Jesus' Secret Healing

by Doug Simpson

When we read the accounts in the Gospels of the trial of Jesus and His sentencing by Pilate to death on the cross, it becomes rather obvious that Pilate tried his best to rescue Jesus from His destined fate, and that it was ultimately the Jewish Sanhedrin and their vociferous group of supporters that were the primary cause of the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate had a personal reason to protect Jesus - not too long before that fateful day, Jesus had healed Pilate’s son who was afflicted with epilepsy. Here is that story as recorded in the readings of the legendary American mystic, Edgar Cayce.  (more…)

Conscious Peace

From the Book RADICAL PEACE: People Refusing War By William T. Hathaway

I was sitting in full lotus, body wrapped in a blanket, mind rapt in deep stillness, breathing lightly, wisps of air curling into the infinite space behind my closed eyes. My mantra had gone beyond sound to become a pulse of light in an emptiness that contained everything.

An electric shock flashed down my spine and through my body. My head snapped back, limbs jerked, a cry burst from my throat. Every muscle in my body contracted ― neck rigid, jaws clenched, forehead tight. Bolts of pain shot through me in all directions, then drew together in my chest. Heart attack! I thought. I managed to lie down, then noticed I wasn't breathing ― maybe I was already dead. I groaned and gulped a huge breath, which stirred a whirl of thoughts and images.

Vietnam again: Rotor wind from a hovering helicopter flails the water of a rice paddy while farmers run frantically for cover. Points of fire spark out from a bamboo grove to become dopplered whines past my ears. A plane dives on the grove to release a bomb which tumbles end over end and bursts into an orange globe of napalm. A man in my arms shakes in spasms as his chest gushes blood. (more…)

Beyond The River's Gate

New book by Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

The Ancient Teaching is that the many religions are One and that humanity is one family. We have all come from the same Source, and must one day return Home. That is the cosmic journey and, here in the earth phase, there are many opportunities to go, do and create. Yet we will have missed the point of our stay, unless we come to this inner, spiritual understanding of Oneness and use this knowledge in our daily life.

The heart of this book is the point at which traditional religious teaching merges with this ancient, inner spiritual message. In today’s world, travelers often get caught-up in the smaller stream, forgetting they must travel the river to its Source; past the river’s mouth, the Ocean is waiting.

May your journey through these pages be filled with Light.

Available from Amazon and other leading bookstores

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Sharing a Heartfelt Conversation on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Creating a Culture of Congruency with Personality-Integrated Individuals

Niánn Emerson Chase

I realize that gender identity and sexual orientation for any individual are very complex issues, with not only biological factors but environmental, social, and cultural elements to also consider. In our modern society, with its fast-pace and digital device onslaught, we all need to slow down and take time to have honest and thoughtful conversations about this sensitive and important subject of today’s culture. (more…)

Sufi Mysticism & World Sickness

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

Q: While on the Sufi mystical path, what exactly is it you learn?  How is this learning different than other learning?

From the mystical perspective, the physical world or world of forms is supported by the world of spirit. The physical world is an extension of this unseen, spiritual world and the physical exists so humanity can fulfill their individual higher destiny.  Each traveler enters the world of physical forms for many reasons. Yet each reason is connected to the higher destiny, and the traveler ‘fumbles around in the dark’ unless he or she learns to connect with the Higher Reality.  The ladder which has been extended is religious teaching and spiritual learning.  The mystical path and spiritual learning is the inner heart of religious teaching. On an inner, spiritual level, all the great religions are one. (more…)

Questions & Answers

Why did you come into this world?
Why do you have to leave?
How are the hours between to be spent?

Are these questions
And their answers not related?

Do the work of the next realm
In this one,
And you will have no need
Of questions or their answers.

-SB

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Register for my upcoming retreat weekend atop Bangor Mountain, in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Kirkridge Retreat Center on Sufism & Enlightenment, May 30- June I, 2014. For information scroll down to program listing: http://kirkridge.org/programs/upcoming-programs/. Then click on Detailed Information for full program highlights.

Read my new book: Beyond The River’s Gate. Book is availabe on Amazon.com in paperback, Kindle format or local bookstore.

To Order Your Copy Visit Amazon: http://bit.ly/bitkoffriver

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Super Highway to God / Light

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff 

Each traveler must find their own wisdom, and will never be totally satisfied with the formulations of another. While a traveler can benefit greatly from a wise man / woman, ultimately each traveler must make their own way.

What a wise man / woman does is offer training, and is an exemplar, on how to unlock inner capacity to know. That is why there are so many books offering personal visions of wisdom; many travelers have found their own inner capacity and wish to share it. Yet what works for one will not work for another; hence the growing realization that self-help books usually fall short.

Ultimately, it is the grace of a Path and the traveler’s own inner capacity that leads the traveler Home. Waiting inside each is the Super Highway to God / Light; and precious are those who help a traveler unlock their own inner wisdom.

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Register for my upcoming retreat weekend atop Bangor Mountain, in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Kirkridge Retreat Center on Sufism & Enlightenment, May 30- June I, 2014. For information scroll down to program listing: http://kirkridge.org/programs/upcoming-programs/. Then click on Detailed Information for full program highlights.

