http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ Collection of Thoughts Tag: SELF en Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:25:13 +0000 http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/639#post-25568 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 04:26:47 +0000 dattaswami 25568@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Knower of Atman</p> <p>The old feelings in ‘chittam’ (storing capacity of mind) appear on the screen of the mind as a cinema. Resisting the mental activity through senses is Yoga as told by Patanjali (Chittavritii Nirodhah). If you resist seeing, hearing etc., the entry of external poison to the mind is stopped. But the poison was already precipitated in your chittam since several births. Thus the mental activity (Chitta Vritti) is both external as well as internal. This activity is called as ‘Sphota’. According to Sanskrit grammar, chittam has two meanings. One is the addition of poison from outside (Samjnanam) and other is digestion of already existing poison (Smaranam). The poison is the bundle of worldly matters. Resistance of mental activity is to be done by the soul, which can be affected by the poison. But a scholar (Jnani) does not resist this poison. He can digest the poison and so even takes it from outside. Both these activities are done by the subtle body (Sukshma Shareeram), which is made of qualities or mind. The gross body (Sthula Shareeram) is a composite of the senses, which do actions initiated by qualities.</p> <p>A ‘Jnani’ separates himself [by analysis] from these two bodies and enters the third, causal body (Karana Shareeram), which is pure awareness. He will not cross the boundaries of this third body, which is also called as Atman. Such a scholar is called Sthita Prajna. ‘Prajna’ means pure awareness. ‘Sthita’ means the person who has limited himself to pure awareness. Since he takes the decision of himself to be Atman, ‘Buddhi’ (intelligence) also becomes the pure awareness. Since he decides the meaning of ‘I’ as pure awareness, the ‘Ahankara’ [I-sense or ego] also becomes pure awareness. You must note that Prajna also means Buddhi. The remaining two internal items (Antahkaranams) are Chittam which is the C.D. or cassette of precipitated feelings and ‘Manas’ (mind) which are the internal screen.<br /> The internal T.V. show goes on and the spectator (Atman) sees and enjoys the show. His gross body is his own house, which is the cinema theatre. The whole show is the subtle body and the causal body is the spectator. The spectator has no link with the T.V. show and is only entertained. The spectator is not disturbed by the show and is only entertained. The spectator is not disturbed by the show and is called ‘Gunateeta’ by Gita (Guna Guneshu Vartante…). This T.V. show initiates the senses of the gross body, which do deeds according to the qualities of show. The Atman or spectator (I) is also separated from the gross body and so is not linked to the deeds and the qualities. The soul [Atman] is detached from qualities, deeds and their corresponding results. This does not mean that he does not receive the results of his deeds. The subtle and gross bodies did the deeds and so they enjoy the results. But this soul, which is detached from these two bodies, is a spectator of such enjoyment of the enjoyer. The soul is not the enjoyer since it is not the doer of the deeds. The wheel that constitutes the deeds and their corresponding results, (Karma Chakra) is also not affected, since it is related to the person’s subtle and gross bodies only and not to his causal body or the Atman. The subtle and gross bodies are the ‘doer’ and ‘enjoyer’, constituting a show for the entertainment of the causal body, which is just a spectator. Since the subtle body is also made of awareness, it enjoys the results through its gross body. But an ordinary human being identifies himself with the subtle body and gross body, considering them as ‘I’ and therefore becomes the doer and enjoyer. But the scholar fixes his ‘I’ to the causal body alone and de-links himself from doer-ship and enjoyer-ship.</p> <p>There are two vessels containing vibrated water. Both the vessels undergo stress due to the water vibrations. The vessel is the gross body and water-vibrations are the subtle body. An ignorant fellow identifies himself with the vessel and the water vibrations and so is vibrated [he feels that he is being vibrated] and undergoes stress. But the scholar identifies himself only with the water and not with the vibrations or the vessel. He is not vibrated and has no stress. He goes on enjoying the vibrations and the stress. Even if he does a sin, he goes to hell and enjoys the punishment there. The punishment is received by his subtle and gross bodies and he, as Atman, observes the enjoyment of the punishment and gets entertainment. Ramana Maharshi got a boil [tumor] on the body due to some deed. But he confined himself to the soul and so was not the doer of that deed. When the boil was operated upon by the doctor, He observed it and His subtle body enjoyed the pain [he was operated upon without anesthesia]. But he, as Atman was entertained in the operation. When the Gita says “Atmavantam na Karmani”, it means the Jnani enjoys the results of deeds but he is detached from such enjoyment.