Founder/Central Coordinator

Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.

Your daily life is your temple and your religion.

Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.

Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute,

The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight.  

Modern religion is often quite different from that of the past. It generally seeks to reach out to the universal experience of life, where the labels of Christian and Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianism do not apply. The above title suggests such an approach to the inner life. To be self-aware is to be conscious of your thoughts, words, and deeds so that they are helpful and not hurtful, empowering and not destructive. To be spiritually devoted is to have an inner practice that you follow regularly and with great intensity.

People in the large cities of the world tend to be so distracted with the innumerable pastimes which demand their attention that anything in-depth or of long duration is very difficult to fulfill. Instant gratification is much more likely to be the norm than prolonged study or reflection. Hence, even spiritual practices tend to be over-simplified and even glamorized. Attempting to take an hour or two each day for one's inner work is generally unheard of outside of a monastery.

This brings up a vital question for our time. Whatever happened to the monastic life and the monasteries that support it? There are such institutions around, but they gain very little publicity and are usually thought of as 'off the beaten track" and "irrelevant". What we will be finding out increasingly over the next few years is that a fulfilled life needs to have a balance between the inner and outer life, and that it may well take some extended exposure to the monastic life to help achieve this balance.

When will you be ready to change your life further in that direction? Isn't the best time now?

Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.

30 July 2000 (0)

THE CHRIST-MAITREYA AND THE NEW CIVILIZATION

The birthing process of the new global civilization is challenging indeed, with the death of the former civilization happening all around us. We often wonder if we will make it through this period of transition into the glorious new world that lies before us.

Pitirim Sorokin, at one time the most widely translated sociologist on the planet who taught at Harvard University, reminded us that in any period of crisis, both the negative and positive elements are in great contrast to each other. He called this "The Law of Polarization". What happens is that, the worse it gets on the negative side, the more the positive side emerges to help turn our values right side up again but in a new and more advanced context. On the one hand we see wars and rumors of wars, and on the other we find a new birth of moral and spiritual values, along with a renaissance in all fields of endeavor.

In former times, people expected that there would be a single new prophet who would refocus the energies and establish the pattern for the new civilization. Now we are in a democracy, and that requires a different approach. Instead of all the insights coming from just one source, freedom asks that all of us take on our responsibility to see that life continues to have meaning. Rather than having one new religion which will come to bring salvation for everyone, a gathering of all religions and spiritual movements is taking place at a very rapid rate. In fact, within each dimension of life there are signs of rebirth. These will get ever stronger with time. A combination of protesting what is not working, and especially seeking new values and approaches to life, will help to bring us to the destination port we are seeking.

The term "Christ-Maitreya" is really the combining of two traditions into one, although actually it should be even broader than that. Almost all religions have a teaching as to what will happen in the future, and usually these teachings center around a name. In Christianity it is the return of Christ, in Buddhism the coming of Maitreya (the enlightened one yet to come), in Judaism the Messiah, in Islam the Mahdi, in Hinduism the return of Krishna, and in Zoroastrianism the Shah Bahram. Perhaps this points to the fact that it will not be just a single individual, but rather a combining of our best efforts in religion and in all fields of endeavor.

Numerous people have insights as to their role in this process. Some believe they are Jesus Christ, while others experience themselves as John the Baptist or the Maitreya. Some of these people have accurate insights, while others have delusions in this regard. We simply need to listen to what is being said, keeping in mind that everyone potentially has something to add to this unfoldment. Do not reject what is being given until you have had a chance to tune in to it and see if it makes sense. Studying the scriptures of the world can help, as can getting acquainted with a wide variety of religious and spiritual teachings.

Please rejoice in the fact that we are in the most prophetic period in human history. It is a time when all kinds of new insights and ways of life are emerging, as well as serious scientific research which will help to document the directions that lead to life and its fulfillment. It is an exciting time in which to be alive. We need to be open to the future and to our part in it.

From UDC’s perspective, what is coming is a unity-and-diversity civilization extending from the local to the global level and beyond. Each level has its own reflection of the overall transformation, a need for a new sense of family and community beginning with an acceptance of the unity-and-diversity principle within ourselves. The melting pot is being replaced by the salad bowl. We are all One in a spiritual sense, yet we are all diverse and unique. We celebrate our diversity, while we also seek unity and mutual respect. We give thanks for being alive at this time of the new millennium, the new Beingness.

