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Finding the Higher Purpose of Your Business

May 28

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Image credit: Manoj Vasanth

The road to success is always under construction: Manoj Vasanth via Flickr

By Mary C. Davis

I remember both the subtle whisperings of my soul and the more jolting cosmic two by fours over the head, metaphysically speaking, that initiated my process of awakening to my life’s purpose. And while this process continues (generally, in a more gentle way), I revel in the profound mystery of its unfoldment and am grateful that it has led me to this moment in time.

You and I have reached an exciting juncture in our collective evolution where fully realizing the purpose of our human experience is a distinct possibility. As we embrace this possibility, we have been guided to do work (both inner and outer) that forwards the process of our own awakening and helps others awaken – healing or wellness work. And while the healing arts or wellness professions cover a breadth of different modalities, their collective purpose is the same: to awaken us to our intrinsic wholeness, the purpose of each individual life.

Your Life’s Purpose and Your Business

In Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, he defines awakening as the process of consciousness shifting to a state where thinking and awareness separate. He says that your inner purpose, which concerns being, is to awaken and this is primary. Your outer purpose, which concerns doing, is secondary.

These key concepts underpin inspired business planning and relate directly to the first step of the process, which is to discern the higher purpose of your business. If you’re not focussed primarily on your inner purpose (to awaken), then you will not be connected to the higher purpose of your business. And, consequently, your outer purpose (your business) will be out of alignment with your inner purpose. In other words, you will operate your business from the consciousness of your ego (your conditioned, limited mind), rather than the consciousness of your awakening self.

Discerning the Higher Purpose of Your Business

“Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose. It is the basis for true success.”

- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

As you continue to focus on your inner purpose, the higher purpose of your business will become clearer and more rooted in your consciousness. You will experience and facilitate awakening through your work.

While this is the broader, higher purpose of your business, you may also start to discern aspects that are more specific. You may feel called to facilitate awakening through a particular life area and/or with a particular group of people. For example, as I’ve focused on my inner purpose, I’ve discerned that the specific, higher purpose of my business is to model and facilitate awakening with healers/wellness professionals through money and all forms of prosperity, as expressed primarily through business.

Your business’s higher purpose may not include such specific aspects right now or they may emerge, change or diversify over time. Also, you may feel that you already have much clarity and connection with your business’s higher purpose. Nevertheless, to deepen this connection and invite further clarity, consider asking yourself these questions and journaling your responses:

- What do I think is the primary purpose of my life?

- How does my life purpose relate to the higher purpose of my business?

- How would I describe the higher purpose of my business?

- What specific life areas relate to the higher purpose of my business?

- What specific groups of people relate to the higher purpose of my business?

Discerning and deepening your connection with your business’s higher purpose is the first, ongoing step of the inspired business planning process, and it will fortify all subsequent steps. As you focus on fulfilling this purpose, immense spiritual power will infuse your business, uniting your intentions and objectives with the evolutionary impulse of universal consciousness.

Copyright 2008 Mary C. Davis

Article Source: Articles Engine

Entrepreneur, Coach and Prosperity Guide Mary C. Davis helps spiritually-oriented wellness professionals build prosperous, fulfilling businesses. Get tips on how to build your wellness business, with ease and joy, by subscribing to her FREE e-zine, The Prosperous Healer, at http://www.anamturas.com

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Hindu Temple planned for Oxford

Apr 6

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The Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, England as vie...

The Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, England as viewed from the tower of the Church of St Mary the Virgin. via Wikipedia

Special to Earthpages.org

A Hindu Temple and Community Centre is being planned for Oxford (United Kingdom).

Besides the temple, the plan also includes building a 500-seat community center for providing meeting place for the community, community events, luncheon clubs, interfaith projects, indoor activities for youth, yoga classes, Sunday school, etc., reports suggest.

Oxford Hindu Temple & Community Centre Project, registered as charity with Charity Commission for England and Wales, currently organizes prayer sessions, festivals and other community events in various halls, including a primary school hall. One of the listed objects of this Project includes “to advance the Hindu religion in Oxfordshire”.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement today, applauded efforts of temple-project leaders and Oxfordshire and surrounding area community to realize this wonderful Hindu temple and community center.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Project is run by an Executive Committee of 15 members whose Chair and Deputy Chair are Doctor Gyan Gopal and Chinta Kallie respectively. Fundraising campaign is currently on and it plans to raise 500,000 pounds for the temple fund, out of which 60,000 pounds have reportedly been collected.

