introduction to many streams, one river

In this series of talks I shall be looking very briefly at each of the major religions and spiritual teachers in turn. It will be an overview of the whole field of human spirituality. Of course, I am no expert in most of these religions, so don’t expect a scholarly summary. Instead, I hope to give a flavour, a feel, for each of these streams of religious endeavour. It will be a very brief taste but perhaps one or another of the religions will appeal to you, and you can explore more. I may, myself, give other series of talks on some of the teachers or religions. Indeed, the Echoes of Gautam Buddha series is one such attempt.

As well as celebrating some of the unique characteristics and gifts that each religion or teacher has brought us, I also hope that we can feel something of that more mystical aspect that underlies all spiritual teaching. If we can begin to feel that underlying flow of energy, of the human being searching for his essence, searching for God perhaps, and that very essence growing within us... For underneath all these apparently diverse religious traditions there is something in common, something that perhaps we cannot quite put into words, but we can get a feel for and talk poetically about.

Sometimes having many different perspectives can help us feel that which is just out of sight. So, whilst listening to these talks try also to be feeling what is between the lines, the unwritten, that mysterious essence that gives life and energy to each of us and to all that is, and to the religions too. There is one energy at play here, I hope you can feel it.