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Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., S.T.B.
Founder/Central Coordinator
Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.

CELEBRATING THE AWAKENING

This is a new cycle of human power. It is the hour of unity among all
peoples, and of the drawing together of all races and classes.

                                                                                        Baha'I Faith

We are now needing to prepare for one of the most important times in the unfoldment of the work of the Council. It is the final quarter of the Year Zero, the first year of the Unity-and-Diversity Person/Civilization. Till now there have been numerous challenges and opportunities for growth in preparing for this awakening, but now we must focus all of our energies and enter into a fitting climax for this once-in-a-lifetime year.

Recently we had a visit from a person who knew the Council's work back in the 1970's, and he offered us some food for thought as to how to complete this year and enter into the next one. He reminded us that the two most important elements in the work of the Council were the annual World Festival and World Directory, both of which were at that time coming together in January. It has been many years since we had a World Festival or Directory, and it may be that this year is the time to return in some form to what worked so well for us in our earlier days.

We have already begun to revive our Spectrum Magazine on the internet by entering the paper on education from last week given by Chieu Van Dang, M.D. It is now to be followed by an article submitted today by Rev. Hoang Van Duc, M.D., the subject being "Love and Christianity". The World Scripture is reaching the completion of another phase of its development and should be ready by sometime in September. Numerous new materials are being entered from modern spiritual movements, a fact that makes the document much more advanced that most work on scripture.

We do need to summon our courage and our best judgment regarding the World Festival and the Directory that will undoubtedly go with it. UDC has a vital work to do in the world, and we do need to reach out to the public. Peace Sunday in December helps us in that direction, but it is only two hours in length. Perhaps we are ready to re-establish our weekend Festival at the time when it has worked best and in a way that will help fulfill its purpose of giving visibility to the Unity-and-Diversity Person/ Civilization.

To do this we need your feedback at this point and your help as we consider moving ahead in that direction. Is this step important for us? What is the best way to proceed to put ourselves out in the public arena? Are you willing to help this process succeed? Now is the time to reflect on our vision and for us to decide collectively as to our best steps forward! Do let us hear from you!


In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!!

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Rev. Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., S.T.B.

Unity-and-Diversity World Fellowship

29 October 2000

We live in a tumultuous time of change, in which old values are being discarded and new ones brought forth. Especially in large cities like Los Angeles, it is easy to feel rootless and without any sense of continuity in life. Community is much more difficult to find than in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Nevertheless, we are called upon to discover our values and to live by them, even though those around us may be living in a very different way.

If we allow ourselves the time to do so, we can come to the realization that we are moving into a global civilization in which national dividing lines are much less able to separate us and to make us feel alienated from each other. We have the internet, which is a tool that allows us to be in touch with people around the world almost instantaneously. We also have a similar capacity through FAX machines and certainly the telephone. What once took a month to reach out to someone in a distant country, we now can contact in a few moments.

Elizabeth and I went to Paris leaving last Saturday and coming home on Wednesday. It was a long time nonstop in both directions, yet its purpose was clear and the benefits were many. Next Sunday we will present much more detail about what happened and what we gained by traveling that distance. For now, it is sufficient to say that we found some very specific instances of the denial of religious freedom and basic human rights. The total event was put at risk by actions of the government of Paris, and so last minute changes had to be made in order to hold the rally at all. Fortunately the press conference and the public inquiry were not affected, so we only had to travel farther to get to the rally. No march was permitted in Paris. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. Much progress was made in terms of enhancing religious freedom.

We have had more chance to travel this year than ever before, which for us is an exciting experience and one we have been looking forward to for many years. With respect to UDC’s efforts to grow and expand, it is high time that we had more office help to do the great amount of work that is part of our organizational existence. Elizabeth and I need to be freer to take trips such as this, so we can spread the UDC ideas and programs to other parts of the country and world. This we are in a much better position to do than others, whereas most of the office work can be done by others with adequate training.

We call ourselves a world council. We are being called upon to be a world council, as well as to have local, state, and national councils. All of this takes people and time. It is clearly a group effort, yet our members and friends have usually acted as though it can be done by one person or a small number of people on minimal time. Such is not the case, and we trust that this year will yield some financial and people resources that are necessary to make this transition.

