The same universal truths are at the core of all religions. 

We all seek essentially the same things; a meaningful life, enlightenment, truth, justice, equity, happiness, family, meaningful work, good health, food, clothing and shelter.   What spirit 0f negation aflicts our religious, political and business leaders that such common goals seem impossible to achieve? 

Any chance of humanity getting it’s act together for some harmony, mutual understanding and compassion in the forseable future before our highest aspirations are crushed in disillusionment?

I think the anwer is within our own hearts?  When we all seek for the light of the universal love and wisdom within our own hearts, perhaps there is a chance we will see the same things reflected in the hearts of our fellow human and creature kind. 

 What is a spiritual life?  Is it about positive affirmations, prayer, meditation, reading uplifting spiritual books, worrying about karmic issues?  Or is it about what we do rather than what we say? 

I have seen many people who stand on podiums and proclaim their faith or spirituality yet whose actions demonstrate a different story in their private lives. 

One area of significance is manifesting love in our lives via compassion for all life, humans and creatures.  Personally I choose to show my caring and love of others by not killing and eating them - animals or people!  Why are people shocked at the thought of cannibalism but not at all when animals are killed and eaten?

It is my belief that animals also have souls and they also reincarnate as part of their evolutionary journey.  Animals may be younger, less developed souls but as such they need our love, caring and nurturing, not to treated as a commodity that is used, abused and traded.   Think of the accumulated burden of soul pain they must carry as a result of ages of such treatment.

I am so pleased that times are changing and more and more people are becoming enlightened and demonstrating compassion by living the vegetarian life.  Even so I have been surprised when attending meetings or workshops with apparently spiritual people to find that vegetarians were a small minority and the catering was centered around meat dishes.  We must keep the carnivores happy!  To you vegetarians out there, how often have you been to a function where the vegetarian food is quickly scoffed by the carnivores with no thought to the fact that we won’t eat the steak sandwiches? 

As a vegetarian myself I have to confess to being rather disappointed in the demonstrated lack of compassion.  If you ever visit me be warned that I do not cater for carnivores!

One last thought on vegetarianism.  There are two kinds of motivation for choosing it.  Some people say “It is good for my health to have a vegetarian diet.”  This is true.  There are other people who say, “It is good for the health of the creatures that I do not eat them.”  This is also true, it is also showing concern for the wellbeing of others and not just oneself.

I don’t remember who the wise person was that said, “The more we know the more we realise how much we don’t know,” but in my experience that is a great truth.

Like many people I have spent much of my life seeking answers.  I sometimes think I am like a child always asking why and never being fully satisfied with the answer.  It seems that every answer generates further questions leading me on in my search for understanding, growth and meaning in life.  With the universe being infinite I am sure that I shall never know absolutely everything, which is a good thing as an existence without further challenges might actually become boring.  Nope, infinite universe and infinite opportunities sounds pretty good to me.

Of course the essential part of finding answers is asking questions.  If we were merely given all answers without being able to formulate the questions, would the answers have any real meaning to us?  I think not.  In fact I believe that we only receive particular answers when we are able to realise and pose the question we wish to ask.

Maybe the universe is a bit like a computer in that you only get the answer to the question you have entered in the search box?  Could it be that the questions we create from within ourselves are actually saying, “This is where I am at and this is my need at this time?”   So we receive answers relevant to our needs and where we are at on our path.

What a kind and caring universe it is that we live in.  Or to put it another way “God is good.” We are provided the opportunity to gain understanding, soul growth and enlightenment at the pace appropriate to each of us.

I have come to appreciate things being given at the right pace seeing as my brain space is not yet able to hold all the answers to everything – I mean where would I put it all - time for a tidy up I think.