Religion

'Spirituality is a particular term which actually means: a dealing with intuition. In the theistic tradition there is a notion of clinging [to] a word. A certain act is regarded as displeasing to a divine principle; a certain act is regarded as pleasing the divine ... whatever. In the tradition of non-theism however it is very direct - that the case histories are not particularly important. What is actually important is here and now. Now is definitely now. We try to experience what is available there ... on the spot. There's no point in us thinking that a past did exist that we could have now. This is now. This very moment. Nothing mystical, just 'now', very simple, straightforward. And from that now-ness, however, arises a sense of intelligence always that you are constantly interacting with reality one by one. Spot by spot. Constantly. We actually experience fantastic precision always. But we are threatened by the now so we jump to the past or the future. Paying attention to the materials that exist in our life - such rich life that we lead - all these choices take place all the time ... but none of them are regarded as bad or good per se - everything we experience are unconditional experiences. They don't come along with a label saying 'this is regarded as bad' or 'this is good'. But we experience them but we don't actually pay heed to them properly. We don't actually regard that we are going somewhere. We regard that as a hassle. Waiting to be dead. That is a problem. And that is not trusting the now-ness properly. What is actually experienced now possesses a lot of powerful things. It is so powerful that we can't face it. Therefore we have to borrow from the past and invite the future all the time. And maybe that's why we seek religion. Maybe that's why we march in the street. Maybe that's why we complain to society. Maybe that's why we vote for the presidents. It's quite ironical ... very funny indeed.'

-Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche