Here is a list of Religion & Spirituality Blogs ordered by Most Liked, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
The Fool
Introduction to The Fool,
I have not read a book for 6-7 years now for, I decided that all books read up to then was more than enough to be overwhelmed by information included in them.
However, if it was to pick up and choose just one book from all books read that would have been the one lately recommended to a few people when talked about books.
This is my favourite one, Dhammapada.
The only book read by me several times during different periods and stages in my life.
Each time read as if it was the first time read, the meaning of the verses perceiced/seen differently each time.
Each time, a different message received, a lesson to be learned and applied by me.
All a very hard work , all worth it in the end.
Dhammapada is a compilation of ancient, wise stories/sayings said to have come straight from the mouth of Budha.
My favourite one from Dhammapada has been since the first day, the whole book read and continued to be up to now, The Fool.
The Fool, follows below,
Chapter 5, The Fool
60. Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth.
61. Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool.
62. The fool worries, thinking, "I have sons, I have wealth." Indeed, when he himself is not his own, whence are sons, whence is wealth?
63. A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed.
64. Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup.
65. Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the Truth, just as the tongue tastes the flavor of the soup.
66. Fools of little wit are enemies unto themselves as they move about doing evil deeds, the fruits of which are bitter.
67. Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
68. Well done is that action of doing which one repents not later, and the fruit of which one, reaps with delight and happiness.
69. So long as an evil deed has not ripened, the fool thinks it as sweet as honey. But when the evil deed ripens, the fool comes to grief.
70. Month after month a fool may eat his food with the tip of a blade of grass, but he still is not worth a sixteenth part of the those who have comprehended the Truth.
71. Truly, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, like milk that does not turn sour all at once. But smoldering, it follows the fool like fire covered by ashes.
72. To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness.
73. The fool seeks undeserved reputation, precedence among monks, authority over monasteries, and honor among householders.
74. "Let both laymen and monks think that it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me" — such is the ambition of the fool; thus his desire and pride increase.
75. One is the quest for worldly gain, and quite another is the path to Nirvana. Clearly understanding this, let not the monk, the disciple of the Buddha, be carried away by worldly acclaim, but develop detachment instead.
The End.
Acknowledgement for The Fool (chapter 5 of Dhammapada): The Buddha Net,
I have not read a book for 6-7 years now for, I decided that all books read up to then was more than enough to be overwhelmed by information included in them.
However, if it was to pick up and choose just one book from all books read that would have been the one lately recommended to a few people when talked about books.
This is my favourite one, Dhammapada.
The only book read by me several times during different periods and stages in my life.
Each time read as if it was the first time read, the meaning of the verses perceiced/seen differently each time.
Each time, a different message received, a lesson to be learned and applied by me.
All a very hard work , all worth it in the end.
Dhammapada is a compilation of ancient, wise stories/sayings said to have come straight from the mouth of Budha.
My favourite one from Dhammapada has been since the first day, the whole book read and continued to be up to now, The Fool.
The Fool, follows below,
Chapter 5, The Fool
60. Long is the night to the sleepless; long is the league to the weary. Long is worldly existence to fools who know not the Sublime Truth.
61. Should a seeker not find a companion who is better or equal, let him resolutely pursue a solitary course; there is no fellowship with the fool.
62. The fool worries, thinking, "I have sons, I have wealth." Indeed, when he himself is not his own, whence are sons, whence is wealth?
63. A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed.
64. Though all his life a fool associates with a wise man, he no more comprehends the Truth than a spoon tastes the flavor of the soup.
65. Though only for a moment a discerning person associates with a wise man, quickly he comprehends the Truth, just as the tongue tastes the flavor of the soup.
66. Fools of little wit are enemies unto themselves as they move about doing evil deeds, the fruits of which are bitter.
67. Ill done is that action of doing which one repents later, and the fruit of which one, weeping, reaps with tears.
68. Well done is that action of doing which one repents not later, and the fruit of which one, reaps with delight and happiness.
69. So long as an evil deed has not ripened, the fool thinks it as sweet as honey. But when the evil deed ripens, the fool comes to grief.
70. Month after month a fool may eat his food with the tip of a blade of grass, but he still is not worth a sixteenth part of the those who have comprehended the Truth.
71. Truly, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, like milk that does not turn sour all at once. But smoldering, it follows the fool like fire covered by ashes.
