http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ Collection of Thoughts Tag: spiritual en Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:09:41 +0000 http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-24542 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:12:35 +0000 rajanikanth 24542@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>*****all my dear selves,<br /> there is noting called null-spirituality, basic spirituality, some spi.., full-spiri....<br /> all these are funny words, every one is fully piritual. unless there is no spirituality in ne, how can one live?</p> <p>what do you people think of spirituality. taking ashes from bare hands?, flying in air?, astrol body travelling?,heeling people with energies?, working with auras?, or talking about spirituality. </p> <p>think on... the actual spirituality is self realisation. ofcourse one need not know chakras, or work with energies for realisation. if one can think, one can do.</p> <p> what do you do every day???? think!!!</p> <p> i say we (in physical form), every day we die a bit by bit, and one very fine day we will be dead fully. </p> <p>what we need to know is what we did, why we did, what is the result of it, and how it is influencing the society,.. and so on...</p> <p> think not "SUN RAISES IN EAST"...<br /> realise, "the earth revolves and rotates" so it looks like. </p> <p>flying in air, treating people with heelings, astrol body travel etc are just emotional factors of one. they are not the targets of life.</p> <p>i hope u can try to understand ur level of spirituality now "that u are fully spiritual" (as every one is) and u need not tamper the aura of any other spitirual aspect(living or non-living thing) OR u have no right to tamper. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22486 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:39:38 +0000 Star 22486@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>lol with rose... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22485 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:37:11 +0000 InfiniteRose 22485@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>I would say that the spiritual path </p> <p>is like a game of strip tease </p> <p>the more belief you take off </p> <p>the more exciting it gets ... : )</p> <p>mind you ....there are many way's to skin a cat .. lol.... ; )</p> <p>love rose : ) </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22481 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:08:39 +0000 starion 22481@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>First class. five students...phonics...beginning at the beginning... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22477 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:54:22 +0000 gentlesoul 22477@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm I think I will add my two cents...lol</p> <p>Personally, I do not look at spiritual "advancement" in terms of achievements or levels, but more along the lines of growth. Growth that can be parallel or sequential or sometimes a repetition of a “lesson” we haven’t really gotten the hang of yet. I think that one’s development is directly correlated to the choices they make along the way. Free will. There are no bad choices, as the decisions we make determine who we are at a given moment in time and space.</p> <p>Love and Light, </p> <p>gentlesoul </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22473 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:12:12 +0000 sunflower 22473@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for that interesting site David, yes there are signs and we don't have to ignore them; there are for a reason i guess...<br /> I understand what you mean in your replay but i'm only trying to evaluate myself HERE AND NOW. I know, there are always important challenges between so called stages or levels as i was thinking and i am anticipating something will happen to me very soon...i wonder if i'm prepared and i thought if we can evaluate ourselves in a way or other it should be helpful to us in our spiritual path.</p> <p>Congrats to you Gatesofgrace for your anniversary and wishing you all best luck and wealth. That is very nice and good to you to feel like this after all these years :)<br /> I also do not regret anything i did or what happened to me until now, and i am trying to move wisely ahead...</p> <p>Seeking,</p> <p>Sunflower </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22472 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:22:26 +0000 David 22472@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>They are signs an nothing more, how much importance is put on them is up to the individual, Personally I find them interesting but not important enough to use as a progressive spiritual guide</p> <p>And good luck teaching starion. God bless </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22471 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:12:29 +0000 starion 22471@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Just went through those 12 signs and during this lifetime have encountered all of them. Am now returning to teaching just when others this age have retired.. Have asked to be of service and those who need teaching are arriving soon. Later... </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22470 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:07:41 +0000 gatesofgrace 22470@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>sunflower wrote,</p> <p>Do you know to evaluate yourself on which stage you are on your spiritual path?