Throughout most of the significant spiritual and religious traditions on Earth, can be
found references to a mysterious presence, usually defined as an energy or Spirit of some
sort, which is deeply involved in the spiritual awakening and evolution of both the
individual, and humanity at large. Though this presence-energy-spirit has gone by many
different labels, for the sake of simplicity we are referring to it in this essay as the “Only
Spirit”.
Sophia's passion: Sant Mat and the Gnostic Myth of CreationDr. Neil Tessler
The Gnostic creation myth has surprising similarities with the creation story described by Kabir and other contemporary gurus in the Eastern tradition known as Sant Mat. Here we explore the nature of Sant mat and gnosticism, the message of these unique tales and the unusual similarities between these traditions.
This document discusses rethinking the theology of powers in communicating Christianity in Taiwan's animistic context. It begins by providing background on the author's own upbringing in animism in Taiwan. It then discusses Christianity's historical attitude towards animism in Taiwan, initially ignoring it but now recognizing its influence. The main points are: 1) Animism pervades Taiwanese culture and worldview through practices like ancestor worship and spirit possession. 2) A Christian theology of powers is needed to understand and confront the spiritual elements of folk religion. 3) Animism sees the world as ruled by unseen powers while Christianity believes God conquers powers through Christ. Developing a theology of powers could help Christianity better engage animism.
This document outlines the content and objectives of a course on Urban Spirituality. The course aims to help students understand various aspects of spirituality in an urban context, including the impact of culture and poverty on spirituality. It covers topics like styles of urban/migrant spirituality, indigenous issues, classical spiritual elements, and discerning one's call and values. Students will develop a spiritual development plan and lead a small group. The document provides details on dimensions of Christian spirituality and concepts covered, including the Holy Spirit, knowing one's spirit, spiritual processes, means of grace, and contextual diversity in spiritualities.
- Christianity was synthesized at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE from Egyptian religion, 15 pagan gods, Alexandrian schools, Buddhism, Krishna cult, and the life of Apollonius of Tyana. Constantine established Christianity as the state religion.
- Jesus is believed to have spent his "lost years" from ages 13-29 in India, studying Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedas before returning to Jerusalem to preach. Some records and books mention Jesus living and dying in Kashmir.
- Views of Jesus fall into three categories - the biblical view of his divinity, the view that he was a prophet but not divine, and the view that the story is purely mythological and
The document provides an overview of the Holy Spirit's representation as a dove in the Bible based on the law of first mention. It notes that in Noah's ark story, the dove is the first bird mentioned and unlike the raven, it would not eat decaying flesh or rest on a carcass. When the dove returned to the ark, it had an olive leaf in its mouth, representing peace. At Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove, establishing the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. The dove brings messages of peace, cleansing and anointing, reflecting the Holy Spirit's ministry.
One of the first PowerPoints that I made when teaching theology. It is crazy. It has animations, links to further slides, and terrible graphics. But it is fun share and does give an accurate view of the history of Christianity. (Although the animations and links don't work in this slideshare.)
- Religion and spirituality are related but distinct concepts, with religion focusing on beliefs and rituals and spirituality focusing on the process of becoming attuned to unworldly affairs.
- New developments in physics have found common ground between religion and science in the concept of quantum consciousness or spirituality as the essence of both.
- Spirituality is a more personal experience than religion and focuses on love over fear, independence over dependence, discovering truth directly rather than through concepts like heaven and hell.
- While religion promotes specific beliefs and codes, spirituality is more abstract and focuses on spiritual practices like prayer and meditation over dogma.
Sophia's passion: Sant Mat and the Gnostic Myth of CreationDr. Neil Tessler
The Gnostic creation myth has surprising similarities with the creation story described by Kabir and other contemporary gurus in the Eastern tradition known as Sant Mat. Here we explore the nature of Sant mat and gnosticism, the message of these unique tales and the unusual similarities between these traditions.
This document discusses rethinking the theology of powers in communicating Christianity in Taiwan's animistic context. It begins by providing background on the author's own upbringing in animism in Taiwan. It then discusses Christianity's historical attitude towards animism in Taiwan, initially ignoring it but now recognizing its influence. The main points are: 1) Animism pervades Taiwanese culture and worldview through practices like ancestor worship and spirit possession. 2) A Christian theology of powers is needed to understand and confront the spiritual elements of folk religion. 3) Animism sees the world as ruled by unseen powers while Christianity believes God conquers powers through Christ. Developing a theology of powers could help Christianity better engage animism.
This document outlines the content and objectives of a course on Urban Spirituality. The course aims to help students understand various aspects of spirituality in an urban context, including the impact of culture and poverty on spirituality. It covers topics like styles of urban/migrant spirituality, indigenous issues, classical spiritual elements, and discerning one's call and values. Students will develop a spiritual development plan and lead a small group. The document provides details on dimensions of Christian spirituality and concepts covered, including the Holy Spirit, knowing one's spirit, spiritual processes, means of grace, and contextual diversity in spiritualities.
- Christianity was synthesized at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE from Egyptian religion, 15 pagan gods, Alexandrian schools, Buddhism, Krishna cult, and the life of Apollonius of Tyana. Constantine established Christianity as the state religion.
- Jesus is believed to have spent his "lost years" from ages 13-29 in India, studying Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedas before returning to Jerusalem to preach. Some records and books mention Jesus living and dying in Kashmir.
- Views of Jesus fall into three categories - the biblical view of his divinity, the view that he was a prophet but not divine, and the view that the story is purely mythological and
The document provides an overview of the Holy Spirit's representation as a dove in the Bible based on the law of first mention. It notes that in Noah's ark story, the dove is the first bird mentioned and unlike the raven, it would not eat decaying flesh or rest on a carcass. When the dove returned to the ark, it had an olive leaf in its mouth, representing peace. At Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove, establishing the dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture. The dove brings messages of peace, cleansing and anointing, reflecting the Holy Spirit's ministry.
One of the first PowerPoints that I made when teaching theology. It is crazy. It has animations, links to further slides, and terrible graphics. But it is fun share and does give an accurate view of the history of Christianity. (Although the animations and links don't work in this slideshare.)
- Religion and spirituality are related but distinct concepts, with religion focusing on beliefs and rituals and spirituality focusing on the process of becoming attuned to unworldly affairs.
- New developments in physics have found common ground between religion and science in the concept of quantum consciousness or spirituality as the essence of both.
- Spirituality is a more personal experience than religion and focuses on love over fear, independence over dependence, discovering truth directly rather than through concepts like heaven and hell.
- While religion promotes specific beliefs and codes, spirituality is more abstract and focuses on spiritual practices like prayer and meditation over dogma.
The document provides an overview of a theology course, including its objectives, structure, assignments and expectations. It discusses key topics that will be covered across 7 sections, such as the Bible, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, dispensations and covenants, angels, and man and sin. Students will be assigned to work in groups of 3 to compile a 2-page summary sheet for each section, called an "Irreducible Minimum", highlighting the essential information and concepts.
The document discusses Jesus Christ from various perspectives. It begins by exploring different images people have of God and argues the true image is a loving, unconditional God. It then examines Christology, explaining Jesus as both fully human and fully God. The document also summarizes Jesus' life, including his birth, ministry, passion, death, resurrection and ascension. It addresses how Jesus claimed to be God and refutes various heresies about the nature of Christ.
A Contrast of the Mystical Elements of Buddism, Taoism, Judaism, and Christia...David Grinstead, MA
There are certain general characteristics of mysticism that are shared by Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, and Christianity. This common ground is a unifying principle that positions the Divine in the midst of all genuine mystical experiences.
a biblical analysis of the doctrine of The Gifts of the Holy SpiritDaniel Tripp
This document is a research paper submitted by Daniel J. Tripp to Dr. Bart Box of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Divinity degree. The paper analyzes the biblical doctrine of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It begins with an introduction and overview of the doctrine. It then examines what the Old and New Testaments say about the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Finally, it discusses questions about the gifts, including what they are, whether they continue today, who has them, and why they are given. The goal is to argue from Scripture that all justified believers have the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual gifts today to build up the church.
