Saturday, August 02, 2008












Start Early
The best time to awaken both body and spirit is in the early morning. We are fresh, in solitude, and the vibrations of the world are at their calmest. It is not surprising that you will find all experienced meditators and yogis up with the dawn, inviting the sun of spirit to shine into the heart of their soul. The first half hour of conscious awareness will be the foundation of your day. Make an early start. Meditate, set the switch of your consciousness and calibrate your energy for the day. You'll be surprised the difference it makes.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Friday, August 01, 2008
















To be controlled by anger is to repress the soul's original qualities of tolerance and love.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Thursday, July 31, 2008













Humility
Humility puts a hand out to nothing extra, but simply takes what's there. Whether that be food or clothing or understanding. Sometimes there is a lot available and sometimes only little. It doesn't matter. Even when you understand nothing, there is no worry, for in humility there is the trust that if a person feels themselves to be a child of God, everything will come anyway, at the right time.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Wednesday, July 30, 2008













Forgiving
See beyond immediate circumstances. Clear the decks of old grievances, become free from outdated thinking. Learn from past experiences and move on by tapping inner sources of self-worth and humility. Valuing honesty and commitment, softly let go and enable others to change. There are new horizons, new growth, a new lease of life.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Tuesday, July 29, 2008












Peace
Peace consists of pure thoughts, pure feelings and pure wishes. When the energy of thought, word and action is balanced and stable, the individual is at peace with the self, in relationships and the world. To excerise the power of peace look inward in order to look outward with courage, purpose and meaning.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Monday, July 28, 2008













Sweetness looks for the good in things, for at its heart is the conviction that good is somewhere there in everything.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Sunday, July 27, 2008












The Arts of Life
The greatest art is to be silent. Not just unspeaking with the lips, but unspeaking with the mind. When the mind is quiet, its whole angle of vision changes. From pouncing on the problems, it begins to perceive the chances, the good things in life: and, in that discrimination which comes from silence, lie all other arts. The arts that make life a pleasure and a challenge; like how to talk to each other, entertain each other, accept each other - in short, how to be happy not just together, but alone.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Saturday, July 26, 2008

When Times Seem Tough



By Jonathan Parker, Ph.D.
http://www.quantumquests.com


What can you do when you have done all the good and right things you know to do, and your life still does not seem to have changed for the better? Sometimes life seems to have insurmountable or unending difficulties. You do your best and it doesn't seem to be enough. You follow all the rules, go to classes, have counseling sessions, attend workshops, listen to self-help tapes, read books, and yet there are still difficulties.

Is this beginning to have a ring of familiarity? The reason it does, is because we all signed up for the same school; So, we're reading the same books, and learning the same lessons. Oh, some of the details and timing may be different for each of us, but we all face similar trials and events in life that challenge us in similar ways.

Sometimes you see others whose lives seem to be charmed and blessed, and wonder why you aren't like them. But the fact is that if you do know someone whose life IS like that, it is because they have already gone through the classes on those subjects, and paid the dues sometime, somewhere. But more often than not, what may appear to be a charmed life in one respect, has limitations in others. It is a rare soul who has completed all the coursework, done the homework, and is waiting to graduate. Of course they exist. We call them awakened ones, enlightened ones, or masters. They call themselves our brothers and sisters, or perhaps our elders.

There are Answers

But what about the rest of the "good people?" Those who are trying so hard, and yet still seem to have one challenge hit them after another. Take some comfort because first of all, you are not alone, and secondly there is a way out. Yes, there are things you can do that will drastically alter the way you think, and will make a difference in your life--if you have the courage and commitment to do them. I'm talking about something broader and deeper than self-help books, subliminal tapes, going to workshops, or anything else in the New Age or human potential movement, but first let's look at the source of the problem.

Virtually everyone has asked themselves, "Why is this happening to me?" Sometimes a person can feel quite frustrated and depressed over situations, especially when they have gone on for prolonged periods. You ask, "Why me?" "Why the financial problems?" "Why the relationship problems?" "Why the health problems?" First of all, it is important to know that the universe does operate according laws, and there are no mistakes in life, only learning experiences. So when a physical, mental or emotional pain comes into your life, the approach should not be inward or outward blame, but rather a turning inward to discover how you can take the experience and move it from being empty suffering to meaningful stepping stones to new or better ways.

