| Each night, when I put my head on the pillow and | | | | worship of airplanes in the South Pacific ... seen in |
| turn my thoughts to things ethereal, I am hopeful | | | | the sky as a part of a deity, the primal mind is |
| that the world is a little better place than when I | | | | clear that the large object could not possibly "fly" |
| awoke that morning. I hope that the dissidents, | | | | unless it was God driven. And crashed planes on |
| extremists, murderers, plunderers, bigots, | | | | the ground become sacred shrines. Totally |
| philanderers, cheaters, molesters and others of | | | | believable! I do not scoff at this at all ... in fact I |
| mean-spirit find that their chosen path is not a | | | | admire the primitive mind and its devotion to an |
| beneficial avenue. I hope they see that they | | | | idea that manifests in their culture as a sign of |
| themselves are not truly benefiting from a | | | | God.It is true that materialism has become a way |
| mean-spirited philosophy.It is because I am | | | | of life in our time ... witness even the Communist |
| addicted to Right Action and Positive Thought that | | | | China phenomenon, edging towards economic |
| I see the Light shining on our sorry world. I | | | | growth rather than communal existence. And the |
| believe, with the very essence of my Soul, that | | | | emphasis on wealth and position in our country is |
| mankind will evolve from the hate and bitterness | | | | a well established condition. None the less, the |
| to a place of peace and contentment. Admittedly, | | | | Spirit prevails, and the burning desire within each |
| that hope requires a very positive attitude!It is | | | | of us to commune with the God of our choice |
| essential that we learn to live with each other as | | | | dwarfs the call of materialism. Everyone wants to |
| those of different religions have done for | | | | do the right thing.Respect for others is central to |
| thousands and thousands of years. A tall order | | | | the human condition and a basic tenant of rational |
| these days with the conflicts precipitated by a | | | | and peaceful existence. It is one of my pet |
| shrinking globe, economic competition, changing | | | | peeves (I should have none) when I see a human |
| demographics and the convoluted social structures | | | | being not respecting others. I believe that this |
| produced by technological advances. That, in a | | | | lesson, which needs to be learned by many, is the |
| nutshell, is a statement of the problem as it has | | | | root beginning of a peaceful planet. Most certainly, |
| existed for many years, now exacerbated by the | | | | on an individual basis, respect and compassion are |
| intensity of extreme views, turned | | | | fulfilling, satisfying and rewarding. Respect for |
| militant.Spirituality does not require a church. | | | | parents, ancestors, teachers and clergy ... all find |
| Goodness does not require a pew. Compassion | | | | powerful support as a virtue in the world's |
| and Right Action are part of the Spirit. And if that | | | | religions.The Alchemists of old worked over many |
| Spirit can be bridled within all of us, then the work | | | | years ... centuries ... in their quest to turn base |
| of God is being done.Politicians will tell you that | | | | metals into gold. At least that is the popular notion. |
| geopolitical influence ... the territorial imperative ... is | | | | In fact, alchemy is a blend of science and |
| the | | | | philosophy. It has been so since before the |
| causal culprit for today's ills. Economists swear | | | | Common Era, when the ancient chemists did |
| that if you trace any problem to its source, you | | | | attempt to turn inexpensive metals into |
| will find money as the reason for the problem. | | | | expensive ones ... but always with the underlying |
| Those are both half-truths. If you carefully study | | | | thoughts that their work was also symbolically |
| the emotions involved, you may conclude, as I do, | | | | related to the perfection of life.Through the |
| that the major factor in today's conflicts is the | | | | power of the Spirit and Positive Thinking, do your |
| intolerance of the belief system of others.Clearly, | | | | best to disallow depression ... turn, instead, to |
| religious differences have caused (and are causing) | | | | happy thoughts. Look for the Light, the "good |
| the disruption in the world today. Territorial and | | | | side" of an issue. Visualize a happy and positive |
| economic factors are essentially without emotion | | | | outcome of whatever it is that is causing you |
| ... religion is central to the Soul and devastating in | | | | some mental grief. I promise you that if you think |
| its importance when extremists prevail. It is only | | | | positive thoughts, they will manifest into the |
| with the hope of Inter-religious Dialogue (IRD) that | | | | reality, in ways that will surprise you.Dr. Malkin |
| a fundamental and permanent understanding can | | | | holds a B.Sc. in Business and a Masters and Ph.D. in |
| be achieved. That path is long and difficult ... but as | | | | Religion. He has made hundreds of visits to |
| the gentle fingers of night pull back the curtain of | | | | schools with a moving and effective motivational |
| dawn each day, new hope is born, and each of us | | | | presentation, urging teens to do their personal |
| must make this world a little better place than we | | | | best. His mentoring programs have empowered |
| found it.The primal religions have some bizarre | | | | many, many children. His quest for years has |
| examples at which we might scoff, were it not | | | | been to teach the power of Right Action, working |
| for our respect for all belief systems. And | | | | towards the goal of a better world.Excerpts from |
| Dialogue requires of us, if we are serious about it, | | | | "Looking for a Better World" By Stuart J. Malkin, |
| to accept even these primal notions as being valid | | | | Ph.D. |
| and worthy paths to God. I have in mind the | | | | |