THE CHALLENGE FOR MODERN-DAY UNITARIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS: RECLAIMING THE SAC...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
An Address Delivered on 4 October 2009 at the Biennial Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA) held at The Centre, Randwick, New South Wales - Copyright Ian Ellis-Jones 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
Theology is the study of God and divine revelation. There are two main branches: dogmatic theology, which examines theological truths about God; and moral theology, which guides Christians in living according to divine truths. Moral theology draws on sacred scripture and tradition to teach Christians how to live virtuously and act in a loving manner according to God's will. The ultimate goal of moral theology is to help Christians develop morally and attain salvation by living as disciples of Christ.
From Humdrum to Holy: A step-by-step guide to living like a saint - Fr. Ed BroomJasterRogueII
This document provides 10 suggestions for how to start becoming a saint. The suggestions begin with the letter M and include: doing Morning Prayer by offering one's day to God; making Mass a priority; meditating on scripture for 15 minutes daily; examining one's conscience at night; praying the rosary; making sacrifices; being mindful of one's words; asking Mary for help; focusing on one virtue to improve each month; and reading lives of the saints for inspiration. The overall message is that holiness and sainthood are within everyone's reach by starting simple spiritual habits focused on God.
1. The document discusses the views of early Christian writers on the priesthood from the 1st-4th centuries.
2. Many early Christians recognized the priesthood of all believers but also saw clergy as having distinct roles. The bishop was seen as vital to the church.
3. After Constantine, authority became more centralized and clergy were set apart, weakening the role of laypeople. The idea of universal priesthood receded.
This document discusses contemplative prayer as an experience of the heart. It begins by describing the author's introduction to contemplative prayer through reading Nouwen's book. It then draws parallels between contemplative prayer and the Aboriginal concept of "dadirri," both of which involve stillness, silence, and opening one's heart. The main points are that contemplative prayer allows one to discover Christ's presence within their heart, it transforms one's entire life, and it involves a spiritual journey from attending to and inquiring about religious experiences to discerning their significance.
This is a collection of writings that deal with the Holy Spirit who gives life to the New Covenant. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life to this which is new, and to all who receive and believe.
The document summarizes the key ecumenical councils that defined the nature of Christ:
1) The Council of Nicaea affirmed Christ's full divinity against Arianism.
2) The First Council of Constantinople affirmed Christ's full humanity against Apollinarianism.
3) The Council of Ephesus affirmed the personal union of Christ's divine and human natures against Nestorianism.
4) The Council of Chalcedon affirmed Christ exists as one person with two natures, divine and human, against Eutychian Monophysitism.
The document discusses the missionary nature of the church and its approach to mission. It makes 3 key points:
1) The church is missionary by nature as its mission originates from God's love expressed through Jesus Christ and continued by the Holy Spirit. The mission of Jesus is the mission of the church.
2) In the context of religious pluralism, the church affirms the uniqueness of Christ while discerning God's presence in other religions and cultures. Its mission requires integrating interreligious dialogue, ecumenism, inculturation, and justice work.
3) The church remains faithful to Christ while discerning God in other religions through approaches like interreligious dialogue, ecumenism with other Christians
Christology In The Letters Of St. PaulMaidaLibrary
This document summarizes and compares the work of three leading exegetes - Aletti, Schnelle, and Fee - on Pauline Christology. All three scholars divide their work into two main parts. Aletti examines the "theologization of Christology" and the "christologization of theology." Schnelle and Fee both emphasize the importance of the titles "Christ," "Lord," and "Son of God" in Paul's writings. Overall, the exegetes agree on the major aspects of Paul's understanding of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, though each scholar explores some nuanced differences.
The document discusses the meaning of resurrection from a biblical perspective. It explains that resurrection refers to being restored from the spiritual death caused by the Fall to re-enter God's governance. This restoration occurs internally through changes in one's heart and spirit, not externally. God carries out resurrection according to principles of creation by increasing humanity's foundation through prophets and righteous people, giving guidance through His word, achieving spiritual resurrection through earthly life, and completing it in three ordered stages. Resurrection means being restored to one's original, pre-Fall state of living in God's love.
Introducing Discovering Jesus Christ . Inside this eBook , you will discover the topics about Christ consciousness basics , the history of Christ consciousness , understanding oneness , using prayer for Christ consciousness , using meditation for Christ consciousness , using manifestation for Christ consciousness , using love for Christ consciousness , tools used in Christ consciousness , variations per region and what the critics and proponents have to say .
1. Moral Theology (MT) is a branch of systematic theology that focuses on the implications of Christian faith for how believers ought to live.
2. MT shares interests and structures with moral philosophy but differs in its use of divine revelation from the Christian faith tradition.
3. Key definitions of MT characterize it as searching for norms of conduct in light of revelation, analyzing what humans ought to be based on their nature, and describing it as a response to God's call through the virtues of faith, hope and love.
1. The early church fathers had no mature dogma on justification and saw it as both an event and ongoing process.
2. They defined faith as "obedient faith" and advocated synergism between human works and God's grace.
3. With Pelagius and Augustine, views began to take shape, with Pelagius believing in free will and illuminating grace, while Augustine emphasized original sin, a compromised will, and justification as a gift of God making one inherently just through faith.
This document discusses different approaches to Christian mission, beginning with exclusive claims found in scripture and the Great Commission. It then outlines the views of Henry Kraemer on proclaiming Christian truth in an intelligible way. Subsequent sections discuss inclusive mission based on biblical verses, Karl Rahner's view of anonymous Christians, and pluralistic mission perspectives from Hocking, Hick and others who see truth partially in all faiths. The document analyzes components of mission and directions it can take with various purposes and effects.
Kevin Cole's Major Research Paper - NEW0733 Winter Intersession 2014Kevin M. A. Cole
This document is a research paper that examines St. Luke's understanding of baptism in the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. It discusses varying perspectives on the meaning of Spirit baptism, distinguishes between Pauline and Lukan pneumatology, and analyzes the nature of the charismatic experience according to Luke. The paper aims to argue that Luke viewed baptism in the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit as experiences of prophetic empowerment for ministry, rather than as regeneration or gradual spiritual development alone. Implications for how the church understands and approaches Spirit baptism and other charismatic issues are also explored.
1) The document discusses how humanity's perception of the archetype of deity has evolved from early Greek philosophers like Pythagoras to modern quantum physics pioneers like Max Planck.
2) It gives the example of how views of the structure of the universe changed from the geocentric Ptolemaic model to the Copernican heliocentric model, and how this impacted perceptions of deity.
3) The document argues that as human consciousness evolves through scientific advances, our understanding of deity as an archetype also evolves, moving beyond localized definitions to a more unified view of a common consciousness connecting all things.
The document provides an overview of a theology course, including its objectives, structure, assignments and expectations. It discusses key topics that will be covered across 7 sections, such as the Bible, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, dispensations and covenants, angels, and man and sin. Students will be assigned to work in groups of 3 to compile a 2-page summary sheet for each section, called an "Irreducible Minimum", highlighting the essential information and concepts.
The document discusses Jesus Christ from various perspectives. It begins by exploring different images people have of God and argues the true image is a loving, unconditional God. It then examines Christology, explaining Jesus as both fully human and fully God. The document also summarizes Jesus' life, including his birth, ministry, passion, death, resurrection and ascension. It addresses how Jesus claimed to be God and refutes various heresies about the nature of Christ.
