10.15.09
Posted in Religion Portal, Self Improvement Resources, Universe Of Spirituality at 2:14 pm by admin
The challenge is going to be not just to ride the wave, but to find the ways to integrate the Deity, what you’re experiencing, into the ways in which you live your life on a daily, momentary basis. And you said, “Whoa, this is really going to be good because it’s snowing outside and I have to drive home in the snow.” Those people who are reading this book, who have read The Everyday Sanyasin will remember that we actually did a practice with Bill about driving in the snow, because it’s so scary to drive in the snowy streets with crazy drivers. I said this is an excellent opportunity for you to manifest, to bring into being, these qualities when you drive home. This is the idea. You’re progressively making, bringing, introducing, and integrating this sense of change amidst nurturance into your life. It’s very interesting what you’re saying because you said, in fact, that the blue-green flames began to not be a dominant part of the visualization.
You don’t have to rely on them as much because the chant makes you so strong that you felt like you didn’t need that much protection. You are able to make those changes from a place of internal strength.
This is very cool because you are beginning to see the evolution of the visualization.
What you want to do is be fastidiously honest with yourself and to make sure that you are getting as much benefit from the visualization as you can. If you feel like it’s happening, you’re embodying it, and the flames begin to be less visible now that you’ve internalized them. You don’t have to externalize those flames anymore.
I’m guessing it’s probably a compassionate, nurturing strength. You feel comfortable acting in this realm of change.
You’ve been hanging out with Shiva now for a few days, and you feel pretty safe now with it. That’s really beautiful. Now, if you’re ready, we can begin to play.
Yogi Sean is the student of Swami Ramananda and the author of Dancing in the Fire of Transformation and The Everyday Sanyasin.
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05.18.08
Posted in Religion Portal at 5:53 pm by admin
A Rosary Resource Patterned on the Holy Father’s Apostolic
Letter Review of Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous,
Sorrowful, & Glorious Mysteries by Michael Dubruiel and Amy
Welborn By Lisa M. Hendey
For someone looking to “make a difference” in our world so
filled with unrest and need, responding to Pope John Paul II’s
call to embrace the Rosary is one affirmative step that can be
taken immediately. As a resource for making contemplation of the
Rosary a part of your life, authors Michael Dubruiel and Amy
Welborn have compiled the book Praying the Rosary: With the
Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, & Glorious Mysteries (Our Sunday
Visitor, June 2003, hardcover, 64 pages).
Though compact in size, this book can and will have a tremendous
impact upon your life if you choose to read and implement its
suggested format. The book’s introduction reiterates the Holy
Father’s call to this perfect form of Christian contemplation
and points to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a role model for
contemplating the true mystery of Jesus Christ, his life, death
and resurrection. Bearing both the Nihil Obstat and the
Imprimatur, Praying the Rosary incorporates all four sets of
mysteries, including the new Luminous mysteries.
Welborn and Dubruiel follow the format suggested by Pope John
Paul II in Rosarium Virginis Mariae including the announcement
of the mystery, scriptural references, contemplative silence,
the formal prayers of the Rosary (including a short prayer
phrase following each Hail Mary related to the specific
mystery), and a brief concluding prayer for each mystery.
Newcomers to Rosary devotion will find the compendium of prayers
at the completion of the book a helpful resource.
Complimenting the suggested format, stunning artwork graces the
pages for each of the mysteries. Contemplation of these
wonderful icons provided courtesy of St. Isaac of Syria Skete
allows the user yet another point of interaction with the
mysteries of the Rosary.
This books compact size makes it the perfect tool for
incorporating the Rosary into your daily devotional routine. The
hardcover format is durable and will stand up to daily use. The
book will easily slip into a purse, briefcase, day planner or
coat pocket. Praying the Rosary has taken up permanent residence
in my “home away from home”, my vehicle, where my boys and I
daily contemplate the mysteries of the Rosary in our own effort
to better know and love Jesus Christ. We pray each day, joining
our hearts and minds with countless millions around the globe,
for peace in our own little corner of the world and beyond.
For more information on Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful,
Luminous, Sorrowful, & Glorious Mysteries visit
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1592760376/catholicmomcom
Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of
http://www.catholicmom.com and http://www.christiancoloring.com,
and an avid reader of Catholic literature. Visit her at
http://www.lisahendey.com
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05.11.08
Posted in Religion Portal at 10:59 pm by admin
There have been twenty-four Tirthankaras or prophets of the Jain religion. The first one was Lord Rishabh and the twenty-fourth one was Lord Mahavir. Contemporary Jainism has Lord Mahavir’s pronouncements as the basis. They include some of the principles enunciated by the twenty-third Tirthankara Lord Parsva also.
