7 Sages with 7 Inspiring Messages

Throughout the ages there have been a few notable luminaries of humanity that have experienced a transformational harmonization initiated by the vectors of human becoming: love, beauty, and truth. We can look up to these sages for inspiration that cultivates courage, will, and determination to experience an inner transformation as well. Let these words spark a shift within that will change the very way to see Reality.

Thich Nhat Hanh

thich-nhat-hanhWhen you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for  reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.

Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument.

That is my experience.

No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.

If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change. Sigue leyendo

Oneness – Bringing It All Together


monks-meditating-for-the-shift-2011

There is but one universal concept that brings everything together…oneness. The concept of oneness and being part of a vast and highly elaborate web of interconnectedness is not a new concept at all. It is probably the single unifying concept of every major world belief system that has survived to this day. This should be no surprise because if it did not, humans would be living a dystopian lie by embracing the illusion of separation.

Oneness is summarized in what’s known as the ‘Golden Rule’ which says very simply that we are to treat others as we would like them to treat us because we are all part of the same, ultimately indivisible, Whole and any one thing we do to someone else, we are doing to ourselves. This is where global consciousness and the possibility of shifting it becomes a relevant topic…the idea that each one of the 7 billion people on this planet are in reality one collective organism of conscious energy.

To show just how extensive this realization is within the human experience of existence, here’s what the most impressionable belief systems have to say, in their own ways, about the oneness of everything: Sigue leyendo

Sufism: Life, Death and God

sufismo

Although there are many definitions found in Arabic or Persian books, which also provide a historical approach, there is only one definition that perfectly describes sufism: Sufism is something that cannot be defined.

The renowned poet Yalal Eddin Rumi, founder of Maulawi o dancing darwash, devoted his life to music, dance and poetry, and wrote the following tale, that will be very useful for us to understand the indefinable nature of Sufism: Sigue leyendo

Minority Religions: Zoroastrianism

zoroastrianismZoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra, in Avestan) and was formerly among the world’s largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Persia (Iran). The term Zoroastrianism is, in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism (the worship of Ahura Mazda, the Creator, exalted by Zoroaster as the supreme divine authority). Sigue leyendo

Minority Religions: Sikhism

sikhismThe origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words:

“Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living”.

Sikh teaching emphasizes the principle of equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikh principles do not attach any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of leading life as a householder. Sigue leyendo

René Guénon: initiation and mysticism

René GuénonRené Guénon, also known as Shaykh `Abd al-Wahid Yahya was a French author and intellectual who remains an influential figure in the domain of metaphysics, having written on topics ranging from metaphysics, sacred science and traditional studies to symbolism and initiation. Sigue leyendo

Minority religions: Candomblé

CandombléCandomblé is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion, practised chiefly in Brazil by the “povo de santo” (people of saint). It originated in the cities of Salvador, the capital of Bahia and Cachoeira, at the time one of the main commercial crossroads for the distribution of products and slave trade to other parts of Bahia state in Brazil. Although Candomblé is practiced primarily in Brazil, it is also practiced in other countries in the Americas, including Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama; and in Europe in Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The religion is based in the anima (soul) of Nature, and is also known as Animism. It was developed in Brazil with the knowledge of African Priests that were enslaved and brought to Brazil, together with their mythology, their culture and language, between 1549 and 1888. Sigue leyendo

Minority Religions: Jainism

Jainism

Jainism traces its roots to a succession of 24 Jinas (“those who overcome“, or conqueror) in ancient East India. The first Jina is traditionally believed to have been a giant who lived 8.4 million years ago. The most recent and last Jina was Vardhamana (a.k.a. Mahavira, “The Great Hero”) He was born circa 550 BCE) and was the founder of the Jain community. He attained enlightenment after 13 years of deprivation. In 467 BCE, he committed the act of salekhana which is fasting to death. Each Jina has “conquered love and hate, pleasure and pain, attachment and aversion, and has thereby freed `his’ soul from the karmas obscuring knowledge, perception, truth, and ability…

Jainism contains many elements that are somewhat similar to parts of Hinduism and Buddhism. The world’s almost 4 million Jains are almost entirely located in India. There are about 1,410 in Canada (1991 census). Sigue leyendo

Hinduism: An Introduction to the Vedas

Hinduism: An Introduction to the VedasThe Vedas are considered the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization, and the most sacred books of India. They are the original scriptures of Hindu teachings, and contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of our life. Vedic literature with its philosophical maxims has stood the test of time and is the highest religious authority for all sections of Hindus in particular and for mankind in general.“Veda” means wisdom, knowledge or vision, and it manifests the language of the gods in human speech. The laws of the Vedas regulate the social, legal, domestic and religious customs of the Hindus to the present day. All the obligatory duties of the Hindus at birth, marriage, death etc. owe their allegiance to the Vedic ritual. They draw forth the thought of successive generation of thinkers, and so contain within it the different strata of thought. Sigue leyendo