A Contrast of the Mystical Elements of Buddism, Taoism, Judaism, and Christia...David Grinstead, MA
There are certain general characteristics of mysticism that are shared by Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, and Christianity. This common ground is a unifying principle that positions the Divine in the midst of all genuine mystical experiences.
a biblical analysis of the doctrine of The Gifts of the Holy SpiritDaniel Tripp
This document is a research paper submitted by Daniel J. Tripp to Dr. Bart Box of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Divinity degree. The paper analyzes the biblical doctrine of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It begins with an introduction and overview of the doctrine. It then examines what the Old and New Testaments say about the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Finally, it discusses questions about the gifts, including what they are, whether they continue today, who has them, and why they are given. The goal is to argue from Scripture that all justified believers have the Holy Spirit who gives spiritual gifts today to build up the church.
THE CHALLENGE FOR MODERN-DAY UNITARIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS: RECLAIMING THE SAC...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
An Address Delivered on 4 October 2009 at the Biennial Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA) held at The Centre, Randwick, New South Wales - Copyright Ian Ellis-Jones 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
Theology is the study of God and divine revelation. There are two main branches: dogmatic theology, which examines theological truths about God; and moral theology, which guides Christians in living according to divine truths. Moral theology draws on sacred scripture and tradition to teach Christians how to live virtuously and act in a loving manner according to God's will. The ultimate goal of moral theology is to help Christians develop morally and attain salvation by living as disciples of Christ.
From Humdrum to Holy: A step-by-step guide to living like a saint - Fr. Ed BroomJasterRogueII
This document provides 10 suggestions for how to start becoming a saint. The suggestions begin with the letter M and include: doing Morning Prayer by offering one's day to God; making Mass a priority; meditating on scripture for 15 minutes daily; examining one's conscience at night; praying the rosary; making sacrifices; being mindful of one's words; asking Mary for help; focusing on one virtue to improve each month; and reading lives of the saints for inspiration. The overall message is that holiness and sainthood are within everyone's reach by starting simple spiritual habits focused on God.
1. The document discusses the views of early Christian writers on the priesthood from the 1st-4th centuries.
2. Many early Christians recognized the priesthood of all believers but also saw clergy as having distinct roles. The bishop was seen as vital to the church.
3. After Constantine, authority became more centralized and clergy were set apart, weakening the role of laypeople. The idea of universal priesthood receded.
This document discusses contemplative prayer as an experience of the heart. It begins by describing the author's introduction to contemplative prayer through reading Nouwen's book. It then draws parallels between contemplative prayer and the Aboriginal concept of "dadirri," both of which involve stillness, silence, and opening one's heart. The main points are that contemplative prayer allows one to discover Christ's presence within their heart, it transforms one's entire life, and it involves a spiritual journey from attending to and inquiring about religious experiences to discerning their significance.
This is a collection of writings that deal with the Holy Spirit who gives life to the New Covenant. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life to this which is new, and to all who receive and believe.
The document summarizes the key ecumenical councils that defined the nature of Christ:
1) The Council of Nicaea affirmed Christ's full divinity against Arianism.
2) The First Council of Constantinople affirmed Christ's full humanity against Apollinarianism.
3) The Council of Ephesus affirmed the personal union of Christ's divine and human natures against Nestorianism.
4) The Council of Chalcedon affirmed Christ exists as one person with two natures, divine and human, against Eutychian Monophysitism.
The document discusses the missionary nature of the church and its approach to mission. It makes 3 key points:
1) The church is missionary by nature as its mission originates from God's love expressed through Jesus Christ and continued by the Holy Spirit. The mission of Jesus is the mission of the church.
2) In the context of religious pluralism, the church affirms the uniqueness of Christ while discerning God's presence in other religions and cultures. Its mission requires integrating interreligious dialogue, ecumenism, inculturation, and justice work.
3) The church remains faithful to Christ while discerning God in other religions through approaches like interreligious dialogue, ecumenism with other Christians
Christology In The Letters Of St. PaulMaidaLibrary
This document summarizes and compares the work of three leading exegetes - Aletti, Schnelle, and Fee - on Pauline Christology. All three scholars divide their work into two main parts. Aletti examines the "theologization of Christology" and the "christologization of theology." Schnelle and Fee both emphasize the importance of the titles "Christ," "Lord," and "Son of God" in Paul's writings. Overall, the exegetes agree on the major aspects of Paul's understanding of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, though each scholar explores some nuanced differences.
The document discusses the meaning of resurrection from a biblical perspective. It explains that resurrection refers to being restored from the spiritual death caused by the Fall to re-enter God's governance. This restoration occurs internally through changes in one's heart and spirit, not externally. God carries out resurrection according to principles of creation by increasing humanity's foundation through prophets and righteous people, giving guidance through His word, achieving spiritual resurrection through earthly life, and completing it in three ordered stages. Resurrection means being restored to one's original, pre-Fall state of living in God's love.
Introducing Discovering Jesus Christ . Inside this eBook , you will discover the topics about Christ consciousness basics , the history of Christ consciousness , understanding oneness , using prayer for Christ consciousness , using meditation for Christ consciousness , using manifestation for Christ consciousness , using love for Christ consciousness , tools used in Christ consciousness , variations per region and what the critics and proponents have to say .
1. Moral Theology (MT) is a branch of systematic theology that focuses on the implications of Christian faith for how believers ought to live.
2. MT shares interests and structures with moral philosophy but differs in its use of divine revelation from the Christian faith tradition.
3. Key definitions of MT characterize it as searching for norms of conduct in light of revelation, analyzing what humans ought to be based on their nature, and describing it as a response to God's call through the virtues of faith, hope and love.
1. The early church fathers had no mature dogma on justification and saw it as both an event and ongoing process.
2. They defined faith as "obedient faith" and advocated synergism between human works and God's grace.
3. With Pelagius and Augustine, views began to take shape, with Pelagius believing in free will and illuminating grace, while Augustine emphasized original sin, a compromised will, and justification as a gift of God making one inherently just through faith.
This document discusses different approaches to Christian mission, beginning with exclusive claims found in scripture and the Great Commission. It then outlines the views of Henry Kraemer on proclaiming Christian truth in an intelligible way. Subsequent sections discuss inclusive mission based on biblical verses, Karl Rahner's view of anonymous Christians, and pluralistic mission perspectives from Hocking, Hick and others who see truth partially in all faiths. The document analyzes components of mission and directions it can take with various purposes and effects.
Kevin Cole's Major Research Paper - NEW0733 Winter Intersession 2014Kevin M. A. Cole
This document is a research paper that examines St. Luke's understanding of baptism in the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. It discusses varying perspectives on the meaning of Spirit baptism, distinguishes between Pauline and Lukan pneumatology, and analyzes the nature of the charismatic experience according to Luke. The paper aims to argue that Luke viewed baptism in the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit as experiences of prophetic empowerment for ministry, rather than as regeneration or gradual spiritual development alone. Implications for how the church understands and approaches Spirit baptism and other charismatic issues are also explored.
1) The document discusses how humanity's perception of the archetype of deity has evolved from early Greek philosophers like Pythagoras to modern quantum physics pioneers like Max Planck.
2) It gives the example of how views of the structure of the universe changed from the geocentric Ptolemaic model to the Copernican heliocentric model, and how this impacted perceptions of deity.
3) The document argues that as human consciousness evolves through scientific advances, our understanding of deity as an archetype also evolves, moving beyond localized definitions to a more unified view of a common consciousness connecting all things.
