When the Buddha was asked if gods and goddesses were real, his reply was “That is a question which does not tend toward edification.”

To edify is to build up or to establish. So, according to this enlightened being, this is not the question we should be seeking an answer to.

If you are on a spiritual path you are trying to do the best you can, to love the most you can, to do the most good you can. This is something that is alive in your heart – a yearning to live for more than just yourself.

The truly important question, then,  is “how to live such a life?”

It seems to me that there is too much focus on the existence or not of God or gods. You either love and seek more love or you don’t. I see this with people who believe in God and those who do not.

I have met many, many people who proclaim belief in God who actually worship power. And I have seen many people who proclaim no belief doing the same thing.

Instead of trying to fit into or rebel against certain notions it seems it would be much more useful to ourselves and the world if we endeavor to experience as much love as we can and take the necessary steps to become a person who can love more.

For me this happens in relationship to God. But it is how God has revealed God to me – which no one reading this should presume to have a clue about. (I once explained my understanding of God to someone who, after listening and asking questions pronounced me an atheist. I am terribly allergic to this kind of arrogance.)

I do know this: I will not turn away from a spiritual path because of the religious and anti-religious dogma around me.

Think of spirituality simply as having a sense of connection to something greater than yourself. In an increasingly narcissistic culture I think spirituality is needed now more than ever.

If it is in your heart to walk this path with some version of God, knock yourself out. If it is in your heart to walk this path without a version of God, have at it.

I really don’t care what you believe. But I do care deeply about how you behave, the pain you are in, your ability to love, and the amount of joy you experience. I also care if you are compassionate toward others and accountable and mature in your life choices.

There is nothing higher than love. And there are many paths to love. Are you on a path of love or not? Does your belief or lack thereof strengthen you to love more or not?

The world needs direct encounters with love. The world needs living acts of love, not a bunch of talk. It seems to me the world has an arrow piercing it and is bleeding and there are people gathered around asking who shot the arrow and where the arrow came from and what the philosophy might be of the people who shot the arrow. There is even talk about whether the arrow is real or an illusion.

Those who are living love will pull the arrow out and tend to the wound. Love is simple.

We need acts of love.

I say Love Now.