| When I was living in Korea studying Hapkido in 1996 | | | | "When we see clearly, the great teachings are the |
| and 1997, the ethnic-religious riot in Indonesia between | | | | same." |
| the Muslims and Christians reminded me of Chief | | | | Personally, I consider myself spiritual and not religious. I |
| Joseph of the Nez Perce, who said, "We do not want | | | | have chosen to follow the path of the warrior, placing |
| churches because they will teach us to quarrel about | | | | emphasis on the interconnectedness of mind, body, |
| God, as the Catholics and Protestants do. We do not | | | | and spirit. My spiritual teachings have come from a |
| want that. We may quarrel with men sometimes about | | | | multitude of sources, and I continue to learn and apply |
| things on this earth. But we never quarrel about God. | | | | spiritual lessons into my daily living. The spiritual path, like |
| We do not want that." I still think of these words as I | | | | the path of the warrior, is lifelong, and mastery is simply |
| see the religious based fighting going on throughout the | | | | continuing to stay on the path. Each of us must |
| world. | | | | choose our own course, and we must have tolerance |
| It seems as though mankind has fought and quarreled | | | | for those who travel alternate routes. |
| over who's beliefs about a set doctrine of religious | | | | I would like to encourage everyone to read the next |
| teachings are actually the "truth" for as long as these | | | | few passages with an open mind. Do not dwell on |
| doctrines have existed. It's been a turf war over God if | | | | who said the words, but think of the meaning behind |
| you will. The irony of this is that the fighting, whether | | | | them. Envision a community, a country, better yet, our |
| verbal or physical, goes against the very teachings that | | | | world with everyone following these simple guidelines. |
| these combatants profess to follow. | | | | Euphoric? Yes, but like John Lennon and Martin Luther |
| I wonder if the Muslims that were destroying things in | | | | King, I can dream. |
| the riot have read the Hadith, the traditional accounts | | | | From Lao-tzu's Tao Te Ching we learn that simplicity, |
| of Muhammad's sayings and actions. Muhammad | | | | patience, and compassion are our three greatest |
| stated, "I am the closest of all people to Jesus, son of | | | | treasures, and that peace should be our highest value. |
| Mary, in this world and the Hereafter; for all prophets | | | | We learn that happiness comes from doing for others |
| are brothers, with different mothers but one religion." | | | | and wealth comes from giving to others. And finally, |
| While talking to one of the Jewish faith, Muhammad | | | | "Love the world as your self; then you can care for all |
| also praised Moses. What do you think Muhammad | | | | things." |
| would think of these recent riots? This hatred and | | | | From the Dhammapada, an anthology of statements |
| violence would disgust the Prophet who once said, | | | | of Buddha's teachings, we are reminded of similar |
| "The most odious of men to God is the one who is | | | | principles, "Set your heart on doing good. Do it over |
| most quarrelsome." | | | | and over again, and you will be filled with joy." Buddha |
| Many teachings have been reworked in order that | | | | also taught that the master harms no living thing, and |
| followers worship certain figures rather than follow the | | | | again we hear a similar theme, "See yourself in others. |
| guidelines taught by the great visionaries. It is much | | | | Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?" |
| easier to worship Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, and so | | | | Again from the Hadith, we hear Muhammad's words, |
| forth than it is to live by the guidelines they established. | | | | "There is a reward for your treatment of every living |
| I do not wish to single out one religion, for the trouble is | | | | thing." Muhammad also encouraged people to give |
| that many religions insist upon pointing out the other's | | | | ungrudgingly and to not withhold. Muhammad also |
| differences, calling them faults, without acknowledging | | | | taught, "None of you is a believer until you like for |
| their own. Appallingly, members of one faith often | | | | others what you like for yourself." |
| engage in violent and destructive actions toward | | | | Finally, one of the most known sayings of Jesus, who |
| others solely because of a difference in faith or | | | | offered us such a benevolent code of morals. Known |
| opinion. It's like a friend of mine says, "It's not God I | | | | as the "Golden Rule," it echoes the earlier writings of |
| have a problem with, it's all His fan clubs." | | | | Lao-tzu and Buddha, just as Muhammad's words later |
| Rather than squabble over differences, we should all | | | | do. Such a simple rule on paper, so why don't we |
| look at wise teachings from any source and use them | | | | follow it? "Do to others as you would have them do to |
| to better ourselves. I have to agree with the | | | | you. |
| eighteenth-century Japanese Zen poet Ryokan, | | | | |