Jesus did not die as a sacrifice for our sins or as part of a transaction between God and humanity. He died to awaken us to our innate connection to God and to live lives devoted to serving others. His perfected spiritual life allows him to share his wisdom and purity with humanity, helping lift us to a higher plane. Many holy figures throughout history have poured out their love and wisdom in this way. By opening ourselves to their influence, we can become reconciled to the divine and realize our own spiritual nature.
This document discusses the biblical concepts of life and death. It explains that the Bible refers to two types of death: physical death, which is the end of the physical body, and spiritual death, which is a state of being separated from God's love and dominion. It provides examples from Jesus and other biblical texts to support this dual meaning. The document also discusses the concept of resurrection in relation to spiritual progression after death and cooperation between the physical and spiritual realms.
Jesus was the subject of the greatest lieGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus as the subject of the greatest lie. It is a lie that ends in being lost by the one who utters it, for such a one is the antichrist.
This chapter lays a biblical and theological foundation for understanding the Lord's Table and its importance for unity. It discusses how God created humanity with the need for sustaining food to live in communion with their Creator. The fall disrupted this perfect unity and communion, separating humanity from God. To remedy this, God became incarnate in Jesus Christ, who gave himself as the "bread of heaven" to the church for its sustenance. Partaking in the Lord's Table restores believers' unity with God and each other, undoing the effects of the fall. The chapter explores the theological significance of these concepts to explain how a proper understanding of the Lord's Table should lead Christians to unity in God's kingdom.
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST and the Initiatic Visionary ExperienceWilliam John Meegan
Part 1 of this paper is a detail analysis of the Birth of Christ as outlined in the New Testament and its supporting sources. It analyzes the three nativity account in Matthew, Luke and John. John gospel refers to the first word of Genesis and PART 2 of this paper analyzes the first word of GENESIS: BERESHITH, which leads to a further discussion of the Initiatic Visionary Experience as outline in the BIRTH OF CHRIST.
The document discusses the baptism of the Holy Spirit as described in the book of Acts. It is explicitly mentioned 3 times, with other inferences throughout. There is disagreement over whether it occurs at salvation or is a separate experience accompanied by speaking in tongues. The document examines the key passages and concludes that the baptism places believers into the body of Christ and indwells them with the Holy Spirit, whereas subsequent fillings empower them for service. It seeks a holistic biblical understanding of this important doctrine.
The document discusses the definition and nature of sacraments according to Catholic theology. It defines sacraments as outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace, with seven sacraments recognized: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Jesus himself is described as the first and most important sacrament, with the sacraments finding their origin in his words and actions. They make Christ and his saving work present, bring about an encounter with him, and prefigure our glory in heaven.
Sacred Secrets of Esoteric Christianity - SAMPLE.pdfLouisSefer
The deeper meaning behind the symbolism used in Christianity has been kept hidden from the masses for generations. Many millions have been misled by false teachings and wrong interpretations of the bible. The esoteric secrets of Christianity have remained in obscurity due to the fact that the revelation of this knowledge will lead to true salvation and freedom. Those who possess these sacred secrets have access to spiritual powers that have been labeled as 'forbidden' and 'occult', so to scare and intimidate you from learning the truth about who you really are.
In Sacred Secrets of Esoteric Christianity, we will examine the secret teachings of Jesus to reveal the hidden truth. We will discuss:
Exploring Esoteric Christianity
Esotericism
Gnosticism
The Essenes and Their Influence Upon The Life of Jesus Christ
The Essenes
The Esoteric Life of Jesus
Esoteric Doctrines
The Story of Man’s Fall
Man's Fall
The Doctrines of Reincarnation and Karma
Reincarnation
Karma
The Violet Flame of the Holy Spirit
Light
Man's Divinity
Developing Divinity
and more!
Now is the time that has been appointed for you to learn this occult knowledge. It is time to have your eyes opened to the truth about who you are, why you are here, your purpose, your mission and your divine power. Do not delay and order your copy now!
This document provides a summary of the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for fully reconciling the physical and spiritual aspects of human life. It examines passages from Genesis 2:7, Acts 2:1-4, and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 that describe God creating humanity and the church as integrated physical and spiritual beings. The document also discusses how sin separated the physical from the spiritual. It argues that full reconciliation can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ and openness to ongoing spiritual formation.
This is the first in a series of studies for a small church group who wanted to understand who the Holy Spirit is, and what His role is in the Bible and the Christian life.
Within the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) there are multiple regulations and ordinances including fire, food, land use, building, and smoking, which govern the operations of businesses such as child care. This informational packet provides you with a brief description of some of the more important regulatory requirements. Before entering into a contract to purchase or lease a property for your child care business, we recommend you become familiar with the regulations to determine if the potential site meets all applicable requirements or what modifications would be required to make the facility licensable. You may want to consider contacting other agencies such as Fire Prevention and Land Use/Zoning to determine if the potential site meets applicable regulations.
السؤال الأساسي قبل أن تقرر الاستثمار في سوق الأوراق المالية هو ما إذا كنت مستثمرًا. بالنسبة لبعض الناس ، قد لا يكون سوق الأسهم مناسبًا لشخصيتهم. تتناول هذه المقالة بعض الصفات التي يجب أن يتمتع بها المستثمر من أجل تحقيق عائد معقول في سوق الأسهم.
بالتأكيد ، هناك حكايات شعبية قد تسمعها عن الرجل الذي اشترى أسهم شركة XYZ مقابل 5 دولارات وباعها بعد 60 يومًا مقابل 50 دولارًا للسهم. ربما حدث هذا السيناريو ، لكنه ليس حقيقة كونك مستثمرًا. يجب مراعاة النقاط التالية عندما تفكر في أن تصبح مستثمرًا.
Low self-esteem is a problem for many youth, especially during adolescence. Rates of low self-esteem are higher in Kentucky youth than nationwide. Low self-esteem can lead to mental health issues, risky behaviors, academic problems, and early sexual activity. Programs aim to promote factors like connections with others, achievement, and autonomy to support healthy self-esteem in youth.
Introduction to the ‘Using technology tools for teaching online’ portfolioauthors boards
Introduction to the ‘Using technology tools for teaching online’ portfolio
Welcome to the ‘Using technology tools for teaching online’ portfolio. This document accompanies the course on ‘Using technology tools for teaching online’ in the Teaching Online programme.
Abstract
One of the objectives of teaching a foreign language is to enable the learners to become autonomous, that is the ability to continue learning the foreign language without the teachers’ assistance. Autonomous learners are learners who are responsible for their own learning. Thus, it is very important for the learners to learn and understand how to become autonomous learners. The present paper deals with the discussion of how to promote learners’ autonomy.
Key words: autonomous learner, learning theory, learning
strategy
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I (INTRODUCTION)
CHAPTER 1: MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNKNOWN
CHAPTER 2: MY PERSPECTIVE IN THIS BOOK
CHAPTER 3: MY CALLING
PART II (ENTITIES)
CHAPTER 4: ANGELS, THE SONS OF GOD, AND THEIR OFFSPRING, THE NEPHILIM
:The astounding power of angels .1
:Confusion with classifying angels .2
?Are angels physical beings .3
:3.1The Sethite theory
:The Sons of God – angels 3.2
:The link between the flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah 3.3
?Why Noah 3.4
:Alien abductions in prophesy 3.5
:Marriage and sex among angels 3.6
:Why can angels sexually reproduce, but shouldn’t? The Butterfly theory 3.7
?What kind of angel is Satan .4
:Satan’s tactics .5
CHAPTER 5: THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN, THE STARS, AND CREATURES
:Different types of angels .1
:The Hosts of Heaven .2
:Non-physical life forms that aren’t angels .3
:Physical life-forms that aren’t angels .4
?The issue of technology - do God’s faithful angels use technology 4.1
?The issue of technology - do fallen angels use technology 4.2
:Alien abductors – probably fallen angels 4.3
:The balance of technological and spiritual development .5
:Difficult to classify technology between entities .6
:God’s intervention in the balance of technological and spiritual development .7
:The Stars .8
:The Twelve Stars – Stars referring to people 8.1
:Stars referring to the Hosts of Heaven 8.2
:Stars referring specifically to angels 8.3
:Creatures in scripture .9
:Beasts in scripture .10
:Warnings in scripture – be prepared .11
CHAPTER 6: MYTHICAL BEINGS, BEASTS, AND MONSTERS
:Examples of legends derived from fact .1
:Legends and idols - tools for demons .2
?Does scripture substantiate the existence of mythical beings .3
Advantages of applying feng shui in your lifeauthors boards
Feng Shui is the practice of bringing good fortune by achieving balance between various elements. In the US, more people are beginning to consult Feng Shui experts in decorating their homes. For you to understand what they say, you need to learn the basic Feng Shui areas that need your attention so you will be able to decorate it properly.
