Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

World Religions and Happiness

World religions have at least one thing in common; and that is the concept of happiness. They all tell suggest that they have a way of for you to find happiness. I briefly discuss major worldwide religious beliefs, and introduce a universal method to happiness in this commentary.

"Adherence" published a survey on major world religions in 2005. They ranked them in order of self-identification of adherents to their religious beliefs. The most prevalent world religions were: Christianity (2.1 billion), Islam (1.5 billion), and Hinduism (900 million).

It is interesting that the group of secularist, which includes all people who do not adhere to any of the recognized world religions or to any particular religious beliefs, is actually larger than Hinduism. There were 1.1 billion people who identified themselves as such.

Religion and religious beliefs can been defined as what you think about when you are alone. Even people that do not believe in God are included in the survey of major world religions. Everyone is therefore religious, to some degree, because we all think about "something" when we are alone; and happiness is a universal goal for the vast majority of us.

It's unfortunate indeed that billions of people around the world are not able to gain some degree of control over what they think about when they are alone. Controlling what you think about is a major step toward finding happiness.

World Religions and Happiness

You may adhere to formal religious beliefs no matter with which of the world religions you identify yourself. You could go to church for an hour or two every week; or you could pray facing Mecca at appropriate times of day, as a way of finding happiness.

But if you fail to strengthen your inner self-resolve when alone, you may not actually practice what you believe when with people on a daily basis; and thus you could have difficulty in finding happiness, regardless of your religious beliefs.

Eventually, and inevitably, you will behave in accordance with what you think about when you are alone. Your subconscious mind will act in accordance, and it could actually retard your search for a way to happiness.

It might help your love life, and aid you in your path to happiness and peace of mind, by controlling what you think about in your solitude. Controlling your subconscious mind could enhance your search for happiness.

Many Ways To Find Happiness

There are easy methods that can help you control your subconscious mind, which could lead you to happiness. The Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is credited with developing them; and modern day men have refined the methodology, which is available Online.

The methods are easy-to-do steps that you can practice while relaxing in your easy chair, or even while you are laying on your bed in your underwear. Using the universals methods can lead you to happiness & peace of mind. Finding happiness could be easier than you think.

Here are some more things that might help you Find happiness in life:

  • Health & Wellness,
  • Killing Germs & Viruses (e.g. Common Cold, AIDS, Swine Flu etc.)
  • Miracle Food
  • Energy in a Bottle
  • Financial Security,
  • Generating Power & cutting your power bill; getting a check for extra power with an affordable Green System. (It might also help save the planet),
  • Charming the Ladies,
  • Finding an Ideal Mate,
  • Getting Tips for Making-up with Someone you may have Lost.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Plumbing Services in Sydney

Plumbing is a very necessary process meanwhile the development of house because everyone wants running water, clean clothes, flushing toilets and hot showers these latest conveniences are the benefits of plumbing systems. Plumbing devices are complicated and sometimes these devices can be a harrowing sight specially when you are in a rush to work.

Such times are for a good plumbing service from a reliable and efficient plumber who charges a reasonable rate for the job. There are many plumbing service providers in Sydney who are providing trained sydney plumber.

sydney plumbing experts offer very fast plumbing services from repairing pipes and toilet flushes to installing new systems in kitchen and bathrooms in affordable prices. Plumbers are trained about what they need to do so when something damaged then don't disturb or try to maintain this. Some places are very critical and plumber sydney do this in their professional way.

There are some other precautions that are very effective whenever you are in these types of situations. Like if it is a leaking water pipe, then you have to turn off the main shut-off valve, which is normally located outside your house. The bottom line is to stop the water supply until the problem is taken care of.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

How to Unlock iPhone 3G

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If you have a first generation (2G) iPhone that you want to unlock, then you can do so with their unlocking software solution. For £17.99 you can purchase your membership and instantly download the iPhone unlock software from the members area, where you also find a nice support system, a downloads section and a knowledge base page.

