It is important that we should try to lead a spiritual life.Mystics are the ones who lead spritual lives.There are mystics in all the different religions but they all have experienced the same Truth.Meditation is the main or only method which all mystics practiced in order to transcend the ego conciousness.There are three things which mystics have in common.They practice morality, meditation or concentration and divine wisdom.
It is important to lead a moral life in our speech, actions and thinking.Jesus said "Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you"This means that we should not kill, steal, covetousness or commit sexual misconduct.In speech, we should not say anything that is libellous, untruths or say anything that creates illwill.Mentally, we should also have to have kind thoughts and pure and loving thoughts towards others.That is why Jesus said that even if you think of committing adultery, it it just as good as having committing adultery.
At the same time mystics would devote time to meditate.Meditation would enable you to develope wisdom.This wisdom will enable you to realize that the ego and the waking consciousness are unreal and the true reality is not the ego but the Ultimate Reality which is one with the Divine.Catholic monks say it is spiritual union with God.
There are many methods of meditation but all will achieve the same result.Meditation is the only that can transcend our ordinary consciousness and experience the Christ consciouness or Cosmic consciousness.It is only when we have experienced this transcental consciousness that we will know that our ego and this world is just an illusion or dream.When one is in this transcental conciousness, one will experience the bliss and peace that passeth all understanding.
Once a person has achieved this state of union with God, his life will be transformed.He will be detached from worldly things, no craving, and is in a state of equanimity all the time.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Love Thy Neighbor as thyself
Love is the essence of all religious and spiritual practices.One must purify the mind of all mental defilements such as anger, greed, lust, pride attachment and egotism and be selfless before the mind can have love for God.We need to love God first before we can love others.That is why Jesus says Love God is the first most important commandment followed by loving our neighbor.The real self is the soul, not the individual ego or personality.As long as there is pride and egotism, we cannot experience our true nature which is Christ consciousness or the Buddha nature.The moment one has experienced God, he will realize that his neighbors have the same Christ Consciousness as him.It is only after the realization that everyone has the same Christ consciousness can we love everyone and everything.
Many religious people speak more of the fear of God than His love and they worship Him out of fear and punishment either in this world or in hell-or they hope for a reward in some heavenly realm after death.This is irrational and incomprehensible when Jesus ask us to forgive those who persecute us and to forgive our enemies seventy times seventy.He also said if a man slaps you on the right cheek give him the left cheek also.When he was on the cross Jesus said 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do'.So how can Jesus send nonbelievers to hell to suffer fire and damnation for eternity.This is what Christians believe in.As a result, many Christians think that as long as they accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he will be saved and will go to heaven when he dies.This is called instant salvation.People are attracted to instant wealth, instant coffee,and instant happiness as well as instant salvation.
Many religious people speak more of the fear of God than His love and they worship Him out of fear and punishment either in this world or in hell-or they hope for a reward in some heavenly realm after death.This is irrational and incomprehensible when Jesus ask us to forgive those who persecute us and to forgive our enemies seventy times seventy.He also said if a man slaps you on the right cheek give him the left cheek also.When he was on the cross Jesus said 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do'.So how can Jesus send nonbelievers to hell to suffer fire and damnation for eternity.This is what Christians believe in.As a result, many Christians think that as long as they accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he will be saved and will go to heaven when he dies.This is called instant salvation.People are attracted to instant wealth, instant coffee,and instant happiness as well as instant salvation.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Love thy neighbour as thyself
The second most important commandent which Jesus said in reply to a person who asked what are the most important commandment said "Love Thy neighbour as thyself"
This commandment can only be understood if we realise that we are not this ego but all have the same Christ Consciousness that dwell within all of us. Jesus the human being who was crucified is only the garment that the Christ consciousness dwells .That is why He said 'I and my Father are one'In the same way all of us has has the same Christ Consciousness within us.As Jesus said the spirit of God dwelleth within you.At another occasion he says the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.
Once we have truly experienced the spirit of God within us or God Realization,we will automatically have love for everyone as the innermost of the soul is that of love.That is why Jesus said 'If you do not give food to the hungry, you are doing it unto me, if you do not clothe the naked , you are doing it unto me.Mother Theresa said that whenever she sees the poorest of the poor or the sick, what she sees is only the face of Christ.
God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.One who truly loves God automatcally love his fellow human beings.In Buddhism, insyead of love, they call it compassion.Compassion is a better term to use than love as compassion is unconditional love.
The Bodhisatvas are those who have already become enlightened but because of their compassion for their fellow human beings, they refuse to enter Nirvana but willing to be reborn again in order to help their fellow beings to become enlightened.
This commandment can only be understood if we realise that we are not this ego but all have the same Christ Consciousness that dwell within all of us. Jesus the human being who was crucified is only the garment that the Christ consciousness dwells .That is why He said 'I and my Father are one'In the same way all of us has has the same Christ Consciousness within us.As Jesus said the spirit of God dwelleth within you.At another occasion he says the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.
