Ministers Message

May 2008

Every faith tradition, whether spiritual or religious, needs to convey the essence of what they teach in a way that is clear, concise and easy to remember without being simplistic. This is no easy task. Traditional religious creeds tend to be lengthy and dogmatic. They are designed to minimize or eliminate critical thinking and maximize obedience.

On the other hand, popular culture invites us to understand our increasingly complex world via the sound bite which purports to do our thinking for us. Depth and reflection are unnecessary, just let someone else tell us what to think, it’s easier that way. Politicians love the sound bite and they are terrified by the prospect of a populace that is willing to think for itself.

Striking a balance between dogma and sound bite is the challenge. In Unity we have five basic principles which serve that purpose admirably. However, Unity is not alone in the ability to summarize it’s teachings in a way that invites discussion and reflection while providing a firm foundation to stand upon.

Around the year 533 BCE, a Nepalese prince named Siddhartha Gautama embarked on a spiritual quest for peace and enlightenment. We know him today as the Buddha which means enlightened one. The Buddha’s teachings have been written down by his followers and fill volumes. However, the core truth of his wisdom can be accurately summarized in four short statements known as the Four Noble Truths.

The first Truth is that to live is to suffer because all things in the physical realm are impermanent. The second Truth is that the cause of our suffering is our attachment to that which is, by its very nature, impermanent. The third Truth is that if suffering has a cause, then it is possible transcend it. The fourth Truth is that the way to transcend suffering is by following a spiritual path.

Truth with a capital T is universal and not dependent upon the cultural trappings of the regions wherein they arise. The Four Noble Truths and our Five Unity Principles are examples of that kind of
Truth. During the month of May, we will be taking a look at the Four Noble Truths through the lens of our Unity teachings.

Our goal is to see how these teachings compliment and add to each other. That is the true power of interfaith dialogue. No one group has an exclusive franchise on the Truth and by sharing and exploring, each group becomes stronger. It is how we deepen our understanding and expand our vision so that peace on earth truly begins with each and every one of us.

Blessings,
Revs. Karen and Mark