The way out is not through coping skills It is through transformations of consciousness that not only change the way you react to life, but also the nature and quality of your life itself.

The Spirals of Life

Even though your life sometimes may seem to be going in circles, it actually isn't. What you are experiencing is a slow upward spiral in which you are gradually gaining in knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Just because you have addressed particular issues doesn't mean that issue will go away. It may change form and present itself a number of times; each time teaching you a different aspect about the thoughts and energies you have unconsciously put out to create it.

You see, as you rise on the spiral of your life, each time you come around the spiral, you are directly above a spot where you were on your spiral at a previous time. This means that the same issues that have been giving you difficulties in the past (or present) will present themselves to you again, unless or until you have learned sufficiently to be completely above their influence. Life presents you with the same situation over and over, not only so you can learn all there is to learn from it, but also to confirm to you that you have indeed dealt with it in the most beneficial way. Once you have completely moved in consciousness above a certain type of situation, you will not experience that situation again.

Our Life Mission

But why are you or those you love in troublesome situations now? Your life is composed of the energy patterns that you have given your attention to in the past. Today is borne out of the thoughts of yesterday, and tomorrow arises from the thoughts of today. You may have established very strong karmic patterns for yourself in past lives that are now being balanced through adversity and challenge. While you might think you would prefer to choose a life of perfect harmony, it may not be the overriding goal of your soul for this moment in your life. Your own soul is working out a balancing and refining process, that will lead to greater harmony, but the script you are following may take you through strong challenges to get you to that place. In fact, sometimes the souls who are very advanced and nearing the end of their cycles of reincarnation into this dimension, preprogram their lives with great challenges, handicaps, and difficulties so they can clear out the final issues in the quickest possible way. It is important not to judge yourself or others because you see suffering or difficulties sometimes severe. Know that each soul chooses its path to work out what is important for them to learn, and balance.

If you see life as a continuum spanning many incarnations, you will realize that your life is following an extended path of balancing energies and evolving to higher states of being to return to the highest spirit worlds from which you came. Your evolution is based on your reactions and intent. How you react to your circumstances is far more vitally important to your continuing growth, than the specific circumstance you find yourself in. For instance, if you find that your current situation is disadvantaged, or you have been abused, abandoned or otherwise taken advantage of, and you respond by holding anger, resentment, hatred, and thoughts of revenge, you are not only missing the lessons those circumstances have for you, but you have reinforced the very factors that created the experience. For you to hold those negative feelings and emotions only means the lessons have not yet been learned, and the very strong negative nature of those feelings will only hurt you, and perpetuate repeating similar patterns or circumstances in your future.

Every Action has a Reaction

You should do what is necessary physically to protect yourself, release any negative attachments to those who have hurt you, and express thanks for having the insight to learn from the circumstance. The lesson is to learn to release them with love and forgiveness, even if life has been very cruel to you. It takes a high level of perception to feel and express this attitude from the heart, but it is the place you must come to be, if you are going to attain the life of balance, abundance, and harmony you want.

Most people miss many opportunities every day to further themselves because they cannot let go. Yet, they wonder why their lives continue repeating the same patterns perhaps with different people playing similar roles in their lives. They will stay trapped in these self-created loops until they figure out they need to refine their own soul qualities, rise above the mass consciousness, and keep focused on the vision of what lies beyond their circumstances. Forgive, release, let go, surrender, be free of negative thoughts or attachments to another, and you will move higher, and out of those limiting circumstances you don't like. If your reading fast, slow down and read that last sentence again.

Your Life as a Movie Star

If you see your specific life circumstances in the context of a long movie in which you are playing many roles, and changing costumes from one lifetime to another, you will realize that how you respond to the situations in each life, sets the stage for the next. You made certain soul contracts with individuals before you were born for them to play the villains in your life in order to help you learn the valuable lessons you need. You agreed before your birth that each major challenge that you would face in your life is what you know you need to take you to your next level of growth and your next level of growth is determined by how completely you have surrendered the problem. You are not judged by your actions, as much as your reactions primarily your feelings.