Once we have truly experienced the spirit of God within us or God Realization,we will automatically have love for everyone as the innermost of the soul is that of love.That is why Jesus said 'If you do not give food to the hungry, you are doing it unto me, if you do not clothe the naked , you are doing it unto me.Mother Theresa said that whenever she sees the poorest of the poor or the sick, what she sees is only the face of Christ.
God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.One who truly loves God automatcally love his fellow human beings.In Buddhism, insyead of love, they call it compassion.Compassion is a better term to use than love as compassion is unconditional love.
The Bodhisatvas are those who have already become enlightened but because of their compassion for their fellow human beings, they refuse to enter Nirvana but willing to be reborn again in order to help their fellow beings to become enlightened.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
LIVE IN THIS WORLD BUT NOT OF THIS WORLD--CONTINUATION
What is the difference between living in this world and not of this world?This means that while we are living in this world, we should not be attached to worldly things but go about living our lives because we came to this world mainly to fulfill our karmic obligations and also to discover who we really are and what the purpose of life is.
The first important thing is to be detached from all worldly things including our loved ones.
Jesus when told by his disciple that his mother has come to the temple where he was preaching,said "Who is my mother?Who are my brethren?For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother,sister and mother.Why did Jesus say this?The reason is that He has no attachment even to His own mother.Being one with God, Jesus is completley detached from even his own mother.Jesus again said the same thing when He said "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law.He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me".Here Jesus is not advocating that we should not love our parents or children, but He was trying to emphasise that the love of God and living a spiritual life is more important than everything else.While we should have unconditional love to our loved ones, we should not become so attached to them that we forget the purpose of life which is to attain spiritual union with God.
Jesus also emphasise that we should not be attached to worldly possessions as well.He said "Lay not for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven---"Seek ye the Kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added you"Jesus said"Thou shall love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind"
In these sayings of Jesus, He emphasises that the most important thing in life is to seek God above everything else.
Ramakrishna, a hindu saint said "Live in the world like a mudfish.The mudfish lives in the mud but itself remains unstained. Do your duties in the world, fixing your mind in God.This is eaxctly the same teaching as Jesus.What is important is that we can be detached from worldly things, if the love and desire for God is the most important thing in our life.Ramakrishna also said the "the craving for worldly things, which is chronic in man is like the patients craving for water."
The sign of spiritual progress is that as we advance spiritually, our love for worldly things get diminished and finally we can live a life of detachment and renuciation from this world of materialism.We do not become slaves to materialism anymore because once a person have found God, then none of these worldly things will not attract him anymore.This is what Jesus meant when he said "All these things shall be added unto you"once we have found the kingdom of heaven.
A person who has attained God-Realization will have humilty, equanimity,compassion, detachment and renunciation for worldly things, and most important of all is experiencing the bliss and peace that passeth all understanding.Ramakrishna said"A man who has realized God shows certain characteristics.He becomes like a child or a madman or an inert thing.He is firmlt convinced that he is the machine and God is the operator, thus GOD alone is the doer and all others are his instrument"Jesus said the same thing "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child , he shall not enter therein."The reason why a person who has attained God Realization is childlike is because he no longer has any worldly desires for anything just like a little child.Because ofthis all the things of the world is no longer important to him.
What is the difference between living in this world and not of this world?This means that while we are living in this world, we should not be attached to worldly things but go about living our lives because we came to this world mainly to fulfill our karmic obligations and also to discover who we really are and what the purpose of life is.
The first important thing is to be detached from all worldly things including our loved ones.
Jesus when told by his disciple that his mother has come to the temple where he was preaching,said "Who is my mother?Who are my brethren?For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother,sister and mother.Why did Jesus say this?The reason is that He has no attachment even to His own mother.Being one with God, Jesus is completley detached from even his own mother.Jesus again said the same thing when He said "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law.He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me".Here Jesus is not advocating that we should not love our parents or children, but He was trying to emphasise that the love of God and living a spiritual life is more important than everything else.While we should have unconditional love to our loved ones, we should not become so attached to them that we forget the purpose of life which is to attain spiritual union with God.
Jesus also emphasise that we should not be attached to worldly possessions as well.He said "Lay not for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven---"Seek ye the Kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added you"Jesus said"Thou shall love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind"
In these sayings of Jesus, He emphasises that the most important thing in life is to seek God above everything else.
Ramakrishna, a hindu saint said "Live in the world like a mudfish.The mudfish lives in the mud but itself remains unstained. Do your duties in the world, fixing your mind in God.This is eaxctly the same teaching as Jesus.What is important is that we can be detached from worldly things, if the love and desire for God is the most important thing in our life.Ramakrishna also said the "the craving for worldly things, which is chronic in man is like the patients craving for water."