72. To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness.
73. The fool seeks undeserved reputation, precedence among monks, authority over monasteries, and honor among householders.
74. "Let both laymen and monks think that it was done by me. In every work, great and small, let them follow me" — such is the ambition of the fool; thus his desire and pride increase.
75. One is the quest for worldly gain, and quite another is the path to Nirvana. Clearly understanding this, let not the monk, the disciple of the Buddha, be carried away by worldly acclaim, but develop detachment instead.
The End.
Acknowledgement for The Fool (chapter 5 of Dhammapada): The Buddha Net,
Long Life
I often read articles about Centenarians celebrating another birthday. In fact, just yesterday, I read about one who finally passed away; she was 113. But whilst some remain vibrant and somewhat active, being blessed with few medical issues, many aren’t so blessed. We know that, like an old car, problems usually arise with our bodies due to years of wear and tear, and poor choices with the quality of ‘fuel’ that we use daily.
How long would you like to live on this earth? Are you interested in living here any longer than you have to? Things are already very bad – war, crime, economic constraints, medical/scientific diseases, etc. It’s not going to get any better, so…?
VSEP (Voluntary Separation Employee Package) was once offered for employed persons to retire early from work (in my country). If God had such an offer, would you consider taking it?
A Story about finding Happiness
There were 200 people attending a seminar on mental and physical health.
At one point, the speaker told the group they were going to do an activity. He gave each attendee one balloon and told them to write their name on it. Then, the balloons were collected and moved into a very small room. The participants were then asked to go into the other room and were given 2 minutes to find their balloon.
It was chaos…People were searching frantically for their balloon, pushing each other and running into one another while they grabbed a balloon, looked at it, and inevitably tossed it to the side. At the end of the 2 minutes, no one had found the balloon that had their name on it. Then, the speaker asked the participants to go back in the room and pick up one balloon at random, look at the name, and return it to its owner. Within minutes, everyone had been reunited with their original balloon.
He then told the group, “This is what it’s like when people are frantically searching for their own happiness in life. People push others aside to get the things that they want that they believe will bring them happiness. However, our happiness actually lies in helping other people and working together as a community.”
According to the Dalai Lama, “If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Blessings everyone!
At one point, the speaker told the group they were going to do an activity. He gave each attendee one balloon and told them to write their name on it. Then, the balloons were collected and moved into a very small room. The participants were then asked to go into the other room and were given 2 minutes to find their balloon.
It was chaos…People were searching frantically for their balloon, pushing each other and running into one another while they grabbed a balloon, looked at it, and inevitably tossed it to the side. At the end of the 2 minutes, no one had found the balloon that had their name on it. Then, the speaker asked the participants to go back in the room and pick up one balloon at random, look at the name, and return it to its owner. Within minutes, everyone had been reunited with their original balloon.
He then told the group, “This is what it’s like when people are frantically searching for their own happiness in life. People push others aside to get the things that they want that they believe will bring them happiness. However, our happiness actually lies in helping other people and working together as a community.”
According to the Dalai Lama, “If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Blessings everyone!
How To Love Your Enemies
“...Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”.
(Matt. 5:44)
One of the most challenging things that God has told us to do is to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). How does one do this without appearing to be a hypocrite? I mean, really? If someone has hurt me deeply how could I love, bless, do good to and pray for him/her, when I know that all I really want is justice? And that justice can only come when I’m satisfied that he/she has suffered enough for wronging me.
So you see my dilemma. If I do what God says, I am not only depriving myself of the justice that I seek, but also, I have to do so ‘with love’. Now tell me that that isn’t hard to do.
A few years ago I heard a song by a Country Western singer about praying for your enemies (or something along that line) and in it he sang that he took the advice of the Preacher at his church, and decided to pray for his ex-girlfriend who had broken his heart. The thing was, He prayed that awful things would happen to her, and that made him feel so good that he resolved to do it again.
I laughed when I heard it, and the words made me feel good because someone understood how much easier it was to seek justice, than to offer forgiveness. Now that is being real.
Unfortunately for us, God is more concerned with our obedience to His Will, not because He’s mean and uncaring, but because He knows that the way He has prescribed is the best way for us to heal. Revenge disguised as ‘justice’ is not what God wants us to focus on. “...For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”, says His Holy Word (Js 1:20). So, if healing is truly what we want, then we have to do it His way, a little at a time, as sincerely as we can. And that is being obedient.