In some lives a soul will choose a life of being a very successful leader in a very prosperous society having much of what a person could imagine wanting. The next life probably won't be an exact repeat, and probably won't be so wonderful unless the individual is truly approaching mastery. The greater likelihood is they will choose to be born in lesser circumstances, have certain handicaps, or have certain scheduled disappointments in that life. All aspects of one's life must be balanced and a soul will do whatever is necessary to create that balance.

One life is not better than another, although an individual might think so. Each experience helps the soul develop and refine itself as it moves on in its expression returning to full God realization. Eventually, all the bad will drop away, and the soul will express itself only with the very highest qualities. You can accelerate this process by becoming aware of the nature of existence, and taking all the steps necessary to respond to life with the purest motivations and love.

So if you have been struggling with difficulties, wondering why your efforts have not seemed to produce the results you want, it may not be the fault of anyone or anything, but simply the path you have chosen in this particular life. This does not mean that it must continue. You must look at each condition in your life, and analyze your attitude toward it and your reaction toward it. If it is anything less than love and acceptance in the deepest and purest way, then you have not learned all there is to learn from that particular type of situation.

Any outward searching or using tools at your disposal in the form of counseling, workshops, books, tapes or psychic readings, can help you focus on where you are, but they cannot make the transformations for you. They are only the tools that must lead to the inner work. Yes, sometimes it seems so very difficult, maybe even impossible, but it isn't. The circumstances are there to motivate you to look deeply within and surrender yourself, your difficulties, and your entire life to your God Presence. You have to reach deep into your own soul for the strength that resides there from your connection with God, and your Higher Self, and renew and resolve to KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON YOUR GOD PRESENCE, NOT OUTWARD CONDITIONS. I have been up and I have been down, and I've learned the way out is the way in looking into yourself to see yourself clearly, to analyze your attitudes and reactions to each situation, and to purify your motives and responses.

Feel Free to Copy This Article & Distribute It Freely. Comments on this article may be submitted to the author, Jonathan Parker, at Q@QuantumQuests.com. For a complete list of audio programs and workshops by Jonathan Parker, as well as other articles on this and related subjects, visit Jonathan’s website at:

http://www.quantumquests.com

















Thinking
Thinking can be your hell, but it is also the means of making Heaven.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Friday, July 25, 2008













Giving
With habits, never give in or we lose our dignity. With the self, never give up or we lose our destiny. With others never give your worst or you will never develop your best. The saying, "What we give us what we receive". The lesson: Just to give.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Thursday, July 24, 2008













The loving acts of a generous heart always bring about happy outcomes.





- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Tuesday, July 22, 2008















Real Gentleness
Real gentleness in a person is a great power. The power that sees, understands, but never interferes. Like the branch of the tree, just touching the earth but never taking root in it. Never to take root in someone else’s mind but to help, that’s gentleness.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Monday, July 21, 2008













Resolve Conflict
There has probably never been a time where there has been so much fear and conflict across the world, not just across oceans and borders but across the breakfast table. In fact many now prefer conflict to peace, as they become addicted to the actions of anger and aggression, and the adrenaline rush which results. They don't really want conflict to end, in fact, they will say that some conflict is good to get things done and stimulate change. They are not aware that they are killing themselves. All conflict is simply a symptom of attachment to a position. And as we know, this generates fear, and fear, if allowed to stay, eventually kills it's host. All solutions are based on detachment or letting go. But that will be difficult until we can see that all possession is an illusion, that we have nothing to lose and that there are no victories in winning.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Sunday, July 20, 2008















True to the Best
Real honesty means being true to the best that is within you. This is more honest than simply speaking your mind.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Saturday, July 19, 2008















Flowers of Happiness and Peace
The whole world is thirsty for a drop of love. Shower love on those who are thirsty in their hearts with the flowers of happiness and peace. May the forest of honey of the mind be fragrant, and may the birds of peace chirp in the garden of your mind. For everyone have these good wishes day and night.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Friday, July 18, 2008















A Solution Will Present Itself
Problems are simply challenges waiting for solutions to meet them. The two are partners. Think with resolve that a solution will present itself and it will.


- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Thursday, July 17, 2008













Save the Sinking Boat
Do good and forget about it. Do not have grudges in your mind for anyone. Save the sinking boat with the anchor of your pure thoughts. The greatest art is to bring your mind onto this auspicious path. Think good .... Do good.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Wednesday, July 16, 2008















Higher Than the Sky
Keep wearing virtues as your ornaments. Keep loving others. Keep giving regard. You have to go beyond the stars. Keep thoughts higher than the sky, and abundance of patience like the earth. Keep spiritual love in your eyes.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Monday, July 14, 2008













Respect
When I learn to respect myself, other people will respect me. How can I develop respect for myself? By keeping my mind positive and encouraging myself to grow and change for the better. Demanding respect because of my position or background is simply arrogance. On the other hand, listening with humility and valuing other people's advise naturally earns me respect. I get back exactly what I give out.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Sunday, July 13, 2008













Offer Up
Free yourself from forcing, expecting or wanting someone to receive what you think they should take - it could be your idea, opinion, or an opportunity you think they should accept - you can't make anyone take anything - your own experience probably confirms this. Offer humbly. Offer gently. Offer as if you are a master, and then let go, and retire like a shy child. When you can dance the dance between being master and child, you'll be surprised how much more others will accept what you have to say, and how much more they appreciate your offerings.


- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Saturday, July 12, 2008













Clean and Tidy
The most important places to keep clean and tidy are my mind and heart. If I allow thoughts to flourish that I wouldn't want to see the light of day, I can never have any real self-respect. By starting each day in quiet reflection and pouring positive, loving thoughts into my mind, I gradually clean out cynicism and unkindness.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Friday, July 11, 2008













Be quick to forgive any form of insult, and slow to forget the importance of a big heart.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Thursday, July 10, 2008













Consider time to be a great treasure. Never waste a second.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Wednesday, July 09, 2008












Peaceful Soul
Always maintain the awareness - I am a peaceful soul, and allow peace to influence your thinking and judgment.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Tuesday, July 08, 2008













Glasses of Seeing Only Specialities
Nowadays it is a fashion and also a compulsion to wear glasses. So wear the glasses of seeing only specialities. Nothing else should be visible. For instance, when you wear red glasses, even something green will appear to be red. So when coming into connection with everyone, adopt the vision of seeing only their specialities and you will become special.




- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Monday, July 07, 2008













Perfect and Pure
There is a part of you that is perfect and pure. It is untouched by the less-than-perfect characteristics you have acquired by living in a less than perfect world. This part of you is a still and eternal star. Make time to reach it and this will bring you untold benefit.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Sunday, July 06, 2008












Loneliness comes when I forget God is my Supreme companion.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Saturday, July 05, 2008












Rest Comes With Waking
Rest does not come with sleeping, it comes with waking. When we are enlightened we realise that real rest is possible only when we become free of illusion and we no longer struggle against life. Illusion is the idea that people should be, and do, what we want them to. The truth is, all is as it should be, despite appearances or our perceptions of others to the contrary.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Friday, July 04, 2008












Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day.



- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Thursday, July 03, 2008












A racing mind that reacts sensitively to little things indicates thinking that has lost its spiritual strength. Meditation restores that power.


- from Copyright © 2006 Thought for Today -

Wednesday, July 02, 2008












Opportunities are never lost - someone will take the ones you miss!



-Author Unknown-

Thursday, June 26, 2008












Whatever you give comes back to you. Whatever you take will not stay with you.



-Author Unknown-


Wednesday, June 25, 2008












Resent Not
There are no justified resentments. To resent someone is to fall under the illusion that they are the cause of our suffering. No one can die from a snake bite. It's the poison that kills them. You may receive the poison of another’s words, or even just in a glance, but you don’t have to absorb it or allow it free passage through the veins of your consciousness. The consequence of not absorbing the poison of others is you never experience enmity towards others. And people notice when you have absolutely no enmity. It draws them close, it empowers them, it builds trust, it enables harmony to break out!


