Having said that, there is one thing that struck me about the research that goes a long way explaining a particular dichotomy – what I like to call the Big God / Small God Dynamic. In religions world-wide there seems to be roughly two distinct camps. One camp emphasizes God’s love for humanity, concerns itself with alleviating human suffering, and places a fair amount of importance on similarities between different religions. This is the Big God camp, because their God is big enough to accept everyone. The other camp emphasizes God’s judgment, concerns itself with human sin, and places a greater importance upon the differences between religions. This is the Small God camp, because this is uncompromising, wrathful, and discriminating.

As it turns out, there is a scientific reason behind this dichotomy in people’s views on God. Religious impulses originate in two areas of the brain – the frontal lobe and the limbic system. The frontal lobe, which is the more recently developed portion of the human brain, lights up with activity when the Big God is contemplated; it is also the origin abstract ideas such as love, peace, truth, and wisdom. The limbic system, which is the oldest portion of the human brain, lights up with activity when the Small God is contemplated; it is also the origin of our “fight or flight” response and very basic emotions such as anger and fear.

Both of these “Gods” exist as parts of the human mind, and most spiritual experiences are a blend of the two. However, if we look at spiritual trends over the last 100 years or so, there is a definite shift in which of these two concepts of God are favored; humanity is moving away from the judgmental wrathful God and towards a more peaceful loving God. I think this is proof of human evolution within the last century or so; we are slowly transitioning from a limbic religion to frontal lobe spirituality. The implication of this is that our brain is still evolving, and along with it, our concept of God is evolving as well.

Of course, it could also be argued that this is proof that belief in God is a product of our evolution and that we should see God as a defect of the human brain. I’m not in favor of such an argument, although I understand why and how that argument would be made. If God is nothing more than an adaptation, however, it would seem odd that this adaptation would continue to evolve over the last 100 years – a time frame during which physical demands on the human species have decreased, while intellectual demands have increased. It would make more sense if we saw belief in God slowly disappearing, instead of rapidly changing.

Or… perhaps I missed something in my first reading of “How God Changes Your Brain.” As I’ve already said, it is worth a second read.

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Where Science and Buddhism Meet from Gerald Penilla on Vimeo.

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Every generation blesses the generations yet to come with innovation. Every generation is the harvest of the generation that proceeds. It is our life’s work to contribute to the next world, just as we have benefited from the one before. We must evolve – constantly adapting and pushing beyond what has been done before. Not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

No one individual is worthier than another. It is foolish to think that some are inferior to others due to accident of birth into the “incorrect” race or social class. Every individual shares common ancestors, and those ancestors they do not share often have overcome similar hardships. Even disability is a foolish reason to dismiss someone; an individual who is at a disadvantage needs to go further and work harder than someone who enjoys every advantage and achieves the same level of success. This too pushes the boundaries of humanity.

Even an individual who does not bear children may contribute to the growth of humanity. The evolution of ideas can be contributed to by all people; ideas are free to create and share, so should be freely shared and created. Whether it is through some science, some manner of art, or through espousing a particular philosophy, new ideas contribute to the growth and evolution of humanity as a whole.

Evolution is a choice that we make. While we do not have complete control over how we evolve as a species, we do have control over how we evolve as individuals. If we do not exercise that right, we ensure only our own irrelevance. Those who choose not to evolve only impede the progress made by others. We are a culmination of a long series of success stories, and we are meant to continue those stories. May all of our triumphs bless the generations to come and build upon the sacred work left to us by our parents.

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It would be a mistake to think of one of these three as being superior to the others. Each are a means to a different aspect of Truth, and are no more primitive than the individual applying their methods. When one of the three is pursued without the others, confusion may arise, as the wrong tool is used for the wrong purpose. When all three are pursued in tandem, the pursuit of Truth becomes easier by a small measure.

This does not mean, however, that any individual who wants to find enlightenment must be a PhD in Astrophysics, Sociology, and Religious Studies. While it would certainly help to be a polymath, enlightenment is not hinged upon the collected knowledge of an individual, but rather what that individual does with all that she understands.

It is fine to be a psychologist, but if you do not realize your own psychosis and work on that, you are not using that knowledge to its full potential. It is fine to be a minister, but if you do not realize your own spiritual weaknesses and confront them, you are not fit to lead others to face their demons. You may well be the greatest mind in regard to medicine and health, but if you avoid exercise and choose your own diet poorly, how many people will listen to you?

Enlightenment – the pursuit of Truth – is the process of healing yourself, your society, and your world. Use every tool made available to you first on yourself; only then can you call it wisdom and give it to others. You need not be an expert, but you must use what you sell, walk what you talk, and mean what you say. Better yet, do not sell, talk, or say, and let the example you set speak instead.

It is important that spirituality, philosophy, and science are not themselves the Truth. They each illuminate some aspect of the Truth, but they are only tools. Through understanding the mechanical workings of chemistry, physics, and biology, we know something about the Truth. Through understanding morality, politics, and psychology, we know something about how the Truth acts through us. Through understanding our own spirituality, our own needs, and our own feelings, we learn that each is one part of the Truth. It is above as it is below.

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