Jesus, Mohammed, Buddah and Shamans

Matthew 25: 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 (The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of God, saying: ‘We feed you for the sake of God Alone; we seek from you neither reward nor thanks.’ – The Holy Quran

"What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)

Buddhists believe in the idea of karma (a logical extension from everything being interconnected). What we do to others will ultimately affect ourselves. Hence Buddhism advocates doing good deeds, but not just the following strict rules. It is up to the individual to consider the wisest course of action for their future long term happiness. Five precepts, or ‘guides’, are often given as advice as to actions that will often most lead to beneficial outcomes. They are: not to lie, steal or defraud, kill or injure others, hurt via sexual relationships, and to not further cloud your mind with too many intoxicants.

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned."

Shamanism goes hand in hand with the animist's experience of the world: first, all that is [everything is] alive, and being alive embodies a spirit; second, all that is alive is connected by these spirits. Therefore we all - humans, trees, dogs, cats, bees, stones, mountains, seas, Earth and Sky - we all are connected.

All belief systems included some recognition that we are all connected.  It is a simple realization that what we do affects others and ultimately the conditions of others will affect us.  Whether you say it as "what you have done to the least of these you have done to me" or "Do no Harm," the basis is generally the same.  In being kind and generous to others, you will ultimately benefit yourself.  In being mean and vicious - or even indifferent - to others, you will ultimately harm yourself.  We are all connected.

This principle is also at the core of our current economic and political struggles - failures if you will.  A small percentage of people have been so ruthlessly dedicated to seeking profit above all else, that we all have suffered - and ultimately, they will suffer collapse and loss as well.  The health of the economy is dependent on the economic health of all of us, not just the top 1% or even top 10%.

In the phrase, "all boats float with a rising tide," the rich are not the tide.  The tide is the Mass - the Masses of People, the 99% - which give rise to the 'boats' - the Rich or the top few percent.  In our current economy, all the "water" is going into the "boats" and not under them, so everything is going to be sinking pretty quick.

My message to the top 10% - "Stop Hoarding the Money!"

The money has got to be put back into the real economy - not the financial markets.  The financial markets produce absolutely nothing of substance.  It is the Leech that is draining our economy dry.

... and you know, it all made sense in my head... lol.