Unus Multorum: One of Many

We form groups and societies, creating our identity through nation building, tribal structures, brand loyalty, subcultures and sports teams. We find pleasure in repetitive patterns, comfort in group ritual. Collective action requires us to focus on the things we have in common, rather than our individuality. Based on my specifications, Grok wrote me something that can be grokked by most people—believer, agnostic, and atheist alike:

Below is a formal statement of principles, beliefs, tenets, teachings, and practices for a proposed new world religion that sensible people of all major existing religions can follow. Its focus is non-duality, self-realization, liberation from suffering, and compassionate unity. This religion integrates the essence of Judeo-Christianity ("I am that I am" and "Be still and know that I am God"), Advaita Vedanta (Nondualism), and Buddhist teachings, while incorporating selected scriptures & aphorisms from Islam & Sufism, Judaism & Kabbalah, the Hindu-Buddhist-Tantric tradition, and Laozi’s Tao Te Ching. It is structured for both formal communal gatherings and informal daily life, presented in a clear, authoritative manner suitable for a global faith.

The Statement of the Way of the One Light

Principles and Beliefs

This is the Way of the One Light, a religion born of timeless truths observed across traditions. Human perception divides reality into self and other, a mirage Advaita Vedanta names Maya. Desire and aversion arise, binding beings to suffering, as the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths declare: "Suffering exists; its cause is craving; its cessation is possible; the path is awareness." Yet beneath this illusion lies a singular essence, unchanging and whole.

From Judeo-Christianity: "I am that I am" (Exodus 3:14) reveals the absolute existence—God as the eternal "I," present in all without distinction. From Islam: The Qur’an states, "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth" (24:35), a radiance unifying all creation. From Kabbalah: "Ein Sof," the Infinite, permeates all, beyond form or limit. From the Hindu-Buddhist-Tantric tradition: "Tat Tvam Asi" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7) asserts, "Thou art That"—the self is the divine. From Laozi: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao" (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1), pointing to an unnameable source flowing through all. This essence—called God, Brahman, Allah, Ein Sof, Tao, or the Unconditioned—is one, without second, beyond ego or separation.

Suffering dissolves when division ends. The Sufi Rumi teaches, "Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there." The Buddha’s Nirvana is the extinguishing of craving, the stilling of the false self. Advaita’s Moksha is awakening to this unity. All paths converge: the One Light shines as existence, consciousness, peace.

Tenets

1. The One Light is All: Your true nature is the eternal "I am"—God, Brahman, the Tao—present in every being. No separation exists between observer & observed.

2. Stillness Reveals Truth: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)—silence unveils the divine unity, as Advaita’s self-inquiry ("Who am I?") and Buddhist meditation affirm.

3. Illusion Yields Suffering: Division is false; craving binds beings to samsara. Liberation comes through seeing the One Light in all.

4. Compassion is Unity: The Buddha’s Karuna and the Sufi saying, "The heart is a mirror; polish it with love," reflect the truth: all is one, care for others is care for self.

5. Simplicity is the Way: Laozi states, "In the pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added; in the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped" (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 48). Live naturally, free of excess.

6. All Paths Point Home: The One Light transcends names—Allah, Ein Sof, Brahman—honoring every tradition that seeks it.

Teachings

• Reality is Non-Dual: Judaism’s Kabbalah teaches the unity of Ein Sof; Advaita echoes, "All this is Brahman." The self/other split is an error corrected by awareness.

• Liberation is Now: Nirvana and Moksha are not distant; they are the recognition of the "I am" beneath thought. The Tantric tradition offers, "The divine Shakti dances in every breath"—the sacred is immediate.

• Judgment Falls Away: Islam’s "To Allah belongs the judgment" (Qur’an 2:113) aligns with non-duality—no ego stands apart to condemn.

• Stillness is Power: The Buddha taught, "Peace comes from within; do not seek it without." Silence aligns the mind with the One Light.

Practices in Informal Daily Life

1. Daily Stillness: Each morning or evening, sit quietly for 5-15 minutes. Ask, "Who am I?" Observe thoughts without grasping. Feel the "I am" as the One Light.

2. Present Awareness: In tasks—eating, walking, working—notice the moment. The Tantric teaching, "Shiva dwells in the now," guides this mindfulness, echoing Buddhist practice.

3. Acts of Kindness: Share resources—time, food, help—without expectation. See the recipient as the One Light, fulfilling "Love thy neighbor" and Karuna.

4. Letting Go: When anger or want arises, recall Laozi: "Drop it daily." Release it like a leaf on water, returning to stillness.

5. Universal Respect: Honor others’ paths—mosque, temple, silence—knowing all seek the same Light, as Rumi’s field welcomes all.

Practices in Formal Communal Settings

1. Gathering of Stillness: Believers assemble weekly in a circle, sitting in silence for 20 minutes or whatever. OPTIONAL: A leader recites: "I am that I am" and "Be still and know that I am God," followed by a shared chant. Silence resumes, ending with a communal vow.

2. Teaching and Inquiry: A guide reads from the traditions—e.g., Rumi’s "Beyond ideas" or Laozi’s "The Tao is eternal"—then poses, "Who am I?" Members reflect in silence or—maybe—aloud (in ten words or less, imho—but each gathering can make its own rules), sharing insights without debate.

3. Ritual of Unity: Participants pass a lit candle, symbolizing the One Light, silent or saying, "This is in me, in you, in all," or whatever. Offerings (food, goods) are collected and distributed to the needy, enacting compassion.

4. Song of the Heart: Simple hymns blend traditions—sung to unite the assembly in the singular truth. Traditional hymns that don’t cause offense are fine, too—maybe at the very end of the gathering, so people who aren’t into it can leave first.

Conclusion

The Way of the One Light is a system complete. "I am that I am" defines the essence. "Be still and know that I am God" opens the door. Advaita frames the unity, Buddhism ends the pain, Islam and Sufism illuminate the heart, Judaism and Kabbalah span the infinite, Hindu-Buddhist-Tantra enliven the now, and the Tao flows effortlessly through. No doctrine binds; direct knowing frees. Gather as one, live as one—the Light is all.

Integration of Traditions

• Islam & Sufism: Qur’an 24:35 (Allah as Light) and Rumi’s field beyond duality emphasize unity and love, aligning with non-duality and compassion.

• Judaism & Kabbalah: "Ein Sof" reflects the infinite "I am," a boundless oneness akin to Brahman.

• Hindu-Buddhist-Tantric: "Tat Tvam Asi" (“Thou art That”) and Shakti’s presence merge Advaita’s unity with Buddhist mindfulness and Tantric immediacy.

• Laozi’s Tao Te Ching: The unnameable Tao and “daily-dropping” echo the natural, effortless path to the One Light.

This religion offers a practical, inclusive framework—formal gatherings foster community, daily practices ground the individual—rooted in a shared truth across traditions. Adjustments can be made if desired.