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This section of Preparation for Higher Education focuses on Academic Referencing. This section is designed to expand upon the information in the study skills section of the SWAPWest Preparation for Higher Education Materials.
In this section, you will learn how to reference the sources of information that you use to write essays or reports. You may feel a bit worried about referencing your written work if you have never had to do it before. However, once you understand the theory behind it and try it out a few times, you will find that it is actually quite easy to do.
Publishing your authored reference book with crc pressauthors boards
We at CRC Press / Taylor & Francis would like to welcome you! As a member of our team you are of great importance to us. This Guide is intended to highlight the special activities we bring to the creation of an authored reference book, and the publishing process for your reference.
You’ll be working with a number of publishing professionals at CRC as your book is developed, produced, marketed and sold; keep in mind that your Acquisitions Editor is always available to field your questions and concerns.
Hopefully this Reference Author Guide will provide you with a “roadmap” as your book project is planned, published, and promoted.
وليام جراهام الحالم - ويليام جراهام وممالك العالم المتوازيauthors boards
قصة لشخص هادئ الطبع وسيم الطلعة لايستطيع التعبير عن عواطفه بسبب خجله الشديد وقلة تجاربه ويصطدم دائما بالمجتمع من حوله بشخصياته المختلفة لم يختبر يوما معنى الحب وكان دوما مثار للسخرية من أقرانه...
أحب العديد من الحسناوات أثناء فترات دراسته ولكنه لم يحظى ولو بفرصة واحدة للتعبير عما يجيش به صدره إلى أيا منهن ...حياته تكاد تكون من وجهة نظرة مملة واعتيادية على الرغم من أنه يعيش مع أمه التي تحبه كثيرا ...كان والده قد قضى نحبه أثناء خدمته كضابط بالجيش الأمريكي في أحد التدريبات العسكرية..تعلم من والده طريقة للاسترخاء أدخلته إلى عالم روحي وزاد من ذلك أنه قابل بمحض الصدفة أحد الباعة الجائلين واشترى منه كتاب غريب وقديم , وأثناء قراءته لهذا الكتاب اختبر تجارب عديدة خيالية لا يتصورها عقل وقام برحلات عديدة قابل خلالها شخصيات متنوعة , ولأول مرة في حياته يتحرر من عقدة الخجل الذي تعارضه في جميع مواقف حياته ويؤثر في تلك الشخصيات ويتأثروا به وتساعد ممارساته التي تعلمها في هذا الكتاب والتجارب التي مر بها في تبديل حياته جذريا وصقل شخصيته ويبدأ في النظر إلى حياته بمنظور جديد ..
لايفوتنك قراءة هذه الرواية الهادفة فستتعلم منها الكثير والكثير وستبدأ في اكتشاف جانب جديد من حياتك ربما لم تفكر فيه من قبل أو تتصور حدوثه ....
Browsing can be an interesting way to get a feel for a subject and for the scope of materials available in the Library. Research materials can be found in various locations within the Andruss Library:
This study surveyed 320 faculty members from 10 business schools to examine the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards that motivate faculty to conduct research. Of the thirteen rewards studied, receiving or having tenure is the most important reward, while getting a possible administrative position was the least important. There were significant differences in the importance of these rewards between tenured-untenured and between male-female faculty members. Faculty perceives a strong link between research productivity and the attainment of the rewards of tenure and of promotion. However, in the minds of the faculty, the link between publications and the reward of salary increases is not strong. Associate professors reported lesser importance than either full professors or assistant professors on nine of the thirteen rewards and perceived a weaker link between research productivity and achieving the reward. This implies that the associate professors are the least motivated faculty rank to perform research. There was no significant difference in the number of journal articles either published or accepted for publication within the past 24 months by tenure status, gender, or faculty rank.
Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy Student Editorial Board Appl...authors boards
JIWLP is accepting applications to join the journal to start in Fall 2017 (for one credit).
The application deadline is Friday, August 18, by 3 pm. Early application is encouraged!
Please send applications to Professor Paul Boudreaux by email to boudreaux@law.stetson.edu. Please use “JIWLP application” as the title of your message.
B Rules for cataloguing journals (print and electronic), and serial monographsauthors boards
A serial is defined as a continuing resource issued in a succession of discrete parts, usually bearing numbering, that has no predetermined conclusion. Examples of serials include journals (and e-journals), magazines, directories, statistics, annual reports etc. (AACR Appendix D-7)
These can be divided into 3 types for the purposes of inputting on SWIMS
(1) most journals need to appear in journal listings but are not loaned individually, and therefore need only a Journals catalogue record with indication of the range of holdings. This includes e-journals – see B1-B10
(2) those which need to appear in journal listings because you have a “run” of holdings, but some locations also choose to add each issue to the catalogue for loan as books (whether shelved with the bookstock or the journals). These are journals where each issue usually relates to a specific subject, sometimes known as serial monographs (eg Clinics in Laboratory Medicine; Selected Readings in Plastic Surgery; Orthopedic Clinics of North America) – see B1-B10, and B11 (p7)
(3) those which are published serially, but would not generally be included in journal listings, and are often shelved with the book stock (eg directories, statistics, annual reports; BNF; Recent Advances in….) – catalogue according to Section A (Rule for books…)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Prof. Santosh Rangnekarauthors boards
Dr. Santosh Rangnekar is a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee with over 30 years of experience in academia and industry. His areas of research include organizational behavior, human resource management, knowledge management, and technology management. He has published extensively in these areas. He has supervised many PhD students to completion and currently has 4 students under his supervision. He has held several administrative roles including Head of the Department of Management Studies at IIT Roorkee.
The Asian EFL Journal Professional Teaching authors boards
This document is the August 2009 volume of the Asian EFL Journal, which contains several academic articles on topics related to teaching English as a foreign language. It was published by the Asian EFL Journal Press and edited by Roger Nunn and Paul Robertson. The volume includes an article by Pisarn Chamcharatsri examining how second language writers construct their identities through autoethnography assignments. It also provides background information on 5 students from Taiwan who completed autoethnography papers for a college writing class in the United States.
Module Objectives:
This module will discuss the HINARI website interface, journals, partner publisher’s resources and other full text resources. Understanding how to use the HINARI website is critical for utilizing the available resources. These skills are essential for completion of the exercises in subsequent modules.
Similarly to the first module, you will need access to the Internet and be required to complete a series of exercises.
Our Journal recommends and adheres to Vancouver style for Reference listingauthors boards
For the complete guide to the Vancouver Style, please consult this online book: Citing Medicine, 2nd ed. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=citmed.TOC&depth=2
you can also refer to the following
(i) In text citations: (citing of references in the manuscript text)
• Superscript without any square or round brackets should be used to cite the reference in the text after full stop or periods or before any colons or semi colons.