If you want to unlock a 3G iPhone, then you can purchase Unlock iPhone 3G 's SIM unlocking solution for £34.99. It will unlock any iPhone 3G worldwide, with no hardware modifications (no cutting of your SIM) - simply insert the SIM into your iPhone 3G and it's instantly unlocked.

In conclusion, if you have an iPhone that you want unlocked - iUnlockiPhone3g.com can unlock it, 3g, 2g, any firmware version, any country! Unlock your iPhone now!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Thoughts Become Things

So many people I know say they hate reading. What they seem not to get is that a book is an alternate universe, where you can go anywhere, or choose to just set the book down and leave that universe alone. -Zeke Willey

First, we visualize. Then, we summon up our talents, charm and virtues and act on our dreams. We become as powerful as the protagonists in our favorite stories and defeat the obstacles along the way. Finally, we live our dreams. In every step of the way, reading helps.

Making dreams come true: Stories can bring us to wonderlands that we have yet to imagine prior to reading a book. Through stories, our dreams are either created or expanded into our own reality.

Here are some characters we meet in fairytales:
1. Snow White represents the danger in being an object of envy.
2. Little Red Riding Hood is an ordinary girl who has great devotion to her grandmother and the big bad wolf is literally and figuratively a wolf dressed in sheep's clothing.
3. The Ugly Duckling, before its swan hood stage had to cope with issues concerning rejection and poor self esteem.
4. Cinderella is the epitome of a person whose transformation from a dirty ash girl to a lovely bride happened because of hard work and charm-attributes which can help us succeed in life.



Thursday, September 18, 2008

about Islam


The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ), who was born in A.D. 570 at Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, is often regarded as the founder of Islam. He was the last prophet to be sent by Allah. There were many prophets before Muhammad (pbuh) including: Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus).

Islam means peace, submission and obedience.

Islam is based on the ministry of a man named Muhammad (peace be upon him), and on the words that Allah gave to the world through Muhammad.

Muslims have 6 main beliefs

  1. Belief in Allah as the one and only God.
  2. Belief in angels.
  3. Belief in the holy books.
  4. Belief in the Prophets (special messengers).
    e.g. Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus).
    Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet.
  5. Belief in the Day of Judgement...
    The day when the life of every human being will be assessed to decide whether they go to heaven or hell.
  6. Belief in Predestination...
    That Allah has already decided what will happen.
    Muslims believe that this doesn't stop human beings making free choices

Friday, August 29, 2008

Italy "TheRoman Empire"


Italy has been the home of many European cultures, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the universities and of the movement of the Renaissance, that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Italy's capital Rome was for centuries the center of Western civilization, it also spawned the Baroque movement and seats the Catholic Church. Italy possessed a colonial empire from the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.

Today, Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country with the 8th-highest Quality-of-life index rating in the world.[7] It is a founding member of what is now the European Union (having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957), and a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is a member of the G8 (having the world's 7th largest nominal GDP), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Western European Union, the Central European Initiative, and a Schengen state. It has the world's 7th largest defence budget and shares NATO's nuclear weapons. On 1 January 2007, Italy began a two year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Excavations throughout Italy reveal a modern human presence dating back to the Palaeolithic period some 200,000 years ago.[11] In the 8th and 7th centuries BC Greek colonies were established all along Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. Subsequently Romans refereed to this area as Magna Graecia as it was so densely inhabited by Greeks.[12][13][14] Ancient Rome, at first a small agricultural community founded circa 8th century BC, grew the next centuries into a colossal empire encompassing the whole Mediterranean Sea, in which Ancient Greek and Roman cultures merged into one civilization, so influential that parts of it survive in modern law, administration, philosophy and arts forming the ground where Western civilization is based upon. In its twelve-century existence, it transformed from a republic to monarchy and finally to autocracy. In steady decline since 2nd century AD, the empire finally broke into two parts in 285 AD, a western and an eastern. The western part under the pressure of Goths finally dissolved leaving the Italian peninsula divided into small independent kingdoms and feuding city states for the next 14 centuries, and the eastern part as the sole heir to Roman legacy.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Rusian Architecture

Russian architecture was influenced predominantly by the Byzantine architecture until the Fall of Constantinople. Aristotle Fioravanti and other Italian architects introduced Renaissance trends. The reigns of Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov saw the development of tent-like churches culminating in Saint Basil's Cathedral, as shown to the right. In the 17th century, the "fiery style" of ornamentation flourished in Moscow and Yaroslavl, gradually paving the way for the Naryshkin baroque of the 1690s.

