The former pop-singer, Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam is now teaching 'The word of God' or the Holy Koran, just as many Rabbis are teaching 'the word of God' or the Holy Torah, and as are many Christian ministers teaching 'the word of God' or the Holy Gospels.

Although orthodox Buddhists do not recognise any 'god' in the personal form of a male or female they do recognise the Buddha as an enlightened man. Though, in practice, they have turned him into a 'God' and refer to the Sutras as 'Holy and Sacred Texts'. Neither Abraham, the Buddha, Jesus or Muhammad wrote a word of these 'Holy' books.

All of these books contain profound truths, but they also contain profound distortions of truth. Even blasphemous distortions. They contain stories of devils, demons, hungry ghosts, angels, devas and djinni. They contain threats of hell and bad karma, and promises of heaven and good karma. It's the old carrot and the stick principle, the tooth-fairy and the bogey man, all of which keeps the superstitious in check. Of course, a couple of thousand years ago superstition was rampant and such stories served a purpose.

Such teachings separate man from God, instil fear, or worse, they lead the more ignorant into forsaking the joys of this life for the promise of an eternal life of heavenliness in the future. A sort of spiritual greed which denies the very integrity of Being. Denies the Godliness already within you. Clement of Alexandria, c150-215 AD, a Father of the Christian Church had a very different understanding of the nature of Mankind:

"From the Beginning you have been immortal and children of eternal life. You destroy death, and you destroy the world, without yourselves being destroyed. You are Lords of the Universe and of all that is mortal." (all that is physical).

Immortal? Children of eternal life? "and when I made the stars to dance and ALL the Children of God shouted with joy, where were you? If you have understanding, declare it.".... "I come to bring you eternal life, and life in abundance."

Destroy death? Nothing dies! Death is the great man-made illusion. Illusions of 'endings' in eternity. A contradiction in terms. The body, being mortal, returns to earth and the Spirit (the real YOU of mind and consciousness) being immortal, returns to God - from whence you emanated.... Ready for your next adventure.

Is not a wave an aspect of the sea? There is only the illusion of separateness. Are you not an Aspect of the Source of all life, consciousness and energy; that which we call 'God'. Reflect on the relationship between the wave and the sea and you might experience the revelation of Self. Then, what can ever harm you in Truth? Only in the separation of the false ego can you suffer from fear and the resultant sense of powerlessness.