Let me share what I think being spiritual is. From the religious point of view, the spirit is something we cannot see but something we can feel nevertheless. All major religious belief systems agree on this point.
In Christianity, they believe about the existence of "the spirit of God". Here God is the creator god.
Christianity believes in the existence of God and angels and other beings who are the inhabitants of heaven.
In Hinduism, they believe in the existence of Brahm, who is believed to be the Ultimate being who comes before any other living being.Hindus believe that the spirit of Brahm exiists every where.
I could go on and on, of course.
The spirit that I am talking about is from the scientific point of view. In science they believe in the existence of the electro-magnetic force. This force is believed to be the reason why we have the North pole and the South pole on this earth. This force is believed to be the force that keeps all the planets moving in this universe and in all other solar systems and galaxies.
(to be continued)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
A sermon fit for the devas
Are you intrigued by the title of this blog. I'm sure you would be. The story goes like this and it is a true story, by the way. 2500 years ago when Gautama Buddha was alive, it was said that he went up to heaven with his supernormal powers to repay a debt to his mother. His mother died after giving birth to the Bodhisatta and became reborn in Tusita heaven (the second plane of devas).
According to our Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha stayed for his whole lent months giving a sermon about the Abhidhamma - a sermon about how the mind works and how the mental processes interact with the human body. Not only did he give a detailed description about every human thought or emotion but he analyzed all the thought processes of all living beings. According to Buddhist cosmology there are 31 planes of existence - four woeful planes, six planes of devas and twenty planes of Brahma gods. (by the way the Brahma gods are celestial beings who live for a long, long time. Their lives are counted in world cycles.)
The Buddha explained in his Abhidhamma sermon (Abhi means profound, and dhamma means law), that there are only four ultimate truths in this and all other universes: mind, mind modifiers, matter and nivarna.
He went on to explain in detail that there are 89 types of human consciousness (or emotions).
How does the knowledge of Abhidhamma help us in our daily lives, you might ask.
Good question.
Well, I go back to what an ancient British poet said:
"Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man."
Food for thought.
According to our Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha stayed for his whole lent months giving a sermon about the Abhidhamma - a sermon about how the mind works and how the mental processes interact with the human body. Not only did he give a detailed description about every human thought or emotion but he analyzed all the thought processes of all living beings. According to Buddhist cosmology there are 31 planes of existence - four woeful planes, six planes of devas and twenty planes of Brahma gods. (by the way the Brahma gods are celestial beings who live for a long, long time. Their lives are counted in world cycles.)
The Buddha explained in his Abhidhamma sermon (Abhi means profound, and dhamma means law), that there are only four ultimate truths in this and all other universes: mind, mind modifiers, matter and nivarna.
He went on to explain in detail that there are 89 types of human consciousness (or emotions).
How does the knowledge of Abhidhamma help us in our daily lives, you might ask.
Good question.
Well, I go back to what an ancient British poet said:
"Know then thyself, presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man."
Food for thought.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Spiritual not religious
Just an observation I wish to make. I am finding a lot of people who say they are spiritual but not religious. I think some people get disenchanted with their respective religious institutions. In my own opinion, the most important thing for a person is to follow the basic rules of humanity and to follow the basic rules of human conduct.
Take "not telling the truth" for example. What does this mean? It may mean different things to different people.
Then there are "white lies".
When a person does not tell the truth on a consistent basis, people will not believe him or her anymore and then this sort of person cannot have the love and confidence of those around him. Even the family members will look upon that person with disdain.
However, a person who tells the truth and "walks the talk" will be respected by all.
Take "not telling the truth" for example. What does this mean? It may mean different things to different people.
Then there are "white lies".
When a person does not tell the truth on a consistent basis, people will not believe him or her anymore and then this sort of person cannot have the love and confidence of those around him. Even the family members will look upon that person with disdain.
However, a person who tells the truth and "walks the talk" will be respected by all.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The three step method
Let me explain in detail what the "three step method" is all about.