<br /> Do you think it is important to evaluate yourself?</p> <p>The dialogue that you offer, and by what was shared, is a reflection of this evaluation that you speak... is it not! Even in the most heated of sharing where there is much opposition or even unity, one will find this reflection and evaluation. The Master SriRamaKrishna offered four distinct levels of awareness. Worldly, seeker for liberation, seeker after liberation, and the everfree. </p> <p>Most interesting note is that those who are worldly have never or most likely will never become a seeker as defined in his teaching. It is as if one is born a "seeker" or they are not, and hence are bound to this world and a clear line is perceived. Here is the deception... one is either worldly seeker, or one is an inherent divine seeker at whatever level. </p> <p>The deception or guise in any of this is that both are seekers. One, is first a seeker of self and devotions are contained inside their world and are hence worldly, another is seeker outside of self and offer inherently to be free from it or to be liberated. David offers introspection and/or extrospection.</p> <p>The deception or guise in this is that for both worldly seeker and seeker for liberation have both introspection and extrospection. Difficult to imagine this is. As starion points out, removing the mask, one is returned to their innocence. So, how does one imagine that in this innocence there are some that are caught up in layers of seeking that fully consume their lives, but do not share in the seeking of God or creator. All the while they remain "seekers" bound to this world. Every angle in this seeking as applied, is weighed toward a heightened personal "self".</p> <p>Star speaks of the inside job. Then she offers how does one separate creator from created. She also speaks of religion. There is much dialogue here to consider as shin points out, where one yet again, gets trapped most certainly for a time in any seeking. For at each crossroad there remains the root within each... that exposes what is seen, first for the worldly, second for the liberated. </p> <p>Here religion of all strips point toward the separation between worldly seekers and spiritual seekers. Religion also points to the division in the worldly, as well as any division remaining in the liberated seeker. Ultimately, when one is seen as a seeker of the divine consciousness, they can shed the religion that points and distinguishes the two. This has never been seen as it is today. They are not dismissing religion. The religions merge and collapse onto themselves as the divine relationship is reestablished. </p> <p>The greatest command offered to love God (creator of truth) with all heart, mind and soul, while denouncing all other Gods (deception) points to both. Seeker of heightened "self" and seeker for liberation from that "self" must take a stand before this. For the one bound to this world they are captivated and are totally consumed to there heightened "self" where religion is lost. For the other, self itself is consumed and they in time become everfree and one within the ALL, where religion is lost.</p> <p>The answer to your question regarding spiritual path is offered above. Deception and truth at every turn until one is everfree. When could any evaluation in this be understated? One must keep their eye on the finish line, at all times.</p> <p>sunflower, today is my 29 wedding anniversary with wifee. I am feeling so much wiser having shared in that. That too is an evaluation that must be considered. i am becoming wiser each year and probably why i am so winded once again. lol</p> <p>Blessings! </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22469 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:01:37 +0000 David 22469@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Here is another site that opens up more questions than answers, but I think you will like it...</p> <p><a href="http://www.reikithehealingpath.com/twelve_signs_of_spiritual_awakening.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.reikithehealingpath.com/twelve_signs_of_spiritual_awakening.htm</a></p> <p>Of course you can spend the rest of your life interpreting every thing just to see how far one is progressing spiritually, while it is interesting to read what Sri Swami Sivananda has written I would focus my attention more on what is going on within to such a point that anything that may happen outside will be irrelevant </p> <p>I believe the saying 'a watched kettle never boils' is appropriate here, likewise if you seek signs of spiritual progression you will miss the point of now... which is the point in time you should be concentrating on. not past or future.</p> <p>An inquisitive mind is healthy but remember... do not attach yourself to these things you will be restricting yourself to seeking how far you have progressed and miss the one thing you naturally are... limitless. boundless, timeless etc </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22466 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:51:26 +0000 sunflower 22466@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hmmmmmm...thank you all for replays, but what do you think on article below?</p> <p>Barometer of Spiritual Progress</p> <p> By<br /> Sri Swami Sivananda</p> <p> Here is an infallible barometer to find out the degree of your spiritual progress. How would you feel, if:</p> <p> 1. Your clean hands or best clothes are stained.