Lord Mahavir preached his doctrine after attaining omniscience. He propounded Religion by giving central importance to the soul. For him, caste, creed and colour were not significant. Religion or Religion came to acquire a comprehensive scope by upholding the principle that casteism is not real.
Treating Religion and sect as two separate things reinforced the basic unity of Religion. There can be a plurality of sects but there can be no plurality of Religion. True Religion consists in subduing attachment and hatred. It is the same for everyone and for all times and all places.
Lord Mahavir gives us the anekanta Philosophy (non-absolutism) to look at the world. It is a widely used metaphysical concept and is an important method in the quest for truth. According to this theory, you cannot arrive at the entire truth with the help of sense perceptions because senses have their limitations- they can at best arrive at partial truth. Besides, there are as many facets of truth as there are ideas. Therefore, before declaring that a particular idea is false, one must try to discover its latent fragment of truth. This humble but comprehensive viewpoint of the Jain Religion regarding the quest for truth is enough to give it the status of a world religion.
Once Acharya Tulsi was camping in Hissar (Haryana). It was a summer afternoon. Suddenly Kaka Kalelkar emerged as if from nowhere. The Acharya wondered how Kaka had come without any prior information. The latter said I was sitting in my office in Delhi thinking about anekanta. While doing so I felt very unhappy about the inactivity of the followers of the Jain Religion. People of all religions are trying to turn their religions into world religions. But the Jains are totally inactive on this front. They have a great philosophy like the anekanta, which qualifies as a world religion, and yet they are least bothered about it. I was distressed by it. I could not contain my grief and it explains why I have come here in this scorching heat.
Kaka Kalelkar’s complaint did not merely have a tinge of grief; it also had a lot of truth. The Jain Religion is a fit candidate for being a world religion. For it supports human unity, explains religion from a non-sectarian angle and concedes partial truth in the doctrines of all other sects.
Also More Articles at articlesworld.com
Mahapragya Achary is 10th acharya of Terapantht founded by Acharya Bikshu Swami
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04.29.08
Posted in Religion Portal at 4:32 pm by admin
What answer can I give to those who often say
There is no God, why should I bother to pray
Storms of life come in every shape and form
A smooth sailing through life is surely not the norm
When do answers to prayers come, or do they come at all
Does God really hear my prayers when upon His name I call
I must keep on praying although no answer is in sight
My answer may come today or it may come this very night
Where should I pray, in a public or secret place
Should I be standing upright or should I fall upon my face
I’ve heard many prayers prayed in a pretty church
I’ve observed men praying from a lofty perch
Who should I pray to, Jesus is the only one
Who died on the cross, He is God’s only son
I must pray with power like the holy men of old
I my time of need, I must be very bold
Why should I continue to pray, I must ask
Often my prayer time is such a difficult task
Interruptions come and doubt creeps in my head
My heart believes in Jesus, I know that He is not dead
The words of this poem were gleaned from many years
Of praying to Jesus, who has often wiped my tears
I’ve prayed many prayers during the past many days
I know that God hears and answers, in many ways
Without Jesus, I would have no prayers and no hope
Of a better day coming, I must hold on to the rope
The Word of God bids us to pray without ceasing
The prayers of God’s children to Him are very pleasing
Irvin L. Rozier, copyright 2005
About the Author
author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com
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03.23.08
Posted in Religion Portal at 6:56 pm by admin
Why did ancient Israel have an army? Was it because they didn’t have faith? Did they believe in themselves instead of trusting God? Did they insist on fighting their own battles, rather than let God wage war for them?
Why did God fight for Israel in Egypt? Did they exercise faith then? Did they somehow lose their confidence in the wilderness, after having seen God’s mighty miracles? Does that make sense? They’d heard what God was going to do to Egypt from the onset, and they saw with their own eyes what God did through 10 consecutive plagues. After defeating the world’s only superpower, had God spent His energy?
God took on the gods of Egypt single-handedly. He didn’t want Israel’s participation lest their deliverance be misconstrued as a successful slave revolt. He took a slave people to become His Servant-Nation. Israel had only changed masters.
When God led Israel out of Egypt by Moses, He purposely told Moses to bypass the hot spots where Israel would encounter hostile forces, lest they opt for the “security” of Egypt (Ex. 13:17). They went out of their way to avoid war! It doesn’t sound like they were eager to do battle when you read the accounts of their griping and complaining to Moses (Ex. 14:10-12).