-Author Unknown-


Tuesday, June 24, 2008












Love is the ocean which accepts all manner of rivers without questioning their origin.


-Author Unknown-


Monday, June 23, 2008












Treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. Remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow a mystery. Today is a gift... That's why it's called the present.


-Author Unknown-


Thursday, June 19, 2008















Courage
I cannot discover new oceans unless I have courage to lose sight of the shore.


-Author Unknown-



Wednesday, June 18, 2008













Be Creative
Every day is an opportunity to be creative - the canvas is your mind, the brushes and colours are your thoughts and feelings, the panorama is your story, the complete picture is a work of art called, 'my life'. Be careful what you put on the canvas of your mind today - it matters.



-Author Unknown-


Tuesday, June 17, 2008













The Colour of Flowers
Leave worries aside and you will be surprised by the beauty of the sky and the colour of flowers, of the freshness of the breeze and the generosity of the sun. You will feel you are part of creation, and life will start to make sense. The greatest wealth is to appreciate what we have and what we are.



-Author Unknown-

Monday, June 16, 2008













Dance In Happiness
The easy way to remain happy is to remain constantly light. Pure thoughts are light and waste thoughts are heavy. Therefore, keep your intellect busy with pure thoughts and you will become light and continue to dance in happiness.


-Author Unknown-



Saturday, June 14, 2008













Contentment
Contentment is a great virtue, though it may not attract one's attention at first. Those who are truly content are usually quiet about it. It is a pleasure to be in their company, because they are full, peaceful, and generous.


-Author Unknown-


Friday, June 13, 2008














Honesty & Clarity
Honesty does not mean simply speaking your mind. Honesty means to be very clear about everything going on inside you. Where there is honesty, feelings become pure and clean. Honesty is where there are no other thoughts or feelings inside, other than those that God himself would have. Such clarity is reflected in your words; they will be filled with the power of truth, and spoken with ease and without hesitation. The genuine honesty cultivated within you is what will reach out and touch others.

-Author Unknown-


Thursday, June 12, 2008













Thoughts are like seeds
When you sow a thought you reap an action, when you sow an action you reap a habit, when you sow a habit you reap a character and when you sow a character you reap a destiny. Thoughts are like seeds. You cannot sow the seed of one plant and get another: thistles will never produce daffodils! When your thoughts are positive, powerful and constructive, your life will reflect this.

-Author Unknown-


Wednesday, June 11, 2008





Why Worry, Have Faith.
I can make a hobby out of worrying. I worry about the noise and then complain when it is too quiet. I worry about having too many sunny dry spells and then complain when it rains. I may even be worried about worrying too much. It is essential to take an honest interest in what goes on around me, and of course it is always wise to analyse a situation and take the necessary precautions to avoid being influenced by anything negative. However, when all is said and done, my tense and burdened mind will not be able to function clearly enough to arrive at a suitable solution to a problem. Maybe I should just do the best that I can and beyond that leave it in the hands of God. To have faith in the self, faith in God and faith in God's plan is a sure way to remain clear and free of burdens.

-Author Unknown-

Tuesday, June 10, 2008















Determined
Single minded but flexible, like a river forging its eternal route, I am dedicated to completions and natural conclusions. There is nothing that cannot be achieved. There is nothing that remains permanent. I keep on moving with love and purpose towards my destination. My resolve is firm, my aims are clear.



-Author Unknown-

Monday, June 09, 2008













First Thought


Each morning before I begin the journey of my day let me sit still, in silence, and sow the seed of peace. Peace is harmony and balance. Peace is freedom - freedom from the burden of negativity and wastefulness. Let peace find its home within me. Peace is my original strength, my eternal tranquility of being. Let my first thought of the day simply be peaceful.


-Author Unknown-

Sunday, June 08, 2008















Theatre Of Life
Ignorance makes us believe that life functions haphazardly. Wisdom teaches you that everything that happens in this theatre of life has profound significance. What we see today is not the fruit of chance but a fruit from seeds planted in the past. Plant seeds of peace now and you will create a life of peace in the future.