The 18th-century taste for rococo architecture led to the splendid works of Bartolomeo Rastrelli and his followers. During the reign of Catherine the Great and her grandson Alexander I, the city of Saint Petersburg was transformed into an outdoor museum of Neoclassical architecture; the 19th century was dominated by the Byzantine and Russian Revival. Prevalent styles of the 20th century were the Art Nouveau (Fyodor Shekhtel), Constructivism (Aleksey Shchusev and Konstantin Melnikov), and the Stalinist Empire style (Boris Iofan).

Some notable Russian buildings include:

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod | Golden Gate (Vladimir) | Cathedral of Christ the Saviour | Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir | Cathedral of the Annunciation | Cathedral of the Archangel | Cathedral of the Dormition | Church of the Savior on Blood | Saint Basil's Cathedral | Kazan Kremlin | Saint Isaac's Cathedral | Kazan Cathedral | Peter and Paul Cathedral | Sukharev Tower | Menshikov Tower | Moscow Manege | Narva Triumphal Gate | Kolomenskoye | Peterhof | Gatchina | Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra | Solovetsky Monastery | Kunstkamera | Russian Museum | Catherine Palace | Grand Kremlin Palace | Winter Palace | Simonov Monastery | Novodevichy Convent | Lenin's Mausoleum | Tatlin's Tower | Palace of the Soviets | Seven Sisters (Moscow) | All-Soviet Exhibition Centre | Ostankino Tower | Triumph-Palace | White House of Russia/

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Bingo Game is On!

When it comes to online bingo , there are only few that can give you the best deals on your money, Game Village Bingo among one of them. When you go their site, you will be presented with first-rate graphics, user-friendly page, useful features and of course, their games brimming with huge jackpots and fun prizes. Game Village is best known for giving you the best online community interaction. With live chat rooms, you can meet and greet a lot of players. This is a great venue for you to expand your social network. Their bingo hall, which is called the Village Inn, is designed with advance chat features so you can chatter away with your online friends. The Village Inn also has a feature that lets you buy cards in advance. The most-raved game, Bargain Bingo operates from Monday to Friday, 8PM ‘til midnight. You can the guaranteed set prize of £100 on one of the Bargain Bingo games. During weekends, the site hosts games that will let you bag those wild pots. If you win any game in the Inn with the ID number ending from zero to nine, you will be awarded with £100 if you are the first member verified. Right after winning, just email your ten digit number to email support. If you weren’t the first verified, you don’t have to worry because you will still get £20.

Game Village Bingo gives a 200 percent up to £100 matching bonus on your initial deposit. For example, if you fund your account with £50 for the first time, the site will throw in £100 to your bingo money. This is a great way to get you started. Also, bring a friend to the site, and after he/she makes three deposits, Game Village Bingo will award you with £25 extra. And if you get a little tired playing bingo, you can also opt for other games such as Dingo and Super Gems, and by playing these games you will earn points that you can use as entries to their monthly draws. Exciting prizes such as Nintendo DS Lite, Body Shop gift certificates, and picnic packages await you. Go on and register at Game Village and start dabbing your way to fun prizes and promos at the fastest growing bingo online.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Bingo Social Network

The good thing about online bingo, aside from the huge jackpots and best-deal bonuses, is the online community. Most bingo websites have created chat rooms where people can interact with other players of the game. You can even put a profile up for people to see. There are moderators in the chat rooms to provide a smooth traffic of the messages being sent. These moderators also initiate mini games in the chat rooms, letting you compete with others for a particular prize. Of course the mini games most often created as an alternative game if you want to take a break from playing bingo. Many have found friends on the online bingo community. You can meet friends with similar interests, and discuss things besides bingo. This social network in online bingo is a way of the bingo site to keep the players going back. With friends waiting for you to fill them in on the latest buzz about your life, going back to one site will surely be appealing to you. Playing bingo online is not all about the game anymore. It is also an avenue for social networking.