UDC is a spiritually based worldwide inter-individual and inter-group cooperation council. We have the unique opportunity to connect with many groups and to provide a neutral space within which these groups can be themselves and relate to others as equals. We need to grow into this space as fully and quickly as possible. We trust that the next few months will result in major steps in that direction. In fact, the process has already begun. Your prayers and help will make all the difference.

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Sometimes Jesus has been so idealized that he seems not to be real. I personally have found that he was very real, and that we need to give him a chance to speak to us with that reality. He was claimed to be a miracle-worker, and this undoubtedly was true to an important degree. Surely he inspired people to live at their best and to know that there is hope for our lives and for the future.

The story of Jesus’ life is unique in that he died on a cross as a common criminal. Many have seen this to be a sign that Christianity is unique as a religion, and that no other religion can be compared with it. When Rev. Jeff Utter was with us a few weeks ago, he pointed out that Christians often have trouble with the interfaith movement in that it seems that other religions are considered to be equal to Christianity, or perhaps in some cases even better. To me this is not what is being said.

In a democracy there are many ethnicity’s, cultures, and religions. Each is called upon to make its contribution to the total culture and to be respected accordingly. Christianity's real value is to be seen as what it does for the individuals who follow it. Are they more loving and responsible people as a result? Do they treat their neighbors, as they want to be treated? How do they regard people of other faiths and other cultures? This to me is the real test of the value of our faith.

It is most urgent that all of us deepen our own faith, regardless of what our particular path is, and to encourage others to do the same. We do not need to convert everyone to our faith in order to live in a joyous and harmonious world. Religion is supposed to be a source of bonding, of creating the highest and best form of community. In a democracy that can only mean learning to respect diversity and creating a larger sense of common ground. We can love each other in the midst of having our different religions, since we are all seeking to find our way on a planet of immense beauty and diversity.

At this Easter time, therefore, let us rejoice in the uniqueness’ of Jesus and all that he stood for, and at the same time be open to other paths as well. We also need to be open to those who have no specific faith or practice. May we all grow together into the blessed community that is for all of us: human, animal, plant, and mineral. We are all One, and we can love and respect each other.

5521 Grosvenor Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90OW-6915

(310) 577-1968, FAX (310) 578-1028

Rev. Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., S.T.B.

Unity-and-Diversity Fellowship

27 May 2001 (1)

Health and healing are vitally important areas of concern, because with good health we can more readily fulfill our dreams and live a long and fruitful life. Health, for this purpose, is a state of well-being in which the body, mind, emotions, and spirit are in balance and functioning in the best possible way. Healing, by contrast is a process needed to achieve total health. There are specific illnesses that need immediate attention and will usually involve a medical doctor to handle. Then there is the ongoing effort to maintain health, which requires that we set up relevant practices that keep our diverse self in balance in all its aspects.

Traditional medical practice generally operates at the first level, usually giving drugs and perhaps advocating certain foods that will help to overcome a particular illness. In most medical practice, spirituality does not play a part because the focus is just on one illness and getting a cure for that single problem. The deeper, more ongoing aspects of health and healing are left to other kinds of practice.

In recent times the second aspect of health has become increasingly important, because without an ongoing preventative program in place, frequent Illnesses are likely to occur. Toward this end we must recognize that we are spiritual beings, and that our various dimensions of the whole self are extensions of that spiritual being. To discover and maintain a sense of meaning in our life is not just for the so-called "religious" people; it is a necessity in every life. Whether or not we go to an organized church, temple, or mosque each week, we do need to live in a centered way and to provide for our own Inner awareness of what life is and how we are a meaningful part of it

There are many traditional practices from the various religions and cultures that can be followed, such as Yoga, T'ai Chi, Falun Gong, and Calisthenics. Please note that the only one of these four which does not have a sense of spirituality in it is Calisthenics. Perhaps that may explain why we who have inherited Western civilization may need something more in order to live a meaningful life.

Even if we are following one of the spiritually based healing practices, we still need to account for the fact that we are no longer living in the ages In which these practices were born and developed. Our age, the first global and democratic age in history, needs it own mystique and corresponding healing practices. We can learn a great deal by studying and practicing what has come from past ages, but now it is time that we created something that is an outgrowth of our age and represents the emerging understanding of wholeness and well-being.

A Specialized Affiliate of

Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.