RABBI RAMI SHAPIRO-ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE SPIRITUAL TRAVELER

For over half a century, RABBI RAMI has been devoted to a single teaching: Alles iz Gott, Everything is God." To learn more, visit the website rabbirami.com.

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Becoming Enlightened

My number one New Year’s resolution is to become enlightened. Do you think this is a worthy goal? Do you think this is possible? Can you tell me what enlightenment is and how I might get enlightened?

RABBI RAMI: I do think enlightenment is a worthy goal, and like my perennial New Year’s resolution—losing 20 pounds—it is possible, just not for me. Simply put, enlightenment is (1) the realization that you and all life are a manifesting of nondual Aliveness called by many names: Mother, Kali, God, Brahman, Allah, Tao, YHVH, Aliveness, Nature, Great Spirit, etc., and (2) embodying this realization by acting godly, which is to say justly and with compassion. As to how you might get enlightened, I suggest you start by acting godly. That way, even if you never realize you are God, no one will care, not even you.

I admit to watching too much television news, and the America I see is an America steeped in fear. Is this my country?

Yes, it is, but there is more to America than fear; there is also an America of love. It is just that you won’t see that America on television because fear sells more pillows than love. The aim of television isn’t to keep you informed but to keep you consuming. If you want to see all of America, turn offthe television and talk with people.

I find so much wisdom in religion. I can’t limit myself to just one, so I’m put offby Jesus in John 14:6: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Was Jesus such a narcissist?