I am continuing this amazing journey through this book on each religion equating to "beads" on a string..... I am so inspired, motivated and amazed at how the different religions are pursuing the same thing. Pieces that stand out to me:
In the chapter on Judiasm Yaakov Weintraub talks about the Shabbat, the seventh day of rest, as:
It is the time to renew our connection to Spirit and community. It is a time when we can put aside our daily lives and reach for the holiness that pervades all Creation. We can join God in ceasing, open ourselves to the sweetness of that universal peace reverberating from the beginning of time, and add our own voice in harmony to that chord of holiness.
When Shabbat comes, we are commanded to stop-to cease from our daily labors, to withdraw from the ceaseless bombardment of media and lightening fast communication. We are commanded to reflect, to dwell on the presence of the Spirit in our lives, and to make it holy. What a precious gift to us.
This sounds so much to me like the practice of Pratyahara; the withdrawing of senses practices in yoga to make the mind body connection. I'm also hearing the connection with the universe and taking time to feel our place in the great scheme of things.... where on earth, in the solar system, in the galaxy, in the universe do we fit?
The section on the the Vedanta is fascinating! Written by Thomas A. Knoles, it discusses abelief system that professes that all we need, all knowledge is within each of us; we just have to be quiet enough to hear it!
"Knowledge is embedded in the fabric of consciousness itself, where all the laws of nature reside."
"The state of least excited consciouness is awak to the richest knowledge base."
Further: Not just any consciousnes but the least excited state of any individual consiousness. In the Vedic world view, individual consciousness is conceived of as a wave on an ocean of pure consciousness. Pure, absolute consciousness. Every individual and all forms are seen as waves on this field.
Talk about the butterfly effect! What about modern Physics and quantum theory, string theory, etc? Did the ancients have this nailed already or is this modern interpretation just a continuation of this thought process? Is this why we fill our lives with so much, keep ourselves so busy so we don't have to deal with (or never give ourselves the opportunity) the BIG stuff?
He finishes the chapters with a reminder that resonates with me:
It is not possible for us to have a peaceful world that is filled with people who are unpeaceful.It is not possible for us to seek a peaceful world in any diligent fashion, if we ourselves, at the end of any given day, are not givers of peace to the atmosphere. Each of us has to begin the phenomenon of world peace in our self....
The burden is on you as an individual to examine each day what you can personally do to be a net giver of peace and harmony into the atmosphere. Every one of us,every day, is radiating something into the atmosphere. Are we a net radiator of stress, unhappiness and violent thoughts, or are we a net radiator of peace, happiness and harmony?
Jai Guru Dev- "Victory to the greatness in you!"
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