Example :
......preferred option. 3
.....preferred option3 ;
• For citing more than one reference at a time, cite each reference number separated by a comma, or by a dash for a sequence of consecutive numbers. There should be no spaces between commas or dashes For example: 1,5,6-8.
• The original number used for a reference is reused each time the reference is cited
Journal of Global Infectious Diseases (JGID) a peer-reviewed Semiannual international journal is being published under the auspices of the International Infectiologists Network .
The journal’s full text is online at www.jgid.org With the aim of faster and better dissemination of knowledge, we will be publishing articles ‘Ahead of Print’ immediately on acceptance. In addition, the journal would allow free access (Open Access) to its contents, which is likely to attract more readers and citations to articles published in JGID.
\Manuscripts must be prepared in accordance with "Uniform requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals" developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (October 2006). The uniform requirements and specific requirement of JGID are summarized below. Before sending a manuscript contributors are requested to check for the latest instructions available. Instructions are also available from the website of the journal (http://www.jgid.org) and from the manuscript submission site (http://www.journalonweb.com/JGID).
1. A Brief
History of the
Only Spirit
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2. Throughout most of the significant spiritual and religious traditions on Earth, can be
found references to a mysterious presence, usually defined as an energy or Spirit of some
sort, which is deeply involved in the spiritual awakening and evolution of both the
individual, and humanity at large. Though this presence-energy-spirit has gone by many
different labels, for the sake of simplicity we are referring to it in this essay as the “Only
Spirit”.
Such a term would no doubt attract righteous indignation and condemnation from
orthodox religions, as these organizations are generally defined by their insistence that
only their version of this Spirit is the true one, and thus the very definition of Only Spirit
would be an affront to their designs on having the special avenue to the divine Source.
But the very basis of the spiritual approach is to recognize the universality of
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3. consciousness, and the oneness of existence. From that simple perspective not only is
there only one ultimate Spirit, there can only be one ultimate, universal Spirit – just as
there can finally be only one universal Consciousness.
What will follow in this essay will be a brief comparative study of the various ways the
world’s religions and spiritual paths have described and interpreted this one universal
Spirit.
Ruach, Pneuma, and The Holy Spirit
Ruach is the Hebrew term for “Holy Spirit”, though in its original sense it meant
“moving, or blowing, air”, or, more simply, “wind”. In time it was translated by the
Greeks as the word pneuma, and in Latin became spiritus, a word which suggested many
things, including “breathing”, “breath”, “air”, “life”, and “soul”.
The Christian idea of the Holy Spirit is inherent in the doctrine of the Trinity (Father,
Son, Holy Ghost, or Spirit). The idea of the Trinity was formalized in the Nicene creed
promoted chiefly by the bishop Athanasius in 325 AD during the Council of Nicaea,
which resulted in the “official” confirmation of the Trinity and the essential equality of
Christ the Son with God the Father. The main doctrinal basis of this creed was from the
Biblical statements attributed Christ “I and my Father are One”, and “Go into the world,
and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
The subtlety of Christian Trinity doctrine is that the Trinity consists of three distinct
parts, which are all essentially one and the same as well. God the Father is the Source and
Creator, the Holy Spirit is the direct link between the Creator and His Creation, and the
Son is the full manifestation in the Creation of the Creator Himself.
The Christian doctrinal view of the Holy Spirit is that it functions as a life-line for the
soul to connect with Christ and receive the power of the redemption, thereby enabling the
effects of the Original Sin to be washed away, resulting in the “reborn” individual. The
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4. inner spiritual states and psychic-physical effects undergone by one being “reborn in
Christ” are attributed to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
The mystical, non-doctrinal understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit essentially
is governed by one crucial difference. This difference is the rejection of the Nicene creed,
which promoted Jesus to full equality with God, i.e., made the specific person of Jesus
Christ as the only true manifestation of the divine. The mystical understanding – as
championed through A Course in Miracles and some Gnostic teachings – is that
“redemption” as traditionally interpreted is an erroneous concept, as is the Original Sin
(as formulated originally by St. Augustine) that it is based on. So too, the personality-
body of Jesus Christ is not the sole, only begotten Son of God. Rather, consistent with
Christ’s statement in Luke (“the kingdom of God is within”), the true Christ resides
within the Heart and Soul of everyone. And, more to the point, Christ is but a symbol for
our true, awakened nature – what the Hindus have called Atman, the true Soul, or what
the Buddhists called the “Buddha-mind”.
Given this, we can begin to see clearly another example of the essential difference
between doctrinal religion and investigative spirituality. Christian religion places sole and
exclusive special status on the personality of Jesus Christ, whose redemptive power is the
only hope and salvation for all humanity, which is alleged to be laboring under the effects
of Eve’s seduction by the Serpent at some ancient time in the past.
The political nature of such a doctrine becomes glaringly clear once it is seen that the
exclusivity of Christ as sole gateway out of the damnable effects of this “Original Sin” is
completely dependent – according to the orthodox form of the religion – on being both
outwardly and inwardly allegiant to the outer Church and the inner Spirit of Christ the
person. Investigative spirituality, however, emphasizes the relative unimportance of Jesus
as an historic personal figure (and especially his specific alleged bodily resurrection), and
asserts his significance as one who awoke to his intrinsic divine nature, thus becoming a
shining symbol of our own divine destiny, and what we are all capable of waking up to as
well. But such a realization entails no need of being allegiant to any outer Church, and
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5. thus is of no use (and is even dangerous) to established Christian religion. This is the
main reason that teachings like Gnosticism and A Course in Miracles have been branded
as heretical by Christian ecclesiastical authorities. It is because they appear to undermine
the unique status of the historical personality of Jesus Christ, in favor of a universal
Christ who is “merely” the symbol of our naturally awake condition that we have
forgotten.
Thus from the context of spirituality, the Holy Spirit functions as a guiding light to our
inner Source of awakening, helping us in exact proportion to our degree of willingness
and sincerity of intent to know ourselves and know the truth. From this view, it is
essentially identical in function to the workings of what Hindus have called Shakti, prana,
and kundalini. The slight difference lies in the Christian spiritual version giving less
emphasis to the physical manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and more to its psychological-
spiritual purifying functions. In that sense, there is no Judeo-Christian equivalent to the
kundalini (the physical manifestation of the universal prana), but it could be said that
Shakti-prana is one and the same with ruach and the Holy Spirit. The etymological root
of both prana and ruach being connected to “air” and “wind” and “breath” further
underscores their commonality of meaning.
Prana, Kundalini, and Shakti
Prana, kundalini , and Shakti are all terms deriving from ancient Hindu-Vedic traditions.
Each refers to a particular form of expression of the fundamental universal spiritual
energy that for sake of simplicity we are calling here the Only Spirit.
Consistent with the connection between the words “Spirit”, “life”, and “breath” found in
several traditions, the term prana in Sanskrit means “breathing forth life”. In the ancient
Vedic scriptures known as the Rig Veda, prana is associated with the Atman or the Soul,
where it is defined as the breath of this Soul. It is the extension of the divine Source into
the realms of manifest existence.
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6. Prana came to be superficially known as “air” (or in specific, oxygen), but its deeper
spiritual significance is that it is none other than the primal Life-Force of existence, and
in particular, its more subtle manifestation.
Vedic teachings in time came to specify two different manifestations of prana, being the
primary Life-Force, and the human expression of the Life Force, which is said to flow
through the body. This bodily expression of prana is said by Vedic teachings to manifest
in no less than ten different forms, and to circulate through the many “channels” that
direct the Life Force to the various organs in the body.
