Tools of the Mind || Dialogue

Inner: Are you religious?

Outer: No.

Inner: Do you believe in anything more significant than yourself?

Outer: No.

Inner: Why not?

Outer: I do not like to believe in things that are not proven.

Inner: That is fair, but spiritual beliefs are not about what we can prove or not.

Outer: How so?

Inner: They are psychological tools, not cosmological truths. They enrich your spiritual repertoire so you can achieve amazing things, and deal better with hardship.

Outer: But does truth even matter, then?

Inner: Of course, it does! But, the truth is unattainable, truth is a destination, and the destination changes every time we must go somewhere based on our needs. Our beliefs are a tool, a vehicle that drives us there.

Outer: So why do all these religions say they have all the answers?

Inner: They are offering you their set of tools, their vehicle to the truth, glasses to see the map, a shield against suffering, and even non-toxic fuel so you can travel long distances without negatively affecting other people and future generations. Tell me something, do you believe everything in the holy books?

Outer: No.

Inner: That is great. It is critical not to take anything in the scriptures literally if there is no proof. We should never understand religion as a destination. We all have our own paths and little stops along the way. No religion can tell you how to masterfully deal with all of them. Have a lot of beliefs, and adjust them to your life. Reason ensures we know how to walk, talk and act, but beliefs ensure we can walk far, talk truthfully and act in goodwill.

Outer: So which belief is the most powerful?

Inner: That depends only on where you are going. Each belief helps you through a particular door inside and outside of you. No one person goes, or has to go, through the same set of doors.

Outer: If beliefs can make our life easier, why aren’t more people spiritual?

Inner: There are many reasons for that. Real-life vehicles break if not maintained, and the same goes with beliefs, our spiritual vehicles. It is not always easy to maintain a car, it is expensive and sometimes it involves a lot of sacrifices. Also, not everyone has a great car yet. Spirituality is a gift, but one we must develop. Many people immediately want to go off the road chasing many other things that do not get them closer to their truths. Their cars can’t sustain that type of lifestyle, and they break.