Does 'Self' Exist?

The Buddhist Perspective of Self

Buddha's assertion that the self does not exist was first described in the famous "Discourse on the Not-Self". It is a fundamental principle of Buddhist philosophy and is said to be the second sermon delivered by the Buddha after his enlightenment.

Buddha defined five "aggregates" that together constitute the entire person. These are: form (body), feelings (positive, negative, neutral), perception, mental formations (thought, emotion, will), and consciousness.

Buddha declared each aggregate in turn (like most of reality) to be impermanent, and therefore not identifiable with 'self'. This implies Buddha's concept of self has (a degree of) permanence.

Considering the aggregates again, he declared that each is not controllable (we cannot control the fate of our body, our emotions etc), and is therefore not self. This implies Buddha's concept of self is controllable. (more…)

Plan for Humanity?

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Q:  How can you claim there is a Plan for humanity?  Just look at the mess out there; surely somebody is not doing their job.

A:  Many would assert the world is in chaos and daily we continue to destroy ourselves. Further the idea of a spiritual plan for humanity is absurd; just look at our track record and the growing materialism, addictions, and physical and sexual abuse/exploitation of our young. Additionally, historically, so-called spiritual leaders have been responsible through war and greed for some of our greatest suffering.  In fact today many of the churches continue as some of the richest corporations on earth.

This description of humanity’s self-destructive capacity is true; however it describes only part of the picture. It neglects our higher nature and the unselfish efforts of billions. (more…)

Timeliness of Teachings

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

In viewing individual spiritual teachings, sometimes, travelers forget the timeliness or context in which a specific teaching is Given.

A majority of spiritual teachings are Given or prescribed for a specific person/audience, in a specific time and a specific place. Trying to generalize individual teachings may be like trying to put a ‘square peg in a round hole’ or working under the rule that ‘one hat size fits all.’ (more…)

How Feng Shui Paintings, Tibetan Thangkas, and Feng Shui Jewelry Can Bring Healing to Your Mind, Body, and Soul

By Explosion Luck 

Feng Shui paintings and Tibetan thangkas are know to bring good luck to those who use them in their homes and offices, while Feng Shui jewelry is known for bringing good luck to those who wear Feng Shui necklaces and pendants. 

But did you know that Feng Shui paintings, Tibetan thangkas and Feng Shui jewelry can also heal you?

In this contemporary world, stresses assail us from all directions. Our jobs demand we be ever more available, ever more capable to handle any problem thrown at us, ever more dedicated to spending our every waking moment thinking about work. Family life is incredibly rewarding, but it can also sap our energies not only through physical tasks, but through emotional labor. The fast-paced nature of everyday life asks us to be plugged in to technology 24/7, to push through exhaustion and to neglect our bodies and minds. For people seeking to make a major change in their lives, from changing careers to moving cities to starting a family, the pressure to succeed and the fear of change can weigh upon our spirits. (more…)

The Original Settlers of Central America

By Doug Simpson

Christopher Columbus landed on the eastern shore of Costa Rica in 1502, but it is incorrect to claim that he discovered Costa Rica. The best we can grant him with is the rediscovery of Costa Rica, as the indigenous Indians had resided in Costa Rica for thousands of years before Columbus arrived. This article will provide you with some information on the original settlers of Central America.

Enter Edgar Cayce. Edgar Cayce is regarded as America's legendary mystic, and has often been referred to as America's Nostradamus. Edgar was born in rural Kentucky in 1877, and his soul returned home on January 3, 1945, but he left behind a priceless treasure-chest of over 14,000 transcripts of his readings, recorded while he was in a deep, self-induced, trance state. (more…)

What is God?

I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us... John Lennon

Beliefs about God

Atheists do not believe God exists. Agnostics believe it impossible to know anything about God, including existence or otherwise. In contrast numerous religions with billions of followers believe in the existence of one or more deities of various forms.

Reasons to Believe in God

The concept of God has existed for millennia, believed in by billions across cultures around the world.