Yogic breath mastering techniques, such as pranayama, all associate the breath with
states of consciousness. As breathing is mastered, so to is clarity of thought, capacity to
focus and concentrate, and capacity for attention. Through understanding and
experientially deepening our relationship with prana via its close link with breath and
oxygen, the ability to look within is enhanced, and the ability to achieve deep states of
inner awakening is facilitated, although granted many of these “states” are more akin to
altered states of consciousness than actual enlightenment.
The term kundalini derives from the Sanskrit word for “serpent force”, a reference to its
“coiled up” form at the base of the spine, as interpreted and perceived by practitioners of
kundalini Yoga, or those who have experienced it spontaneously or via other means. It is
recognized as being the bodily manifestation of the spiritual force termed Shakti
(“power”). The Life Force, prana, is the considered the other chief manifestation of
Shakti.
Kundalini is an extremely powerful force, that when aroused via meditation, prayer, or
breath-control techniques, has the capacity to awaken extreme states of altered or
heightened consciousness and bliss. If aroused prematurely, however, it can have effects
similar to too much voltage being run through an insufficient capacitor.
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7. The result can be something like the human equivalent of the frying of circuitry, such as
extreme physical discomfort and pain, anxiety attacks, or even delusional mental states.
(See the works of Gopi Krishna, Lee Sanella, and Stanislav and Christina Grof for more
on these difficulties).
Premature kundalini arousal is not a subject that should be minimized, as it is a
phenomenon found in all spiritual traditions, and wherever there are seekers of
awakening who are insufficiently prepared or ready to experience the strong energies
usually associated with the deepening of consciousness. In essence, this is the person who
is not yet grounded enough in their basic human experience, and are seeking altered
states of consciousness (or what they think enlightenment might be) as a way of avoiding
their humanity, and in particular, their lessons of worldly responsibilities and self-
reliance.
Ancient Indian Vedic traditions specified a particular guideline for the typical life, which
usually involved raising a family and assuming worldly responsibilities prior to setting
out on the spiritual quest. This latter was typically reserved for late middle age, when the
householder was now expected to retire to a natural setting in order to turn inward and
awaken to his or her true spiritual condition.
In current times, values have shifted markedly, especially in the West, and many have
followed a reverse path of pursuing spiritual practices in early adulthood, and only in
middle age turning to a traditional family life. Either way, what we suggest here is that
the “order” (if indeed there must even be an order) we proceed in is less important than
the fact that we remain balanced in our overall development. Worldly responsibilities can
indeed be combined with a sincere spiritual practice and commitment, and such a
combination is fast becoming the dominant spiritual paradigm. But what must be watched
for in such a new paradigm is the gradual dilution of teachings of enlightenment. In the
very effort to make spiritual awakening possible within mainstream society, we must be
on guard not to compromise it and reduce it to a poor, socially acceptable version of its
natural purity.
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8. Kundalini energy in Indian lore is closely wedded to the idea of the chakras deriving
from the Sanskrit word for “wheel”. The chakras refer to centers of psycho-spiritual
activity, and they are said to be aligned with specific points along the spine. Generally
there are recognized to be seven, corresponding to the base of the spine (root-survival),
genitals (sexual-emotional), navel area (personal will), center of chest (heart-
compassion), throat (communication-truth), Third Eye (intuition, insight, psychic
sensitivity), and crown (connection with ultimate Reality).
None of these chakras should be understood as physical, and in fact are rarely detected
even by practiced meditators. Their primary importance is symbolic, and they have been
highly useful as teaching aids when presented as a kind of microcosmic map of the
human energy field, correlating with specific psychological states.
In traditional kundaliniYoga the practitioner learns to arouse their kundalini energy and
to experience it “uncoiling” and rising to the crown chakra. While passing through the
other chakras it purifies them and their associated mental states, and when passing
through the crown chakra it results in the consciousness of the meditator merging with
the universal Consciousness. In theory, the end result is the transfiguration of not just the
mind, but the body as well, an idea which much of “ascension” beliefs are based on. Such
physical transfiguration due to the power of kundalini also lies behind the legends of
certain Himalayan yogis and masters who have been reputed to survive in one body for
hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Shakti is regarded as the dynamic principle of the cosmos, the primal Force that truly is
responsible for creating, and animating, the universe. In Vedic lore Shakti is paired with
Shiva, who is the silent, passive Source, but who is incapable of creation on his own.
Though he represents the center of existence, it is Shaktiwho extends outwardly and
generates and maintains manifest existence.
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9. The Sanskrit term Shakti-pat (“descent of power”) is used to indicate the transmission of
Spirit-energy (usually from master to disciple), which can occur spontaneously in any
number of ways. The ultimate Shakti-pat transmission however is not in fact a
transmission at all, but is more a profound awakening that occurs in the presence of the
teacher.
From all this it is clear that for the Vedics, the “Goddess” Shakti, was none other than the
direct bridge to our divine Source. In that sense, it is identical to the function of the Only
Spirit as it is understood in most other spiritual traditions as well.
Chi and Ki
Chi is the Chinese word for “breath”, and in Taoist cosmology it is essentially identical to
the Hindu idea of prana. It has also been compared to kundalini, and in truth is most
likely a more general term encompassing all of what Hindu theory particularized as both
prana and kundalini.
Much as with the ancient Vedics of India, the Chinese Taoist adepts made painstaking
observations of the movements of chi through the human body. Whereas the Vedics
identified at least 10 different forms of prana circulating through the human body, the
Taoists out did them and eventually defined no less than 32 different manifestations of
chi energy in the body. All these types of chi-Life Force are of particular relevance for
Taoists in the context of healing and restoring a mind-body complex to balance, in
concert with ancient techniques such as acupuncture and herbology.
Other Taoist terms worth noting here are ching (sexual energy) and shien (spirit energy).
The three together – chi, ching, and shien, are regarded as the three indispensable
“treasures”. Cultivating a right relationship with all three eventually leads to full inner
awakening.
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10. Shien as “spirit energy” is the human essence of consciousness, or the Soul. It is roughly
the same as the Hindu atman. The term for the indefinable Source (or “void”) from which
all chi energies derive is known as Wu Chi, or the “original chi.” This is basically the
same as the Western idea of “God”.
The fundamental difference between the Taoist approach to spirituality, in relation to the
chi energy, is that it is a very practical approach of cultivating the right use of the
different chi energies as they are found in the various sources, such as food, air, and sex
energy. Thus, the concern is on right diet, right exercise, right meditation, and right usage
of sexual energy. The Taoist approach is the path of practicality par excellence. In that
sense, it is very close to the structured and discipline steps of the Vedic yogi working
with meditation and right usage of prana and kundalini.
This practical Eastern approach to relating to Spirit-energy is in sharp contrast to the
Western monotheistic approach of direct spiritual surrender. The Taoist and Vedic
approach is one of cultivation and personal effort. The Western monotheistic approaches
are concerned with contemplation, love and devotion to God, and total inward surrender
of desires and worldly attachments. According to the theory of the respective traditions,
both these paths of personal cultivation and personal surrender end up in the same
condition, one of the complete purification and transfiguration of the body-mind complex
by the workings of Spirit-energy.
Ki is the Japanese term that essentially indicates the same thing as the Chinese chi. The
slight addition to it has been the influence of the Zen and martial cultures of Japan, where
ki also came to refer to “action”, being suggestive of the Zen master’s authority and
ability to teach and guide his disciples.
Mana, Baraka, and The Divine Heat
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11. Mana is the Polynesian term for the Life Force, or Spirit-energy, especially as it animates
all life and intelligence in the universe. Technically, the word mana carries three
meanings, being “power” (same as Shakti), “confidence”, and “energy”.
Much as with the Taoists, Hawaiian shamans (kahunas) teach practical methods for
cultivating the right usage of mana, resulting in the overall purification and strengthening
of the mind and body.
