Buddha outlined 8 clear and simple steps for self-actualisation – yet Buddhism became so heavily ritualised, that in some books on the subject, those 8 steps aren’t ever referred to!

Mohammed built a simple religion based on acknowledging God and 5 prayers a day, but Islamic Law is highly codified and requires years of study.

Moses was given, and passed on to the Jews, 10 commandments , and again a very complicated religion sprang up.

Jesus reduced the commandments to two, and again Christianity has become very complex.

Diana Cooper wrote that:”Human Intelligence takes the simple and makes it complicated. If it’s complicated, it’s from ego; Spirit is simple.”

At the root of all religions are the same principles: unconditional love for God, self and others, and gratitude and awe for our existence. All else is commentary, often added by the religious leaders to promote and secure the existence of their religion. And the irony is that in adding layer upon layer, they have forgotten those simple core truths.

How many wars have been waged in the name of religion, having forgotten the core requirement to love? It’s an oxymoron to write or speak about a religious war; at least, it should be!