The sign of spiritual progress is that as we advance spiritually, our love for worldly things get diminished and finally we can live a life of detachment and renuciation from this world of materialism.We do not become slaves to materialism anymore because once a person have found God, then none of these worldly things will not attract him anymore.This is what Jesus meant when he said "All these things shall be added unto you"once we have found the kingdom of heaven.
A person who has attained God-Realization will have humilty, equanimity,compassion, detachment and renunciation for worldly things, and most important of all is experiencing the bliss and peace that passeth all understanding.Ramakrishna said"A man who has realized God shows certain characteristics.He becomes like a child or a madman or an inert thing.He is firmlt convinced that he is the machine and God is the operator, thus GOD alone is the doer and all others are his instrument"Jesus said the same thing "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child , he shall not enter therein."The reason why a person who has attained God Realization is childlike is because he no longer has any worldly desires for anything just like a little child.Because ofthis all the things of the world is no longer important to him.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
What Is Truth?
Jesus said "Seek the Truth and the Truth shall set you Free"However Jesus never described what Truth is nor what freedom is.Pontius Pilate asked Him what is truth but Jesus did not answer him.There is no more mention of Truth in the new testament.The reason why Jesus kept silent and did not explain to Pontius Pilate what is Truth is because Truth is incomprehensible to the mind and also it is unspeakable.Truth can only be experienced.No amount of discourse can convey to the mind what Truth is.
Truth can only be realized when one has attained Self-Realization.
What or how is knowing Truth set us free?What are we supposed to be free from?
This saying of Jesus can easily be understood in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Both of these religions emphasise that our lower self is not the Real or higher Self.We can experienced Truth once we have dispel this ignorance of the "I" and mine"as being the real Self.
Life is also suffering because everyone, whether rich or poor, beggar or kings,presidents or prime ministers, all have to go through birth, sickness, aging and death. The next thing is to accept that reincarnation awaits us after death.Once we accept reincarnation and that life is suffering, then we can say that when we know the Truth, we will no longer have to come back into this world (ie reincarnation) to suffer this life.There is no longer birth, sickness, old age and death.This is what salvation really is.By not reincarnating again , we have eternal life.We become one with God.This is what Buddha called enligtenment and in Hinduism, it is called Self Realization or God Realization.In Hinduism, the word for freedom is called Moksha.
Truth can only be realized when one has attained Self-Realization.
What or how is knowing Truth set us free?What are we supposed to be free from?
This saying of Jesus can easily be understood in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Both of these religions emphasise that our lower self is not the Real or higher Self.We can experienced Truth once we have dispel this ignorance of the "I" and mine"as being the real Self.
Life is also suffering because everyone, whether rich or poor, beggar or kings,presidents or prime ministers, all have to go through birth, sickness, aging and death. The next thing is to accept that reincarnation awaits us after death.Once we accept reincarnation and that life is suffering, then we can say that when we know the Truth, we will no longer have to come back into this world (ie reincarnation) to suffer this life.There is no longer birth, sickness, old age and death.This is what salvation really is.By not reincarnating again , we have eternal life.We become one with God.This is what Buddha called enligtenment and in Hinduism, it is called Self Realization or God Realization.In Hinduism, the word for freedom is called Moksha.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
What is the meaning of Life?
Many people have asked themselves this question "What is the meaning of Life"
Materialistic people will think of money, fame and status.These people may be religious but they are not necessarily spiritual.They want both God and Mammon.Jesus said "You cannot serve God and Mammon.It is like darkness and light cannot be in the same room.However, worldly people seem to think that they can have the best of both worlds.They want to enjoy life and at the same time wish to go to heaven when they die.This is why Christianity is so appealing to these people because they can get instant salvation just by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.While they are in this world, they have mental defilements of greed, jealousy, envy, hatred and many other negative emotions which they dont bother or think it is neccessay to eradicate.There is selfishness and lack of compassion in these people.Because of this, it is very difficult to be really humble.Humility is a characteristic of a saint or a self-realized person.
Jesus have said that "who is first shall be last and the last shall be first"He even showed the disciples the meaning of humilty by washing the disciples feet at the last supper.
Unfortunately, so called religious people are extremely egoistic even though they may attend church every sunday.
Materialistic people will think of money, fame and status.These people may be religious but they are not necessarily spiritual.They want both God and Mammon.Jesus said "You cannot serve God and Mammon.It is like darkness and light cannot be in the same room.However, worldly people seem to think that they can have the best of both worlds.They want to enjoy life and at the same time wish to go to heaven when they die.This is why Christianity is so appealing to these people because they can get instant salvation just by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.While they are in this world, they have mental defilements of greed, jealousy, envy, hatred and many other negative emotions which they dont bother or think it is neccessay to eradicate.There is selfishness and lack of compassion in these people.Because of this, it is very difficult to be really humble.Humility is a characteristic of a saint or a self-realized person.
Jesus have said that "who is first shall be last and the last shall be first"He even showed the disciples the meaning of humilty by washing the disciples feet at the last supper.
Unfortunately, so called religious people are extremely egoistic even though they may attend church every sunday.
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