I find it odd that some people would be so willing - eager even, to sacrifice a part of themselves. I for one am not ready or willing to give up anything. This comes from the realization that only everything, in its completeness, is perfect.

But society wants to control, eradicate, suppress what we are. And by so doing, we create a personal and collective shadow so vast that it will eventually lash out and cause collateral damage.

I, who say "Yes, I am evil also", am far less dangerous than one who says "I am not evil" - and believes it. Such a man is capable of doing terrible things, all the while believing he is doing good. Such a man is blind to himself, and that which he does not see, is his shadow self.

"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" - Matthew 6:23

It's a darkness that doesn't know it's darkness. It believes itself to be light. This is far more dangerous than acknowledging one's own "evil" or shadow, because there's no self-correction mechanism. The person is blind, but thinks they see perfectly.

Religion is psychology by another name. And when you speak the language, an inner world is opened up to you which has been explored for thousands and thousands of years. Psychology, which is relatively new, lacks this depth.

The word "Holy" shares the same root as "Whole". To be holy is not to be morally pure - but to be complete. To accept yourself fully, condemning nothing, is to be holy. "Judge not, lest you be judged".

I find it funny, almost tragic, that the whole of religion can be summed up as "Be what you are". But it echoes something I once thought, which is that "The most difficult thing for a man to do, is to do nothing".

We always strive to be what we are not. Perfect, pure, kind, good etc. You are not that. You are perfect, as you are. Your imperfection makes you complete, which is true perfection.