Spirituality and the human
Thích Nhất Hạnh was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet and teacher, who founded the Plum Village Tradition, historically recognized as the main inspiration for Engaged Buddhism. Known as the “father of mindfulness”, Nhất Hạnh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.
The question is asked about the correct (or proper) relations between pupils and spiritual teachers. Should a pupil give money to the spiritual teacher? What is the proper focus of such a relationship if money is involved? What about those fees for spiritual teachings?
The question arises about the value of reading holy books. What can we get out of them, what purpose do they serve? Do we consult the Master, our Friend, first before reading? Do we seek the opinion of the Master as to what we should read, HOW we should read, and what personal transformation should come from our reading? The Master, your Friend, stands ready to guide you at all times.
Arutprakasa Vallalār Chidambaram Ramalingam (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874 [Attained Immortality]), whose pre-monastic name was Rāmalingam, is commonly known in India and across the world as Vallalār. He was one of the most famous Tamil Saints and also one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century and belongs to a line of Tamil saints known as “gnana siddhars” (gnana means higher wisdom).
The Cosmic Sai Baba gives a transmission at Bundanoon, NSW. The OM is led, and an exposition is given about breath and all forms of life: Mother Earth, the ocean, inanimate objects breathing and the last breath, when all returns to the Source, the receiver of all things. We are told the Source is Love, and that Love is Absolute.
Once upon a time, when the Source took human form, a divine discourse was given. At the end of that discourse, there was a lull in the proceedings. Source returned to the podium, to the microphone and told, “I am a devotee! I am a devotee of all those who are devoted to Me!” Imagine, that this very somebody is just next to you and is ready to present you with His love and everything that He’s got available.
Claude G Montefiore was the intellectual founder of Anglo-Liberal Judaism and the founding president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, a scholar of the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic literature and New Testament. He was a significant figure in the contexts of modern Jewish religious thought, Jewish-Christian relations, and strove in his works to find a middle ground acceptable to both Jewish and Christian scholars.
This world is light. Due many births, we build, create and empower illusions that make this world appear as it is. This has been reinforced many times. It us up to ourselves to seek Love, for Love is God, and God waits for us patiently, that we might see the Love and Light that God truly is. There are universal laws – yes – and there is karma, but their is also Love, and when we turn to God with Love for God, we have Vision of God.
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Gayatri Jayanti celebrates the manifestation of Goddess Gayatri, who is worshipped as Veda Mata (The Mother of Vedas). In 2024, the date of Gayatri Jayanti is Monday, August 19, 2024.
Gayatri is a universal prayer that is addressed to the immanent and transcendent divine. The Gayatri Mantra is sacred and is considered the mother of the Vedas. It is non-denominational and can be chanted by anyone to illumine the intellect. It can be chanted upon waking, before the midday meal and in the evening – alone or in the company of the good and Godly.
Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris became a presence on the national scene, her name – a common one for women in India – has attracted a lot of attention, most specifically for its pronunciation. Kamala as a word in Hinduism has significant associations with divinity, response to divinity and worship. One form of surrender to divinity is charana kamala.
What does it mean to be spiritual but not religious? Is it to abandon all religious authority? Is it making your own cornucopia of religious beliefs? Do you have a community if you are spiritual but not religious? What about having a spiritual discipline, discernment, and moral values? What does it all mean? What is the path to peace, how do we establish a valid spiritual path for ourselves?
This day is held among lightworkers as the “Lion’s Gate”. And yes, there are Leonines among the star peoples, who have had a critical contribution to life on this planet. You can read all about that on some of our other websites. It is the day of the Lion’s Gate – 8/8/8 (2024 = 8 ) it is also a day to recall the truth about human life: we are all embodiments of love, we are all reflections of the Love of the Source itself. It is hardwired in our head, hearts and hands. It is the nature of our souls. So we share a message from higher beings, who tell us about Love, our purpose as love, our journey of love and how to stay on track: LOVE …
Contemporary life presents us with many challenges: social media, fake news, bad news, the cost of living, money comes and money goes. Where and how do we take time to experience the Divine? We talk about spiritual direction, what might be spiritual accompaniment, and validation of spiritual experience along the way we call life.
In 2023, nearly half a million people walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. About 40 percent of those walked for purely religious reasons, according to statistics released by the pilgrims’ office. While it’s traditionally a Catholic pilgrimage, ending at the shrine of the apostle James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, secular pilgrims today embark on the Camino for all kinds of motivations beyond religion: health, grief, transition, cultural exploration, history and adventure.
