly, as they continue to practice, it eventually leads to what would become known as the Vajrayana path. Similarly for Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, etc. I believe the original intent was that as people grow from their differing start point, it would ultimately lead from separate paths due to differing starting context to eventually the same path.


However, human beings will be human beings. What was taught was taught verbally. Some people would attempt to write down what was taught. But it may not have happened immediately. It could have happened few days later or years later. And we know what happens when that happens. Meanings get lost or misinterpreted.


Lets not forget, power struggles between followers or individuals. Not to mention political mileage and personal gain. I'll give an example that I hope people will not take it in the wrong light. A certain monotheism religion claims their God is the only God of all beings. However, if you trace back in history, the name of their God, was actually, at that point of time, the Moon God! And the worshippers of this Moon God was this religion's founder's arch-enemies! But the prophet of this religion, after winning the war, wisely included his enemies into the fold for obvious political reasons. However, upon the prophet's death, the "enemies", whom he had shown compassion to, assassinated, plotted and ultimately removed his lineage and eventually established their God's name as The God. The "enemies" then supposedly systematically destroyed all references to the prophet's original intent that is not aligned to their purpose. All who opposed were killed. So none dared to mention it not even in private. Since that day, up until today, the symbol represented by this religion is that of the Moon God. Strange but it does begs the question, "what's religion?" Does religion really represent the Avatar/Prophet's real intent? Hard question to answer as there is no way of verifying it but I know my own answer but that's just my opinion and others are free to disagree. We can agree to disagree and part as gentlemen.


Lets not forget too, how Protestantism diverged from catholicism? While the protestant reformation movement was gaining momentum at various parts of mainland europe for various political reasons united by a common goal, Britain's King Henry VIII's intention of joining the movement was far from nobel. It was around this time that he wanted to make Anne Boleyn his 2nd queen with intention of eventually removing Catherine and thus having only one queen. This is something Catholicism with its rigid rules would have frowned upon. Hence his decision was personal rather than for any reform movement. He was a man ahead of his time in intelligence and thus he smartly latched onto the movement for his personal gain.


For Buddhism, the story was even more amazing. It is a known fact that the Syakyamoni Buddha, before passing on, very clearly said that no one is to pray to him as he is NOT God. Well... we all know what happened right after that. Buddhism is today quite an established major religion with monks enjoying special treatment just because of the robe they adorn. The followers pray to the Lord Buddha when in fact they should be following his foot steps. The clasping of their palm together in "prayer" is actually meant to be a mudra representing respect for a great teacher and readiness to receive the teachings. And that mudra has energy significance too.


Such is the perversion of religion that the original intent is lost.


An example of how misinterpretations happen also is as follows:- In Taiwan, one reality talk show had 2 groups of about 5 celebrities each try to convey a message. What happens is that Person A reads what is on a piece of paper and then mimes to Person B while the rest of the team cannot see the mime. Person B then mimes to Person C without the rest of the team seeing the mime. After that, Person C mimes to Person D, and eventually Person D mimes to Person E and Person E is supposed to figure out what was on the paper that Person A read. It was quite hilarious to note that "Mermaid" became "Sexy seductress sexily sitting on the floor, pulling her skirt up and caressing her legs with the intention to seduce a man".


While this example was hilarious, if you take this parallel and look at what could have happen with religion over the centuries, it's not rocket science to figure out that shit happens quite easily in such a situation. Talk about Lost in Translation.


Buddhist and Taoist today do not believe in the existence of a soul but believe in ghost and re-incarnation. Monotheist religions on the other hand believe in us having souls but does not believe in re-incarnation. To the west, paganism is the worship of idols when actually the statues are mere representations just like the picture of Christ is a representation. Obviously shit really did happen over the centuries.


What we all really need to do is re-look at our faith. Are we blind followers? Are we fanatics? How can one stream be right when that makes all other streams wrong (and their prophets wrong too)? After thousands of years, we would have expected that we should have come to the point when we can easily recognize and discern what is truth and what is dogma? If religions insist that it is a law to do something or if you don't you go to Hell, that implies the God you've been praying to is less than perfect. But isn't God supposed to be perfect and all compassionate, all loving and all forgiving? Why does HE then need you to obey HIM?


In my humble opinion, the true path is much simpler than what we are led to believe by the powers-that-be in religion. The Avatars and Prophets have laid down the path for us and they themselves have lived as role models. They have even left many hints for us to discover our true nature. Just don't let dogma veil our eyes. Well... of course if you intend to fast track it, then there will probably be special practices that you need to complete that would differ greatly from the general path that the Avatars/Prophets laid down. But even these have inner teachings and inner/esoteric schools to help the spiritual aspirant.


In fact, the Avatars and Prophets aren't the only ones. Many teachers of our time now are also great beings who have attempted to bring it out in very layman terms for us. All it takes is for us to open our eyes and ask to be taught. "Ask and you shall receive"... how true.


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