Since there are gazillion bingo websites out there, it is rather difficult to keep track of your friends when you are not playing bingo, and even if you are playing bingo on one bingo site your friend might be on another site, making it hard for you to interact. If you want to keep track of your on line bingo friends, there is a fabulous site designed to keep you updated on other bingo players you have befriended online. Bingo Hideout is the best bingo social network where you can gather all your bingo friends, and possibly meet some more. Plus, you can also view the ratings and reviews of the bingo sites authored by your friends. Bingo Hideout lets you avoid chasing your online friends from one bingo site to another because you can just add them all up in one site.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Culture of French Food


French cuisine is extremely diverse, with only the Chinese having similar variety in their food. This variety is supported by the French passion for good food in all its forms, France's extraordinary range of different geographies and climates which support the local production of all types of ingredients, and France's long and varied history. In many ways, an understanding of the culture of french food is an understanding of France itself.

Meals range from the very basic, such as the traditional baguette plus cheese plus inexpensive wine, to very elaborate affairs than can involve a dozen courses and different wines consumed over several hours. Obviously, the latter type of dining is exceptional for most people. However, it is this more sophisticated dining which is typically found in "French restaurants" outside France, giving many foreigners the mistaken impression that French food is heavy and complicated. In fact, much of the French cuisine is fairly simple, relying on high quality fresh ingredients and loving preparation rather than complex recipes.

It is common in much of France to take a two hour break for lunch, with many working parents (particularly in villages and smaller towns) returning home for lunch. In some areas, mainly in the south of France, even longer lunch breaks are taken. Due to the long lunch break, businesses which close for this period typically reopen around 2PM or so and then stay open until about 7PM.

Almost all the famous French dishes are regional specialities, some of which have become popular throughout France (such as Coq au Vin and Foie Gras) while others are mainly enjoyed in the regions in which they originate. Although regional specialities are often offered throughout France, the quality of ingredients and preparation is often superior in their region of origin.




Wednesday, June 25, 2008

How Does Religion And Spirituality Affect The Teenage Population

Over 85 percent of teenagers are affiliated with an organized religion. In addition, it is estimated that 80 percent of these individuals pray and 40 percent pray daily. More than half of this population attends religious services at least monthly.

If I were to ask high school seniors how important religion is to them, the majority would most likely report some type of religious belief or belief in a higher power is an important part of their lives.

The National Institute of Health was named as the participating organization. The NIH would like to learn whether and how these beliefs influence early sexual behaviors, alcohol or other drug use that may facilitate the transmission of HIV in children and adolescents. The focus is on positive and negative effects of religiosity and spirituality.

The realization that so many teenagers are interested in religion and incorporate religion into their lives in some way or another prompts our government agencies and others to take a closer look at how this affects the teenage population, their behaviors and our society.

I hope more and more human service agencies learn how to intertwine religion, spirituality and scientific research into their programs of care. I feel scientific methods of treating social, mental and emotional problems are not enough for anyone.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Islam

The idea of Islam being spread by the sword is one of the most common misconceptions among both the Muslims and non-Muslims. Many non-Muslims have written untold volumes of anti-Islamic literature propagating the fallacy of Muslims holding swords above the heads of Christians and forcing them to convert to Islam. This is total nonsense. On the other hand we have some Muslim apologists who, in their great fervor to defend Islam and portray it as the peaceful religion it is, seem reluctant to admit that Muslims did indeed fight wars to expand their territories. So what is the truth of the situation? I would like to begin our quest for the truth on this matter by quoting the Qur’an, the literal word of God and the primary source for Islam: “Say the truth from your Lord, then let whomsoever wills believe and let whomsoever wills reject.” 18:29