How to love your enemies? Don’t doubt the remedy. Use the formula that God has prescribed.
I've tried it, and I can testify that it works.
(Matt. 5:44)
One of the most challenging things that God has told us to do is to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). How does one do this without appearing to be a hypocrite? I mean, really? If someone has hurt me deeply how could I love, bless, do good to and pray for him/her, when I know that all I really want is justice? And that justice can only come when I’m satisfied that he/she has suffered enough for wronging me.
So you see my dilemma. If I do what God says, I am not only depriving myself of the justice that I seek, but also, I have to do so ‘with love’. Now tell me that that isn’t hard to do.
A few years ago I heard a song by a Country Western singer about praying for your enemies (or something along that line) and in it he sang that he took the advice of the Preacher at his church, and decided to pray for his ex-girlfriend who had broken his heart. The thing was, He prayed that awful things would happen to her, and that made him feel so good that he resolved to do it again.
I laughed when I heard it, and the words made me feel good because someone understood how much easier it was to seek justice, than to offer forgiveness. Now that is being real.
Unfortunately for us, God is more concerned with our obedience to His Will, not because He’s mean and uncaring, but because He knows that the way He has prescribed is the best way for us to heal. Revenge disguised as ‘justice’ is not what God wants us to focus on. “...For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”, says His Holy Word (Js 1:20). So, if healing is truly what we want, then we have to do it His way, a little at a time, as sincerely as we can. And that is being obedient.
How to love your enemies? Don’t doubt the remedy. Use the formula that God has prescribed.
I've tried it, and I can testify that it works.
What is it about…DEATH?
Death is inevitable (according to the Bible).
Many fear it.
Some people fight against it fiercely, whilst others embrace it willingly.
Vocabulary used to describe it includes such words as ‘foreboding’, ‘uncertain’, ‘mysterious’ and ‘final’. Imagery used to depict it is ugly, scary, and dark.
Is it really death that we fear, or is it what happens after? Or perhaps we fear what may sometimes happen before; such as pain and suffering from grave illness/sin?
The Bible often refers to death as ‘sleep’ or ‘rest’. Neither of these terms conjures images of dread for which we ought to fear. In fact, both describe a respite from work, an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. So why, then, should I fear death?
Among other deaths, I have been a witness to my own mom’s passing, which has left me with many unpleasant memories. And whilst I believe that ‘theoretically’ we shouldn’t have any fears, the sad truth is that if our pain and suffering from something debilitating could end with either uncertain medical treatment or certain death, we may most likely choose the former, even though certain death would give us ‘rest’. What an enigma!
Is it that we are pre-conditioned to fear death and fight against it at all costs? Is it a part of our DNA so there’s no avoiding the fear?
Often, I feel that I may not ever be ready to die because pain and illness are sometimes horribly unbearable. But, if I had a choice in the matter, I would want to die quickly and painlessly. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), when it comes to my deciding how, when and where I die, the choice is not really mine.
Many fear it.
Some people fight against it fiercely, whilst others embrace it willingly.
Vocabulary used to describe it includes such words as ‘foreboding’, ‘uncertain’, ‘mysterious’ and ‘final’. Imagery used to depict it is ugly, scary, and dark.
Is it really death that we fear, or is it what happens after? Or perhaps we fear what may sometimes happen before; such as pain and suffering from grave illness/sin?
The Bible often refers to death as ‘sleep’ or ‘rest’. Neither of these terms conjures images of dread for which we ought to fear. In fact, both describe a respite from work, an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. So why, then, should I fear death?
Among other deaths, I have been a witness to my own mom’s passing, which has left me with many unpleasant memories. And whilst I believe that ‘theoretically’ we shouldn’t have any fears, the sad truth is that if our pain and suffering from something debilitating could end with either uncertain medical treatment or certain death, we may most likely choose the former, even though certain death would give us ‘rest’. What an enigma!
Is it that we are pre-conditioned to fear death and fight against it at all costs? Is it a part of our DNA so there’s no avoiding the fear?
Often, I feel that I may not ever be ready to die because pain and illness are sometimes horribly unbearable. But, if I had a choice in the matter, I would want to die quickly and painlessly. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), when it comes to my deciding how, when and where I die, the choice is not really mine.
online today!
