This country began its existence as a Republic. We have come a long way from that base in the last 100 years, but we can still regain our lost base and become a higher form of Republic, what I call a spiritual republic.

Let’s first define what I mean by “spiritual.” I am not referring to any specific religion; instead, I am referring to the spiritual principles at the base of every spiritually based religion. These spiritual principles are universal; they apply to and form the basis of all spiritual religions, and only dogma separates one religious group from another.

Some of these principles are: you are responsible for your actions, your life and what is in it; it is important to make positive decisions that benefit as many as possible, rather than negative decisions that harm others; treat the people around you with respect; love your family and have goodwill towards everyone else; and live your life with honesty and integrity. Clearly, that is not a complete list, but I think it is easy for most of us to agree that each of these principles is part of all spiritually based religions.

The key to restoring our Republic and becoming a spiritual Republic is for more and more people to learn and live by true spiritual principles. Living according to true spiritual principles will make everyone’s life peaceful, filled with more love, and much more fulfilling. This will spill over into the world around us in our dealings with others, and many positive things will come out of this. These are only some of them:

• Just about everyone, no matter where you go, will be courteous, respectful, friendly, and caring.

• Crime will decrease. This will come in part from people taking responsibility for their lives and learning to take positive actions instead of negative ones.

• Greed and its negative influence will disappear in time. This will have a huge positive impact when it happens. Business will be run by pure capitalism, with no greed to distort it and create wide gaps between the rich and other classes. The distinction between classes will diminish because more people will prosper. Our country will grow more prosperous, stable and strong. Remember: greed is NOT another word for capitalism. It is greed that is a failure, not capitalism itself.

• Over time, our failed monoculture food production system will be replaced by polyculture food production. This will lead to more nutritious food and a healthier population. Our planet will start to heal and our water and air will also be cleaner.

• The government will once again assume the role of protecting its citizens and their rights, rather than trying to control everything in society in the name of the “greater good.” The idea of ​​a “greater good” is fine, but it will never be achieved through government regulation. The only way to truly achieve the “greater good” is by making the population more aware and more responsible. Ironically, this will lessen the need for a bloated government that runs on regulation, while collectively providing a better life for all American citizens through cooperation and care, for each other and for the future of the planet we call home.

This is clearly not an exhaustive list, so the true benefits of a Spirit Republic, while it will take decades to develop, are far more numerous than just this short list. We can achieve this, and indeed (despite appearances and resistance from some people, some organizations and the government) we are inevitably heading in this direction as more and more people become interested in true spirituality, driven by the feeling that there is much more to life, and to us, than what we can see on the surface.

This safe, prosperous and secure society that we all deserve to live in is more than a pipe dream. It starts with each of us and our choices. Make the decision today to do everything you can to leave the best possible world for all our future generations. Let the idea of ​​a spiritual Republic take root in your heart and let its principles shine through you into your life.