There are about 5,000 Hindus in Oxfordshire County who currently have to travel long distances to London, Birmingham, Slough, etc., to worship in a Hindu temple.

Oxford (Oxfordshire, England),  chartered in 1542 and popularly called the “city of dreaming spires”, is known for its medieval University of Oxford, mid-18th century Radcliffe Camera, Radiohead band, authors Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carroll, etc. Its motto is “Truth is strength” and John Goddard is the Lord Mayor, Bob Price is City Council Leader, while Peter Sloman is Chief Executive. Rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford, which appears in “Harry Potter” movies.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents.

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Christian Meditation: A Case for Practicing Meditation in the Christian Tradtion

Feb 13

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Meditation at Big Green Gathering 2006 Festival by gavinandrewstewart via Flickr

Author: David Wilcox

If you were to ask most westerners what they thought about meditation, they would likely crack some joke about long haired Gurus in orange garments, sitting cross legged with eyes closed, incense burning, their fingers turned into little ok signs as they rest them on their knees, breathing in and chanting loudly AUMMMMMMMMM.

And while this is certainly an image of meditation that has some basis in reality, it reveals the basic misunderstanding of meditation which permeates the western world. There are many reasons for this misunderstanding, however the biggest reason, I believe, is that most western exposure to religion has been in a Christian tradition, and Christians are taught to be skeptical of meditation. However, Christians should not be skeptical of meditation. Meditation was practiced for centuries by Christians from around the world, and still is today. There is also evidence from the Gospels that Jesus practiced a form of meditation when he retired by himself every morning and evening to be with his Abba. Meditation is a spiritual practice which is common to all religious traditions, including Christianity. So, what is meditation then?

Meditation is a form of prayer which attempts to focus and quiet the objective or conscious mind in order to lead a person to connect with the central core of their being. In simple terms, meditation practice tries to establish a link between the human mind and the human heart. In doing so, the practitioner is brought into contact with their true self, and their conscious awareness of life is expanded.

Christian Theology and Biblical teaching supports the idea that the Holy Spirit resides within each person. Within us, in the central core of our being, is an infinite power, the Power of the Spirit. However, what is also clear from Christian teaching is that the Spirit within must be contacted through focused prayer, otherwise the Power of the Spirit within remains only a potential power, dormant and unused. St. Paul refers to this by teaching us that the Spirit groans within us, and prays for us, because we do not pray as we should. Meditation can be the key to unfolding the Power of the Spirit within by quieting and focusing the objective mind, and bringing it into direct contact with the central core of being, the Holy Spirit within. In this way, meditation can become a transformational practice, as it unfolds the Power of the Spirit into the lives of ordinary Christians. And when the infinite Power of the Spirit is unleashed in a person’s life, anything becomes possible.

Traditional Christian worship is good, and important. However it is often too formal, too ritualistic, and too rooted in the objective mind. Unfortunately, the objective mind often becomes an impediment to real and genuine contact with the Spirit within, as it wrestles with the cares and concerns of life. The objective mind is also easily distracted, and loses itself easily in spiritual distractions such as listening to sermons which, as Paul said so well, tickle the ears. Meditation brings us in communion with our source, the teacher within. John the Evangelist tells us that we need no teacher, for our teacher, the Holy Spirit, resides within us. Meditation can become the way that we learn to listen to the lessons the Spirit wishes to teach us and the world we live in.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/meditation-articles/christian-meditation-a-case-for-practicing-meditation-in-the-christian-tradtion-4219365.html

About the Author

Dave Wilcox writes articles on topics such as self-improvement, spirituality, diet, and fitness.

