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One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated - Jainism .... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - Christianity .... None of you truly believes until you want for others what you want for yourself - Islam .... Treat not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful - Buddhism .... What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour - Judaism ....
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Mystical Loneliness

July 16, 2007

    Loneliness is the fundamental force that urges mystics to a deeper union with God. An experience of God quenches this thirst for the absolute but at the same time, paradoxically, whets it, because this is an experience that can never be total; by necessity, the knowledge of God is always partial. So loneliness opens up mystics to a desire to love each other and every human being as God loves them. - Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche

 According to several studies, those in the "West" are among the loneliest people on the planet. We bustle about in our cities, on buses, subways, and crowded elevators, and yet we never really connect with the people we're so very close to.

 Perhaps, if Vanier is right, that's a good thing. We may not all be mystics, but if our disconnection from each other leads us to seek a closer connection with God, we may also in time find a closer connection with each other.

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