What if it were possible to find the root of all problems? Is 
there a single factor, which effects all men's actions and are at the core of 
his decisions. I think so! 


Others have mentioned the part played by religion in world history and the 
devastation and death it has bestowed on all those who disagreed with its 
particular principals. There is little doubt that religion as it is practiced by 
most faiths is an impediment to all who search for God. There is however a great 
difference between living a spiritual life and following a religion. 


God is 
not a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, etc. "God Is" 


Within each of us, exist two entities. They are "self" and 
"I". We know about "self" and all of its aspects, 
self esteem, self awareness, myself, yourself, self-will and hundreds of other 
words and phrase which incorporate 'self". We are as a people 
self-centered. 


We are self-centered regardless of whether we were born in 
America, Russia, England or Iraq and regardless of, whichever religion we choose 
to practice. We are all self-centered or ego centric to use a different 
phrase. 


Self is an integral part of the human condition. None are born without a 
"self". Self is neither good or bad. Self is a tool, which enables us 
to live. However, we have become slaves to "self". Our lives have 
become a constant struggle to satisfy "self's" needs and desires. In 
particular "self's" need for power, prestige and security. 


We spend our lives in servitude to "self" forever trying to satisfy 
its needs and desires. We buy a house and soon we wish it were a bigger house or 
in a different neighborhood. We get a job and soon we need a better job. We get 
money and find we need more money. Our efforts appear to satisfy our selves for 
just a little time and then we hear its cries again, for the ego or 
"self" is impossible to satisfy. 


To put it more succinctly self is our God. Self has become so powerful 
in our modern world that it runs riot in our personal, political and even in our 
religious lives. Yes, "self" has made all religions obedient to its 
desires. For example, whom do you pray for? You're "self". We include 
others in our prayers but mostly the are concerned with requests to God for 
stuff for our-"selves". 


Let me make this point again. "Self" 
rules over all religions! All religions! We have made a God of "Self" 
and therefore placed all our religious practices under control of 
"self". When "self" demands that we behave contrary to the 
teaching of our religions, it is a simple matter for our ego to rationalize our 
behavior and cloak it as "It is the will of God" or "God bless 
America", as we step on the rights and broken bodies of other people in our 
rampant desire to satisfy our "self-ish" need for power, prestige and 
security. Self is real. It is dangerous, and it is a God who rules over our 
world. Some may even call it Satan 


If God exists who and what is he? This can not be a difficult question. For 
if God exists he would not make it difficult to find him. As I suggested earlier 
there are two parts or entities within each of us the "self and 
"I" Self has usurped the place of God or "I". It has done so 
by deception and lies. A lie which has been repeated so often, that it has 
become truth. That lie is "self" reliance. There are few things so 
appreciated in western society to day as "self" reliance. The ability to rely 
only on our "selves" to fulfill our own needs or desire is placed as 
the highest of our ideals. The lie states that if you rely on anything other 
than your "self" you will die! Yes it is that extreme. If you rely on 
anything other than your "self", you will die! It is that lie, that all 
personal and international wars are based on. Here is how it works. 


Let us picture our brain or our mind as a bicycle wheel and from its axle or 
center, radiates spokes. Let us assume that the axle or center of the wheel is 
the "self" or ego. Each of these spokes represents an action or a 
desire of self. When self or ego is placed at the center or axle of our minds it 
is impossible for us to have a though which is not attached to the 
"self". Therefore, all thoughts are connected to self and represent a 
desire of "self". In short, it is impossible to have a thought, which 
is not "self"-serving. We are therefore always in service to our 
"selves" Slaves to its desires and fears. 


Let me ask you the following seemingly silly questions. 


Look at you hands and tell me who owns them. Yes. Who owns your hands? 
"I" do you answer. 


Who has owner-ship of your car? "I" do you answer? 


Who has authority over your children? "I" do you answer 


Who has authority over your Brain "I" do you answer 


These simple questions show that there is an entity other than 
"self" within you, which has owner-ship or authority over your 
"self". That entity is "I". In Christianity, Judaism and 
Islam this "I" is made obvious to Moses when he asked God "Who 
shall I say gave these tablets to me? God replied "tell them "I" 
am that "I" am. The great "I AM" (Paraphrased) In other 
religions "I" is refereed to as the Godhead and in others the center 
of consensus. 


"I" is our connection with our creator. It represents the very 
essences of God, which is placed within us as we are created by him "In his 
likeness". Yes. We all are the Blessed Son's of God, the Christ, the God head, 
the divine. Deep within us obscured by the lie told by "self", right at the very heart of 
our consensus lies God. Nothing, not even Satan's lies or "self" deception 
can ever change who we are. We are the Blessed Son of God. 


Self (Satan) has hidden our Godhead behind lies and enslaved us in his 
service. We have all served in Satan's, "self" or the ego army. We, 
and the world's religions have served "self" in ignorance and our 
agreement to do so has been wrought from fear and obedience to our selves. 


Look around our world now and ask who rules this planet is it 
"self" or is it God. The answer is very apparent. Are our actions the 
result of service and obedience to God or to our "selves"? Every 
nation IS working in its own 'self" interest? Jihad then is not a holy war 
fought against those who do not share in our beliefs. It is a holy war fought 
within our-"selves" to ensure that each thought and action is born 
from a desire to serve "I" or God rather than to continue our 
enslavement to self. 


Those of you who have taken time to read this far, have already recognized 
the truth. For deep within us is an awareness of truth's validity. It knows, all 
arguments are silenced in the fullness and wonderment of its recognition. 


As Gibran says in the "Prophet" 


And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge." 


And he answered, saying: 


Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights. 


But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge. 


You would know in words that which you have always know in thought. 


You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams. 


And it is well you should. 


The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the 
sea; 


And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. 


But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; 


And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. 


For self is a sea boundless and measureless. 


Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a 
truth." 


Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I 
have met the soul walking upon my path." 


For the soul walks upon all paths. 


The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. 


The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals. 

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If you know your self. Then you know all people.