Abandoning one's religious faith
One of the true pandemics of our time is people abandoning their religious faiths and I don't think people know how devastating this is for them. Cultural tenets of the old religions, that have nothing to do with the original teachings, have long required updating but this shouldn't be the reason to abandon one's source of refuge and existential safety beyond life, illness and death.
Common people don't know about existential matters because they are not students and practitioners of spirituality, i.e. do not meditate or practice contemplation. The mistake modern people have made is to become believers of science and secular thinking that do not and can not offer protection and consolation in the midst of life's difficulties and definitely not at the time and after death.
Without religious or spiritual refuge people are lost, confused and do not know what to do or where to go. Without refuge all they have is their own karma using their bodies and minds as punching bags.
To live and die like that is a dreadful experience without a trace of grace, love and peace. I see that on people's faces anywhere I go.
Baba, 10 Feb 23