<br /> “Avashyamanu bhoktavyam…. Kalpakoti Shataih” means that one has to undergo the results of his deeds even after millions of births with interest. The doer can never escape the enjoyment of results. But in the case of a deserving devotee, the Lord comes down as a human incarnation and enjoys his results [undergoes suffering on behalf of the devotee]. Except this way, the doer has to enjoy his own results. But in the case of a deserving devotee, the Lord comes down as a human incarnation and enjoys his results. Except this way, the doer has to undergo the results. But in that path, the devotee should not aspire for such unjust punishment of the Lord and should resist it, if he comes to know of it. The Lord is called ‘Datta’ for this very reason, since He donates Himself for the sake of His devotee. When Datta enjoys such results, He also behaves like a Yogi. It means that He confines Himself to the soul and His subtle and gross bodies undergo the punishments. Therefore, a Yogi is just like the Lord in this aspect of spectatorship. The Lord has the power of creation of the world while the Yogi does not. But this difference is irrelevant during the aspect of spectatorship. Therefore, this ‘Advaita’ (state of oneness; monism) state of a liberated soul and the Lord, which was proposed by Shankara, is meaningful.<br /> This whole universe is the gross body of the Lord and ‘Hiranya Garbha’ is the subtle body of the Lord. Hiranya Garbha means the composite form of all the souls. Now, in the gross and subtle bodies of the Lord also, a number of reactions and changes are going on like a cinema. The ‘Maha Maya’ is the Atman or the causal body of the Lord, which is only a spectator. He confines Himself to this Atman and sees the show in His subtle and gross bodies.</p> <p>The path of Karma [worldly action or desire-motivated action] has no salvation because the soul is not detached from subtle and gross bodies (Bhunjanam Vaa—Gita). He cannot entertain himself by confining to his Atman and so he resists bad qualities and bad deeds. He is very alert about good deeds and always tries to enjoy the pleasures of heaven. But he often comes back to this world, where good and bad are mixed. He is always exposed to the risk of falling in a trap of bad qualities and sins here. He is always afraid of that and has no independence. But in the path of Jnana or knowledge, the scholar is fearless and fully independent. He is beyond both good and bad. Both give entertainment to him equally like sweet and hot items in a meal. This soul has Jnana [knowledge] of Atman, has ‘Rasa’ [love] of the entertainment and ‘Ananda’ [happiness] of the enjoyment of both good and bad equally. The Veda says that such a liberated soul is characterised by these three qualities. The Lord as Rama killed Vali and as Krishna, He enjoyed the result of that sin. But the doer and the enjoyer were only His subtle and gross bodies. They are and not the Lord, who was only confined to the Atman as a spectator. Lord Krishna could see the show at the end in which His own sons and grandsons were killed and He was entertained by the show. When Arjuna could not kill his grandfather, because he identified himself with his subtle and gross bodies, the Lord taught him ‘Jnana Yoga’ by which Arjuna confined himself to his soul and killed his grandfather and went to hell. But he was the spectator in killing and also while enjoying the sin in hell.<br /> Jains [followers of Mahavir Jain] say that Krishna also went to hell, since He was responsible for such a cruel war. Even if that were correct, the Lord would have enjoyed hell as a spectator! Therefore, such a remark on the Lord does not affect Him at all. Shankara taught about the Atman, which is the causal body in the view of ordinary human beings. </p> <p>When His own case comes, God exists in Him beyond even the Atman and so God is called as the Maha Karana or the Cause of the causal body. When He said that He is Shiva, this word Shiva refers to God and He confined Himself only to God, just like the Yogi confines himself to Atman. The word Shiva means auspicious and so can refer to the Atman in the case of the Yogi. The Veda says “Ubhe Punya Pape Vidhuya….”, which means that the Yogi transcends both good and bad and becomes equal to God. The Gita also says the same “Ubhe Sukruta Dushkrute”. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1048#post-21950 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:19:46 +0000 kels 21950@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>I have found a website <a href="http://www.beyondselfnow.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.beyondselfnow.com</a> which is really interesting.</p> <p>A lady called Julie Sarah Powell has written of her spiritual experiences, sharing excerpts from her diary explaining how her 'self' has been completely transcended – "a state beyond the Oneness or Awakened state, an irreversible no self." </p> <p>If you feel like checking out Julie’s website, there is a ‘How To’ E-Booklet <a href="http://www.beyondselfnow.com.ebook.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.beyondselfnow.com.ebook.html</a> which I have found really helpful. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/423#post-21929 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:45:19 +0000 Mary 21929@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>bumping ... this really spoke to me today. Wow. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/817#post-17657 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:29:57 +0000 starion 17657@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Lots of reading before you post.... Welcome anyway... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/817#post-17651 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:00:22 +0000 tabutoyou 17651@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>I am a certified counseling Hypno-therapist and a Reiki Master,and I also channel spirit guides and angels. I have alot to talk about but just wanted to say hi. I am new to this stuff. </p> <p><a href="http://www.doorwaytothesoul.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.doorwaytothesoul.com</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15697 Sun, 14 Oct 2007 11:37:36 +0000 Ekanta 15697@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Patanjali Yoga Sutras:<br /> 1.2 Yoga is the control of the modifications of the mind field.