The Eight Points of Faith

Baba Raul Canizares

Like any other spirituality, the Orisha Consciousness Movement has its creed, eight minimum requirements for membership formulated by the founding Oba (leader) Baba Raul Canizares. The number “eight” has mystical significance for the movement since eight is the number most closely associated with orisha Obatala.

1. PREM (Divine Love, realization) is the ultimate reality. PREM is beyond the impersonal deity, beyond undifferentiated potential. PREM is ALL. PREM may be experienced as a warm beam of LOVE from within, the LOVE that has no selfish motive, the LOVE that is a spontaneous expression of the DIVINITY of humankind.

2. No one religion, philosophy or creed should claim to possess the sole keys to salvation, liberation, or enlightenment, for the paths to THE TRUTH (PREM) are as varied as human temperaments. Each individual has a right to search for THE TRUTH by following the path(s) that feels most natural to him or her.

3.Realization (PREM) is felt differently by different individuals according to their temperaments. Some may experience PREM as a total void, whole for others PREM represents total fulfillment. Still others will describe PREM as merging with DEITY while for some PREM is total surrender to a just cause. There are many varied expressions of the one reality which is PREM.

4. Recognizing that discipline and focus are essential to the development and continuation of a unified system, the Orisha Consciousness Movement holds the teaching of Baba Raul Canizares and his successors to the position of Oba to be authoritative in matters of faith.

5. There is Divine Wisdom in the world's sacred texts such as the Bible, the Vedas, and the Tao Ching. Devotees of the Movement are encouraged to reverently study these texts, particularly under the guidance of the Oba and his designated teachers.

6. DEITY (GOD, GODDESS) is to be understood as the Supreme Personification of PREM. Deity is the being perfect in power, wisdom and goodness. Offering selfless service and devotion to the Deity is a necessary step towards realization, the ultimate goal of existence. This selfless service and devotion is best achieved through identification with those aspects of Deity which resonate with one's particular temperament.

7. Yoruba deities are the most honored aspects of GOD in the Orisha Consciousness Movement, along with Indian devas. This reflects the founding Oba's life experience as a Yoruba priest and his karmic links to Indian Yoga. The Movement, however, asserts that the faces of DEITY are countless. Individual members, then, are encouraged to bring to the Movement's attention their own interpretations of Deity.

8. Besides divine beings such as orisha, deva, and angels, the Movement holds that disincarnate human intelligences can also provide guidance and counsel to those in the material plane, while other spirits may benefit from prayers and rituals performed on their behalf by members of the Movement. The method of communication between the “living” and the “dead” will be that developed by Allan Kardec as interpreted by Baba Raul. The movement must hold a minimum of two Kardecian “seances” (misas) per month in order to receive direct guidance from the spirit guides of the Movement. Members who have latent mediumistic abilities should be encouraged to develop such gifts, while all the members should attend these misa as part of the mandatory practice of honoring one's ancestors.