Did you get dressed?
On Saturday, March 19, 2022, I talked to my mother that the next day (Sunday) we should go to church in the morning (I haven't been for a while and a few days ago I thought that when they went to church, I I would like to go too). In general, I can't sleep too early in the evening, so I fall asleep later in the morning. I went to bed around 6 in the morning, and at 9:30 I had to wake up to go to church at 10:30. I woke up at 8 o'clock and for a few minutes I looked at my watch and then fell asleep instantly. I started dreaming at a time when somewhere in my mind, somewhere between dream and reality (I'm generally aware that I'm sleeping and dreaming) I heard a voice asking me "Did you get dressed? Is it time" I woke up and when I looked at the clock it was 9:35. I know that those who do not want to believe in God and things like that will find countless reasons not to believe and explain in every way that it was I don't know what coincidence or my subconscious or I don't know what else. That's not what I write for people like that. But for those who want to believe and for those who already believe. God exists and is with us every day, only we must want to see it. It's true that in recent years I've been through a lot of hardships and I'm still going through ... and up to this point even I had come to question the Existence of God and I was asking myself questions like "what kind of God would make one like that ... Why God did the other ... and so on "and maybe at times I thought maybe God had abandoned me but once again God showed me that He didn't give up on me. But I lost faith in Him. That is why I think that somehow it is much easier for us humans since the time of Jesus and even before Him to believe that God does not exist and we find it much easier to believe this than to accept His existence. It is a pity, what we become because of our day-to-day problems and what makes our lives become, we become what we should not be, and we become more and more distant from our Creator who loves us and is with us. by us in any situation. Thank you for your attention
online now!
RELIGIOUS HAIR COVERING
The reason, particularly in Islamic beliefs that women should cover their hair, is to prevent men from succumbing to a s*xual desire at the sight of a head of hair. If women believe in this and the possible outcome, then why do they in most cases make their faces look as attractive as possible with make up, including lip stick etc, but still cover their heads? Do they wish to look attractive or not?
Where are the Protests and Riots for these Supernatural Changes
It has always been "The Lion Shall lay down with the Lamb"...
Yet supernaturally changed. The Lion is now replaced with "Wolf"!
Old news for some, New news for others!
Yet old or new where is the upheaval in all Christian communities alike. And even supernatural changes in a plethora of many other subjects as well. Where are the marches from we The People declaring our demands for answers from those whom make up our governments? Or are we as a people so brainwashed and indoctrinated through subliminal messaging through controlled media that its now: We The Sheeple!
Yet supernaturally changed. The Lion is now replaced with "Wolf"!
Old news for some, New news for others!
Yet old or new where is the upheaval in all Christian communities alike. And even supernatural changes in a plethora of many other subjects as well. Where are the marches from we The People declaring our demands for answers from those whom make up our governments? Or are we as a people so brainwashed and indoctrinated through subliminal messaging through controlled media that its now: We The Sheeple!
The Problem With Guns…
Is that they are no problem at all. This country is collapsing bit by bit. The shooters in this country are all controlled by a socialist called satan. He very much believes in his cause and has recruited others as his conglomerate. The fact that people don’t see this as spiritual warfare and only as a mere materialistic problem with guns is a giant red flag and I beg you…in fact I implore you to seek where you are going when you die. None of this head knowledge and political knowledge is gonna matter when you face the Almighty. He’s just gonna simply ask you one question…did you believe in me or not? That alone is enough to scare me more than any gun pointed at me ever could. The guns are the distraction. The destruction and lost souls is the man behind the mask or behind the gun so to speak.
Put God First
If you have a woman or a son or daughter you can not put them above God. If you do you are guilty of idolatry. In our society it is noble to be a selfless man who does everything for his loved ones and puts himself second. Take a step back and think about what is correct. God must be put first. If you are doing something that shows you do not trust God or that you approve of someone who is going against God you are headed for possible damnation. Look at what happened to Job. If everything and everyone is taken away from you what will you have left? Answer your relationship with God. If you put people or things above God you are not worthy of the kingdom of heaven It seems many are afraid of suffering. It is better to be faithful to God and suffer than to be a self pitying victim.! With Jesus you can get through anything and have a peace which transcends all understanding !
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