I have often wondered if it isn't the fear of death -- the ultimate loss of control that is at the heart of our anxiety, fear, frustrations and addictions. 

As far as we know we are the only species that is aware of its own mortality. I believe unless we make peace with our mortality, we can never fully live.  All of the world's spiritual / religious traditions have addressed this fear. What spiritual teachings have helped you come to a sense of peace about your own mortality? 

Many people today consider themselves to be 'spiritual' but not religious. Generally this means that they don't align with any particular religion. But what exactly does it mean? Who is spiritual and who is not? How do you define 'spiritual'?

In 2003 I was asked to give an interfaith talk at the National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) in Los Angeles. I decided that an interactive exercise might be more useful.

I asked the teens to identify the source of the following quotes from the five major religions of the world: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. Can you identify the source of each?


(A) When the Holy One loves a man, He sends him a present in the shape of a poor man, so that he should perform some good deed to him, through the merit of which he may draw a cord of grace.

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(B) He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.

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(C) The husband and wife of the house should not turn away any who comes at eating time and asks for food. If food is not available, a place to rest, water for refreshing one’s self, a reed mat to lay one’s self on, and pleasing words entertaining the guest – these at least never rail in the houses of the good.

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(D) You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

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(E) Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.

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(F) One should not behave towards others in a way that is disagreeable to oneself. This is the essence of morality. All other activities are due to selfish desire.

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(G) Be kind to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin, and to the neighbor who is a stranger, and to the companion at your side, and to the traveler, and to [slaves] that your right hand owns.

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(H) There are three kinds of persons existing in the world: one is like a drought, one who rains locally, and one who pours down everywhere.   How is a person like a drought? He gives nothing to all alike not giving food and drink, clothing and vehicle, flowers, scents and unguents, bed, lodging, and light, neither to recluses and brahims nor to wretched and needy beggars, In this way, a person is like a drought.  How is a person like a local rainfall? He is a giver to some, but to others he gives not…In this way, a person is like a local rainfall.  How does a person rain down everywhere? He gives to all, be they recluses and Brahmins (people of high stature) or wretched, needy beggars; he is a giver of food and drink, clothing…lodging and lights. In this way a person rains down everywhere.

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(I)   “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”