On Supersitions, Customs and Beliefs By Connie Zareen No matter how sophisticated we are, we each have an inner being that is like a little puppy needing attention. We are each responsible for keeping our inner essence fed and healthy. The mind can never be a replacement for the heart of compassion, and turning our compassion on ourselves is a kind and generous way to live. This is why it is good to sing a song when we are sad, quote a hero when we are afraid, say a prayer when we need help. To even the most sophisticated person, a peaceful ritual or superstition soothes the frightened animal inside. We have a natural heart and a natural mind that is hungry to be led by our true self. Existential confusion is not the natural state of a human being! Our inner experience can be a harmonious expression of the outer world. This natural part of our self is already free from ignorance, and awake to the full experience of being human. There is no need to pretend, or think or build stories around this natural self. It stands on its own in a full state of regal self mastery. As human beings we can become completely caught in our imagination, and then we are drowned in a sea of ignorance, where an army of fears and desires battle in our being day and night. With courage and determination, however, we can take on our over-active imaginations and realize that the nature of the mind’s interpretation is illusion. In every society and group there are a handful of people willing and able to make the ultimate decision to become master of their own experience. These people gain a new perspective that throws a light on the society in which they live. There will also be a group of people who want to be leaders, and put their energy into becoming leaders of others, before they master their own illusions. These leaders can be effective in their society, and usually use guidance from the past to inform their lives and guide others. This works well in cultures that are not facing new challenges. But it becomes a difficulty when we are facing the changes that evolution brings to us as a people. Old beliefs and superstitions that used to inform can become a powerful force of resistance to anything new. The light of truth is one, but its expression needs to be fresh in societies which are experiencing change. In a society that is growing, it becomes a moral imperative for the masters of self to step up and create a new spirit of guidance to inform their culture. Today’s huge populations call for more than individual realization. We need a group revolution of consciousness. Fortunately we have the communication tools for groups of illuminated beings to decompress their experience into an expression of truth that is fresh and functional. This will create a revolution in art and culture unprecedented in human history.