Fawzo

According to your beliefs then consciousness must have arose from non-consciousness and I just don't see that happening. I see consciousness using chaos as a tool, much like a programmer does in gaming to keep the game from getting repetitive and boring. In my model of reality consciousness preceded evrything is what is eternal and has always existed.

You know when I read about the accusations against him I sort of felt the same way you do, but when I remember 'forgive us our trepasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" , then I have to readjust my thinking on the subject.

I like the allegorical aspect thinking that yea the war is family but that family is closer than we think, it is our emotions and the battle the self does everyday against the ego. I need to get further in the book before Sunday. The cmomentary I'm reading explains that each of the Pandavas stands for one of the five chakras. Pretty darn cool and I missed all the symbolism and was clueless when I read this as a young man.

From the commentaries I've read so far the war is an allegorical explanantion of the war within ourselves. The explanation of and meaning of the indivuiduals named on each side show on one side negative connotations and the other side positive. One represents the rising kundalini force and the other side the forces which cause the kundalini to descend.

How'd you like the eclipse with the Solstice, some combo! Any spiritual significance in that for yourself?

Thanks for the additional info Luis. I plan on diving into it next week when I'm on vacation. This week too much preholiday stuff going on.

I wound up with a Copy of the Gita explained by Paramhansa Yogananda and ordered the Upanishads one.

Thanks Luis!! Darn my library doesn't have a copy but they do have Essence of the Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran which sounds fascinating and I will try to get that tomorrow.

I read the Bhagavad Gita many years ago as a very young man when I was quite clueless about spirituality. Emalpaiz could you recommend a version that contains a commentary that would help me better see into the imagery and mystery of the work. To be honest I have shunned rereading it all these years because of the war imagery. The same reason I have not read Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

Thanks Bluecat! That woman with the candles on her head was really hot! My favorite Christmas Eve besides the time I swear I saw Santa and his Sleigh and renderer's fly over my roof as a kid was when I sang in the choir at midnight mass. The words Santa Lucia are very familiar to me but I don't remember any such procession as a young Saintly Catholic. I do remember the Virgin Mary one that Sky referenced.

There is a $6000 reward for her murder also now being offered. If she is pardoned they better get her and her family out of there secretivly and quickly.

If you did feel like yelling I'm sure you would be more than entitled to. Darn and I was feeling like a special reprobate because I thought you were yelling at me

From my perspective I think it is quite clear without any doubt that the whole Book is not the Word of God any more than any other of the other great sacred scriptures of the world. The Vedas, Upanishads, Dharmapada, Tao te Ching, Gospel of Thomas, Course in Miracles and a plethora of other writings by wonderful spiritual humans. These other works don't justify killing humans for things like disobedience, working the Sabbath, adultery, beating slaves because they are your property etc etc. Innocent bloodshed does little to appease the Divine in these other wonderful works. The thoughts and efforts put forth by humans aren't deemed unworthy of pleasing the Divine in these other works and humans themselves are held responsible for their own actions. Judaism and Christianity would not disappear. People will recognize the allegory and myth and human influence and begin to look deeper for the pearls and gems of truth which still shine through the muck that has been heaped upon them through human agenda and influence. The theology could possibly become so polished and shine so bright the whole world may be drawn to it.

What other book that is represented here at ULC by its foillowers is spoken of as the only Truth and all other scriptures are lost or of Satan and those who have belief in any book except the Bible are ignorant toads? So the Bible gets rightfully criticized more than any other work here for this very reason. The only other person who came nigh to this level of ignorance was Dattaswami and he too created quite a stir. Ah, salt rubbed in the wound after a very painful experience. I predict you shall need that miracoulous cloth to dry a flood of tears after the AFC championship game when the Purple and Black get their G-dly revenge and ascend to the Supreme Bowl game.

I don't think the people who believe in its inspiration are criticized any more than others, though I may be wrong. I think those who believe and profess that the only way to truth and inspiration comes through the Bible, now they get criticized and I feel rightly so. But what else should they expect from such a lost sinful wretch as me

I feel the key is praying within the stream of consciousness that is God's will. Going against the stream no matter what one's level of faith makes it tough!

How true is that in real world scenarios and what constitutes a "right-use man"? In a test versus an empty milk carton prayers to God were answered as often as prayers to the milk carton.

I hope your Hanukkah wish comes to fruition my friend!!!

I'll certainly add my prayers and best wishes for Jazzy!

Maybe we need running shoes!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! The women folk are busy cooking and cleaning, plenty of food and football, two days off of work ... does it get any better?!?!