Enlightenment is to know yourself

By Lt Col R K Langar

What is Enlightenment

It is said that knowing others is wisdom whereas knowing yourself is enlightenment. In common parlance an enlighted person is a well informed person who can take part effectively in all types of conversations. He is an  enlightened person who gives light without any prejudice. In spiritual language enlighted person is that who has realized his Self and feels the bliss of Divine at all times. This would mean heightening of self awaress to the highest degree which leads to God realisation who is present in all bangs. In other words Absolute knowledge of God is enlightenment. This is the Absolute meaning of the word enlightenment. (more…)

Preposterous Ponderings - Losing Your Mind Over Zen

By R.J. Vigoda

If the answers to all the big questions of existence were easy to come by everybody would know them.   There’s good reason why so few hold the most profound secrets of life.  Let’s face it, the path to enlightenment is undeniably a tough and arduous slog.  Those deciding to pursue the weighty issues of our intrinsic Being better strap in for a rocky ride filled with perplexing concepts, torturous reason, an avalanche of bewildering language and endless acres of convoluted conundrums.  Of course, just because the task is formidable doesn’t mean there aren’t many willing to give enlightenment a shot.  For such ambitious souls there’s no end of revered spiritual systems to hitch one’s fate.   While almost all spiritual or wisdom traditions specialize in the esoteric, obscure and impenetrable one in particular raises the levels of confusion, mystification and befuddlement to vertiginous heights.  This asylum of contradiction is the fusion of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism commonly known as Zen.  Those of saner disposition steeped in logic and reason best turn back now. (more…)

The Way of Peace

In The Way of Peace James Allen expounds his New Thought Movement affiliations, referencing Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. The book is essentially a treatise on the importance of meditation as a 'pathway to divinity'. Whatever we meditate upon, Allen explains, we become. If you meditate upon ' that which is selfish and debasing, you will ultimately become selfish and debased'. Whereas if you meditate upon ' that which is pure and unselfish you will surely become pure and unselfish'.

Now copyright expired and in the public domain, new age spirituality is delighted to offer The Way of Peace as a free online ebook.

Alternatively, you may purchase your own copy from Amazon

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The Universe in a Single Atom

How Science and Spirituality Can Serve Our World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

First published in 2005 this fascinating account of Buddhism (or more generally Spirituality) meets science has particular relevance in 2009 as we commemorate Darwin's 200th birthday and are reminded of the vigorous scientific vs. Spiritual debate prompted by the theory of evolution.

As anyone who's ever taken the trouble to truly contemplate the basic tenets of the world's major faiths will testify, at root all religions describe the same basic truths. However, over the centuries, science has often appeared to be in conflict with scripture. (more…)

Zen - Lessons for Life

Recently I was out on a dark, windy, rainy day, feeling pretty down and noticing the misery on the faces of those around. I happened to see a cat crossing the street and reflected that the cat didn't waste its energy on depression, nor for that matter elation. It just got on with its job of the moment, ie being a cat.

I was reminded of the merits of Zen, an ancient Spiritual philosophy, still much studied and valued today. Zen decries excessive theorization in favor of direct experience. DT Suzuki's "Zen and Japanese Culture" describes two key ways in which Zen influenced the Japanese Samurai warriors. Firstly, it "teaches us not to look back once a course has been decided on", and secondly "it treats life anddeath indifferenly".

Doesn't Zen, along with this paradoxically brutal but honorable warrior class, have much to teach us today?

Find out more about Zen

What is Zen?

Books

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, D.T. Suzuki
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, Thich Nhat Hanh
The Miracle of Mindfulness, Thich Nhat
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Shunryu Suzuki
Zen And the Art of Happiness, Chris Prentiss
The Way of Zen, Alan W. Watts

Not strictly about Zen, but undoubtedly a modern classic
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, Robert M. Pirsig

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