There are differing ways of looking at the multifaceted diamond of spiritual wisdom. There are those that believe that we must 'pick a lane' when it comes to following a religious path. If you want, the logic dictates, to maximize the treasure trove of wisdom that your faith has to offer then it's best to devote yourself to the fine print of the that faith. After all, there is so much to learn and most importantly put in to practice. Within Judaism, the team I was born in to, and the work I do as the Executive Director of Alephcanada.ca the home of Jewish Renewal, there is enough in the Five books of the Torah to keep a person busy for a lifetime, then there's kabbalah, Talmud, Hasidism, Maimonidies, the Pirkei Arvot. Well you get the picture. There are also those that believe that only their path is the way to God. But what if your interest lies in diving deep in to that one word, God. If that's the case then why not see the pursuit as having many wells leading to the one river. As part of my training as a Spiritual Director we were asked at Aleph's Jewish Renewal Seminary AOP, or the Aleph Ordination Program, to take a course called Deep Ecumenism. Renewal Founder Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi challenged us with this; "Go out and ask,how do you get it on with God?" I did that. I met with a friend who had been the Moderator of the United Church of Canada. My question for her was one that had bothered me for a long time. I realized that in my ignorance of Christianity I had lacked respect for the power and importance of Jesus. Or as my friends grandmother once said, "Jesus a good man, but the son of God??" The Moderator, Marni, replied. "First of all, His drivers license wouldn't say Jesus Christ. Jesus is the human manifestation of the divine on earth, Christ is the cosmic consciousness, the universal as opposed to the particular of Jesus." This opened a space in me for honouring another path to the same destination. Finding meaning and refining purpose.
So, as I was meditating at last night's Dharma talk at the local Buddhist Centre, focusing on the trait of generosity, thinking about the Mussar teachings on that soul trait in my tradition, I was grateful that we have the gift of cross pollinating. Of inter-being as Thich Hnat Hahn, the Vietnamese Monk said. Renewal Judaism is about opening our hearts and minds to all that the spiritual life has to offer. Deep Ecumenism is part of the course offerings in the ordination program we have. I'm glad that it is. Every choice, be it Humanism, the Abrahamic faiths, Hindu or Buddhist, values compassion and challenges us to love the the stranger. So, happy Solstice, Diwali, Chanukah and Christmas, in keeping with the situation.