Some spiritual artwork....
http://www.lindahenke.com/Gal1.htm
Any cool spiritual material...This is interesting
The Path of Spirituality The path of spirituality, the path of meditation can never be seen as the path of despair. The desperate do not come to this path but only those come who are satiated with the materialistic path. They then find peace. They set out in search of this path. Only those who felt that the sandalwood paste was not able to cool them or bring them any peace have trodden this path. Such a great fire was burning that even the waters of the ocean could not quench it. In such a state they searched for a new route. This is a perspective of great hope, not of despair. The path of meditation is difficult. A despairing man cannot join this path and a lazy man cannot be successful in it. It requires effort, will and courage. Closing the eyes and sitting down to meditate is not laziness. The courage required to meditate is much more than that required for farming. The path to meditation is not a sweet path. It is not a path of meaningless words. The words of meditation are bitter but they are useful. That is why people who do not understand tend to call it the path of despair. The path to meditation is the path to a peaceful life and peace of mind. A peaceful life and mind do not come from wealth or prosperity. There is no alternative to this peace. Its only way is through mental concentration, steadying the mind and to change the functioning of the glandular system. This way the thoughts and waves that come to mind are assuaged. Thoughts and waves create opposing actions, causing restless -ness. To negate this and achieve balance is the way to peace. His Commands Whatever HE decides for us must be taken in the best spirit ...as we are nothing but HIS slaves. Also in Bhagvad Geeta Krishna says " sukha is His prasad and dukha is His Mahaprasad" As He puts only His true children into hardships there is a story related to this as well. A farmer once had a word with God he told God that he did not understand HIS rules. Sometimes it rained heavily and sometimes it never did. and this at times destroyed his whole crop. He also told GOD that if he was in GOD's place he would be having all those powers he would have perfect crop. GOD granted his wish. the farmer had the powers of perfect rain, perfect sunlight etc. now. His crop grew upto 6-7 feet tall. he was very happy. But when he checked the crop it had no grain. He was shocked!! He asked GOD about this. To this the GOD replied " my dear child ..its only when the crop undergoes the hardships of scorching sunlight,,hard rain etc. that is produces certain juices which help in making seeds" Similarly Human beings undergo hardships only to come out as a much better human being. Also when we start taking HIS wish as HIS command and understand that we are nothing but followers of HIS orders. Then one has no complains from life.
Nice articles.
The first article says the path of meditation is not the path of despair The second article says happiness is a blessing and suffering is a greater blessing. Which means there has to be despair involved somewhere, this is what I'm inclined to agree to anyway...lol -
I listened to a lecture by a one Dr Wayne Dyer. It was good.
I was reading his website and came across this article in case anyone is interested in helping. http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/be_here.php -
In the first article it means that the path of meditation gives u strength to go through ur sorrows. It maybe difficult to concentrate in meditation but it gives u some energy each time u meditate. So, v should not get disappointed that v r not able to concentrate properly. In the second article it means that suffering is a greater blessing coz its only at the times of pain that v usually remember God. Also, sufferring burns ur karma (deeds) & makes ur karmic load lighter.
Interesting
interesting story:
THE CHOICE He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground. All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched. "You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose." All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice." Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form. An angel spoke, "But what if he..." "What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you." Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. "There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter." The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth. "Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation." "Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter." A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?" The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness." The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths. "This is the result of choice? the angel asked. "Yes." "They will forget you?" "Yes." "They will reject you?" "Yes." They will never come back? "Some will. Most won't." "What will it take to make them listen?" The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him. With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler on a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it. He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear. "Will you go down there?" the angel asked. "I will." "Is there no other way?" "There is not." "Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?" "It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love." He look around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind. Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed. Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought by killing this false one. Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly, "I will stay." All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command. "It must be done...," he said, and withdrew. But as he stepped in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony. The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful........" The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love." They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened. But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped. Perhaps it was the wind that said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it: "It looks like ... it appears to so much like ... it is him!" The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside - at the soul. "It's eternal!" gasped another. Within the man, God has placed a divine seed. A seed of his self (A seed of choice). The God of might had created earth's mightiest... And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return. Now it's our choice.
EVEN MORE INTERESTING
GOD SAID If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer? If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I'm a Deliverer? If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer? If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I'm a Comforter? If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I'm forgiving? If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions? If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue? If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole? If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them? If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure? If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them? If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you? If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me? If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for? THANK YOU, GOD!
It is instictual for a hmuan being to love another. A new-born baby innately loves his mother. A Human being innately longs for a life-long companion someone (as a male) to take care of (as a female) to take care of them. I believe Love is innate, but hate is learned. A person born into solitude, and is never exposed to another human being (therefore can't be taught anything) will feel lonely, and attach him/herself to whatever they can for companionship.
I guess it could be debated, but I believe we do have intincs, we don't need to be taught that we're hungry or thirsty. Or when our feelings are hurt we're not taught to cry. It's all instincual. Any given reflex is also an instinct, when you close your eyes to sneeze. . . instinct. If you didn't your eyes would fly out of their sockets. It could be somthing else I guess, but if he believes in darwins theory (which I personally do not) then he would have to say that we as humans are instinctual beings. If not, he just hung himself with the rope to which he so deperately clings. Even if you believe in Intelligent Design or creation (as I do) you could say that God has given us the innate drive or will to cry when hurt, or to love your parents, or long for a life partner. AKA Instinct.
My thinking is that soul does not know hate or love. Love is a outer manifestation of the need of the soul to return to its natural state to belong to the supersoul(God?), of which it is a particle, to be really free. Hate is a human reaction.
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