-Author Unknown-


Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Beginner's Luck!

It is about a month ago out of pure curiosity, I read a book with its central theme being of instant transformation. Book with attractive title sells, especially with this atomic age of our fast food society when the desire of instant gratification firmly embedded in our psyche. People who has engaged themselves on this path must have been shopping and looking around of all sorts of programs, but would soon find out that the path of transformation is neither instant nor effortless.

To be fair to all the new age programs cropping up market, I want to point out that there is a part of our mind that is quite mysterious and work in synchronicity with whatever new program that we are engaging in, at least for a short period of time. I found out that whenever I review the customer testimony of a program, there is a common denominator in those messages basically saying that users often got positive result shortly after using the program. The testimony usually sent in the first three months of trying out. The phenomenon is called the beginner's luck. I will not be surprised if majority of people using whatever self-help program will undoubtedly abandon the program and start looking for another guru in short order.

The book that I read stressed that you need only get in touch with your feeling and the feeling itself is enough to unleash the blocks and the complexes that ailing us mentally or physically. What the book fails to mention is the fact that in order to achieve such intimate level of sensitivity and exude clear observer's detachment for the transformation to take place, it would take a life-long sustained effort. The beginner's luck is only the thunder that awakens the mind, it takes persistent and ongoing shower to make flora and fauna flourish.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Seven Year's Inner Climb

I have been walking the path of self-development for many years, but most intensive and consciously aware period was of the last seven years when I first discovered Dr. Jonathan Parker's Enlightenment Series in early year of 2001. At the time, I threw my heart and soul into the frenzied endeavor of trying to get rid of varied unwanted habits, to resolve the cluttered past bruises and wounds with the hope of transforming myself into a new and a better version.

For the first three years, my life was like a beautiful river flow; smooth, restful and unhurried. I had encountered many astral travel experiences that expanded my vision of reality into a world of mystics. I was constantly elated by my night travels, and through these inner experiences, I am convinced that we are not merely our body and senses. There is more to life than meets the eye.

The last four years have been difficult for me. No matter how wonderful my inner life is, eventually I will have to come face to face with the reality of living. In a way, I am grateful of how the way the difficulty emerged, it emerged when I was most ready to face it. I was equipped with three years worth of understanding of how the body, mind and soul work together to support our existence and the treacherous journey of our soul's evolution. This simple understanding was a gift to me. It shielded me from being thrown into vortex of highly charged emotional tornado that I had no control whatsoever. The past had lived and gone, but it haunted me day and night. I have now fully realized how timely my metaphysical training was, it was god send.

Life's challenge is undoubtedly ongoing. Whenever I believe I have climbed over the peak, there is always another one looming large above the horizon..

Saturday, March 22, 2008

When Huai Flowers Bloom - A Book

On May of 1966, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was launched by the Chairman of Communist Party of Mao Zedong in China. The entire People's Republic of China was plunged into waves after waves of maelstrom of struggle and chaos. It was in this era of extreme cultural shock that the author, Shu Jiang of the book, "When Huai Flowers Bloom" told the mesmerizing stories of her experience of growing up in that momentous trying time.

Shu Jiang Lu is a wonderful storyteller. From her stories, the cultural revolution wasn't just some abstract historical moment, it was rather significant torturing event uprooted, overturned, and destroyed many families and lives. In the heat of the inferno, anything representative of old culture, old tradition and class of intellect was the target of inquisition. Many suffered from emotional and psychological breakdown due to the forced public display of repeated self-criticism and humiliation.

The book read like a beautiful poem, so meticulously exquisite; and I was despondently moved by the bewildering and grief-stricken fate oppressed upon the characters in the book.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Spiral Staircase - A Book

I first read a book written by Karen Armstrong a year ago, I had good impression of her great literary talent and her scholarly in-depth research on the subject. It actually prompted me to write an article of honoring all faiths. Little did I know at the time that a year later, I would, through my love to read, establish a kind of affinity with her from her akin to autobiographical work revealing her struggle out of cocoon of spiritual darkness.