<br /> 1.3 Then the Seer abides in Itself, resting in its own True Nature, which is called Self realization.<br /> 1.4 At other times, when one is not in Self-realization, the Seer appears to take on the form of the modifications of the mind field, taking on the identity of those thought patterns.</p> <p>Ramana Maharshi:<br /> 1. Holding on to samadhi with effort is savikalpa Samadhi<br /> 2. Merging in Reality and remaining unaware of the world is nirvikalpa samadhi.<br /> 3. Remaining in the primal, pure, natural state without effort is sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi.</p> <p>Sathya Sai Baba:<br /> 1. Master the senses, gain full control over them<br /> 2. Conquest of the mind, its elimination<br /> 3. Uprooting the Vasanas (innate tendencies)<br /> 4. Attainment of Jnana (spiritual wisdom)</p> <p>So as we can see, the “seer” becomes the ego by taking on the modifications of thought patterns, conscious and unconscious.<br /> Self-realization is when we take off the sunglasses, and uproot the colour of those mental tendencies. </p> <p>So what did Buddha lose under the Bodhi-tree?<br /> He realized he was not the mind modifications and uprooted the innate tendencies so as to stay in Samadhi. Kind of exhausted the mental tendencies you can also say. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15648 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:57:08 +0000 starlight 15648@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>exhaustion...lol </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15647 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:37:45 +0000 shin 15647@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>If nothing was removed, then why did he need to sit there for days? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15644 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:28:18 +0000 starlight 15644@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>nothing... :) that is the joke and why Lazarus is still laughing! </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15641 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:17:39 +0000 Starseeker 15641@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hi starlight,</p> <p>I have some questions.. maybe you can help me answer them?</p> <p>what did Buddha lose ?</p> <p>what did Buddha have to remove in order to gain enlightenment ??</p> <p>Thank you<br /> starseeker </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15625 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:31:03 +0000 starlight 15625@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>this reminds me of a joke that i just made up...lol... :)</p> <p>what was it that Buddha lost as he sat underneath that Bodhi Tree? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/683#post-15622 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:34:06 +0000 Ekanta 15622@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>"No 'self' or any 'non-self' whatsoever has been taught by the Buddhas.<br /> ...Not singular, not plural, not exterminated, not eternal,<br /> This is the immortal teaching of the Buddhas, lords of the world."<br /> Nagarjuna, (Mulamadhyamakakarika 18:7-10) </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/639#post-14548 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:51:33 +0000 selfseeker 14548@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Good one, tamaraalom ! Welcome to the forum !! :) </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/639#post-14531 Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:10:31 +0000 tamaraalom 14531@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>In this paper, I attempt to investigate the irrefutable similarities found between the underlying foundations of many of the world religions, specifically their ontology. In fact, it seems implausible to neglect to also reveal the resemblance these religions have with a significant number of psychologists’ theories. Due to the vastness of this subject, I have paid particular attention to two specific world religions, Hinduism and Islam and again due to the complexity and diversity of each of these religions, I have chosen to examine only one school of thought from each religion, Advaita Vedanta in Hinduism and Sufism in Islam. There are such significant similarities in their ontology that I feel further investigation is fundamental.</p> <p>The idea that all religions are essentially the same and the debates that surround that idea are briefly discussed, followed by the significant role India and Hinduism have played in the development and spreading of this ideology as well as its role in the nourishment of so many revolutionary philosophies.</p> <p>In order to get an understanding into the specificity of the subject matter, an outline of both Advaita Vedanta and Sufism are given along with Jung’s concept of the ‘collective unconscious’ that seem to dovetail with Advaita’s and Sufism’s ontology.</p> <p>I feel it was also important to mention the different levels of reality/knowledge that exist according to these schools of thought.</p> <p>A large part of this work is focused on the similarities found to exist in both religious schools of thought as well as in one of the most of profound psychological theories on the idea of the Self and its relationship to the Ultimate, God, Being.