new age spirituality

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  • Cosmic ordering

    Cosmic ordering is one of the most recent new age fads.

    Essentially, cosmic ordering suggests that the universe exists to serve the wants of the individual. To get anything we desire we simply have to explicitly express our wish. Having done so the forces of the universe begin working to satisfy our demands.

    One of the most high profile advocates of cosmic ordering is the English TV presenter and DJ Noel Edmonds. Edmonds’career had been in obscurity for several years when he expressed a wish to return to the limelight. Lo and behold he was offered a job presenting another game show which proved a great success.

    Whilst it is true that the physical universe does exist to serve the needs of the individual Spiritual being, it does so in the way of a school rather than a wish-grantng machine. Schools exist to serve their students, but they don’t hand out graduation certificates without considerable work on the part of the students.

    Also, while the universe does offer the potential of abundance for all, our true purpose is to learn and grow, not to accummulate material trophies.

    The principles of cosmic ordering can be both useful and dangerous.

    It is useful in that it encourages positive thinking. Without defining and expressing our wishes there is very little chance that we can accomplish them, other than by pure luck.

    But the real danger in this belief is that it discourages effort by breeding complacency. “I’ve made my wish, now I can put my feet up and wait ’til it comes true”. Life ain’t like that. We need to express our desires, but we also need to devise and follow a plan for their fulfillment. In fact it is our efforts toward their fulfillment that is our real purpose.

  • The Mind-Brain Problem

    The question of whether mind and brain are separate entities is one of conscious man’s oldest conundrums.

    Conventional science favors materialism, ie that mind is a mere function of brain. But there are many arguments to the contrary, eg the existence of emotion, our need for art and beauty, the huge body of evidence supporting the reality of psychic phenomena, near death experiences and good old common sense.

    While we can no more prove the separateness of mind and brain any more than the monists can prove the opposite, my article Mind, Body, Soul articulates good reasons to believe they are distinct entities.

  • You Have Been Here Before: Reincarnation – A Review

    You Have Been Here Before: ReincarnationYou Have Been Here Before: Reincarnation by Seiyu Kiriyama is a fascinating book examining reincarnation from a Buddhist perspective.

    Kiriyama is founder of the Agon Shu Buddhist Association, a prolific author, and a clairvoyant able to review the past lives of those who consult him.

    Reincarnation is the idea that one soul lives many lives in different bodies and different circumstances. It has long been accepted in the East and is becoming increasingly widespread in the West. Where this book differs from most account of reincarnation is that it uses it as a possible explanation for many of the seemingly inexplicable difficulties faced in the here and now.

    The book consists of four distinct parts.

    The first part presents some fascinating accounts of those who have come to Kiriyama for assistance and been helped by his assessment of their past lives. Often they are troubled by the spirits of ancestors who passed in difficult circumstances and who are helped by Kiriyama releasing them from their discontent.

    The second part discusses the reasons for reincarnation, using further fascinating case studies. The bottom line, in keeping with the Buddhist tradition, is that we continue to reincarnate until we are able to shed our earthly baggage.

    The third part is somewhat tangential in presenting a lengthy discussion of the mind-body problem under the heading of “what” it is that reincarnates.

    The final part begins with the remarkable description of a boy who reincarnated in the early 19th century with the ability to recall details of his previous existing inaccurate and verifiable detail. It goes on to a somewhat depressing view of the afterworld drawn from the Tibetan Book of The Dead which describes numerous departed souls in despair or falling into an abyss as a result of their failings. Some of their number attempt to return to their former existence but find only torment in their disembodied state forcing them to seek other bodies to enter. On a brighter note it does mention that some more advanced souls may reincarnate several more times to complete their journey to Buddha-hood.

    In contrast to the more conventional Western view of life as experience the Buddhist approach places greater emphasis upon judgment and punishment for things done wrong. I believe that both approaches meet with those souls that feel they have unfinished business and choose to reincarnate in order to complete it. But this is not necessarily the only, or even the main driver, for reincarnation.

    For those interested in reincarnation this book offers an unconventional approach that provides valuable food for thought. For those trying to understand their current circumstances it might provide insight. As with all such material it should be subjected to one’s own inner judgment, but it definitely offers some useful pointers along one’s unique development.

  • hypocrites in suits

    The US and UK governments invaded and wrecked Iraq because they wrongly thought it had “weapons of mass destruction” (WMDs). They now accuse Iraq also of building WMDs.

    Today the UK government voted to spend a vast sum of money £20billion ($40billion) on replacing its Trident submarine nuclear deterrent. Despite the cold war having ended nearly two decades ago. Despite WMDs being utterly useless against so-called terrorism. Despite a large rebellion from Blair’s own party.

    Well pardon me, but how come it’s alright for the US and UK to have WMDS, but not for anyone else who they might deem a threat?

    No individual, no nation, has the monopoly on righteousness. We are all engaged upon a journey of learning. And economic success is a poor indicator of real progress.