Despite the undoubted success of science as a means of understanding reality it has made little to no progress in answering several fundamental questions, eg:

• the nature of consciousness, and free will
• the origin of the miracle that is life
• what preceded / caused the 'big bang'
• why the laws of nature are so precisely tuned as to support life

(more…)

Keep It Simple

By Dr.Stewart Bitkoff

When life becomes confusing and over whelming, there is a management technique I use that has been very helpful.

I learned this technique while working at the psychiatric hospital and we were getting reading for our routine four year inspection by The Joint Commission; during our leadership meetings one of our Directors offered a personal leadership technique that has stayed with me. He said, every day when he comes to work, he has 4 things/goals that he works on and these will help prepare us for the inspection. (more…)

What Can I Know? What Should I Believe?

The Significance of Faith

Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed. Jesus (John 20:29)

In this quote Jesus expresses the importance of faith - belief in that which has not / cannot be "proven". In actuality, much of what we think we know relies in varying degrees upon faith.

The Limits of Certainty

Descartes remarked in the 17th century: I think therefore I am. This effectively defined the bounds of certainty, since all else beyond one's own existence could be illusion.

Scientific quantum theory in the 20th century discovered the inherent randomness at the most fundamental level of the material universe. Heisenberg's "uncertainty principle" set a limit in principle on what it is physically possible to know.

It seems overwhelmingly likely that the true nature of reality is very different to that which is perceived through the physical senses.

Consciousness and Reality

I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness. Max Planck, Nobel Prize winner, originator of quantum theory.

The consequence of key concepts from quantum physics (observer effect, collapse of the wave function) suggest that consciousness (yours, others', God's?) doesn't just passively receive information about the universe but may play an active role in shaping/creating reality (eg see The Self-Aware Universe by theoretical physicist Dr. Amit Goswami).

(more…)

Learning from Life- 11 Lessons

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

This piece has not been an easy one for me to write or think about. There is much that I would like to forget and get past.

Also, I searched my motivation for this piece and concluded:  it is based primarily upon the belief- life is the great classroom and we learn much from personal, every day experience.

About 2 months ago I was in hospital with a heart attack; now after the shock waves have subsided a bit, I have had time to reflect on all of this. Also, I am still occupied with the after effects. I am in cardiac rehab, changing certain life habits and still don’t have all my strength or heart capacity back; in multiple ways, this experience has clearly affected members of my family.

Some learning happens right away and other lessons take longer; both the doctors and EMT’s said I was lucky to be alive. There was a 100% blockage in my major heart artery and 60% in another; they have a nick- name for this particular attack: ‘the widow maker.’

Fortunately, I was at a family Thanksgiving dinner when this occurred and people acted quickly.

Sometimes, I still wonder why I am here.  Perhaps there is more that I have to do, accomplish and enjoy. (more…)

Alzheimer's and Psychic Ability

My mother is in a nursing home with advanced dementia. Although bed-bound, having hallucinations, and sadly with a seemingly diminishing grasp of reality she is sometimes remarkably intuitive, eg in recent weeks:

1. She warned me not to go to a certain dentist. I rarely visit a dentist, and she has never talked of dentists in
   her present condition, but I had been just a few days earlier to have a crown replaced. She could not have
   known that I was due to visit a dentist.
2. I usually take the bus alone to visit her home, but on this occasion was given a lift by my partner. My mother
   asked if "they were waiting for me". She has not said this before or since and there was no way for her to have known I was given a ride on that day.
3. I usually work at home and rarely travel into the city for business, but on this occasion had been to the city the previous week and secured some forthcoming work that would mean me spending 2 days a week in the city for a while. When I told my mother I was working tomorrow, she asked if I was going to the city, although she could not have known of these plans.
4. Her younger brother passed away suddenly and her family decided not to tell her. A few days afterwards her elder brother visited the home and mentioned their sibling's passing to the nursing staff. He was surprised to find that they already knew, because my mother had told them - even though she had no physical way to have learned this information!

Could it be that somehow, despite her Alzheimer's, part of her mind is able to access information beyond the physical senses?

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