Hers was a life of uncommon path. She had experienced seven years of excruciating mental and spiritual pain and suffering as a Catholic nun, and another ten more years difficult time of searching for her own identity after leaving the convent and trying to find her place in a secular life. With decades of long and hard soul searching and bitter-sweet score settling with her past, she was finally able to appreciate that all the suffering she had undergone was spiritually necessary for her to break out of the narrow confine of the convent and reach out to all the world religions with equal revere and understanding.

The book that I read a year ago was "Mohammad - A Prophet for Our Time". After the momentous event of 9/11, the western world was still naive of Islamic world. We are fearful of the power of Islam, believing that Islam was fundamentally a violent and hateful religion. The Muslims were just a bloodletting mob always stand in the ready to instigate conflict and terror. This distorted view was further stereotyped by the five decades long of Middle East conflict. The book about Prophet Mohammad was needed to restore the true spirit of Islam, and Karen did a great job bringing the truth of Islam to the western world.

Now that I have finished reading the book, Spiral Staircase - My Climb out of Darkness, I have gained further understanding of her motive and contribution of writing several books in regards to the fundamental principle of world religions. Other than ritualistic difference, most of the world religions have shared common value and morality in its core. The book, Spiral Staircase was a journey of eventful life. Not many of us can live through life of trial and tribulation unscathed, but reading her book make me realize that at time, we can be remarkably resilient against all odds.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Blasphemy - A Novel

I don't remember how that I got hold of this novel. At the time, I was searching other books in Amazon.com. The Internet certainly has ways of sidetracking what I intend to do. I think it is one of the greatest distractions of all our invention. But on the other hand, sometimes I can be pleasantly surprised that after rummaging through the garbage, a gem can be unexpectedly found in a unsightly pile.

I took a good look of the name, and naturally I was curious of a book with such a profane title. With my entire being dedicated in searching the truth of our existence, you will think I toss the book in a mindless second. But my training in metaphysical study, especially from Jonathan Parker's Enlightenment Series, has taught me a kind of inquisitive marvel of well-rounded approach on all things metaphysical.

So, I checked it out in my local library, and was sufficiently amused for the next few days. Is science/technology really at odds with religion? Can they compliment each other with science peeling away and poking open the veil and the mystery of religion? The story in the blasphemy was mostly religion-bashing and understandably so. We have enough of the occultist's incitement causing colossal conflagration incinerated many thousands of lives throughout human history. Now the scientists, with high tech gadget and voluminous funding, is attempting to take over the role of religion with this four billion dollar project. I thought the story is a bit embellished but yet not overly impossible given the age in which we found ourselves with instant communication round the world through Internet making mobilizing mob demonstration an imminent possibility.

The novel is quite entertaining if not anything else. It is interesting that the last chapter is dedicated to accommodating the entire communication between Isabella and the scientists on site. I guess at the end of the day the author, Douglas Preston, does not want the reader to forget his new vision of god.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Change

Have you ever made a solemn new year resolution determining to eradicate some unwanted habit or to establish a more healthier one? For the first two weeks , you are buzzing with excitement and almost all the world could read your mind of what you are about to do. Yes, it shows, loudly and clearly in the twinkling of your eyes. The enigmatic beginner's luck kicks in and you are invincible. Everything you do seem to resonate with your newly forming habit.

As the humdrum daily routine set in, strangely, in a mysterious and subtle way, you find yourself gradually become unable to keep up with the demand of forming the new habit. You start to slack off, to make excuses for yourself. At the same time, the newness wears off, the excitement loses its steam and before you realize what is happening, you are squarely back to your good old self.

I often contemplate of why it is so hard for us to change. Psychotherapist's research informed us that the majority of our mental programming is hard-wired in our psyche through many years repetitive reinforcement and they reside not in our conscious but in a deeper recess of the mind where sheer determination has not shown much effectiveness to alter its course.

Over the years, the self-development community has devised some effective techniques dealing with this invisible beast of ours. There are worthy techniques like hypnosis, affirmation through alpha state, subliminal programming or other new age methods. All of them might have some measure of success. I personally enjoy using affirmation through alpha state as a way of hopefully creating a lasting change without hypnotherapy's help or the need to acquire some expensive gadget. Whichever method we choose, there is a common thread of persistent and sustained effort that is required on all fronts to ensure the success of our endeavor.

