Siddhartha Gautama, Jesus of Nazareth and Martin Luther walk into a bar and . . .

Actually, I don’t think a cliché walking-into-a-bar joke is how I want to frame this topic.

Let me start again.

There is something fundamentally human about the rhythmic and universal ebb and flow from complexity to simplicity, from detailed to basic, from big to small.

Siddhartha Gautama, (the Buddha), lived during a time in which the Hindu religious leaders of the day lorded ritual and divine knowledge over everyone. Without them, and their monopoly on truth, salvation was not possible. Born a prince, the Buddha ventured out into the world and witnessed terrible suffering and despair amongst the men and women around him. After meditating and discerning for himself, the Buddha began a ministry in which he spread a powerful message of hope and love and peace for all peoples, regardless of status and regardless of wealth.

Jesus of Nazareth, (Christ), lived during a time in which the Jewish religious leaders of the day lorded ritual and divine knowledge over everyone. Without them, and their monopoly on truth, salvation was not possible. Born of the Virgin Mary, Christ ventured out into the world and witnessed terrible suffering and despair amongst the Jews and Gentiles around him. After praying and discerning for himself, Christ began a ministry in which he spread a powerful message of hope and love and peace for all peoples, regardless of status and regardless of heritage.

Martin Luther lived during a time in which the Christian religious leaders of the day lorded ritual and divine knowledge over everyone. Without them, and their monopoly on truth, salvation was not possible. Born and ordained a priest, Luther called for change.

There is something fundamentally human about the rhythmic and universal ebb and flow from complexity to simplicity, from detailed to basic, from big to small.

Throughout history, there are many examples of human institutions adding layer after layer upon basic and simple truths. Why do we do this? For control? Power? A need to legitimize our beliefs?

It is impossible for anyone to have a monopoly on truth. Is there really only one way to climb the stairs and reach the peak? Are only certain people offered salvation? Why can’t we all have something to add to the tapestry of human understanding of creation and existence in this complex and mysterious universe we inhabit?

I’ve long believed that simple is best. Is the message of Jesus really that hard to understand and grasp?

Love others, love yourselves, love your Creator, and leave the judging to God.

-Jesus

Humans have a need to complicate, but I think we are called to do the opposite.

Brilliance is not taking the basic and making it convoluted; brilliance is taking the convoluted and making it basic. That’s what Jesus did; the Good Shepard, the Mustard Seed, the Prodigal Son. Time and again, Jesus strove to explain cosmic divinity in terms that illiterate craftsmen and peasants could comprehend. That’s brilliance. And that, I believe, is what we are called to emulate.

The world is hurting. People are suffering. And those in power lord their rituals and knowledge over everyone else. Simplify, focus on the basic truths buried in all the dogma and doctrine.

Love. Don’t judge. Love. Don’t judge.

Love.