1 Balance is paramount. Anything can be taken to an extreme. (see chart)
2. Life is a tapestry. When creating, be mindful of what may be destroyed in the process.
3. Be kind. This does not mean being a doormat. (See Principle #1.)
4. Always give your best effort, whatever that may be at that moment.
5. Speak truth. Do not confuse your opinions with Truth.
6. Do what you say you will do.
7. Your beliefs do not excuse your behavior.
Customs:
Gather once a week to share food. Hold this event in a place where those who have more can bring food and those in need may share it. This can be just a potluck, or involve bringing groceries to give to others.
Sing, alone or in groups. This can also be part of the weekly gathering.
Respect other people, regardless of status, appearance, or other external considerations. Listen to others without judging them. Make time to do this. This can be a part of the weekly gathering, where attendees pair off to speak and listen to each other. Make an effort to interact with those you perceive to be unlike you.
Respect the Earth on every level that you can. This can mean lifestyle changes like reducing your non-renewable energy use, recycling, planting a garden, or foregoing meat; cleaning up public spaces; or becoming aware of and acting upon larger issues that cannot be addressed by one person.
Respect yourself.
Participate in the life of your community.
.
.
Infinite Intelligence by Michele T.
From the beginning, human beings have imagined “something greater than themselves.” In the absence of scientific knowledge, the roots of religion were mythic. Acts of nature and unusual events were attributed to magical gods in the sky. As the stories evolved, faith was required to believe these stories, and it is time, finally, to grow up and let the mythic stories go as we redefine what this “something” is.
Sir John Templeton said wisely, “If you think you know what IT is, it is not that.” In relation to others, our “Thou shalts” should flow from the concepts inherent in the Golden Rule and Namaste.
Searching beyond ourselves to define what IT is, Wright said, “I believe in God, I just spell it NATURE.” Nature itself contains enough mystery, magic and richness to meet the needs of our souls. We have tortured Nature for her secrets for too long. Embracing our genetic connections to every species and living thing can only enrich us.
We are not just part of the world, we are part of the cosmos. With the new understanding of the quantum perspective, science and religion no longer have to be at odds. We are all interconnected. We are energy, light and “star stuff.” We can now understand why, hundreds of years ago, the mystic, Bruno, told the church fathers that their God was “too small.” Our sense of interconnectedness to the stars and beyond can lead us, in a far more profound way to authentic divinity.
The new religion must be so comprehensive that it can accommodate the positive aspects and beliefs that exist in every culture as determined by men, women and children who are moral exemplars.
The word, God, so laden with possible divisiveness should be replaced with “Love” or “Infinite Intelligence.”
.
.