Moses, full of faith, encouraged the congregation to believe God. The first time Israel engaged in battle was at Moses’ command! He instructed Joshua (also faithful) to assemble a fighting force and defeat the pesky Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-16).
God had fought the first few rounds against Israel’s enemies, showing Israel He would destroy their foes. Now God would fight in and through and for Israel! Moses’ uplifted hands of blessing and authority insured Israel’s military success. It was evident to all where their true strength came from (Ps. 33:16). Israel was only a fighting instrument in God’s Hands (Isa. 41:15, Micah 4:13).
Many people understand the commandment against killing should be translated “murder.” God commands His ministers of state to execute judgment and utilize capital punishment for various offenses (Rom. 13:4). We’re told to remember Moses’ law and obey it (Malachi 4:4). God has authorized the State to act within the guidelines of His Law Book.
Israel wasn’t anxious to enter Canaan - they were afraid! Moses admitted they were outnumbered and outgunned by the Canaanites, but reassured Israel that GOD would be with them and grant them supernatural victory (Deut. 7:1-2, 16-24). When the spies brought their report to Moses about Canaan’s men and might, they wanted to run with their tails tucked between their legs (Numbers 13:31). Only Joshua and Caleb put things in perspective and encouraged the people to trust in God (Numbers 14:9). Israel didn’t have any faith in their own ability or God’s!
What many have failed to realize is ancient Israel wasn’t going to enter the Promised Land by faith alone; it was going to require faith and works! God wasn’t going to do all the work for them. Israel had to actively claim their inheritance. Don’t we also?
Israel lacked faith that GOD could work miracles through them! They knew God could take on their enemies, but they doubted He could work through them. They concentrated on their weakness rather than on God’s strength. God expected Israel to fight His battles and He would guarantee their success. Israel took one city at a time, slowly but surely making progress, subduing the land and defeating their foes, and yet giving God all the credit - like our process of conversion (Ps. 44:1-8).
Even David, a man after God’s own heart, fought numerous battles for God and His people, but considered God the Victor. David would ask God whether he should attack at this time or place, and what to do, when and how, and God answered him (1 Chron. 14:10).
Did Abraham, the father of the faithful, sin by waging war against those who had kidnapped his relatives (Gen. 14)? Melchizedek blessed him, He didn’t rebuke him! Levi and sons, following Moses’ call to arms (at God’s command), went through Israel’s camp and slaughtered those who’d sinned with the golden calf (Ex. 32:28). Did they lack faith? No! They were acting faithfully! They put God before family and friends. Couldn’t God have just sent a plague? Yes. But He worked through men.
Since God works through men, why didn’t Jesus let Peter defend Him? 1) Because prophecy had to be fulfilled and 2) because God’s Kingdom wasn’t established yet - otherwise Jesus said His servants should fight! This example teaches us that loyal citizens ought to be willing to fight and defend their king and country!
Presently we have a “dual citizenship.” Paul didn’t deny that he was a Roman citizen or hesitate to exercise his civil rights (Acts 16:37, 22:25, 25:11). He didn’t just turn the other cheek when he was about to be scourged! There’s a time and a place to wage war or declare peace (Ecc. 3:8); to suffer persecution and death, or to run for your life ( Mat. 24:16, John 8:59)!
Spiritually speaking, we should all understand we’re only mortal, taking up temporary residence on earth, and therefore be mindful of eternity and live accordingly, waiting for our eternal inheritance in God’s Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:1, Ps. 39:12, 2 Pet. 3:11).
But what about “spiritual fornication?” If we exercise our right to vote and get involved in politics, isn’t that defiling ourselves with this world’s system? Only if and when it contradicts the commandments of God. We should never disobey God to follow men (Acts 5:29). We’re in this world and do take an active part in its system of government and education everytime we go to work and pay taxes or send our kids to school or college! We’re only to avoid those aspects of this world’s system that are Biblically wrong (1 Jn. 2:16).
Joseph served in pharaoh’s administration. Was he spiritually defiled? Daniel was in the belly of the beast - Babylon - yet he served the king and God. Whenever there arose any conflict of interest, Daniel put God first, as we must also always do. Nehemiah worked in the Persian government, yet he was also blameless before God. God even referred to Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar as His servants.