Let’s start with the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and look at his example. He did preach Islam peacefully in Mecca for 13 years without once raising a finger against his enemies even though he and his followers were harshly persecuted, tortured, mocked and sometimes murdered. The first wars with Mecca did not occur until after the hijra to Medina, and those battles were defensive against Abu Sufyan and his amassed troops. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, the peace treaty between the Muslims and the Meccans, was unilaterally broken by the Meccans, the Muslims conquered Mecca without any bloodshed. Tribal customs would dictate that the Meccans should then be slaughtered for their transgressions against the victorious Muslims, and indeed the Meccans anticipated this, but Muhammad (PBUH) granted them amnesty on the condition that they cease fighting the Muslims. This was a beautiful act of mercy which led to the majority of Meccans choosing to convert to Islam, though no person was ever forced to do so.

What is conversion to Islam? Converting to Islam is something that has to be done by choice, it is something that you believe in your heart, that there is only one God and that Muhammad is His prophet and messenger. Words without belief are meaningless. Of course God alone knows what is in each and every person’s heart, so you won’t be able to fool God by meaningless lip service to Islam, and religion is solely for God and the benefit of the individual. So, forced conversion is impossible. The Qur’an attests to this fact in 2:256 where it states: “There is no compulsion in religion.”

So how did Islam spread so rapidly across North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula and east across India and Central Asia all the way to Southeast Asia? Primarily it spread by trade. Very often while Muslim merchants were traveling abroad they would impress the people they did business with by their honesty and integrity, so much so that those people would ask questions, learn about Islam, and eventually choose to convert.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

What Is Spirituality

Many people spend a lifetime looking for spirituality and they never find it; you cannot find what is not lost or already is. What they are really looking for is spiritual awareness, an awareness of that which gives us life and mobility; an awareness of self.
Many people confuse religion for spirituality, but religion is man's attempt to explain spirituality and is a part of being spiritual as all things are. You will hear people say, "This or that person is very spiritual" but that is not really accurate. There are people who are more spiritually aware than others. But you are also spiritual, so there is no need to feel left out or less spiritual. Your spirituality can be developed consciously as awareness, but your spirit is already complete as is.

You will not find your spirituality in Tibet or high on the mountain or in the hut of some spiritual guru. There is no place to look for it, because you are already there. The awareness of spirituality comes with the desire to be spiritually aware. Once you have decided that it is what you want, the opportunities will come to you automatically. The people who will best serve you will be drawn to you, and you will begin to notice them. You will begin to notice subtle changes in your environment and your life's circumstances.

You more than likely will begin to move away from your current friends and even relationships as they no longer serve your purpose. As cold as that may seem, it is because you have begun to learn a new language and they can no longer understand or relate to you. Many will try and discourage you because they don't want to be left behind. As you begin to develop this other part of self, you will start to notice things around you that eluded you before.

Your senses will become more acute, you will begin to care more about your body and your health. You will understand and have great empathy for how your ego struggles to survive in what sometimes seems to be a harsh world. You will also draw like minded people to you, to replace the ones left behind who are there to support you in your creations.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Deffrent World religions

In the inherent account of every person. Humans are aces of respect, support, and caring artlessly because they are human. Unfortunately, we accept not accomplished a accord on if animal life, in the anatomy of an ovum and spermatozoon, becomes a animal person. On this matter, our abridgement of acceding mirrors that of affiliation at large.

bullet In alive appear a ability that is almost chargeless of bigotry on the base of gender, race, animal orientation, gender identity, religion, civic origin, concrete disability, age, etc.

bullet In the adherence of the animal person. We argue the use of ache and atrocious or abnormal abuse including the afterlife penalty.

bullet In the accent of capitalism aural religious, political and added structures.

bullet In the break of abbey and state; and the freedoms of speech, association, and expression.

bullet That the systems of accuracy that we accept advised on the capacity of morals, ethics, and religious acceptance are not absolute: they alter by culture, by religion, and over time.

bullet In the about absolute access that a lot of religions accept had on their followers and on society.

bullet In the accent of alone believers free angry influences and behavior aural their called acceptance group, and acerb apostle for their correction.

bullet In the accent of education. We accept that humans are not absolutely accomplished unless they accept advised the world's above religions and ethical systems. They charge to apprentice of the acceptable and bad impacts they accept had on society

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Vedic Math Ancient Sutras - Basic Mental Math

The latest research in Vedic Math suggests that there are sixteen ancient Vedic Sutras which have been expanded upon by an additional thirteen sub-Sutras or math corollaries.