<br /> 2. You stumbled down or commit a blunder and are laughed at.<br /> 3. You are hurt accidentally or stung by an insect or scorpion.<br /> 4. You suffer from illness or pain.<br /> 5. You do not succeed in your efforts.<br /> 6. You do not get a thing that you want, or find that some thing you possess is missing.<br /> 7. You are kept waiting for a long time by some other person.<br /> 8. You are insulted or abused for no reason.<br /> 9. Others fail in their duties towards you.<br /> 10. You suffer a loss or bereavement. </p> <p> If none of these can disturb your peace of mind and you are indifferent to them, you have won the struggle and achieved 50% self control. God sends trials and troubles to strengthen your character: Greet them and test yourself.</p> <p> Analyzing,</p> <p>Sunflower </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22453 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:17:23 +0000 David 22453@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>The first step...</p> <p>Change is a constant you can rely upon!!</p> <p>The first spiritual feeling you get is that of dissatisfaction and possibly depression because of the way change effects us it forces you to seek another alternative. Many seek it in material possession or sence gratification, others try some sort of religion, many just accept there fate in the hands of God. all are illusions being neither good nor bad, all will send that feeling back again. </p> <p>Then your left with a void a nothing to turn too especially when you have tried everything under the sun to find peace and happiness.</p> <p>Now sunflower, The moment you start to look for levels, seek understanding by evaluation you will go full circle into dissatisfaction because all levels and evaluations will point to a limit, a boundary. With all of this you would never be happy with other peoples comments </p> <p>There is only one thing I would suggest, that is to write your own introspection</p> <p>From Wikipedia.<br /> Introspection is the mental self-observation reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious mental and usually purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul. It can also be called contemplation of one's self, and is contrasted with extrospection, the observation of things external to one's self. Introspection may be used synonymously with self-reflection and used in a similar way.</p> <p>The thing with introspection as with any spiritual path is it is easy to do but very hard to maintain. So dont worry if it you find yourself stumbling here and there</p> <p>Hope this helps </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22449 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:42:11 +0000 Star 22449@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>starion, just an ovservation, but first you connect everything that is phenomenally manifested, then you seperate it at the spiritual level again. </p> <p>when we come to realize that everything is abosolutely Consciousness, then how can we then seperate what is not seperate into creator and created? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22448 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:02:12 +0000 starion 22448@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>OK, let's go deeper. Down the street is an alcoholic. Is he more spiritual than me? Not my call. Remove all the part of him that thirsts for alcohol and there is my identical me. Over across the river, there's a bum sleeping in the woods. Remove the mask of bumness, and there is an identical me. Down the road a bit at that fancy house is a lady who thinks she is superbly better than anyone else. Remove that exterior, and that is me. Take off all the masks and all the guises that everyone is playing and we are all identical pretending to be different. Even the president is a person with a mask of president and under that identical to me.<br /> Then comes another expansion when you realize that a tree is also part of that same awareness, and a cat, a dog, flea, simply everything is consciousness wearing different guises pretending to be different, but all are parts of the same play. that consciousness is the creator of this universe, you realize that being the best you, you can be is actually what the creator asks of you. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22447 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:52:02 +0000 starion 22447@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Sunflower...there are a million roads and each road, even the lowest and roughest, eventually leads to the same place. Since all of us possess the answers, because they are within us, any road we take, reveals our personal truths.<br /> I have a friend who I thought was enlightened who joined a church not for religious reasons but for the sociality of it. I know special children who cannot even write their own names, but they are more spiritual than hundreds I have met. I met a man whom I thought was enlightened and asked one question: "What do you want of your life?" to which he responded "To be a millionnaire and sleep on a bed of money!"<br /> Spirituality is not found in a book, but you might find it there, if that was what you were looking for. It's not found in another, but you might find it there, if that was what you were looking for. It's not a plane or level; it is being. If you are being the best you, you can be, you are being it, whether you know it or not. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22445 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:13:22 +0000 shin 22445@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>When you refer to levels I take it to mean a vertical structure. From your more detailed description I see that you refer more to a horizontal structure, what I would call areas of interest.</p> <p>Spirituality, encompassing all that exists has many areas of interests and many 'areas of activity'. One could ask whether there are areas of activity which are compulsory in order to call oneself spiritual or "progressing"? My answer to this would be yes, it is the area of connection and interaction. </p> <p>IMO one could define spirituality as 'awareness of interconnections'. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22429 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:20:04 +0000 sunflower 22429@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Oh my, starion...i asked a simply question (i though) and i got more questions from you...<br /> Now let me try to explain to you what i meant.<br /> Lets presume we have some keywords, an alphabet on spirituality and one who is not too much interested in spirituality, has no idea about the meaning of those keywords. So this might be the baseline-null spirituality.<br /> Next stage might be one of beginnings when one learn the few meanings of spiritual keywords, like what are chakras, aura, about energies and so on...<br /> Next level might be development on which one is trying to go more deeper into the meanings of suggested keywords on spirituality, for example one might start to learn and practice yoga, or reiki ...<br /> Another level might be achievement when one might collect the fruits of his/her work, to apply his/her lessons and knowledge ...<br /> Then might come maturity level in which one can develop the most important steps for his/her goals...</p> <p>Now it depends on the personal standards of each of one...to establish our goals...<br /> Ok i wanted to evaluate myself and maybe i'm a little bit confused, but i know my goal and i will do everything possible to attain it.</p> <p>You have to listen your inner sound, soul's callings and you will get the answers.</p> <p>I hope it was helpful somehow to you starion.</p> <p>Evaluating,</p> <p>sunflower </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22425 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:07:23 +0000 Star 22425@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>sunflower, levels and stages are within almost every religious philosophy that is known i think, so depending on whether you claim to be a Buddhist or a Christian or something else, you are limited by the limitations of each religious school, and there are various sects within the various schools.</p> <p>most of us here have pretty much had their fill of religious philosophies, and that is how we got here i suppose. i come from a Christian background, but have studied many other religions and notice one thing they all have in common is a base of gnosis, or a Supreme Source. most of us here call that Consciousness or Awareness, and yes...even GOD...but i don't really believe what you call a thing changes it; except by the limits your own mind gives it. </p> <p>lately i have been studying something called Dzogchen Atiyoga, and even within it (which it is supposedly hailed as the 'supreme vehicle'), i am finding additions and sublevels, secondary teachings, and limits imposed...</p> <p>i am convinced that the most important spiritual thing one can do for oneself is to look within and recognize their own true nature. once this is experienced, stablize yourself within it, and carry it into your life experiences. this may sound easy and simple, but it is not, mainly because our conditioning and attachments must be undone, usually, before Awareness will reveal itself.</p> <p>spiritual growth is dependant, imho, on how well you are able to realize the true from the false, and this can never be accomplished outside of you. it is an inside job, and not always pleasant. it requires great diligence, self-honesty, and a willingness to be at the mercy of Awareness, the ultimate teacher and guru.</p> <p>many of us here are rebels. most of the rebels have had a difficult time of it, searching hi and low for truth, and are not apt to fall for anything because we all have been there done that. </p> <p>we tend to keep each other honest, calling each other on our bullshit, but that is a good thing. the important thing to remember is to light your own light from within, get out of its way, and then follow it. </p> <p>if you live each similtaneous instant of pristine awareness in wisdom and truth, you will already be on the only level that really is...it is where you begin, where you travel, and where you are...</p> <p>always, star. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22421 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:09:11 +0000 starion 22421@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Sunflower... if you already are what you are looking for, would not it be a better statement to evaluate your personal awareness levels? But then, they are never identical from one day to the next. In order to evaluate anything you need a baseline. From where would you obtain this baseline??? Indeed in order to evaluate where you are on this same thread, you would need a goal. From where would you import this goal? And while you are evaluating your position on this string...rather like taking tests constantly, would you be learning anything or evaluating yourself??? Against what??? And why??? </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22420 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:50:47 +0000 shin 22420@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>What exactly are you evaluating, sunflower?