LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE
Do you take delight in watching films,
listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs,
and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You
can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of
wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.
#68. Dying to Be Me (authored by Anita Moorjani)
(the
author’s mother says to her daughter): “Don’t be scared, Beta (the affectionate
term for ‘my child’ in her dialect). No one really knows the truth – not even
Sister Mary. Religion is just a path for finding truth: Religion is not truth.
It is just a path. And different people follow different paths.”
ð In
the book, the author recounts a conversation with her mother, who offered her
comfort and wisdom through a perspective on spirituality that is at once deeply
personal, universally relevant, and profoundly liberating. Her mother's insight
encourages readers to look beyond rigid religious boundaries and consider a
broader understanding of spiritual truth.
When the author (in her childhood) says she is scared if she won’t be able to go to Heaven because she is Hindu, her mother says that spiritual truths are vast, timeless, and universal, extending far beyond any single doctrine or belief system. Organized religions, while meaningful and valuable to many people, can be viewed as human-created frameworks designed to help individuals comprehend and connect with these greater truths. In this sense, religions serve as cultural and historical vehicles that guide people on their spiritual journeys, rather than being the ultimate destination themselves.
Another important point in her words is the idea that no one possesses exclusive ownership of truth. Even the most devoted believers, respected religious leaders, or institutional figures are ultimately seekers themselves. The reference to “Sister Mary” illustrates that every person, regardless of status or spiritual authority, is engaged in an ongoing search for meaning, understanding, and connection.
Even as a young girl, the author felt a profound sense of relief and reassurance from her mother's words. Her mother's perspective helped her understand that there is no single path that everyone must follow in order to find meaning in life. Instead, she learned that each person's journey is shaped by unique circumstances, cultural influences, personal experiences, and inner aspirations. Because no two individuals are exactly alike, it is both natural and reasonable for people to seek purpose, fulfillment, and spiritual understanding in different ways. This realization freed her from the pressure of believing that one path was inherently superior to another and encouraged her to respect the diverse journeys that people take in their search for truth, peace, and a sense of belonging.
“During
my NDE (Near Death Experience), it felt to me that all judgment, hatred,
jealousy, and fear stem from people not realizing their true greatness. Lacking
awareness of our perfection keeps us feeling small and insignificant, and this
goes against the natural flow of life-force energy – that which we really are.
We go against ourselves. The way I see it, if we were encouraged to express who
we truly are, we’d all be very loving beings, each bringing our uniqueness to
the world. Problems and strife come as a result of our not knowing who
we are and not being able to show our inner beauty.”
ð The
author’s NDE brought spiritual awakening to her life. She realizes many of the
negative behaviors, personal struggles, and conflicts that exist in the world
are not the result of people being inherently flawed or evil. Rather, they
arise from a widespread disconnection from our true nature and an inability to
recognize our innate worth. That is, the belief that fear, hatred, jealousy,
judgment, and other destructive emotions are rooted in feelings of insecurity.
People do not lash out at others because they are naturally malicious. Instead,
they do so because they feel powerless, inadequate, or disconnected from their
own value. When individuals lose sight of their inherent worth, they begin to
view themselves as insignificant and separate from others. This sense of lack
often manifests as the troublesome aspects in our lives, such as competition,
resentment, or hostility.
When the author speaks of human “perfection,” she is not referring to flawless behavior or the achievement of society’s standards of success. Rather, she suggests that every person is born as a complete and unique expression of life itself. Each individual possesses an intrinsic value that does not need to be earned or proven. The problems begin when people forget this truth and start defining themselves through external expectations, comparisons, and judgments. Therefore, this loss of self-awareness causes people to move against the natural flow of life. Instead of expressing their authentic selves, they suppress their true nature out of fear, shame, or a desire to gain approval from others. In doing so, they create an internal struggle that drains their vitality and separates them from what she describes as their life-force energy. This inner conflict may eventually appear outwardly as emotional suffering, unhappiness, anger, or even physical illness.
The author focuses on the idea that many of humanity’s problems originate from a lack of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-awareness. When people recognize their inherent value and reconnect with their authentic selves, fear and hostility lose their power.
** Jean’s Small Thoughts:
I have always
been fascinated by the mysterious phenomenon of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs).
Accounts from people who have come close to death often describe encounters
with a reality that feels far more peaceful, loving, and beautiful than
anything they have known in this world. Many of them speak of an overwhelming
sense of joy, acceptance, and belonging, so profound that they are reluctant to
return to earthly life. Some even report feeling disappointed when they are
told that their time has not yet come and that they must go back. This idea may
help explain why we know so little about what lies beyond death. If the realm
that many people describe as Heaven is truly as wonderful as NDE survivors
claim, it would make sense that those who fully cross over would have no desire
to leave it and return to this world. As a result, we can only hear fragments
of what that other world might be like through the testimonies of those who
came close to entering it but ultimately returned.
Of course,
this line of thinking raises another question. Many religious traditions teach
that the afterlife consists not only of Heaven but also of Hell, a place
reserved for those who have lived wicked or harmful lives. If such a realm
exists, it would presumably be very different from the blissful experiences
often described in NDE accounts. Unlike those who encounter a realm of love and
peace, souls entering a place of suffering would hardly find it desirable to
remain there. This contrast makes the mystery of the afterlife even more
intriguing and leaves us wondering whether the experiences reported by NDE
survivors reveal only one aspect of a much larger reality that remains beyond
our full understanding.
Reading this
book, I came to appreciate the idea that love is humanity’s natural state.
Moorjani argues that people do not need to be taught how to become loving,
compassionate, or kind because these qualities already exist within each of us.
What is truly needed is not the acquisition of goodness but the removal of the
fears, insecurities, and social conditioning that prevent our innate goodness
from being expressed. When individuals feel safe enough to embrace their
authentic selves, their natural capacity for love emerges effortlessly.
I
wholeheartedly agree with Moorjani that genuine harmony does not require
everyone to think alike or follow the same path. True unity arises when people
are free to express their individuality without fear of rejection, criticism,
or judgment. Every person brings something unique and valuable to this world,
and it is through the celebration of these differences—not their
suppression—that authentic human connection becomes possible. As I reflected on
this message, I could not help but think about the deep divisions that exist in
our world today. Political leaders, ideologues, and those who promote conflict
often seem trapped in cycles of fear, hostility, and separation. I hope that one
day they, too, will experience an awakening—a moment of realization that leads
them back to their true nature. Perhaps then they will recognize that the paths
of division, hatred, and war take them farther away from their inherently
compassionate and benevolent selves, and closer to a world in which
understanding, empathy, and peace can flourish.
