…deep in meditation, a grand vision was bestowed upon me. In this vision I was standing before a large table; and all around the table as pedals on a rose, sat all immortal deities, even from the furthest ends of Earth and time.
All of the deities were adorned in the holiest of garb, and all wore the crown of righteousness to their holy throne. Their tongues were all ablaze and I saw their eyes shine like brilliant Akoya pearls; their very essence sculpted into perfection, of gold and chryselephantine.
I witnessed the scars on the hands, feet, brow, and back of the resurrected Christ. Above His head dawned an opaque halo; in His wounds, bore the sin of mankind. To His right sat the forgiven apostle Peter; in Peter’s right hand a key to salvation, in his left- the Book of Life. To the left of Christ sat four beings- a winged man, a winged lion, a winged bull, and a great eagle. All were adorned with wool-Kashmir cloaks with gold trim and Latin inscriptions reading “a cruces salus,” they were the authors of the four gospels, no doubt.
Seated along the table, I then noticed the far-eastern Allah, through Him flowed the Muslim ‘Subhan’Allah’ prayers of the Islamic Nations; his neck was garnished with Dhikr beads, and to his right sat the true prophet Muhammad.
Then came the Vishnu and Brahma, bearing the six arms and hands of the six true kingdoms of the Middle East. Spawning from Lord Vishnu’s neck, were the three heads- symbolizing the divinity.
Then I saw the many polytheistic gods of the united tribes of Africa; in their hands bore the scepter of oppression, and their garments represented each tribe’s native culture.
A bald headed Buddha sat close by, his eyes filled with contentment and peace; a youthful smile crossed his face, while children laughed and played at his feet. Close by was the humble Lao Tzu, sitting passively and peacefully; emulating by example the truth of the Tao. Seated to his right was the great philosopher Confucius, occupied in deep thought and fervor. In His hand held the quill pen of simple truth- writing haikus as a blazing brush fire into his 5000 year old book of wisdom.
Close by, Minerva the goddess of wisdom was sitting -illuminated by truth. Her mind was ablaze in turmoil, and in her heart all wisdom was stored. Mortal men surrounded her and begged for answers to the ways of the Earth; I saw her reveal the gift of wisdom to all who asked, and all who worshipped in her shrine.
Among them too, I tell you, was the Greco-Zeus of Olympus; in his right hand was the ivory trident, majestically carved from 10,000 husks. Seated around him: Poseidon; whom I watched make the wrath of the sea unfurl; and the goddess of deceit, Apollo Athena. Her skin was as soft as porcelain unrefined. Her appearance was austere but stunning; at her feet mortal men worshiped her beauty.
Moving along the round table of religion, I witnessed saint Francis of Assisi. His body was frail and weak, and he wore a robe stained with the scars of poverty and malnourishment. His face bore the shame of humanity, and his eyes mirrored those of the Christ.
Above all, they quietly viewed the ways of the world and the way of man. When men killed in the name of Jesus, Allah, religion, race, hatred or creed -and harbored loathsome thought; the deities quietly wept. When men boasted in their ignorance, the deities quietly scorned creation. When man declared his way was the only right way, the deities quietly laughed at man’s arrogance. When man deceived his family, stole from his sister, spoke in hateful ways, acted in hypocrisy, or inflicted wrath on fellow brethren, the deities cried for justice.
…distraught, I began to weep as well to the wicked ways of the world…But when I had thought that all hope was lost… I saw men who truly desired wisdom and knowledge. These men lived lives in love and righteousness; they were seekers of truth and only in secret they prayed and practiced their own chosen religion. Their integrity shined brighter than the celestial heavens; they knew the value of virtue, and the worth of truth. These men were slow to speak, and quick to listen; they loved their neighbor and enemy no matter what race, religion, or creed. These men were the first of the last, and the givers of their only cloak. They turned the other cheek; chose selflessness over selfishness; and turned their backs to judging, self-righteousness, and religious centrism.
And when the deities saw such actions in effect, they smiled to one another and made a toast to the good of mankind… and at that very moment I was awakened to the truth: for this is the very creed that all mankind is called to live by; not to live- deceived by one’s very own ignorance in religion and self-importance; but to love fellow man as a brother, to serve fellow man as a brother; no matter what race, religion, or creed he follows…and lastly, to give our lives to one another freely, unity through diversity.