“What is reality?” for most people is a stupid question.  The “real world” is “obvious” and demands all our time and energy – money, food, drink, sex, status, relationships, possessions, work, leisure, responsibilities, laws etc.

This view of reality is essentially materialistic.  Our consciousness is seen as tied to the personal body and brain functioning – mere chemical and electrical processes; we come out of nowhere and at death will return to nowhere and nothing.  So the most “logical” thing is do the best we can for ourselves – try to get ahead of others in the game of life; maximize pleasure and minimize pain; consume and accumulate. The rise of the unfettered Free Market ideology in recent decades has encouraged and reinforced this mindset, which is regarded as “hard-headed” and logical...the only practical way. 

However, under scrutiny, this worldview isn’t as logical as we presume and moreover, it isn’t working all that well.  Half of the world lacks the most basic life necessities and is getting left further behind. Even in the wealthiest countries, most are struggling just to keep afloat, longing for greater meaning and connection.  Formal studies are beginning to substantiate anecdotal evidence.  It seems that beyond a certain level of prosperity, around $25,000 p.a. national average income, greater GNP does not necessarily translate into a higher national “happiness” index and seems subject to the law of diminishing returns. The gap between rich and poor within countries and between countries has been growing, causing greater social instability and damaging health, trust and cooperation across the board just as emerging global challenges – economic, environmental, strategic and more - all call for a much greater level of cooperation and trust.  “Me first” decisions and consumption may spur the market temporarily, but do not lead to stability and sustainability, as we can see from the present, ongoing Recession and the stubbornly high unemployment levels.

For centuries and indeed millennia, some of the world’s greatest spiritual teachers, both Eastern and Western, have pointed out that materialism by itself can never fulfill us because we are not just material beings but also manifestations of Spirit.... of the Divine.  They have taught us ways (beyond mere belief and conformity) through which we can explore our deeper, spiritual nature.  Different levels of “reality” open up to us, giving rise to layered, interconnected, holistic perspectives and choices, far different from our present simplistic either-or, us-them, good-evil, black-white ones.  The faster our science and technology evolve, the more urgent it becomes that we as human beings evolve in order to control the powers we unleash. Almost 100 years ago, the great Indian sage Sri Auroindo wrote, "The most vital issue of the age is whether the future progress of humanity is to be governed by the modern economic and materialistic mind of the West or by a nobler pragmatism guided, uplifted and enlightened by spiritual culture and knowledge".

Some argue that Spirituality is not compatible with Science; others argue that we already have religion and it doesn’t seem to solve our problems.  There is growing evidence that Science and Spirituality are in fact compatible. My Forge Guild colleague, Charles Tart, has written an excellent book, The End of Materialism: How Evidence of the Paranormal is bringing Science and Spirit together. He presents persuasive scientific evidenceto support the existence of the “big five” psi phenomena -  telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, psycho kinesis and psychic healing – and points to other “maybes” like out of body and near death experiences.

The popularity of interactive video games and of participation in a virtual “Second Life”, often in preference to and neglect of our actual lives,  should  cause us to inquire into the nature of “reality” and the powerful role that the mind plays in shaping it, as major spiritual traditions teach.  Unfortunately, so far it is used almost exclusively as an escape from life...which is in itself telling and disturbing.

As to why religions seem to cause as many problems as they solve, I would like (as others have done) to distinguish between religion and spirituality.  Very briefly and crudely, religions are usually organizations with a system of beliefs, rituals and practices aimed at pleasing an omnipotent deity in this life and/ or the next.  If we attribute human characteristics to the deity and if our religion is seen as the superior or only way to god, then it lends itself to conflict with non-believers. Ironically, although many religious people acknowledge a spiritual after-life, it doesn’t stop them from treating this life as totally materialistic.  In contrast, Spirituality is usually an attempt to experience our spiritual Oneness/ Divinity by following the teachings and instruction of teachers, prophets, mystics etc. who have had this experience .  Since spirituality is about realizing Oneness and Love, it would make no sense to kill others who believe differently!  It seems to me likely that all major religions started out this way, but eventually got overtaken by politics and bureaucracy as is wont to happen.

The terms “religion” and “spirituality” have been hijacked by the extremists.  I think they should be reclaimed by the masses because they are so important to our common human journey and legacy, which is why I personally pushed to have it included in the title of the Forge project which ultimately became the Call to Global Spiritual Citizenship (www.globalspiritualcitizenship.org)