Rumi is the most popular poet in the USA, yet the story behind the man is one of grief and probable murder as a precursor to the love poetry that is dedicated to Shamsi Tabrisi and to God.

The prophets of the Abrahamic tradition led lives that challenged the rulers of their day, challenges that often led to the messengers’ deaths.

After some thirteen years of being attacked for carrying a monotheistic message to his degenerating culture, Muhammad and his folk eventually defended that message with their lives at stake, though after the physical battles, Muhammad did say that future battles should be fought internally by Muslims.

Quakers were given the name as they shook with righteous indignation at the injustices of their day.

Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi was murdered at the end of his life by his detractors.

The Bhagavad Gita is a story of war, though it has an inner interpretation as well, it has to be lived.

The Buddha was attacked by demonic forces as he struggled with whether to carry his message to others, or not.

Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Lennon …. add your own favourite names ….

The point of these references?

The point is that any contemporary spiritual journey, to be following in the footsteps of predecessors, is liable to be dangerous, and if it isn’t, is it actually real?