</p> <p>A comparative analysis into the processes and stages an individual goes through in order to achieve enlightenment or self-actualisation is delineated along with the manifestations that an ‘enlightened’ person possesses. </p> <p>The world is seeing an unremitting increase in global communications among political and economic philosophies, physical sciences, social sciences and inevitably among religion. This has therefore forced the different religions of the world to come together, which has lead to a rise in the overwhelming sentiment that favours increased communication and understanding, if not unity, of the religions of the world. “They must develop a spirit of comprehension which will break down prejudice and misunderstanding and bind them together as a varied expression of a single truth“[1].</p> <p>The problem that has arisen thus far from the meeting of religions is that such contact has, for the most part, represented conflicts rather than dialogues. This, according to Hume is due to the fact that “in matters of religion, whatever is different is contrary.“[2] That is, whatever grounds an individual has for believing in a particular religion, must be the same grounds for disbelieving in another.</p> <p>Conversely, there has been a plethora of philosophers, scholars and theorists who believe that the essence of all religions is indistinguishable, that the fundamental principles running through all of them are one and the same. They acknowledge the fact that there are differences, however, these are things that are personal, non essential and will gradually fall away.[3]</p> <p>John H. Hick distinguishes between three kinds of differences among religions. First, the Differences in the Modes of Experiencing the Divine Reality, as Personal or Impersonal - which he sees as unproblematic given that the personal and impersonal modes of encountering reality could be “understood as complementary rather than incompatible“[4], in that people of the same or different religions have been found to experience God in different ways. Second, Philosophical and Theological Differences - which are also relatively easy to overcome, as the consequences of globalization, critical scholarship and science will call for religions to overcome or at least moderate their historical specificities. Third, Differences in the Key or Revelatory Experiences that Unify a Stream of Religious Experience or Thought - it is this difference that Hick sees as comprising of the largest difficulty in religious agreement, since each religion has its own holy founder or scripture.</p> <p>Ralf W. Trine solves this third difference with his answer to someone who cannot grasp the great truth of the unity and oneness of all religions, “A Christian for example asks ‘But was not Christ inspired?’ Yes, but he was not the only one inspired. Another who is a Buddhist asks, ‘Was not Buddha inspired?’ Yes, but he was not the only one inspired”[5] With regards to the Holy Scriptures, he explains that all these inspired writings all come from the same source, God. The name that is given to ‘God’ is unimportant, be it Allah, Brahman, Being or the Unlimited, for “priests and poets will with words make into many the hidden reality which is but one”.[6]</p> <p>This notion of the oneness of all religions has been greatly influenced by India, its thinkers and the acceptance of its ‘religion’. Culture is an extremely complex phenomenon that is constantly evolving, for no society can remain static for any length of time. The old moulds of society merge with the new attitudes which irrefutably will change the character of that civilization.</p> <p>In India there has been a continuity of cultural change brought about by both internal factors such as the development of Buddhist and Hindu schools of thought such as Advaita Vedanta and external factors such as the Iranian contact and the Muslim rule. Yet rather than these factors changing the basic principles of Indian culture, it has kept close to its roots while at the same time, allowing new seeds to settle and flourish. It seems that “whatever was received from abroad was assimilated by India to her own genius. Where it failed to do so completely - as in the case of Islam - its failure was only partial, as there was rapprochement in a number of cultural features, and, in some, complete fusion”[7]. </p> <p>No country and no religion has ever adopted this level of understanding and appreciation of other faiths so persistently and consistently as India and Hinduism. India was not a nation of one people but of many peoples with an array of languages, religions and communities. Yet despite this fact, they still tended to possess similar attitudes and outlooks.</p> <p>There were and still are two main religions professed by the people of India, Hinduism and Islam. In both it is possible to distinguish between two religious tendencies, one of which is more traditionalist and orthodox, where the emphasis is put on established doctrine and ritual, this according to Maslow is the legalistic and organisational side of religion[8]. For the second type the focus is turned inward, the focus was put on the spirit of religion, the withdrawal from objective reality and the unification with the Divine. It is this second approach to religion that is of particular interest.</p> <p>It is this tolerance and acceptance of the Indian culture that has enabled Sufism to develop in the way that it has, for although it did not originate in India, it is in India that Sufism was allowed to survive and proliferate. Sufism or tasawwuf, as it is called in Arabic has been under debate regarding its origins and how this school of inner knowledge was established. Although Sufism is open to all humanity, it was born out of Islam[9] and there are records of it going as far back as to the lifetime of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), fifteen centuries ago.</p> <p>When the news of Islam spread, many people traveled great distances to hear the teachings of the Prophet because of their inner yearning to learn the reality of religion.