The Religion of Certainty vs The Religion of Mystery

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:40 am By Gudjon Bergmann

In this article, I’ll consider the difference between the religion of certainty and the religion of mystery. The two approaches are not confined to any particular religion. Rather, they are found in all of the world’s wisdom traditions because they speak to two ways of thinking. The Religion of Certainty The world is chaotic, and our place in it is insecure. Because uncertainty is universally true, every religion and wisdom tradition has attempted to provide a sense of certainty from... Read more

Surprisingly, My Spirit Animal Explains My Approach to Interspirituality

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:40 am By Gudjon Bergmann

I am a trans-rational skeptic by nature. That means most things need to meet a rational threshold before I can think about transcending them. Still, I cannot deny that a spirit animal offered to me by a shaman in my early twenties explains the essence of my spiritual approach. New Age vs. Teenage At sixteen, I went to Australia for a year as an exchange student. When I returned, my parents were knee-deep in the New Age community and quickly... Read more

A Way to Understand Nondual Oneness

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:41 am By Gudjon Bergmann

What is nondual oneness? That is a question that most spiritual teachers struggle to answer. They give vague answers open to interpretation. Scriptures offer more clarity by giving descriptions of the qualities of oneness. In most Vedantic texts, for example, nondual oneness is described as never changing and always present. No Reference Point Because human beings are limited by their senses and capacity to think beyond what they are able to measure or perceive, few can point to a reference... Read more

Why Call Religions and Spiritual Paths Wisdom Traditions?

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:41 am By Gudjon Bergmann

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you will have noticed that I use the term ‘wisdom traditions’ when I refer to religions, spiritual paths, first nation customs, and mystical insights. Allow me to explain why. The World’s Religions I was first introduced to the term when I read The World’s Religions by Huston Smith. The book accomplished the rarest of achievements; it captured both my heart and head. Smith managed to vax poetic and instill the rational... Read more

Three Ways to Interpret the Chakra System

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:42 am By Gudjon Bergmann

Changing the spatial relationship with the chakra system can alter interpretations dramatically. Unlike some people, I don’t see the chakra system as a real thing but rather as a powerful symbol, a successful attempt at mapping a human being. It includes the physical body, energy system, four aspects of the human psyche, and a spiritual essence. Related article: The Practical Psychology of the Chakra System Changing the Spatial Relationship Traditionally, the chakra system is presented vertically, overlaid on the human... Read more

Being a Spiritual Seeker Can Be Both a Sign of Weakness and Strength

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:42 am By Gudjon Bergmann

People seek for different reasons. Some are lost. Others are explorers. The reason motivates the search, which is why we call it a motive. I have been a spiritual seeker for most of my life. Sometimes I’ve been lost. Other times I’ve been exploring. The interesting thing is that I’ve only been able to see the difference clearly in hindsight. When in the middle of searching, my reasons aren’t always known to me. Having met many seekers on my journey, I... Read more

Rumi: Before You Seek Fame

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:43 am By Gudjon Bergmann

I have loved Rumi’s poetry for over twenty years. His words carry an immortal spirit of universality and often seem to speak to the moment, even though they were written in the 13th century. Lines Like Mantras For instance, the following two lines from Rumi’s poems have become like mantras to me. Dissolver of sugar, dissolve me. And. There is a light seed grain inside you fill it with yourself, or it dies. The imagery is so vivid. The spiritual... Read more

Why We Need Both Altruism and Puritanism

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:43 am By Gudjon Bergmann

Both altruism and puritanism attempt to achieve goodness, but the outcomes are wildly different. One leads to wide-ranging restrictions. The other sparks an internal flame that burns for goodness. Does the end justify the means? Do we need both? Why are they so different? Puritanism = Restrictions Puritanism attempts to rein in our animal nature. All the world’s wisdom traditions include some form of restrictions. Even secular nations have restrictive laws. Religious scholar, Huston Smith, explained it this way: “Jealousies,... Read more

What Deceased Spiritual Teachers Cannot Teach Us

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:44 am By Gudjon Bergmann

I revere much of the wisdom that has been preserved in spiritual and religious traditions. It gives me inspiration. Through reading ancient texts, I’ve realized that despite technological advancements and changes in society, the hearts, minds, and souls of human beings are much the same as they were in the past. That is why the words of Epictetus, Confucious, St. Francis of Assisi, Paramahansa Yogananda and Shunryu Suzuki still ring true. This Fallen Master is My Guru Because of my... Read more

Interspirituality is Not the Same as Superstition

Last updated on: November 6, 2022 at 12:45 am By Gudjon Bergmann

In this article, I want to clarify the difference between interspirituality and superstition. There is a reason for doing this. Far too many people equate the terms spirituality and superstition, subsequently dismissing both. I can’t really blame them. I was raised in the New Age movement and know that many of the participants failed to make a clear distinction. They embraced superstitious practices and told everyone they were spiritual. It took me a while to separate the two in my... Read more