A brief discussion on each of these is in order.

The 16 Vedic Math Sutras as applicable to mathematics:

1. "Ekadhikena Purvena" (By one more than the previous one) The working of the Sutra is quite simple. In the case of the vulgar fraction 1/19 whose denominator ends with 9, in the normal method 18 steps are required. But with this Sutra it can be accomplished in only one step. The actual calculations and steps are beyond the scope of this writing. This is just to show the ease with which we can apply Vedic mathematics to everyday calculations as well as for solving complex equations.

2. "Nikhilam Navatascaramam Dasatah" (All from 9 and the last from 10) This is a cryptic Sutra for multiplying numbers. According to Vedic Math multiplication tables are not required beyond the 5 multiplied by 5. It is claimed that with this sutra multiplication becomes a Childs play.

3. "The Urdhva Tiryaghyam Sutra" (Vertically and crosswise multiplications) This is another short Sutra for multiplication

4. "Paravartya Yojayet" (Transpose and apply) This Sutra is used to solve simple equations

5. "Sunyam Samyasamuccaye" i.e. If the Samuccaya is the same (on both sides of the equation, then) that Samuccaya is (equal to) zero This Sutra is used to solve special type of equations. "Samuccaya" is a technical term which has several meanings in different contexts. In fact, a single word taking on different meanings is the beauty of Sanskrit text. At the same time it is also confusing and confounding to those who have not mastered the language. If looked at it from different angles, Sanskrit is a boon as well as a bane. Misunderstanding and misinterpreting is quite common among scholars. In as much as the scriptures are concerned, the meaning of words becomes all the more important.

6. "(Anurupye ) Sunyamanyat" ( If one is in ratio the other one is zero) There are some simultaneous equations which may involve large numbers and may therefore seem hard to solve, but owing to certain ratios between the coefficients can be readily and easily solved using this Sutra.

7. "Sankalana-vyavakalanabhyam"

8. "Puranapuranabhyam"

9. "Calana-kalanabhyam"

The above three Sutras are used in solving different types of quadratic equations.

10. "Yavadunam" This Sutra is used for squaring and cubing.

11. "Vyastisamastih"

12. "Sesanyankena Caramena"

13. "Sopantyadvayamantyam"

14. "Ekanyunena Purvena"

15. "Gunitasamuccayah"

16. "Gunakasamuccayah"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Spiritual Logic

Atheists point to these events to indicate how religion does not work in fairness to the very people it claims to serve. Yet, religionists look upon the same events to expose the blasphemies of those who were removed from the ranks of the believers. The same event produces radically opposing interpretations. One is the unfairness of the institutions.

The other is the unfairness of the dissidents. At this juncture is where the true religious moderates are needed to bridge the gap between the war holler to destroy religious institutions, and the equally abrasive shriek of religious fundamentalists with their "Our way or the high-way" banner raised up from on high. Religious Moderation is not a code for apathy, extreme relativism, new-age, or anything of the sort. It simply refers to people of all religious and spiritually based systems who don't throw away their convictions every time they are tempted by their egos, and likewise it indicates those who don't shun the rest of the world because they practice the wrong religion.

Skeptics may say, "This is all very well in theory, but fundamentalists learn this attitude from their own books and scriptures. They don't get this from thin-air." They are correct in saying that, without a doubt. All of the religious scriptures of the world contain attitudes of extremism, intolerance, absolutist, and everything under the sun that religious fundamentalists cling to. There is also evidence to the contrary in those self-same books.

