By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
There are a thousand forms of mind.
–Rumi
The goal of the mystical process is to help complete human evolution. The Sufi asserts that humanity is evolving to a higher spiritual condition and this evolution is purposeful and directed. The end result of this process is more complete travelers who are better able to serve themselves and others. Travelers proceed toward this goal by entering a path to spiritual completion and are guided by a Master. (more…)
By Lt Col R K Langar
In common parlance immorality means a living being in the world who is not subject to death. Take the case if a human being who consists of body including mind and intellect and a soul or Atma. As per the Vedantic philosophy or Hinduism, when the man dies it is only the body which perishes but not the Atma which being a fragment of God is not subject to birth or death and is immortal. Hence we can say that a man who identifies with the body alone and not the Atma would say that when the body dies the man dies on the other hand those who are soul conscious would say that I am established in my soul or spirit and hence I am immortal because the Atma is not subject to birth and death. The Atma moves from one worn out body to another new body and this process keeps on repeating itself till the soul is liberated from the cycle of birth and death. (more…)
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
-Kahlil Gibran
As I sit around watching my grey hair turn whiter, I keep seeing the same social and political problems occurring worldwide that I saw back on television 50 years ago when I was a teenager; of course back then my hair was dark brown. Yes a Lady Clairol dark brown: full head with luxuriant soft yellow highlights from the sun. OK. Maybe I am exaggerating a little about the amount of hair, but once I was young and full of expectation; concerning the possibility that spiritual learning might be the spark that changes this planet and brings us all together, finally. (more…)
By Gabriel of Urantia
I write this article on some of the deceptions that Caligastia historically has used and continues to use now to discredit both The URANTIA Book and the Continuing Fifth Epochal Revelation (found in The Cosmic Family volumes).
Deception through decoy has been a major trick of the fallen Planetary Prince of Urantia (Caligastia) since his fall 200,000 years ago, beginning by aligning with Lucifer’s strategies of discrediting Michael of Nebadon and the finaliters in their universe plan of ascension, ministry, and administration. There are many references to the Lucifer Rebellion and the Caligastia fall throughout The URANTIA Book, with three entire papers focused on this particular system- and planetary-level deviation from the way of the Universal Father. Much deception was presented during the great heavenly debate that occurred in Jerusem in the first seven years after the inception of the Rebellion, which the fallen Planetary Princes took to their worlds. Many of those false concepts are conceptually alive today on Urantia. (more…)
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
Since the beginning of man’s appearance on this planet, there has been a continual succession of spiritual teachers. This mostly, hidden chain of Masters, has protected and shared Spiritual Knowledge with those people who were capable of using it. Throughout the ages, the external form of this Knowledge has changed to meet the shifting needs of different societies and geographical regions, yet, internally all the Great Religious Forms are united in the Light.
Some have called this Way of Knowing, the Perennial Philosophy, the Secret Teaching or the One True Religion. In ages past, it was offered by the Adepts in the Great Pyramid, it was the Gold of Alchemy, and in more modern times, the Wine that the Sufi becomes intoxicated with. Historically some of its exponents have included: Raymond Lully, Roger Bacon, Paraclesus, Geber, Albertus Magnus, St. Thomas Aquinas and different Popes such as Pope Silvester II, just too name a few.*
What is this Secret Teaching you ask? It is an inner spiritual knowing or experience of the Divine, and assumes an ever changing and evolving external form so we may understand and grasp it. For our age, offered below are some of the key aspects of this life altering elixir. Here take a sip of this wondrous, spiritual wine and may you grow closer to your true, lasting self. (more…)
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
On one level people want simple answers and to be told what to do. On another, they want freedom to choose and make their own decision. People are multi-level and have the capacity to make their own choices as well as accept direction from others. Discord sets in when the guidance from others or authority does not fit what the individual wants or feels is right for them. In this case, the individual is in conflict and looks for something else. (more…)
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
Some time back, my wife and I stopped at the local diner for some lunch. When we came out of the restaurant, I noticed that another vehicle had hit our car, marking-up and scratching the paint job on the front bumper and left fender. Now we have had this late model car for about 2 months and to us this is our long awaited new car. (more…)
By Lt Col RK Langar
Various factors contribute towards completion of any task which we undertake. Out of these one factor which is common and most important for completion of our task or our duty is our own will power. Will power is defined as a positive and creative function of mind which impels, propels and enables a person to complete a chosen moral task despite all obstacles coming his way. Will power simply means ‘I will do it’. Will power can also be defined as our capability to avoid an amoral act however tempting it may be. Our problem of life is our inability to do things which are right and at the same time our inability to resist from things which are wrong. This is an aspect of an ordinary human nature which slides down easily because to raise oneself to perform a moral act requires through understanding and self effort. Some time we perform wrong acts on the plea that whole society is doing so. Such a tendency is due to our weak will power due to which we easily get influenced by the will of the majority. We forget that to accept that majority is always right is a wrong belief. Obedience of social laws and our code of conduct should be perfect for developing our will power. (more…)
By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
If a small child stumbled
Fell and cut her knee,
Would you not bend over and try to help?
Helping the fallen
Is part of the basic requirement
Of being a human being.
Then why do you run away
From all the broken ones
Who call out for our help?
Are we not broken ourselves?
-SB (more…)
By Lt Col R K Langar
The title of this article is based on Hindu philosophy or the Vedanta philosophy. The four basic questions related to a human being are one, ‘who am I’ two ‘where have I come from in this world’, three ‘what is the purpose of my existence or what is my role’ and four ‘where do I go when I leave the world’. The answers to these four questions are discussed in subsequent paragraphs. (more…)