"Salvation is a collaborative event."

In other words, nobody wins unless everybody wins. This is a fascinating and refreshing change from many traditional religious approaches that emphasize salvation of the individual.

In fact, a very similar idea of collaborative salvation is found in Mahayana Buddhism in the concept of the Bodhisattva. This is a being who has reached the highest stages of realization, can take the final step into full Enlightenment and Nirvana, but voluntarily vows not to do so without first helping countless other beings to reach the same exalted state.

In a world where we are discovering the inter-connectedness of all things at every level, this is an inspiring and refreshing doctrine, not least of all because it makes sense. After all, if it is true that the same divine spirit is in me that is in you, then how can one be "saved" without the other? On a deeper level, if we can realize what the mystical teachings are at pains to stress - namely that we already have salvation and just need to awaken to the truth of it - then the idea of collaborative salvation, i.e. helping each other to the Light - is truly the only way that makes sense.

Asoka Selvarajah