Of course, when the Guatama Buddha was alive he said this in a different way. He talked about the "Middle Path". I think most of you know that he lived on what is now known as the Indian subcontinent. In the olden days it was called "Mijima Desa" or in English "the middle region".
He called his path the "Mijima Padipada". Literally it means "the middle path".
Now why is it called "the middle path". Buddha said that we need to avoid the two extremes and follow the middle path.
One extreme was self mortification and following extreme austerities. Torturing one's body or not eating enough or not sleeping enough. Buddha followed this extreme path for six years and he became a living skeleton. It did not get him anywhere. In the end he left this path.
The other extreme was the path of seeking excessive sensual pleasures. What is known as "the way of the world". When we become too attached to the sensual pleasures that human existence offers, we lose our balance and become unable to concentrate and get any knowledge or wisdom.
The fist step is what I will call "conduct".
By conduct I do not mean that you need to live like a saint. We are not saints, we all know that. But of course that does not mean that saints do not exist. They may be doing meditation deep in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. Who knows?
The "conduct" that I am talking about is the basic concept of living as a good person.
- not to kill
- not to steal
- not to tell lies
- not to take drugs and intoxicating drinks
- not to engage in sexual misconduct.
Well, you might ask me, "what if I don't follow the above rules".
All I can say is that it is necessary to follow these simple rules if you wish to walk the path of "spiritual development".
Of course you can choose another path. That is your choice.
Life is full of choices anyway. Right.
What you choose to do or not do will determine your future. That much I can tell you and I think you will agree with me on that point.
Of course, when the Guatama Buddha was alive he said this in a different way. He talked about the "Middle Path". I think most of you know that he lived on what is now known as the Indian subcontinent. In the olden days it was called "Mijima Desa" or in English "the middle region".
He called his path the "Mijima Padipada". Literally it means "the middle path".
Now why is it called "the middle path". Buddha said that we need to avoid the two extremes and follow the middle path.
One extreme was self mortification and following extreme austerities. Torturing one's body or not eating enough or not sleeping enough. Buddha followed this extreme path for six years and he became a living skeleton. It did not get him anywhere. In the end he left this path.
The other extreme was the path of seeking excessive sensual pleasures. What is known as "the way of the world". When we become too attached to the sensual pleasures that human existence offers, we lose our balance and become unable to concentrate and get any knowledge or wisdom.
The fist step is what I will call "conduct".
By conduct I do not mean that you need to live like a saint. We are not saints, we all know that. But of course that does not mean that saints do not exist. They may be doing meditation deep in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. Who knows?
The "conduct" that I am talking about is the basic concept of living as a good person.
- not to kill
- not to steal
- not to tell lies
- not to take drugs and intoxicating drinks
- not to engage in sexual misconduct.
Well, you might ask me, "what if I don't follow the above rules".
All I can say is that it is necessary to follow these simple rules if you wish to walk the path of "spiritual development".
Of course you can choose another path. That is your choice.
Life is full of choices anyway. Right.
What you choose to do or not do will determine your future. That much I can tell you and I think you will agree with me on that point.
Monday, May 11, 2009
How to change the way you live and think!
Spiritual development is a long journey but begins with a single step. You have to make that decision. No one else can do it for you. It is YOUR life and you have to make this important decision.
Let me make one thing clear right from the beginning.
I am not here to convert you to become a Buddhist or make you think the way I do, or believe the things I believe. It does not matter what you believe or what religious tradition you believe in or follow.
I have seen in my lifetime many types of people who have benefited from a meditation practice while keeping their faiths. They may be jews, hindus, christians or animists. It does not matter. The practice of meditation can benefit anyone.
Why do I say this. I say this because when we are on the path of spiritual development, we are trying to improve the way we think, the way we speak and the way we do things. We are trying to learn more about ourselves and the people around us.
So the first step in the spiritual development path is to make the important decision to do meditation, not just because it sounds "cool" or "fashionable" but really because it is a very cost effective method of changing our lives from the very core of our being.