</p> <p>These individuals met on the platform (Suffe) of a mosque in Medina where they would discuss the ways to inner knowledge, the truths of revelation and the meanings of the Quran. This group of followers later became known as Ahle Suffe, the People of the Platform, one of the most influential groups in the history of spiritual civilization. They later returned to their nations as diverse and widely separated as Persia, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, North Africa and India in order to keep the Sufi tradition alive. Through this dispersion different orders and schools of Sufism have emerged, the four major ones being The Chishti Order, The Qadiri Order, The Suhrawardi Order and The Naqshbandi Order, yet all legitimate Sufi schools trace their roots back to the original groups of the Prophet’s spiritual disciples[10].</p> <p>Seyyed Hossein Nasr, one of the leading scholars of Islam, contends that Sufism is simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of Islam. The Sufi teachings are based on individual understanding and experience, not just on knowledge of texts and rote learning. The central concept in Sufism is love, which they believe is a projection of God on the universe[11].</p> <p>Their practices are based on knowledge of the true self, which then frees them from the self centered personality characteristics that blind them from Reality, “freedom from the self“, this process is called Fana[12]. The preoccupation people have with owning and controlling is in par with their inability to connect to God and see the true reality that is within themselves.</p> <p>“What appears to be truth is a worldly distortion of objective truth” - Hakim Sanai one of the classic authors on Sufism.</p> <p>Sufism is akin to Advaita Vedanta. Their belief lies in the non dual Absolute and that the Truth (Haqiqa) lies at the heart of all things and yet is beyond all determination and limitation. The Sufis feel that it is an illusion to see human beings as different or separate from nature and the universe. God said, “My earth and my heavens contain me not, but the heart of my faithful servant contains me.”[13] They view the world as a reflection of God. A Sufi discovers that the “lover and beloved come from love.”[14] </p> <p>Many Sufi poets compare consciousness to a cup and unconsciousness to the ocean, individually we are like the cup but all of us together with nature are the ocean, unconscious reality, or God. If we have the ability to lose the limitation of the cup by freeing the self we can be reunited with the ocean of being, which would enable us to lose the anxieties of separation, loneliness and isolation and gain the permanency of the everlasting ocean[15]. </p> <p>To view the complete article, please visit <a href="http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/self-in-sufism-advaita-vedanta-and-psychology/" rel="nofollow">http://tamaraalom.wordpress.com/self-in-sufism-advaita-vedanta-and-psychology/</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13640 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:25:09 +0000 starion 13640@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>And we are hoping you understand what we say to you... that YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR...and when you find that you would give away all books, all of everything you own to keep that coming through you.... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13639 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:23:36 +0000 starion 13639@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>When you speak those words, then you....know what they mean... not just words on a page but living words flowing through you... then you understand... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13638 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:21:35 +0000 starion 13638@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Purpose... if you hear those words inside your head....speaking inside you...and they ring with truth, light, joy and beauty...and they make the very you radiate with joy and harmony...from inside you....your face shines and you feel so perfect...that<br /> nothing else is important...but the perfection coming from inside your mind, radiating through every inch of your being... and you forget to eat, you feel so complete...so<br /> intensely alive...connected with everything else in the universe.. you don't need to teach or share...because the whole universe knows it and sings it...you are home and surrounded by all you have ever really wanted... then you say "My father and I are one." </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13630 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:50:19 +0000 selfseeker 13630@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>"no one is good EXCEPT GOD" .... and there is no one bad except God.</p> <p>"ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"</p> <p>That is some justice. Even when you are unborn you are a sinner .... it is being sinner in perpetuity &#38; for eternity .... so just keep on asking for forgiveness .... keep killing your self with the guilt that for your sins Jesus died even if you are born 2000 years after his death. </p> <p>IMHO, there is more in Bible than this guilt-conciousness. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13623 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 04:46:16 +0000 selfseeker 13623@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>The real meaning of scriptures is "apparently" not in scriptures .... They are neither True nor False. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13618 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:31:28 +0000 shin 13618@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>I expect an answer like "God's words". Fair enough, but interpreted by what, one's heart or one's mind? