The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence boldly states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Of course, as a nation we have not perfectly lived up to these truths, especially regarding African Americans and our continent’s indigenous peoples. As I have written previously, racism is America’s original sin. Yet, as crucial as the topic of racism is right now in the life of our nation, it is not the primary focus of today’s reflection.
What I do want to underscore is that both our equality and our unalienable rights as human beings are secured by the government, but they do not come from the government. Our rights come from the Creator, from God. The dignity of every human being is grounded in the reality that we have been created in the Divine Image, regardless of race, color, or creed. Therefore, the healing and future well being of our nation must include a resurgence of authentic spirituality. What is an authentic spirituality? An authentic spirituality is based on reliance on a transcendental power greater than ourselves as well as the marriage of truth and love. Authentic spirituality includes the willingness to see everyone as brother and sister and a commitment to serve the least among us. It gives us a charge to care for the environment and maintains a harmonious balance between science and spirituality. It requires time and space for prayer and meditation. Lastly, authentic spirituality is faithful to the principles of the Hindu teaching on the Eternal Dharma and the Christian teaching called the Beatitudes. Yogananda teaches us,
“Unless a balance is created by developing spiritual realization along with advancement of the physical sciences, individuals and nations will be lost in misery and destruction. If today’s world leaders were illumined by Self-Realization and worked together, they could within a few years banish war and poverty from the earth. Only spiritual consciousness—realization of God’s presence in oneself and every other living being—can save the world. I see no other chance for peace without it.”
Guruji Yogananda,
Pray for us
That we may know and respect
All authentic spiritual traditions.