For more information on meditation, please go to:

http://www.squidoo.com/meditation-for-self-improvement

or

http://thepowerofthespirit.blogspot.com/

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How to Meditate Effectively

Jan 5

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Meditation

Meditation via Wikipedia

Author: Stacy (@TheZenGirl)

What image comes to mind when you think of meditation? Perhaps a gentle old man sitting quietly on an ancient Asian mountaintop? Meditation practice originated centuries ago in the Far East but has become more mainstream in Western culture. Today, millions of people all over the world practice meditation to relieve a variety of problems in their personal lives and promote a general sense of well-being.trans.gif

Practicing meditation requires us to dip below our “surface” thoughts and into the realm of the subconscious. Meditation is focusing on the space between your thoughts. Much like a computer that needs to be defragmented on a regular basis in order to run at its optimal level, meditation is a wonderful tool that gives us a chance to recalibrate our mind, body and spirit. In effect, meditation helps us to realize our full potential and success as human beings.

There is no right or wrong way to meditate, but there are ways to meditate effectively.

1. Open Your Mind
One of the most important steps to meditate effectively is to keep an open mind. Every person is unique, and so is each meditation experience. Try not to judge or criticize yourself and be open to whatever experience comes your way. You might be pleasantly surprised.

2. Set Aside a Quiet Time and Place
It is crucial to set aside a quiet time and place in preparation for meditation. Schedule the time on your calendar and treat it like and important meeting you would not want to miss. Turn off your phone and communicate to family members or housemates to give you interrupted time for yourself for at least 20-30 minutes. One of the best times to meditate is first thing in the morning because this is when the subconscious mind is the most impressionable and you will most likely start your day with positive thoughts. However, If you suffer from insomnia or thrive later in the day, an evening practice might be best for you.

3. Sit in a Comfortable Position
Your body’s posture during meditation is also important. The ideal posture is a comfortable sitting position, legs crossed, with your spine straight and erect. If you are not able to cross your legs, simply sit in the most comfortable position that is true for your body on that day. Be sure you can sit in that particular position for a long time period and try not to lay down, as often it’s easy to fall asleep.

4. Do a Short Breathing Exercise
Sometimes it may be effective to practice pranayama, or conscious breathing, for 5 minutes to calm your thoughts and prepare your mind and body for meditation. One effective pranayama exercise is alternate nostril breathing. Close one nostril with your fingers, exhale completely then inhale completely. Close the other nostril and repeat. Once you become comfortable, see if you can slow down your breathing, inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 10 counts. This brings awareness and leads to a singular point of focus that is important as the next step in how to meditate effectively.

5. Create a Point of Focus
Our minds are chock full of thoughts, worries, fears and desires. Meditation is focusing on the quiet space between thoughts in order to recalibrate and balance ourselves. Focus on your breath, an object like a candle flame, and/or a mantra. A mantra is especially effective in replacing any thought that re-enters your mind and a gentle way to bring yourself back to that “space.” It can be a non-verbal om or any other combination of rich vowels that feels comfortable to you. When we practice meditation regularly using the same mantra, soon we train our mind to associate the word(s) with a calm meditative state. By extension, this makes our mantra a very powerful tool to deal with stressful situations in our life as a result of a regular meditation practice.

6. Accept Yourself
It’s no secret that it’s not easy to meditate or more people would be doing it. Like most things practice makes it easier, but our minds will inevitably wander. Try not to be hard on yourself. Simply accept it and return to your point of focus each time it happens and move on.

7. Enjoy the Benefits of Meditation
Not only does meditation rejuvenate the body and promote inner peace, it also can be a source of inspiration. Most humans use only a very small percentage of our brains. This approximate 5% is controlled by our physical selves and our ego. The remaining 95% of our intelligence resides in our subconscious mind, where the most powerful ideas and best solutions to our problems lie. The power of our subconscious mind is one which many past leaders have tapped into, such as Thomas Edison, Buddha, Jesus, Confucius and Einstein, to name a few.

At first the benefits of meditation may seem small, but using these effective techniques on how to meditate are very powerful. Over time you might just feel like the peaceful, enlightened man (or woman) on the mountaintop.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/meditation-articles/how-to-meditate-effectively-3965221.html

About the Author

Stacy Bergdahl is a world traveler, yoga fanatic, marketing maven and spa-goer and committed to eco-friendly life practices. Check out my wellness resource blog Zen Friend for all things mind, body and spirit. Visit my previous travel blog at The Berglon’s Wanderlust and follow me on twitter @TheZenGirl. Happy reading!