</p> <p>You seem to be quite unsure about the whole idea, and if we don't know what the stages and levels are, what we are supposed to learn, let alone how to learn it, how can there be any test?<br /> Who administers the levels and everything around that? </p> <p>You ask an important question "Do you think it is important to evaluate yourself?". Yes, in aspects of desirable human characteristic, and No in aspects of spiritual characteristic. </p> <p>I have no idea at what stage I am in my path. I can only see trouble and complications arising if I would know that. </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1088#post-22419 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:31:21 +0000 sunflower 22419@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>I was thinking and wanted to bring to you into attention and discussion,i guess there are some stages or levels into one's spiritual path. For example on the beginner level one learns about energies, chakras, the alphabet of spirituality... then come the next levels, development, achievement levels ... and most probably we are required to give some tests to move on the next level.<br /> Do you know to evaluate yourself on which stage you are on your spiritual path?<br /> Do you think it is important to evaluate yourself ?<br /> I'm waiting for all your replays. Feel free to say whatever you think on this topic.<br /> Thank you.</p> <p>Evaluating,</p> <p>Sunflower </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1057#post-22066 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:23:40 +0000 gcrambler 22066@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hi All,</p> <p>I wanted to share this audio message which I recently heard. The content is pretty remarkable, as is the voice. A new revelation for the year ahead? What are your thoughts?</p> <p><a href="http://www.newmessage.org/speaks/new-year-2008.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.newmessage.org/speaks/new-year-2008.php</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21801 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:29:34 +0000 Rediviva 21801@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Maybe Pink Floyd's "Wish U Were Here" and "Animals" are OK to meditate to, bluesy feeling and ondulating landscapes... </p> <p>And Tangerine Dream, for the same reasons, pick any album by these symphonic-synth-blues-magicians and float away. </p> <p>Maybe "Enya"s CD:s can come in here too, a bit high-brow perhaps but at the same time easy listening, so to speak...</p> <p>Runners up: Kitharo --- Jean Michel Jarre --- Pat Metheney --- </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21759 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:48:44 +0000 sk8erboyla2004 21759@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>thanks im sure with soothing bass will feel great with my 15" subwoofer lol </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21748 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:20:14 +0000 David 21748@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>You could try trance, Goa psy, I find the repetative bass soothing.</p> <p>dont forget to open up the windows and turn up the volume to max power... :)</p> <p>Try this web site for free listening 24 hours....</p> <p><a href="http://www.di.fm/" rel="nofollow">http://www.di.fm/</a> </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21725 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:41:53 +0000 sk8erboyla2004 21725@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Thanks abstract for the suggestion </p> <p>Anymore? </p> <p>thanks for the welcome </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21713 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:00:24 +0000 abstractprophet 21713@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>the sound of silence - simon and garfunkel</p> <p>welcome sk8terboyo o o... :lol: </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/1035#post-21710 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:58:39 +0000 sk8erboyla2004 21710@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hey whats up guys Im new here<br /> and im trying to get more in touch with life and realize i dont need a significant other to be happy </p> <p>What are some good types of rock you can say something along the line of jimi hendrix like to listen to. To help you meditate and be in peace </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/960#post-20887 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:08:54 +0000 YoMother 20887@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Hello All,</p> <p>I just wanted to tell you about this free weekly video blog that I've started up. I've really been enjoying the experience and feedback, and I would love it if you would come over and check it out. </p> <p>myspace.com/yomotherchannel</p> <p>youtube.com/yomothermovie</p> <p>Add me as a friend on MySpace, I would love to hear what you think.</p> <p>-Mother </p> http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/topic/873#post-19952 Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:11:31 +0000 Yiming 19952@http://collectionofthoughts.com/bbpress/ <p>Let me ask you a question, Starlight. Do you think Hooky ever thought it was a cat? </p>