This is the point of contention among religionists with non-believers, and with each other as well. Each "group" is selecting choice passages and phrases that bolsters their own point of view, and they begin throwing these at each other to see who wins the competition. It reminds one of a theological snowball fight. One could say that even religious moderates are guilty of this, and they would be correct. Thus, the human experience exposes its imperfection for eternity.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Introducing children to religion

These are questions that many parents grapple with. We want to instill our values in our children, without scaring them or turning them off altogether. But what’s the best way to accomplish this?

Here are some suggestions, gathered from parents of several different faiths, of how they successfully shared their personal beliefs about God, religion and their church (or place of worship) with their children.

1. Start early. Begin sharing some basic principles with your children at an early age in an age appropriate way.

2. Make religion fun. Don’t make religious discussions boring. Use arts & crafts, signing, stories and even baking to share your story. One family said that they bake a cake each year together on Christmas Eve. Before bed, they light a candle and sing Happy Birthday to the baby Jesus. This lets them tell the story of Jesus’ birth in a way that the children can relate to, and look forward to more than just Santa’s visit!

3. Use child-friendly examples. Many religious concepts and stories can be overly complicated for children. Bring the concepts down to a very basic level – love, sharing, helping, and forgiveness are all ideas that even very young children can grasp.

4. Set an example. Your children watch you as a role model. Your language and behavior will carry as much weight as the lessons you teach.

5. Make attending church (or your place of worship) a social activity. Study after study has shown that children who are actively involved with their church are far less likely to be involved with negative activities like drugs, sex and gangs. And of course it doesn’t take a study to tell us that a child – even a preschooler – who has fun with his friends at church will enjoy it more.

6. Let children help with rituals. Even very young children can assist with certain parts of rituals, from lighting candles to giving thanks for their blessings.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

One Must Recognize One's Needs

One must recognize one's needs (spiritual and otherwise). I have been considering why devotees have so many problems in their spiritual lives and relationships. Observing Srila Prabhupada I see the perfect example of how Krishna consciousness should be executed. I just wrote to one of my Godsisters as follows: Prabhupada on the other hand was in complete touch with his needs and was very affectionate to all and not engaged in excessive austerities. His life is a perfect example of spiritual harmony and balance.

Just had a conversation with one of my disciples via skype. She has to spend a lot of time outside the temple environment relating to those who are not familiar with Krishna consciousness. Sometimes the devotees in the temple look down upon her and others whose life takes them outside the protected environment of a temple. In the beginning of the conversation the word "non-devotee" was used and I made the point afterwards that we have to be very careful in using language that creates division. In ISKCON we have many designations that create division not only between our members and others but also within ISKCON.

There have been many studies that indicate that the more divisive language is used the more a particular culture experiences conflicts internally and externally and these conflicts sometimes become violent conflicts. So, I prefer to think of people who are not practicing Kcon to be "aspiring devotees," who are not yet aware that they are aspiring. They are aspiring in the sense that they want Krishna but are not aware that they want Him. They are innocent. According to our philosophy a madhyama Adhikari should see those who are not opposed to Kcon as being innocent.

When I think in terms of innocence or in terms of people wanting Krishna but not being aware that they want Him, the thought naturally leads to compassionate thinking and action. We should be cautious whenever we use divisive, judgmental language. The sastras contain very clear descriptions because it is necessary to present the siddhanta in a way that one will not be confused, but in daily life one must exercise caution in applying these designations. I have already been getting some favorable feedback from devotees about the blog. Many are encouraged by it. It is important to be able to communicate feelings and thoughts about Krishna conscious realizations and service. It is almost as if Krishna told is forcing me to communicate because He does not want me to keep these thoughts/realizations to myself.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

How To Get What You Desire

This format of "looking at lack" is most prevalent in financial categories. People see a lack of finances and really believe that lack of money is the problem. They say things like, "If I had more money; if I was out of debt; if I could just earn more money..." They then conclude, "Not having enough money is the problem in my life."

If you put a chicken in the oven to bake, when it's time to take it out of the oven, what do you have? A nice plump golden brown turkey? A delicious juicy ham? No. If you put a chicken in the oven to bake, then that's what you are going to take out, a chicken.