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13617 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:29:03 +0000 shin 13617@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>~p101,</p> <p>if one can't trust one's heart, what can one trust? One's mind? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13616 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 03:11:34 +0000 Purpose101 13616@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>many mention like asl that "heaven is within you"...</p> <p>well...listen to what is says in the Proverbs...</p> <p>Proverbs 20:6 "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?"</p> <p>Romans 3:23 "ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."</p> <p>most people will proclaim they are good...yet when in light of God's Word in the Scriptures...TRUTH will be exposed about what's really in their hearts...</p> <p>for in Jeremiah 17:9, it says "the heart is deceitful above all things "</p> <p>the new age teaches that your heart is good...but the BIBLE teaches that your heart is in truth, deceitful...deceiving even YOU to believe you are "good"...</p> <p>but the Bible says "no one is good EXCEPT GOD"</p> <p>in light of the standards of the Bible which are the standards of God...we all fall short...we have ALL broken the Ten Commandments...we have lied...stolen...lusted after other people (considered "adultery" in your heart by Jesus)...have hated others before (considered "murder" by Jesus)...</p> <p>look at the 10 Commandments and honestly listen to your conscience...be honest...and if you feel conviction that you have broken at least 1 of them...repent to God and ask Him to forgive you for your sins...and accept Jesus' death on the cross as the punishment for YOUR own sins...</p> <p>turn to Jesus Christ today...</p> <p>BJ<br /> <a href="http://www.Purpose101.com" rel="nofollow">www.Purpose101.com</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13490 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:36:09 +0000 AsI 13490@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>That is the Golden Rule that can be found in every religion, and yet, all the emphasis is put on 'their' God rather than the truth within. </p> <p>Everyone has 'Heaven' within, if that gift is accepted. All the rest is dogma that creates separation. </p> <p>No one can deny another 'God' since 'what is looking' is already there.</p> <p>Words for words and words for naught</p> <p>Let 'The Looker' Know What is looking... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/533/page/3#post-13485 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:58:40 +0000 svetlu 13485@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Love thy friend as thyself. This main rule in Kabbalah.<br /> _______________________________________________________________ <a href="http://www.kab.tv/eng/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kab.tv/eng/</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12952 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:47:35 +0000 starlight 12952@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>when you start...NOW living in the world that is...being what you are...where you are...here...you will realize it is what you wanted all along... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12951 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:42:03 +0000 starparticles 12951@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Thanks AsI, lots of good reading ahead of me :) </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12947 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:58:51 +0000 starlight 12947@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>asi...there is no first step...except to realize ego is nonexistant. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12946 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:56:30 +0000 starlight 12946@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>adyashanti speaks to this notion...there you go, another concept, that tells us we have reached the mountain top...we are free in the absolute...we are one with the one and all...and yet, we are still dreaming.</p> <p>we have to wake up to the entirity of the illusion...we cannot rest in our 'nothingness' of the one and meditate while the rioters burn our house down around us!!!!!!!</p> <p>it is selfishness to think that since we are at peace, the world can just go to hell...perfectly just the way it is...nonsense!</p> <p>this is not the goal of awareness or conscious being...</p> <p>we must do what the universe puts in front of us to do...</p> <p>and the universe will bring it on...ready or not... :) </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12945 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:51:12 +0000 starlight 12945@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>well said sp...yes...if we are going to dance the dream awake, we must be aware...</p> <p>the planet is suffering as much as we did while still trapped in that ego/mind.</p> <p>remember starion that we are connected to every tree, flower, person, everything we see...is the illusion of the creator god...and yet, it is our desert of the real...and as real as it gets...</p> <p>our children may very well be an illusion, but does that mean that we do not nurture them and take care of them? same with the planet... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/583/page/4#post-12944 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:49:11 +0000 AsI 12944@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>"How then can I be in the world that I want, if I am in the world that is??"</p> <p>The first step to the next step is to read a book called "The Disappearance of the Universe" by Gary Renard. You won't regret it. After you read it, you will have done the first step, which is no small thing.</p> <p>:) </p>