Unless we understand ourselves, we cannot change our life for the better.
Many people have benefited in the past by making this important decision to make the first step.
You can make that decision today and you are well on your path.
There are many who can help you and you need to find the right teacher and the right support system.
It is up to you. You can change your life for the better.
Let me make one thing clear right from the beginning.
I am not here to convert you to become a Buddhist or make you think the way I do, or believe the things I believe. It does not matter what you believe or what religious tradition you believe in or follow.
I have seen in my lifetime many types of people who have benefited from a meditation practice while keeping their faiths. They may be jews, hindus, christians or animists. It does not matter. The practice of meditation can benefit anyone.
Why do I say this. I say this because when we are on the path of spiritual development, we are trying to improve the way we think, the way we speak and the way we do things. We are trying to learn more about ourselves and the people around us.
So the first step in the spiritual development path is to make the important decision to do meditation, not just because it sounds "cool" or "fashionable" but really because it is a very cost effective method of changing our lives from the very core of our being.
Unless we understand ourselves, we cannot change our life for the better.
Many people have benefited in the past by making this important decision to make the first step.
You can make that decision today and you are well on your path.
There are many who can help you and you need to find the right teacher and the right support system.
It is up to you. You can change your life for the better.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The three step method
How do we begin, this spiritual journey that can transform our life and those that we love. It begins with the following three little steps.
1. Change your life style - improve your conduct, reinvent yourself.
2. Change the way you think - think positive and vibrate loving-kindness as much as possible. Learn to focus. Weed out the negative thoughts.
2. Seek wisdom - we have too much information. What we need is wisdom. Wisdom comes from practice not from book learning or repeating what others have said. Seek out the true spiritual teachers - those who exude humility, compassion and loving-kindness in thought, word and deed.
1. Change your life style - improve your conduct, reinvent yourself.
2. Change the way you think - think positive and vibrate loving-kindness as much as possible. Learn to focus. Weed out the negative thoughts.
2. Seek wisdom - we have too much information. What we need is wisdom. Wisdom comes from practice not from book learning or repeating what others have said. Seek out the true spiritual teachers - those who exude humility, compassion and loving-kindness in thought, word and deed.
We are human computers writing our own programs every second
Think about this. "We are human computers writing our own programs every second".
Or what about this: "we are living our own favorite movie. The only thing to note is that we are the main actor or actress, the director, the script director and the principal stake holder whether this movie become a box office hit or a flop".
What is the most important time for you. It is the present "moment". As some wise man said, "the past is history, the present is reality and the future is yet to come", or something to that effect.
The spiritual development path that I have chosen was given to me by my parents. They lived in Burma/Myanmar and therefore followed the Theravada Buddhist tradition. This is not to say that this is the only path. In fact, many paths lead to the summit of a mountain and we have the right and the opportunity to choose the path that suits us most.
So the technique is very simple when you come to think of it.
Think good, do good and speak good.
"We are based on our thoughts, we are founded on our thoughts and our words and deeds follow from our thoughts." (some insights from the Buddhist book of Abhidhamma - detailed lectures on the mind-body connection).
Or what about this: "we are living our own favorite movie. The only thing to note is that we are the main actor or actress, the director, the script director and the principal stake holder whether this movie become a box office hit or a flop".
What is the most important time for you. It is the present "moment". As some wise man said, "the past is history, the present is reality and the future is yet to come", or something to that effect.
The spiritual development path that I have chosen was given to me by my parents. They lived in Burma/Myanmar and therefore followed the Theravada Buddhist tradition. This is not to say that this is the only path. In fact, many paths lead to the summit of a mountain and we have the right and the opportunity to choose the path that suits us most.
So the technique is very simple when you come to think of it.
Think good, do good and speak good.
"We are based on our thoughts, we are founded on our thoughts and our words and deeds follow from our thoughts." (some insights from the Buddhist book of Abhidhamma - detailed lectures on the mind-body connection).
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