Ellen Burstyn: “a spirit opening to the truth...”

Beliefnet.com has an interview with Ellen Burstyn, about her new autobiography, Lessons in Becoming Myself (which I highly recommend), as well as her involvement in the Sufi Order International (the order in which I am ordained). Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

When I was on top of the Alps and Pir Vilayat did the Universal Worship ceremony, I was so moved by it because here we were on an Alpine peak facing Mont Blanc, and there was an altar, and Pir lit a candle to each of the major religions of the world, and then read from the sacred books of those religions.

And the idea that we didn’t have to say, “I am a Christian” or, “I am a Buddhist” or, “I am a Muslim,” but, “I am a spirit opening to the truth that lives in all of these religions,” brings you into a place where you see that the differences are in the dogma, and the essence is very, very similar.

The truth is there spread out and speaking. For instance, Jesus says that if someone strikes you to turn the other cheek and the Buddha says that “Hatred cannot be fought with hatred – hatred can only be fought with love. This is a law eternal.” Well, they’re saying the same thing there. And you find that consistently. So, I knew when I came upon that that I had found what was, for me, a doorway into spirit.

Here’s the interview:
Ellen Burstyn’s True Face