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A SPIRITUAL RENAISSANCE

Dec 19

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Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, Galleria d...

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, Galleria dell' Accademia, Venice (1485-90) via Wikipedia

Author: Spritual Healer Ranjit Thind

The trumpet has sounded. The clarion call has been issued. A spiritual renaissance is in the offing. The Renaissance from the 14th to the 16th centuries was a revival in learning across Europe at that time. It promoted the advancement of learning to such a degree that its effects can be felt to this very day. In the same vein, there is another renaissance brewing in the spiritual field and its reach is getting wider by the day. The 21st century is about to unfold a spiritual renaissance in which the advancement of soul learning will be the ‘in’ thing.

Spiritual healing can be defined as matters pertaining to the ‘inner man’ or spirit. The Oxford Dictionary defines spirit as soul thought of as separate from the body; soul without a body; ghost. Another definition that deserves merit is life and consciousness not associated with a body. Thus, spiritual healing is to revive and energise the soul to function to its fullest capacity thereby enabling an individual to achieve harmony, equilibrium and oneness with nature and his/her surroundings. Ultimately, the society benefits in the long run by the appearance of such souls in its midst.

Although spiritual healing has been practised in its various forms by people in the East, its revival is taking place instead in the West. Western society is beginning to appreciate the powers of the spirit and benefits accruing to it. Souls in the western society are much more ‘matured’ and able to ‘tune’ in more quickly to changes in the spirit world. The souls here are hungrier for more information and knowledge in spiritual matters. This is evidenced by the advent of psychics, healers using different forms of energy all geared to the advancement of the soul. In short, the West is a suitable environment for such a revival/renaissance.

An individual who is imbued with spirituality is well on his/her way to a spiritual awakening. Such individuals permeate their energy and enthusiasm to other members of society. Some of them eventually become healers whereby they administer healing to other souls. Healing others is a major responsibility that requires years of prayers and meditation to achieve. It is no walk in the park. These spiritual healers are ‘guided’ in their daily tasks and know what to do in a difficult situation. These spiritual healers are in every race, religion, culture and nation on the face of this earth. They are around to promote godliness and peace.

My journey into the spiritual world began very early in my teens. It began in the form of spiritual suffering. I was a victim of spiritual witchcraft which is widely practised here in the East. I was continuously harassed and taunted by the demonic beings for a few years. Their taunts became more severe as the years passed.

Faced with the possibility of death, I resorted to the final device at my disposal – prayers. I began to pray earnestly and sincerely to overcome this malady. It was a ‘do or die’ situation and there was no turning back. My very existence depended on these prayers. After a space of a few months, I noticed a tremendous change in myself and my situation. The tauntings of the demons became very mild. As my faith in my prayers and myself increased, the demonic beings became weak and started to falter. Now it was my turn to harass the demons. In this way, I discovered (after much suffering) the true weapon to combat evil – prayers. Not long after this discovery, I found out that I had the GOD given spiritual capability and ability to help others in the same predicament. Hence, my spiritual healing journey began and I have not looked back since.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/metaphysics-articles/a-spiritual-renaissance-3876326.html

About the Author

I am a Malaysian citizen aged 41 years. I am of Indian descent. My spiritual journey for the last 14 years drove me to set up a blog on spiritualism where I can share my thoughts and experiences with others who share the same experiences as mine. In this blog, I will endeavour to include psychology, philosophy, motivation, the different schools of meditation, etc which have helped shape my outlook on life. The intellectual traditions that helped shape western society as it is today is also explored. It is my firm belief that knowledge of others’ way of thinking and looking at things is indispensable to an individual’s harmonious life. Much heartache can be avoided if we strive earnestly to seek and understand the perception of the other person. This blog will attempt to explain the vagaries of life in very simple terms.

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St Catherine’s Story and the Monastery

Nov 1

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Mount Catherine in Sinai, the country's highes...

Mount Catherine in Sinai, the country's highest point via Wikipedia

By: Steve Phillips

St Catherine’s Monastery lies in the shadow of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) in the Wadi ed-Deir. The spot where the Monastery now stands is traditionally revered as the site of the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1).

