Category: Spirituality and Religion

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unPHILtered: The Way I See It – book review

Hello,

I don’t watch TV but I came to learn about Phil Robertson when I was traveling to Anchorage/Alaska from Seattle during the labor’s day weekend (in 2014). When the plane landed in Anchorage airport, people were swarming around two bearded men. My friend and I were wondering: “Who are these people?”

When I asked who they were, I learned that these guys (Phil and Jase) where from the Robertson family and that they have their TV show “The Duck Dynasty” on A&E.

I did my research about Phil and I was happy to learn that he’s into spirituality and a moral way of life. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about Phil’s point of view of life and morality so I bought his book “unPHILtered: The Way I See It”.

unPhiltered - book cover Continue reading “unPHILtered: The Way I See It – book review”

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Juice Fasting Friday

I was raised in a Christian household. My parents taught me to abstain from meat each Friday. After I broke free from the religious institutions and starting looking for truth everywhere and in various ‘holy’ books, I stopped being rigid about any spiritual practice.

The Truth is not exclusive to any religion

Instead of fasting and abstaining from eating meat, I decided to juice fast on certain Fridays for health and spiritual reasons. I speak a lot about the fasting topic and its benefits in my “Introduction to Fasting” article.

image Continue reading “Juice Fasting Friday”

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About “taking what’s not yours” and the five senses

In this article I will share with you my thoughts about not taking what’s not ours. I will also talk about how we are exposed to many circumstance, especially through our five senses, where we have to exercise our judgment and decide whether to “take” what is not ours or not.

Making a sound judgment pays us well on a karmic and spiritual level. Always follow the golden rule:

Do unto others what you want them to do unto you

Remember that every action you make in life always comes with a price: physical, psychological, emotional and a karmic price.Remember that what goes around comes around. Continue reading “About “taking what’s not yours” and the five senses”

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The Thirty Imperishable Stars

The Thirty Imperishable Stars are directives and hints to help you attain the divine presence.

I received this parchment below when I joined the Fellowship Of Friends back in 2006 for a period of two month.

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The meaning of each work item or directive (as I like to call them), may not be evident to you directly, however, reset assured they contain deep meaning and lots of instructions to help you achieve and maintain presences and awareness (as the Buddhists’ call it).

I will dedicate future blog posts to expand upon the meaning of each directive and how the whole set work in unison to help you achieve the divine presence.

Stay tuned.

Other related articles that you may like:

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Fasting Prayer

Fasting has one thousand and one benefits ranging from physical to spiritual. I have created this small prayer in the hope of giving you willpower while you are in a fast:


Oh Lord,

Help me fast from this day until the end of my fast,
May my efforts be used by you,
May my body be detoxified,
May my soul be purified,
May the money and food that I save daily be used to feed the poor,
May your grace and love fill me every day,

Thy will be done.

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Meeting Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (2013)

Introduction

On 05/24/2013, Amma (also known as Mata Amritanandamayi Devi) was visiting Bellevue, Washington as part of her north America tour.

It was the first time for me to go and see her. Many of my acquaintances talk about her, be it acquaintances from France, Belgium or those from where I currently live (in the Seattle area).

They say she has lots of energy and that she can help me in my spiritual path. A quote attributed to her is worthwhile mentioning:

Amma’s hugs and kisses should not be considered ordinary. When Amma embraces or kisses someone, it is a process of purification and inner healing. Amma is transmitting a part of Her pure, vital energy into Her children. It also allows them to experience true, unconditional Love. When Amma holds someone it can help to awaken the dormant spiritual energy within them, which will eventually take them to the ultimate goal of Self-realization. — Amma

She hugs people for free, however during her visit, a 3-days retreat (that costs $290) is offered.

During the retreat, spiritual lectures are given, a proprietary meditation technique called “IAM – Integrated Amrita Meditation Technique®” is offered for free among the other things that are part of the retreat.

I mainly went to the retreat in order to learn the IAM meditation technique and also to get to experience this infamous hug and see how it bestows unconditional love.

The rest of the article will describe my experience from my point of view. Please know that I am not bashing or defaming Amma in any way. This blog post is to share my observations and thoughts with others. Continue reading “Meeting Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (2013)”

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Footprints in the Sand

Many times in life we have doubt, lack of faith and we are always tempted to shout and say: “God, where are you? Why are you not helping me!”. I love to share this story with you as it helped me gain more confidence in life:
jesus-umbrellaOne night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord:
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied:  “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

origin: Mary Stevenson, 1936
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The story of the two water pots

This is yet another classical story that has been circulating around and I would like to share with you:

two-pots
A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house. The cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it
spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
“Why?” asked the bearer.
“What are you ashamed of?”
“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them.
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Moral of the story: Always be grateful even if you don’t see the good things in the bad things immediately. Do not fall in the “compare and despair” trap. Learn about yourself and your qualities.
flower separator
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The story of the two seeds

Here goes another story about taking part in life, risking and trusting:
Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.
The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me … I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring … I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”
And so she grew…
The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts … what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”
And so she waited…
A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile soil.The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me … I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring … I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!”And so she grew…The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts … what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.”And so she waited…A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

This story reminds of “The Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-28)

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How to be ready for your first 10 days Vipassana Course

meditating-buddhaIf life puts Vipassana in your way and you are considering to take the course, then it is best to read a little about the technique, and how to be prepared mentally and physically so that you can complete the 10-days course.

The purpose of this article is to tell you, from my own experience, what should be known before hand, what mental attitude to adopt, and any other aspects that can help you. It is a bit of a long read, but I think it is worth it especially that you are considering to take this life changing meditation course.

The advises below do not follow any specific order, but all of them are essential points I discovered when I took the course. Continue reading “How to be ready for your first 10 days Vipassana Course”

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My favorite prayer – The prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Ever since I learned this prayer, and when I feel overwhelmed, I recite it.

This prayer is by Saint Francis of Assisi


Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

I am not a religious person, and I would not call this a prayer, I would call it a message for us to follow, a way of life. Thank you Saint Francis.

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What I like about Jesus

I am not a religious person per say, and that poses a big question as to what does it mean not to be religious, and my answer to that comes later on.

Now, what I like about Jesus is his character and the way he conveyed his messages through the gospel.

He used stories. Yes stories were the key point in the gospel.

You can understand the story any way you want, depending on your level of maturity, but when you grow a little more, you will discover that a story that you loved and advocated your ways, simply turned out to be condemning you and how you lived.
And Jesus conveyed his message by writing between the line, making sure that you uncover only what you are ready to understand.

I am sure that if the gospel condemned all people right on then it would have not been so popular. But ask the scholars the true meaning of your favorite story told by Jesus and then tell me if you still like that story that much or you will change your ways and learn more from its true meaning.

All in all, I love that technique of conveying messages, although the conveyer will appear as a kind hearted and simple person at first, but the more the audience analyze your story the more they will discover how much more you meant and wanted to invoke.

Disclaimer: In no mean this article is a fact in anyway, it is merly a reflection by a mere mortal. Oh crucial judging humans and defenders/advocates of Jesus: please forgive my blasphemy.