God is our Heavenly King over all, that’s why we can’t allow others to try and usurp His authority over our lives. He’s our Husband and to listen to anyone else who would dare go against His Word is spiritual adultery and fornication. This is one of modern Israel’s biggest sins: giving in to international peer pressure rather than obey God!
Yet God isn’t our only ruler. He’s ordained that men aren’t to be left in a state of anarchy, but ought to obey the Noachide laws binding on all mankind: to establish a system of justice, abstain from idolatry and immorality, and refrain from eating blood (Acts 15:29).
Even Christ will be King of kings and Lord of lords; He won’t be ruling alone. God’s our Minister, and Jesus Christ’s our High Priest, yet we don’t object to having human ministers also. Do we have a double standard when it comes to politics? We speak of “dirty politics.” And there is too much graft and corruption. But what about religious scandals? Perverted preachers and adulterous ministers? Does that mean we should reject the whole idea of God having human servants? “Dirty religion?” Both Church and State need to let Christ clean up their act (Malachi 3:3).
God didn’t forbid Israel from having a king or a high priest. He simply put restrictions on them and offered guidelines. The king was to be Israelite; he wasn’t to put his trust in financial securities or gold, or depend on a huge army or arsenal of weapons for Israel’s defense; and he was to study the Scriptures daily (Deut. 18:15-20). He was permitted a token military force made up of volunteers ( Judg. 7:2, Deut. 20:5-9). The priest was to bless Israel’s troops before they went to battle, encourage them that God would fight through them, and sound the alarm with the sacred silver trumpet (Deut. 20:1-4, Nu. 10:9, 31:6).
God was upset with Israel when they demanded a king, but not because they wanted a king - He had made an allowance for that through Moses - but because they were rejecting God as their Supreme Ruler (1 Sam. 8:20).They wanted to walk by sight, not by faith, overconfident in human leaders (Ps. 118:9).
The kings were to lead the way (Ps. 1:10-11). They were to follow in the footsteps of King David who enacted the law of Moses (1 Kgs. 2:3). Israel was only to follow men as they followed God. The prophet Samuel warned them of greedy rulers, excessive taxes, and corrupt administrations, but they still decided to go ahead with their political elections. Not that the religious world was free from fault (1 Sam. 8:3). And God reveals that the best man shouldn’t always win (Dan. 4:17). But if we pray for God to lead us in deciding who to vote for or against, it’s His responsibility to let us know what to do. Of course we should study the party platforms and see which one is more closely aligned to Biblical principles. It’s vain to think that our vote could thwart God’s Will! He’ll promote and demote whom He will (Ps. 75:7).
Ancient Israel was both Church and State: a theocracy. God recognizes these two branches of government and encourages us to do the same (Malachi 4:4-5). The two anointed positions in Israel were that of priest and king (Zech. 4:14). The oil was representative of God’s Holy Spirit that Israel prayed would guide and direct their leaders.
We’ve seen how God has authorized human leaders to take life (Lev. 20). They’re free to deputize a police force (to protect and defend communities), as well as use the armed forces to defend their country and kin.
God holds His leaders responsible not to get greedy or become bloodthirsty. We’re not to relish war, but use it as a last resort (Deut. 20:10-12).We’re only to fight wars of self-defense and not throw our weight around (Lk. 3:14). We’re to hate the sins of our enemies and learn to love them, knowing they’re also made in God’s image and hopefully will come to their senses someday; we’re not to be trigger-happy or gloat over our enemies’ downfall (Prov. 24:17).
God’s going to utilize Israel to punish various nations during their trek back to the Middle East (Isa. 11:14). And God will be fighting through the Jews at Jerusalem (Zech. 14:14). Christ’s coming back to earth to wage war before He ushers in peace!
God hasn’t only intervened for Israel. He’s determined the outcome of various wars and battles to let one group of Gentiles beat another (Deut. 2:19-23). Moses also said it would’ve been a sin if the different tribes of Israel didn’t rally to each others defense (Nu. 32:20-23). And it’s a disastrous sin to go to war if God’s servants instruct otherwise (Deut. 1:42-45).
It’s all a matter of faith and obedience. We’re to realize GOD is our true Commander in Chief and the Captain of our Salvation, and follow the lead of His Holy Spirit (Jos. 5:13-15, Heb. 2:10). But let’s not forget that God can and does work through inspired men (Neh. 9:27).
About the Author
David Ben-Ariel, an American author who has travelled widely and who has lived throughout Israel, shares a special focus on the Middle East and great interest in Jerusalem, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out www.benariel.com
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