St Helena, the mother of Constantine visited the site in the fourth century and the fourth century pilgrim diary of Egeria bears witness to the presence of an eremetical group tending the spot and welcoming pilgrims.

St Catherine’s is the only monastery still active in the Sinai, and consists of a group of 10-15 Greek Orthodox monks who still welcome pilgrims today. The present buildings date from the sixth century when the Emperor Justinian offered his patronage. The main basilica was built by him with the magnificent apse mosaic depicting the transfiguration of Christ. (Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2)

“Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.”

The Crusading era brought a new wave of iconographic art. Icons of St George surrounded by the great crusading legends are on display alongside the early works from Egypt, Syria, Constantinople and Sinai.

The great walls were provided as a defence against, marauding tribes and still surround the Monastery today. Some restoration of the upper wall took place under the guidance of Napoleon who also offered his protection in 1798-1801.

The Monastery houses one of the most famous collections of Christian art and ancient manuscripts dating from as early as the fourth century AD through to the present day. The Codex Sinaiticus, now held in the British Museum, was originally part of St Catherine’s collection.

Despite its isolation, the site of the Burning Bush has drawn pilgrims throughout the centuries. Traditionally a pilgrimage has incorporated an act of repentance and here in Sinai pilgrims would have had to say their confession before stepping onto the Holy Mountain. They would pass through the Gate of St Stephen and find a confessor waiting by the Byzantine steps leading up to the summit.

Today the mountain is open to all, but with the hermitages and small walled gardens dotted around the mountain, some of which remain in use, there is still something of the ancient reverence. The local tribe of Bedouin (converted from

Christianity to Islam in the seventh century) are the descendants of the original builders of the Monastery.

Eutychios, Patriarch of Alexandria, in an early written source states that the Emperor Justinian ordered 200 families from Pontus and Alexandria to work in the service of the monks. To this day the small mountain tribe cares for the Monastery and its surroundings.

The Legend of St Catherine

St Catherine of Alexandria lived in the early fourth century and was martyred by the Emperor Maximinus in 305 AD for refusing to denounce Christianity. To add to the Emperor’s fury, when he sent his philosophers to argue with her they too returned converted to the Christian faith.

She is sometimes known as St Catherine of the Wheel due to the torture inflicted on her. She was finally beheaded. After her execution tradition claims her body vanished. According to the legend, the angels transported it to the peak of the highest mountain in Sinai, now called St Catherine’s. About five centuries later, guided by a dream, monks of the monastery built by Justinian found her body, brought it down from the mountain and placed it in a golden casket in the church. Part of the remains were taken by Crusaders back to Europe, but what was left still stands in the casket behind the lconostasis screen inside the sanctuary area.

Codex Sinaiticus

The Codex Sinaiticus is a 4th century manuscript of the New Testament. It is the oldest extant version of the Gospels and was originally housed here in Sinai at St Catherine’s Monastery. There was much controversy over the manuscript when it was rediscovered in the Monastery by a scholar named Tischendorf. The monks claim he was lent the manuscript, honour bound to return it to them. It was never returned.

It was eventually bought after the first World War from Russia by the British Museum and can be seen there today on display.

About the Author

Steve Phillips learnt about the Sinai desert from Dr Emma Loveridge who is the founder of the specialist tour operator Wind, Sand & Stars. The company received a highly coveted environmental award early in its life for its ethical working partnership with the Bedouin tribes in South Sinai, Egypt. Dr Emma Loveridge has a PhD in early Byzantine art and manuscripts from the University of Cambridge.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – St Catherine’s Story and the Monastery

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Different Views on Meditation

Oct 17

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Easy Mandala

Easy Mandala via Wikipedia

By: Juan Skyzinski

Meditation is thought as overrated nowadays. Most people think that meditation is for Buddhist monks and nuns. But what most people do fail to realize is that all of us meditate, we just tend to use different meditation techniques.

Most of us think that meditation is deeply connected to religion. True enough, Meditation has been in rooted with religion but it is not limited to such. For instance, in Hinduism, they practice meditation techniques that involve proper posture, breathing and chanting mantras. They believe that this meditation can lead them to self realization, empowerment, come closer to Brahman god like discernment and the wisdom to attain peace and resolve worldly matters.