Read my new book: Beyond The River’s Gate. Book is availabe on Amazon.com in paperback, Kindle format or local bookstore.

To Order Your Copy Visit Amazon: http://bit.ly/bitkoffriver

No Comments on Super Highway to God / Light

An Agonizing Reappraisal

A Letter to the New Spirituality

By Daniel Moler

Remember in the year 2012 when everyone thought the world was either ending or ascending to some type of higher human consciousness? The world turned, wars still rage, and my rent still needs paid.

That same year, author Jonathan Talat Philips wrote a blog for The Huffington Post called "The Rise of the New Spiritual Counterculture." In it, Philips describes a societal crowd of hipsters made up of "the Whole Foods sustainability crew, Yoga Journal aficionados or New Age healers" as a "rising planetary awareness with radically practical solutions to address global challenges." Philips is associated with the Evolver Social Movement, a movement that I have been involved with myself over the years. They have published many of my articles as well as my e-book about Terence McKenna, himself a "prophet" of the psychedelic/neo-shamanic/spiritual counterculture that seems to be growing exponentially on the fringes of ordinary society.

Whereas Philips dubs this movement as a collective of pioneers engaged in spiritual activism, I have, over the years, come to disagree. Although many good things have sprung out of this cultural meme—like environmental activism and promotion of sustainable practices—there is a danger in the spiritual component attached to it . . . particularly, the hype and popular promotion of shamanic trance states  and shamanic plant medicines, otherwise known as psychedelics, as a modern panacea.

Interestingly enough I am a strong proponent of these particular spiritual traditions. However, I browse this “new spiritual counterculture” which claims to promote the concepts of shamanic practice and I see a great distortion of information.

We have turned the shamanic way of life into a fad. It’s fine that it is popular. There is, truthfully, a need for a reconnection with the natural powers of the world. But, what is being offered far differs from the philosophy and practice of an authentic shamanic life-walk. Take a look around at what the “new spiritual counterculture” has to offer: music festivals, ayahuasca retreats, and workshops promising to heal your wounds, expand your consciousness, and raise your kundalini.  We have assumed that we are spurring a revival of archaic theosophy through our tribal tattoos and drum circles; we believe we are the next evolution of neo-shaman, using our technology and hip psychology to move humanity towards spiritual progress—one  seminar at a time.

So, where is the futility in all this? (more…)

The Star Child

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff 

Day- I

The people suffered.  Long had it been a time of fear and darkness.  All of the old ways had been tested and each failed. Greed consumed the lawmakers and Masters of Business.  Their decisions turned against them and the once great structures of finance and service lay in the ashes of burnt dreams.

After the collapse of government and halls of finance, the Generals took control and worked toward order.  Gradually, goods and services were restored. However, this system too was filled with graft and long delays.  Even under the Generals, the rich got richer and the people worked long hours to feed their family.

After the graft, little was left for the people. Their hearts cried out for deliverance and freedom from the struggle of their daily lives and empty promises.  Over time, the Masters of Religion had taken to hiding in the shadows.  Also, fearful the people would turn against them, blaming them for the chaos and destruction.  Had not the old prophecy come to pass?  Was not the world in disarray and darkness?  All could see greed and fear consumed the land. People from one sector turned against the people of another.  Nightly, mother’s cried as their children lay in their beds with swollen, empty bellies.

Lost in despair, most had forgotten the second part of the prophecy.  From the ashes, The Deliverer would appear. On an inner level, the people’s hearts called out for justice and redemption. Where was the One who would lead them from the darkness into the Light?

From the people’s heart, the Deliverer was reborn.  The people’s suffering called forth her arrival.  This was the time.  This was the place. (more…)

Give as much as you can

By Lt Col R K Langar

Bhagavad Gita says that to give is our duty. The Gita further underscores that real giving is when you do not expect any return from the receiver. It is said that joy of giving is sixteen times more than the joy of receiving. Giving elevates the giver. Giving makes you a selfless person who is ever prepared to give to others. Selflessness is a big virtue while selfishness is a great sin. A giver never gets tired of giving.

Giving has many dimensions. Giving includes sharing, caring, helping and most importantly serving others. Serving others means doing something good for the society you live in. swami Vivekananda had said those who live for others, they only live while those who live for their own sake are more dead than living. When you live in the thought of doing god to the world you attain fruit of good work out of sheer power of your thoughts without doing anything physically. When you send thought vibrations of good will and love to others from the core of  your heart, your own faults are washed away. Giving creates positive impression on the mind which neutralizes certain amount of negativity from the past samskars stored in the mind. Giving is conducive for our self evolution. The law of attraction states that what you radiate outside in thoughts feelings and mental pictures, it will come back to you because you attract the same in your life. If you send good wishes to some person good wishes will come back to you. And if you send vibrations of dislike or hatred, they shall be returned to you in the same state. You attract what you are and not what you want. To radiate something good outside, you must have abundance of goodness in you. We shall now study the art of giving under four heads as enumerated above. All four acts are interrelated. (more…)