One in English this time.
I was asked by a very dear student whether I was an Atheist or what my belief was. I tend not to answer to that question (or to answer in ways like "I don't want to talk about religion" or "it's none of your business"), this time I answer "I'm an Otolist".
I often forget not everybody knows I'm Otolio. So there were questions. Let's try to give some answers.
The basic principle is the non-universality of any belief. There is a different travel plan for each person on Earth. Sure, some of us can go on the same vacation using the same means of transport, staying in the same hotel, doing the same activities, eating the same food at the same time and place, and do so year after year; but that does not mean our circumstances or personality or needs are different. We may disagree on the best option for the next holidays and that is nothing personal against anybody. In fact, the best one can do is go on the holiday of his/her dreams—and the rest of the world has to respect that. They are my holidays.
Sure, growing spiritually is not the same as going on holiday, but it shares features, like the fact it is a journey. And it is a personal one.
In other words: it is up to each one of us how (or whether) we will grow spiritually. If there is God or any other kind of "facing our deeds" at the end of this life, it is going to be each of us for himself/herself, not our judges for us. I am trying to find what my travelling plan is; and sometimes, I need to improvise, because I wasn't born with an instruction booklet and the ones I've been offered so far were other people's.
For me, this brings up the need to develop not only respect but also acceptance: I accept my travel plan, I accept others have different ones, I respect their right to do what they have to do and I defend my right to follow my own travel plan—which is not necessarily (and often isn't) an easy or pleasant one.
I recognize the Golden Rule: be to others like you would like others to be to you if you were in their circumstances. Sure, if someone likes being physically tortured every day before breakfast, go find somebody else, I am not available for that, personally.
Following the Golden Rule, in my opinion, implies ecology: I like being in a clean, safe, preserved area of the world whenever possible and I wish the same to future generations—of people, but also animals, plants and other Kingdoms of Life. Yes, that is something that makes my life more complicated on a daily basis: only classifying the trash means I have 15 different sections/bins, at least while I learn how to improve my system; but I don't like the Planet, as a living organism, to suffer because of me.
Yes, one person can make a difference, in my opinion; and even if it didn't, I have to follow what is correct for me, and not what others reckon to be pointless.
Related not only to ecology is the idea of moderation (mesura in Spanish) or self-control: I don't buy everything I want even if I can afford it, I don't order all the food I fancy without thinking of the capacity of my stomach.
There are many other principles I try to follow that are not directly connected to the ones above. Sure, I am far from perfect and I don't always eat with moderation (to mention but one example of moderation). Sometimes I struggle to accept unpleasant events in life, like the too early departure of a friend. Sometimes I act before I think.
Oh, and yes, this system of beliefs or whatever you want to call it—it is my own and if others are called after those who presented them to the world, then this should be called Jorge-Otolism. Yet it is rather my alter-ego, the second part, the Artisan, the individuum, trying to defend it against mockery, rolling eyes, despite, etc, rather than the more conventional Jorge, therefore I call it Otolism.
Whoever you are, I probably won't accept your belief as mine either; but I love talking about ways of growing spiritually, provided they are open-minded and not impositive/imperative. So... want to talk?