In Buddhism, They practice meditation techniques which also involve posture, breathing and chanting. They also believe that they can resolve worldly matters, attain inner peace, self realization, empowerment and wisdom. The difference is that in Buddhism, They do not believe that they can be closer to their god. In fact, they do not have a god. They believe that their meditation techniques can help them achieve the eight noble truths and finally find themselves in Nirvana. They believe that being close to these eight noble truths is Zen itself.

In Christianity, their meditation techniques are simpler. They believe that meditation is prayer. They detach themselves from the physical world and focus on their god. They believe that this technique would bring them to a personal conversation with Jesus Christ. In doing so, they can get help by solving worldly matters, uplifting their spirits, clearing their thoughts and being guided through every decision. They describe deep reflection and having an epiphany as having a piece of what they can call heaven. It’s like heaven on earth.

The Native Americans have the same objectives in mind: self realization, purpose, inner peace, guidance, peace and problem solving. Yet, they have different meditation techniques. Their meditation involves the use of peace pipes, dancing, chanting, pilgrimages and other forms of sacrifices that has been innate in them.

It might sound absurd but Atheists also meditate. They might not think that they are not doing it, but they actually do meditate! They practice different meditation techniques but like religion, they arrive at the same results; self-realization, solving problems, inner peace, decision-making, selflessness and finding a different point of view. Their meditation techniques involve taking a walk, listening to soothing music, sitting on the roof, etc. Therefore, may it be in a religious way or not, we all practice meditation techniques that are almost similar with each other’s views.

About the Author

Juan Skyzinski is a freelance writer who write based on his own personal accounts and experiences.

To know more about Buddhist Meditation, please visit these websites:

www.buddistmeditation.org

www.buddistmeditation.com

www.buddistmeditation.net

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Different Views on Meditation

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Help Always, Hurt Never

Oct 7

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The kindness of strangers

The kindness of strangers by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Revenge, the desire to hurt others who have hurt us, only bears bitter fruit. It hurts those whom we have inflicted our wrath upon. And it hurts us, because no single act in the universe goes unrewarded. From that singular act, our own consciousness is wounded by the expression of our animalism.

Nations pride themselves on the swiftness of their retribution but inevitably collapse in on themselves because the seeds of discontent that they sow, hurts all of life. Rome, the greatest civilization that the world had ever known, built on the finest arts and sciences known to the ancient world, the epitome of legal and architectural order, collapsed from within, destroyed by its own impulse to use its mighty force to strike out and subdue.

Today our world is dying because of this impulse to strike out.

We are destroying each other at an alarming rate, both individually and collectively.

And even the earth itself, is collapsing at a faster rate than we can repair. Scientists now estimate that by the year 2050, we will have exhausted the earth of all its natural resources.

The science that we celebrate, the genius of our efforts, are wasted on destructive uses. Instead of using the power of the nucleus to build great civilizations we are busy using it to stockade bombs.

Billions of dollars that could be used to heal the broken places on our planet are used to send people to horrific deaths.

When we seek to hurt life, we hurt ourselves, for we are life.

Revenge it is said is a dish best served cold; but whether it is served with cold deliberation or hot reaction, it is a dish in whose very preparation we imbue a poison that will return to destroy us.

The greatest illusion is this: that we can hurt and not be hurt, that we can wound another and remain unscathed. When we inflict harm upon another, we inflict harm upon ourselves. What goes around comes around. A rudimentary study of history will prove this.

When we love, we reach out to align with life, to nurture and make others better, and in that act, we redeem ourselves from our own past follies.

This love is a precious act. It is our extension of spiritual power in the world. It is a moment of sympathy and support that we have for life. When you bend down and help a child tie its shoelaces, you are tying up all the knots of the world. When you listen in silence and understand another’s intention, you are spreading the meme of empathy through all of time and space, for thoughts are cosmic waves that do not know any barriers.

As we extend love to others, it comes back to us.

Yet we cannot love others unless we love ourselves as well.

