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o me, it should be OK to criticize any institution that causes harm to our fellow brothers and sisters — causes harm by disrespect, by force, by terror and bombs. Have we not learned anything from history?

I am sorry to say it, but the last true Muslim was Prophet Muhammad; the last true Christian was Jesus; the last true Buddhist was Buddha and so on. After they died, their closest followers and disciples started interpreting the teachings of their masters, mostly to suit their own personal interests. Even with the noblest intentions, no human being that can totally copy another, for we are all unique.

Johannes was not Jesus; Abu Bakr, Oman, Osman, Ali and so on were not the great Prophets. However sad, it’s only human to do so. All “holy” books have great value and, if understood well, this world would look very different from the big mess people have made of it today.

However, in order to understand the holy messages we have to look at ourselves first. Words in the holy books do not tell us the truth about ourselves; written and even spoken words are dead matter.

They are not facts but indications, like signals, and each individual has to search for the meaning of the words themselves.

Institutions or subinstitutions that become too dogmatic are killing the truth for our daily lives. Rules and laws are not able to control any kind of group, whether it is a small group or a country. Look at reality: the more rules, the more violations.

There exists an inner law, or morality, or ethics, when we get in touch with the very essence of our being, which is deep inside ourselves. All great teachers and prophets have pointed in one direction. Know yourself, don’t stop learning about yourself: to be or not to be.

Most people, 99.9 percent of humanity, are just followers, followers of others people’s beliefs and convictions, followers of materialistic goals, followers of money and power. That is the biggest tragedy of humanity.

I myself will never claim that I have found the truth; I have been studying the most common world religions and Western and Eastern philosophies — not only studying them, but seriously practicing them.

Today, 1.2 billion Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri. At Christmas, two billion Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth. Hindus and Buddhists have their own celebration days. To me, it is a false celebration for most of them.

On one day or a couple of days a year, people practice their social niceties and friendly behavior but, for the rest of the year, they allow themselves to cheat, to lie, to ask for high profits, to discriminate, to steal not only material things but also attention — look at me and how important I am. Look at my position, look at my new car or cell phone, at all the corruption and so on.

To me, a true Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or whatever “ism” will be recognized by his daily practices, in what he makes, creates, with his family, friends, business etc. With great respect for all life, with love and passion in his eyes, and with an inner beauty shining through no matter how ugly the face or body may look.

All the rest is false.

Zoorcha
Flores, East Nusa Tenggara