The year 2008 has gotten underway, I have once again set sight just high enough for me to mull over lest I should fall into a state of ignorant contentment.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Halfway Up the Mountain....

"Halfway up the mountain" is a book published in 1999 by Mariana Caplan. This book pointed out the numerous pitfalls and erroneous conception of what the spiritual enlightenment was all about. Many half-baked seekers driven by grandiose and pompous disillusion of showing off the psychic powers mistakenly believed that exhibition of psychic senses is equivalent to reaching enlightenment. Well, not so fast, my friend!

We have come of age with informational explosion through Internet, the once arcane wisdom and esoteric knowledge secretly guarded by the most hidden and impenetrable group of society can now be readily available through online stores with affordable installment payments. There are pseudo masters every where you turn with any topic of your choosing, including the invisible and unmeasurable spirituality.

Science offers concrete evidence and measurable result. Medicine cures and heals. But what exactly spirituality does? I can not pretend that I have the answer. I am very much committed on the path of self development. After seven years of on and off meditation, read dozens of books related to metaphysical teaching and most importantly enlightened by the knowledge and wisdom of mystical nature from Jonathan Parker's Enlightenment Series, I still feel I have some stubbornly unresolved neurosis. There is no quick fix, no fast food way to reach any level of self mastery.

One of the biggest traps of modern spirituality is the issue of ego. Ego is the final frontier that the inspiring aspirant is supposedly trying to confront and conquer. But with our society full of abundant materialism and with fame and fortune waving incessantly in the headline news, there aren't many who can resist the temptation to make a name of himself or herself in the realm of spiritual masters. In the process, Ego got bigger and stronger, the fall from grace is eventually inevitable. For the average seeker, we need not worry about falling from grace yet, but we do need to heed the danger of falling into the habit of perpetual spiritual shopping.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Overcoming Life's Disappointments- A Book

Most of us probably had seen the old movie " The Ten Commendments", made in 1950s, quite a long drawn movie, the runtime of almost 4 hours. I remember at time I fell asleep in the middle of it. But, I managed to wake up in a nick of time when the pivotal point of the movie just about to flex its theatrical prowess.

In order to demonstrate the awesome power of God in a way of intimidation to the Pharaoh of Egypt, Moses magically transformed the staff he carried into a viciously looking serpent. While desperately in need of crossing the Red Sea with Egyptian army hot in pursuit, Moses divided the sea for Israeli people to pass in safety. When the Pharaoh's army tried to follow them to pass the Red Sea, Moses again testify his almighty power by causing the roaring sea waves crumpling down, swallowed and drowned all of the enemy troop. In an era without computer generated special effect, I thought the visual and sound effect is no less powerful than the film made today.

We see the legendary hero like Moses not as a mortal human being like us, but a lot more like super human with a supernatural ability that can be bordered God-like, faultless, impeccable and virtuous. Well, you are about to change your perspective after reading this book of "Overcoming Life's Disappointment" about Moses or about any of our revered so-called saints. I can safely say that no one is really perfect in the land of living.

However, the point of the book is to use Moses's life as an example, showing us that in the course of our life, we are bound to encounter some minor inconveniences or other major tragedies that could throw us into the abyss of despair and disappointment. Life is not meant to be rose garden everyday, even rose garden does not bloom in all seasons. Moses had plenty of his share of exhibiting the dark side of human emotional roller coaster rides. If Moses, a hero favored by God, endowed a supernatural gift by God could fall into anger, despair and jealousy, we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves when life does not turn out the way we wanted and as a result we display some unwanted negative emotions.

It is not so much the destiny that we arrive that defines us, it is the struggle and the way we handle the struggle that really makes a mark of our existence. In a way, we are heroes in our spheres of influence that make up of our own unique world. Rabbie Harold S. Kushner has made a great contribution by showing us how we can overcome all of the life's disappointments and emerge in the end as a person wiser, and fulfilled knowing that we have risen above the circumstances however difficult it may be.