We cannot live without making mistakes of judgment and do things that we will later regret, because we are na?ve and do foolish things out of that naivety. But we do grow, and looking back at the harm we have invoked, we feel grief. Our act of love, then, is to forgive ourselves. Yet instead of taking this simple act, we damn ourselves repeatedly, and in this way, we still hurt life, because we are life.

When we feel the urge to strike out, we must remember how it feels to have the wound inflicted upon our own flesh, because everything returns to the author of a deed.

Help always, hurt never. Do this and your life will be a blessing to the world and you must reap the harvest from what you have sown.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory

About the Author

Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas with you. Hunting everywhere for a life worth living? Discover the life of your dreams. His book, Never Ever Give Up is offered at no cost to stimulate your success. http://www.theempoweredsoul.com/enter.html

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Secrets To Reading The Bible

Oct 3

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The title page to the 1611 first edition of th...

The title page to the 1611 first edition of the Authorized Version Bible.via Wikipedia

Did you ever wonder why the Bible is so hard to read? It is simple really. God is looking for people who are willing to pursue Him. The Bible is like a gold mine. Now, if I were to give you a real live gold mine, would you just walk in and pick up the gold? No, of course not. You have to dig for it, but the reward is incredibly valuable. I promise if you dig into the Bible you will find secrets FAR more valuable than just gold.

The Bible is also like is a jigsaw puzzle. It is not until you complete it that you really start to grasp the whole picture. I encourage you most strongly to make a decision to read the whole Bible. My secrets in this article will help you.

1.) Get A Version You Can Understand.

The Living Bible is the easiest to read, but it is a paraphrase, not a translation. This means that the translators tried to translate the meaning of the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, not the exact words.

The New American Standard Version (NASB) is generally accepted as the most accurate modern translation. It was translated with the benefit of the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls (1946) and the storeroom of Ezra (Egypt, 1872) which were not available in earlier English translations. It is still somewhat difficult to read, however.

The New International Version (NIV) is another painstakingly accurate modern translations, but it is very readable. It too is highly recommended.

The King James Version and The Catholic Bible are the classic American Bibles, but they can be very difficult to read. If you are a member of a church, your Pastor or Priest may have a specific version that they recommend.

2.) Every Time Before You Read:

Ask God to open your eyes and your heart to His Word.

3.) This Is The Order In Which To Read The Bible:

The Bible is broken into two parts: The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the history of creation and the Jewish nation, along with stories, writings and warnings from God’s prophets.

The New Testament is the story of Jesus and the early Christian church along with instructions on how to be a Christian. We live under the New Testament – which is a new way of life which God set up through Jesus.

The first 4 books of the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and are known as “The Gospels.” (This means “Good News”). These are 4 different versions of the same story – The Life of Jesus. They are 4 eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. So read in this order:

Matthew, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians

Mark, Acts, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians

Luke, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James

John, 1&2 Peter, 1,2&3 John, Jude, Revelation

4.) Read One Chapter At A Time.

This will take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.

5. ) You Will Need The Following Tools:

A pencil and a ruler.

6.) This Is How You Use The Pencil And Ruler:

When you read, underline anything that strikes you as important or interesting. When you finish the chapter, look back over the things you have underlined and draw a box around the most important thing in the chapter.

When you finish a book, review your boxed verses and make a double box around the most important verse of the book. Doing this is simply a tool to help you realize what you are reading. You will get much more out of reading the Bible this way.

7.) When You Finish The New Testament, START OVER

You will be amazed at how God’s Word is new & fresh every time you read it.

8.) After You Have Read The New Testament, Then You Can Add The Old Testament.

Read the Old Testament in the order in which it appears in the Bible. To read the whole Bible in a year, you will need to read 1 chapter of the New Testament and 5-7 pages of the Old Testament.

Here is the way to know the number of pages you will need to read: Take the total number of pages in the Old Testament and divide by 200. Let us say the result is 5. Your goal will be to read 5 pages of the Old Testament 20 times a month for 10 months. Aim for everyday, but 20 times is the monthly must-have goal. This gives you 2 months of extra built-in leeway and 10 days leeway per month. If you get bogged down reading the Old Testament, turn to Psalms and Proverbs. But never give up reading the New Testament for the sake of reading the Old Testament.