In shamanism, a common theme that is found around the world is that of the “divine
inner heat”, which is usually connected to breathing techniques, and the inner activation
of Spirit-energy. For certain south Pacific Island cultures, shamans holding much mana
within are considered to be saka (“burning”). This “burning” is the common phenomenon
reported in most cultures for any who commit themselves deeply to spiritual practice. The
deep commitment and sincerity and power of intention – whether initiated by personal
effort, or through profound inner surrender – results in the activation of Spirit-energy
within, which has a heating, purifying effect (though it is frequently accompanied by
painful experiences throughout the purification process).
Often this “heating” is not just psychological or spiritual, but manifests physically as
well.
Tibetan yogis in particular were famous for cultivating tumo, their term for the inner heat,
which would enable them to be physically comfortable even in harsh and cold whether.
In Islam, the process of deep spiritual surrender is described as resulting in fana, or the
annihilation of the personal ego in the fires of God. A common expression of Sufi,
Gnostic, and Jewish mystics has been that of “being on fire for the Divine”. The Sufi
term for the Life Force was baraka, which indicates the subtle power of Spirit-energy and
its supposed transmission from master to disciple, as well as the presence of this “force”
at site of spiritual pilgrimage.
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12. All of this is really indicative of the purifying power of the Only Spirit, which despite its
many different forms of manifestation, ultimately has only one purpose, and that is
facilitating the awakening of all who are sincere and ready to realize their True Identity
and birthright as pure consciousness.
As formana and Spirit-energy, the common recognition amongst all those who have
cultivated a relationship to it, and awakened to its presence, is that it ultimately cannot be
overcome by personal will. This is why the shaman, or the spiritual seeker within any
tradition, finally came to see that full awakening is only possible with the complete
release of all attachment to separate identity, and separate, personal will. At that point,
the universal Consciousness, and the Only Spirit are seen to be one and the same as our
true nature.
Reich’s Orgone Energy
Wilhelm Reich’s significant contribution to 20th century psycho-spirituality was via his
concept of “orgone” energy, and attempting to frame it into a Western scientific
paradigm. There is little doubt that the “orgone” energy he had “discovered” was a
manifestation of the same essential Life Force we have thus far been defining. He derived
the term Orgone from the words “orgasm” and “organic”, stemming from his initial thesis
that the sexual orgasm is an indispensable aspect of psychological and physical health.
He believed orgone energy to be the fundamental energy of life and the universe, and
further, that all disease and ill-health in humans was related to some sort of blockage in
the natural flow of this Life Force. In that sense, Reich was something of a Western
Taoist adept, as his theories of energy flow and blockage as related to illnesses is very
similar, in basic idea, to the Taoist teachings around the flow of chi through the human
body, and the results of imbalance stemming from chi blockages. Reich had arrived
independently at the conclusion that a fundamental Life Force permeates the universe,
thus putting him in agreement with most spiritual traditions on the planet. He gradually
came to suspect the presence of this energy when his patients, undergoing the bodywork-
emotional clearing therapies that he pioneered, would report consistent sensations of
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13. tingling or pulsing or streaming or energy movements whenever they experienced
breakthroughs in their therapy.
In time, Reich came to believe that this energy was blue in color, and composed of
something he called “bions”, which he hypothesized were the smallest units of living
matter. One of Reich’s colleagues, Dr. Charles Kelley, outlined ten essential qualities of
orgone energy, following much experimentation. These qualities are defined as
1) Is free of mass, without weight and inertia.
2) Is universally present, even in vacuum.
3) Is the medium for the movement of light, as well as electromagnetic and gravitational
activity.
4) Is always moving, in either a pulsating or curving fashion, and at times is detectable
visually as a blue-ish shimmer.
5) It contradicts the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics in physics, and specifically, entropy,
by flowing in reverse direction from electricity or heat (which naturally flow from a
higher potential to a lower), moving from low potentials to higher. In other words, high
concentrations of orgone energy draw more orgone from lower concentrations. In short,
“energy goes where energy is.”
6) Orgone energy forms units, from bions to cells to plants all the way to galaxies. As
with orgone itselt, these “units” draw energy from their environment (are negatively
entropic), and pass through life-cycles from birth to death.
7) Matter derives from orgone energy.
8) All life derives from orgone energy.
9) Streams of orgone energy can converge and join, and this will often take the form of a
spiral.
10) Orgone energy can be manipulated and controlled by devices known as
“accumulators”.
As can be seen from this list, many of these qualities seem aligned with the general and
mystical descriptions of the Only Spirit, and its more physical manifestations, as given in
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14. the main wisdom traditions on the planet. (With the possible exception of point #10, as
there has been subsequent analysis of Reich’s work that has found some of his more
scientific deductions and measurements wanting. The jury remains out on the efficacy of
his “accumulators”).
Jung’s Anima Mundi, The “World Spirit”, and the Divine Mother Archetype
The great 20th century psychoanalyst Carl Jung referred to the anima mundi (“World
Spirit”, or “Soul”) and drew from ancient records to equate this “World Spirit” with the
shape of a sphere.
In the principles of metaphysical or “sacred” geometry, the sphere (or circle) has been
equated with the feminine aspect of form. Similarly, the Hebrew root , from which
derives ruach, the term that eventually became “Holy Spirit” in English, is feminine in
gender. Likewise, the closest Hindu-Vedic parallel concept to ruach – Shakti – is
personified as the Goddess, the pure feminine archetype behind Creation.
A simple examination of the Christian Trinity will reveal that the image and idea of the
divine Mother principle was neutered into the “Holy Ghost”. The Father remains,
described in masculine terms, as is the Son. It is only logical that the Holy Ghost is more
properly the Holy Mother, but was not described that way. It is not in the scope of this
essay to speculate and analyze the reasons for that, but suffice it to say that the three
monotheistic faiths have all been heavily patriarchal, and thus any ulterior motive for
neutering the divine Mother archetype would not be difficult to see.
In Egyptian myth, the prime Trinity was Osiris-Isis-Horus, or the archetypal Father-
Mother-Child. The Hindu Trinity of Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu are all portrayed as male, but
Shiva “himself” is more properly a combination of Shakti and Shiva. Shakti is seen as the
source of numerous other aspects of the Goddess archetype, being Kali, Durga, Parvati,
etc.
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15. Ultimately, the classification of the Only Spirit as feminine, or further, as the divine
Mother principle of the cosmos, is less important than the direct experience of this Spirit-
energy, and its presence. To understand its roots as the female aspect of Creation is useful
inasmuch as it sheds light on the spiritual imbalances of the past two millennia in
particular, and especially, in Western civilization. The linearity and rationality of the
male principle, and its ascendancy during the past two millennia, has left an imbalance in
overall development, which shows as a neglect of, and stunted development of, the
intuitive, feeling faculties of human nature, as well as the hidden agenda to draw severe
limits upon the feminine archetype and reduce it to an weak characterization of its true
essence.
The presence and energy of the Only Spirit is the teacher and awakener of love as an
aspect of Ultimate Realty. The Only Spirit is seen in the end to be the aspect of our
enlightened nature that recognizes our Oneness with all – the truest definition of Love.
And so we arrive at these definitions:
God/Source – The aspect of Truth that rests in the perfect awareness of our natural “vast-
emptiness” as pure formless consciousness. This is Wisdom, and it is realized via
awareness.
Only/Holy Spirit – The aspect of Truth that rests in the perfect knowledge of our natural
Oneness with all. This is Love, and it is realized via extension to others and the world.
The Christ/Buddha-mind - Our True Self, a balance of wisdom and love.
The World – The Playground in which we experience forgetting, and remembering, our
True Self and the nature of Ultimate Reality.
****************
Copyright 2002 by P.T. Mistlberger, All Rights Reserved
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