Now I know these may sound like really silly illustrations, but I use them to make a very serious point. What is on the outside is a very good reflection of what's going on inside.

I recently saw part of a program on TV about real estate. The man speaking is extremely successful in the real estate business. Perhaps you've heard of him. His name is Robert Kiyosaki.

One of the statements that Mr. Kiyosaki made was really terrific. He told his audience about the most valuable piece of real estate on earth. Do you know where it is?

He said that this particular piece of real estate is more valuable than any other property you could own. It's not a very big piece of real estate either. Where is it? Mr. Kiyosaki said it is the piece of real estate just above your nose.

This successful man knows that what's going on inside your mind is vitally important to what's going to happen on the outside.

But sadly, most people look at the lack in their lives as being the problem. Lack in your life is never the problem. Stop looking at the lack and take a good honest look at what's going on inside your own mind. What is your mindset?

You can focus on all your limitations and excuses and just accept that. That is also a mindset. You have free will to that if you want to.

A better choice is to focus your mental attention on your desires and destinations in life. You can picture in your mind who you really desire to be and where you really desire to go. That too is a mind set. You have the free will to think that way if you choose to.

What you focus your mind on is what you will bring into your life. It is a tried and true principle of life that works just like the law of gravity. If there is lack in your life, then refuse to focus on that lack and refuse to accept that lack. Instead, make a conscious decision to start focusing on your desired destination.

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Saturday, February 2, 2008

Islam 101- Who Is Allah?

Islam teaches that there is only one God, the same God that has revealed himself since the beginning of time to various prophets such as Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Islam teaches that the cycle of humanity is something like this: God reveals himself to a prophet who then goes forth and preaches to his people, most of the people reject that prophet while a small number, usually the poor and downtrodden, will faithfully follow that prophet throughout his life. When the prophet dies there will be a group of people that continues to follow him, but slowly, over a period of generations, the information that the prophet taught will be lost or changed by mankind. Eventually, God sends another prophet to confirm the message that was brought before him and to bring people back to the straight path. Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) was the final prophet to be sent forth by God to mankind, the seal of prophethood.

God describes himself in varying, subtle ways throughout the Qur’an, leaving the reader with no clear concept of what exactly He is. Even the pronoun that God uses for himself in the Qur’an is constantly changing, sometimes it is the "royal we", sometimes it is "I" and at still other times it is the third person "He". This is meant to leave the reader with no clear concept of God in their mind. In fact, God says in the Qur’an that He does not resemble any of His creations which is, of course, a major difference from Christianity. The fact that God is the supreme creator and doesn’t resemble any of his creations, means that any image you might come up with in your mind of what God is or looks like is false, because the mind itself is a creation.

However, we can get an understanding of who Allah is by his attributes. In the Qur’an Allah gives 99 names to himself, each of which is one of His divine attributes. Those names are, in English: The compassionate, The merciful, The sovereign, The holy one who is free from all blemishes, The source of all peace, The giver of peace, The giver of protection, The mighty, The overpowering Lord, The self-glorious, The creator, The one who gives life, The fashioner of shapes, The exceedingly forgiving, The one who has control over all things, The giver of all things, The sustainer and provider, The remover of difficulties and giver of decisions, The all-knowing, The straightener of sustenance, The extender of sustenance, The one who humbles and lowers, The exalter, The giver of honor, The giver of dishonor, The all-hearing, The all-seeing, The maker of immutable judgment, The just, The knower of innermost secrets, The all-knowing, The clement, The great, The forgiving, The highly grateful, The most high, The infinite, The protector, The giver of sustenance and strength, The reckoner, The one with exalted position, The benevolent, The caretaker, The answerer of prayers, The lenient, The wise, The most loving, The venerable, The resurrector of the dead, The omnipresent, The truth, The provident, The almighty, The invincible, The patron, The praiseworthy, The keeper of counts, The originator, The one who has the power to create again, The giver of life, The giver of death, The everlasting, The sustainer of life, The all-perfect, The all-excellent, The one unequalled, The one free from want, The all-powerful, The source of all power.

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