9.) The Best Thing You Can Ever Do For Your Spiritual Life Is To Read The Whole Bible EVERY Year.

WHY should you do this? Because it is where faith comes from. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

And how important is faith? This is what the Bible says: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6

10.) Note This Web Site:

Biblegateway.com. This is an incredible on-line concordance. A concordance lets you find a Bible verse by any single word you can think of. For example: You can type in “love” and it will give you every singe verse containing the word “love.” They have this for every well-known version of the Bible in many languages.

In Conclusion:

This plan will effectively help you to read through the Bible. You will find that the Bible is “alive.” You will be reading along and – BAM! – something will jump off the page at you, like it was written ONLY for you for this EXACT moment of your life. It is AMAZING and it will happen over and over. It is no wonder that millions of lives have been changed by the Bible and that a surprising number of people have even given their lives so that you might have the right and the ability to read it.

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory

About the Author

Do you know how to hear God? William Verch is the author of a Special Report entitled “How To Hear God Speak” For a limited time, enjoy a complimentary copy at http://www.TheWayGodWorks.com You will be pleased with this unique resource for helping you to be able to know God’s voice.

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The Seven Branch Menorah – Symbol of the Jewish Faith

Sep 30

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Coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus c 40 BCE.jpg

Coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus c 40 BCE via Wikipedia

The 7-branch menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith. It is found mostly in temples and synagogues, often up front as an item by itself, and also as a design in stained glass windows, ceilings & wall murals, paintings, sculptures, and more. Interestingly, increasingly some churches also have seven branch menorahs in their sanctuaries to remind them of the menorah that once stood in the Temple in Jerusalem. Although, this should not be such a surprise bearing in mind the menorah’s place in the Hebrew scriptures and the role of the Old Testament in the life of the church & Christian.

In addition, menorahs are popular as display items in both Jewish & Christian homes, and can also be found in schools, museums, art galleries just to mention a few. Unlike the 9-branch hanukkah menorah, the 7-branch menorah has no Shamash (servant), and it has just seven branches; that is because the purpose of the 9-branch hanukkah menorah is to remember the miracle of the oil at hanukkah, whereas the 7-branch menorah is a symbol of the Jewish faith and was always present in the Temple when it stood in Jerusalem.

The 7-branch menorah is made according to the commandment in Exodus 25:31-40. Priests would light it every evening and clean it every morning. Jewish sages teach that this menorah was the vessel that G-d used to blend the spiritual life that is to come with the physical life of this world. Ultimately, the purpose of this menorah is not to illuminate the temple but to spread its light throughout the world. It is a symbol of the nation of Israel and it is a physical reminder of the commandment in Isaiah 42:6 to be a light to the nations. This commandment, given originally to the people of Israel, is often used by Christians to justify the requirement upon them to spread their faith and the gospel, hence, again, the significance of the menorah for them again.

The 7-branch menorah can be of any size. For example, one of the largest menorahs stands in front of the gates to the Knesset building in Jerusalem. It was erected as a reminder of the indestructibility of the Jewish people; a truth that has borne true time and time again despite persecution, wars, and even assimilation. It was the 7-branch menorah that was lit after the Maccabees had their victory and rededicated the Temple, and the oil they found that was only enough to burn for one day actually lasted for eight while more oil was being made and consecrated.

The seven branch menorahs found today can be lit with oil or candles (special glass oil containers with special wics are required for oil burning), and there are even some that are electric; in addition, they can be of any size, ranging from 4″ to over 4 feet. There are various styles of menorahs, with the more popular being the “Large Cups Menorah” which is considered closest to that found in the Temple long ago, the “12 Tribes Menorah” which carries the symbols of each of the 12 tribes of Israel, and various contemporary designs. Many of these menorahs are made in India, so ask before you buy because there is a big difference in quality, weight, and how they are made!

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory

About the Author

Adam Barnett works for Studio Shofar Judaica & Gifts, and hopes to help educate the judaica market to better understand judaica products in general. Visit us to learn more about seven branch menorahs and other judaica items at http://www.studioshofar.com/menorahs.html

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