sprituality- the possibilities are endless!

sunspirt

Alright, so I am back with a new thread, it seems my last one was quite popular but got closed because it went of topic. But as it seems everyone like the thread here's a new one, it is dedicated to talking about anything spiritual and your thoughts about it. I really don't mind if it changes topics BUT there will be no fighting!!! You are all entitled to your opinions but please be respectful with how you say it. I don't want any more world wars going on here!

Besides that the possibilities are endless!
Have fun!

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fsg

Hi S/S

Welcome back with a new thread ! I think you have defended your corner well enough to zap the grumps.

Wait and see how this one goes.

I for one can guarantee you will love India when you get to it, for that is what you want to do

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kullukid

That's the Spirit!
Did you say world wars or word wars!.....never know with your spelling!!! KK

jaibharatma

Agree!!
Zap the grumps can be a new thread. I bet it will be very popular - ah, the possibilities indeed, are endless.

jaibharatma

Hi sunspirt! Be ready and keep smiling.- now, and when you are finally in India!

Paleface

Namaste. Who can turn down an invitation form you? Without looking it up alright - Do you know of this word Ahimsa?

She's more in India than the veterans, and has been here countless times isn't it?

jaibharatma, i didn't get the chance before the door was closed to say Parampara to you as well, on the last beyond the beyond thread. Speaking of which; So many threads on IM have nothing to do with India and veer so far off plot never to return, yet remain? We all know why the D'sala thread was closed and it was nothing to do with Sunspirt or being off topic? Anyhow, Let sleeping dogs lie.

That India is said to be unspiritual is a slap in the face of Sanatan Dham, but it does not detract from India's spiritual heritage. History is all argument yet Heritage shapes our present and presence in India. These rugged valleys reverberate with the voices of the sages of the Himalayas and the recluses of the forest; the voice that came through Buddha and other spiritual giants, who were rugged, tough and the bravest. Theirs are not words of antagonism but of a united One. 'Peace be unto you and to all' is not a once a year Christmas Card message but a mantra uttered billions of times a day in India, with hands clasped in respectful Namaste. It starts there, and then, as Sunspirt says the possibilities are endless. Parampara.

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bjp

Raadhey!!


What a good idea!


ah! you read my mind.


jai bharat mata ki jai!


jai go mata!

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machadinha

From Monty Python's Life of Brian (yes, there were some reruns and documentaries on them here just now with regards to the original show's 40th anniversary, including them talking about the below scene, so reminded me):

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livinhimalayas

Thanks for starting a new thread Sunspirt, I hope the people who always like to have the last word stay off this one, we don't want any nastiness here do we?

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He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees. - Benjamin Franklin

jaibharatma

We are all flowers in the garden, stickers and all- think roses. Having respect for all, even though opinions differ, is the best. We are here because we all love India, and when a new, and mostly excited person lands on this site, it's time to welcome them and answer their initial question at least ( as many do ), before gently pointing them to threads which already may have covered it. No one has to answer if they find that it is annoying. We have all the space to communicate here, and won't be running out, right?
This is a fun place to be, to share with all, to laugh with all, and to learn from all. This is just my feeling because I am happy to have found INDIA MIKE.

Aupmanyav

The fasting which is done in these or other cases is called Tapas, a term which includes all forms of ascetic austerity and zealous Sadhana such as the sitting between five fires (Pañcagni-tapah) and the like. Tapas has however a still wider meaning and is then of three kinds, namely, bodily (Shariraka), by speech (Vacika) and by mind (Manasa), a common division both of Indian and Buddhist Tantra. The first includes external worship, reverence, support of the Guru, Brahmanas and the wise (Prajña), bodily cleanliness, continence, simplicity of life and avoidance of hurt to any being (Ahimsa). The second form includes truth, good, gentle and affectionate speech and study of the Vedas. The third or mental Tapas includes self-restraint, purity of disposition, tranquillity and silence. Each of these classes has three sub-divisions, for Tapas may be Sattvika, Rajasika, or Tamasika according as it is done with faith, and without regard to its fruit, or for its fruit; or is done through pride and to gain honor or respect or power; or lastly which is done ignorantly or with a view to injure and destroy others such as Abhicara or the Sadhana of the Tantrik Shatkarma (other than Shanti), that is, fascination or Vashikarana, paralyzing or Stambhana, creating enmity or Vidveshana, driving away or Uccatana, and killing or Marana when performed for a malevolent purpose. (http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/sas/sas26.htm)

machadinha

So besides that one reference, what exactly does this have to do with ahimsa directly?

Aupmanyav

Machadinha, I am yet not done with 'ahimsa'.

Though the origins of the concept of ahimsa are unknown, the earliest references to ahimsa are found in the texts of historical Vedic religion, dated to 8th century BCE. Here, ahimsa initially relates to "non-injury" without a moral connotation, but later to non-violence to animals and then, to all beings. .. The term ahimsa appears in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Yajurveda (TS 5.2.8.7), where it refers to non-injury to the sacrificer himself. It occurs several times in the Shatapatha Brahmana in the sense of "non-injury" without a moral connotation. The ahimsa doctrine is a late development in Brahmanical culture. The earliest reference to the idea of non-violence to animals (pashu-ahimsa), apparently in a moral sense, is in the Kapisthala Katha Samhita of the Yajurveda (KapS 31.11), which may have been written in about the 8th century BCE. The word scarcely appears in the principal Upanishads. The Chandogya Upanishad, dated to the 8th or 7th century BCE, one of the oldest Upanishads, has the earliest evidence for the use of the word ahimsa in the sense familiar in Hinduism (a code of conduct). It bars violence against "all creatures" (sarva-bhuta) and the practitioner of ahimsa is said to escape from the cycle of reincarnation (CU 8.15.1). It also names ahimsa as one of five essential virtues (CU 3.17.4). Some scholars are of the opinion that this passage was a concession to growing influence of shramanic culture on the Brahmanical religion. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa)

Aupmanyav

Sramanic (Wandering mendicants) traditions mentioned in Buddha's 'Samannaphala Sutta':

Pūraṇa Kassapa - Amoralism: denies any reward or punishment for either good or bad deeds.
Makkhali Gosāla - Fatalism: we are powerless; suffering is pre-destined.
Ajita Kesakambalī - Materialism: with death, all is annihilated.
Pakudha Kaccāyana - Eternalism: Matter, pleasure, pain and the soul are eternal and do not interact.
Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta - Restraint: be endowed with, cleansed by and suffused with the avoidance of all evil.
Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta - Agnosticism: "I don't think so. I don't think in that way or otherwise. I don't think not or not not."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shramana)

machadinha

That's funny: 6 States that would almost define e.g. punk rock! Hey, who needs any gurus or books