    Now to a degree once the first atom bomb was built the cat was out the bag and could never be put back in. Mankind had the knowledge to create these terrible means of destruction and inevitably will one day use them. But it’s worrying to see the leaders of the supposeldy leading nations bringing that day closer. The blind leading the hopefully not so blind.

  • money isn’t everything

    Money, money, money. We can’t get enough of it. We’ll gladly sell our souls for it. If only I had this much more I’d be happy…

    Just about everyone is relentlessly chasing money. It buys us freedom, choice, and makes us quietly feel superior to those with less.

    But aren’t we misleading ourselves? One day our bodies will all be dead. And what was inside them – our spirit, essence, or soul, will have passed back to its home in the Spirit realms.

    Whether we made money or not, the size of our houses, cars and jewelry will matter not a jot. All that will matter is what we learned and experienced in our brief stay upon the earth plane.

    I’m not saying don’t pursue money. In fact if we do well in other pursuits, those that do general good, we will make money. We need money to live – for food and shelter. If we have money we can use our time as we choose – and that may be very constructively – rather than having to serve others just to survive.

    But don’t make money your only, or even your main, goal. Once you’ve met your basic needs you can probably gain more valuable experience through non-monetary pursuits.

    And remember, though the vagrant may walk a harder road he will also experience much more than many a rich man.

  • The Role of Psychics

    The New Age era has seen clairvoyance raised to a growth industry. The demand for supernatural guidance seems limitless. And yet all too often consultations with psychics leave us disappointed. Why?

    The primary role of psychics is to demonstrate to us our true Spiritual nature that we might spend less time chasing meaningless trivia and more on the important stuff. But too many approach psychics in order to abdicate their own free will.

    Most psychics are genuine, but where money is available it’s hardly surprising there are a few charlatans. Choose your psychic(s) carefully. Be guided by reputation, but above all by your inner voice.

    We are born to learn and grow. We are given free will that we might do so. Why then are we so surprised that the Spirit realm won’t invalidate our gift by making our choices for us?

    Treat all psychic consultations with an open mind. Never blindly accept. Always apply your own judgement.

  • footsteps in the sand

    One night a man had a dream.
    He dreamed he was walking along
    the beach with God.

    Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
    For each scene, he noticed
    two sets of footprints in the sand,
    one beloning to him and the other to God.

    When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
    he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
    He noticed that many times along the path of his life
    there was only one set of footprints.
    He also noticed that it happened at the
    very lowest and saddest times in his life.
    This bothered him and he questioned God about it.

    “God, you said that once I decided to follow you,
    you’d walk with me all the way.
    But I have noticed that during the most
    troublesome times in my life there is
    only one set of footprints.
    I don’t understand why when I needed you most
    you would leave me.”

    God replied “My precious, precious child,
    I love you and would never leave you.
    During your times of trial and suffereing,
    when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
    it was then that I carried you.”

    author unknown

  • a parable of immortality

    A ship sails and I stand
    Watching till she fades on the horizon
    And someone at my side says,
    “She is gone”.
    Gone where?
    Gone from my sight, that is all;
    She is just as large as when I saw her.
    The diminished size and total loss of sight
    Is in me, not in her,
    And just at the moment
    When someone at my side says
    “She is gone”
    There are others who are watching her coming,
    And other voices take up a glad shout
    “There she comes!”
    And that is dying

    Henry Van Dyke

  • When Someone Lets You Down

    We’re all imperfect, every last one of us. Otherwise we wouldn’t need to take physical form and go through the hoopla called life.

    Almost certainly at some time on our journey we’re going tomeet some bad guys who will try to cheat, rob, con or otherwise wrong us. That’s why we have laws, penalties and penal systems.

    But maybe what’s worst of all is when someone we trust lets us down or betrays us. That can shatter our confidence in people in general, and worse shatter our self confidence because we were foolish enough to believe in this person that has done this bad thing to us.

    How can we rebuild from that? It would be sad if we could never trust anyone else again. But we know we are born to learn from experience. And such an experience should teach us to trust, but never absolutely.

    Good and bad are relative terms. Who can say what’s absolutely good or bad?For we are all part of that one whole that is Spirit, but incarnate we each have our own agenda to pursue.

    If you are let down by someone you perceived to be close, don’t be devastated by the experience. Recognise that person had reasons for acting as they did, even if thise reasons didn’t serve to lighten your load. Don’t have a down on all people. Accept them for what they are. Simply souls like yourself seeking to understand. Maintain a healthy skepticism in future relations, but do not forget that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

  • If God is good…

    If God is good, why are people often so bad to one another? Why’s there so many wars? So much crime? So much selfishness?

    This is one of the toughest questions faced by students of Spirituality.

    God is omnipotent. God could easily move to end all suffering. So if God is good, why doesn’t God do so?

    It’s because we are all here to experience, learn and grow. We can only do that if we’re allowed to exercise our free will, and too often we show our great imperfection.

    God COULD end all suffering at the drop of a hat. But if God did, we would learn nothing, and our incarnation would be futile.

    The challenge for those aware enough is to use their earthly influence to try to do some good.