Know Thy Self

We all have a "higher connection" to something, and this needs to be "honored and respected" as an important area in many people's lives. This connection gives us our much needed guidance and help in times of need.

Our higher connection gives us the "grace and wisdom" that we need to honor ourselves and those around us.

No matter our religions, we are all spiritual beings.

In recent years, scientists have demonstrated in the lab what mystics and spiritual teachers have been saying for centuries: our consciousness creates our reality. Pharmacologist Candace Pert, PhD, a research professor at Georgetown University Medical Center and author of Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, established that emotional communication begins at the cellular level, with tiny proteins called peptides.

• Complementing Pert's discovery, biologist Bruce Lipton, PhD, author of The Biology of Belief, confirms that our attitudes and thoughts create our physical bodies. He writes, "Cells respond to perception by activating either growth or protection behavior programs. If our perceptions are accurate, the resulting behavior will be life enhancing. If we operate from 'misperceptions,' our behavior will be inappropriate and will jeopardize our vitality by compromising our health."
  So your spiritual beliefs can and do affect your health. And whether or not you are part of a religious community or church, these beliefs can become increasingly important as you age.

During the past few decades, medical science has begun documenting the "faith factor" in healing. Larry Dossey, MD, author of nine books and a pioneer in exploring the role of prayer in healing, says, "I used to believe that we must choose between science and reason on one hand, and spirituality on the other, in how we lead our lives. Now I consider this a false choice. We can recover the sense of sacredness, not just in science, but in perhaps every area of life."

• Some studies suggest that religious and spiritual activity not only benefits physical health and well being, but can even help you recover faster from illness or injury. In a study conducted by Dr. Harold G. Koenig and colleagues from Duke University, subjects who attended church at least once a week were 43 percent less likely to have been admitted to the hospital in the preceding year than non-churchgoing subjects. Plus, any hospital stays they did have were markedly shorter.

Spiritual awakening is a journey, and just as with literal travel, this metaphorical passage is different for everyone. For many people, the call to embark on a spiritual path is preceded by a period of questioning or difficulty, when one or more parts of your life no longer flow as smoothly as they once did. Aging itself is considered a spiritual quest in some cultures, where elders who have attained wisdom then become mentors to the young.

Being willing to surrender into the unknown is a huge—and necessary—step, because one cannot "figure out" spirituality in a linear fashion. People often begin a spiritual exploration by reading widely about the world's religions, or by sampling various types of spiritual services. Some seek out a teacher or guru. Some learn to meditate. Others go on retreat in the wilderness. There are as many ways to discover your spiritual truth as there are people. A formal practice is not required, although this can be a useful way to "get out of your head" in the early stages.

Source: helpguide.org

Meditation: What Is It?
Meditation is a popular subject these days. With a renewed emphasis on spiritualism and alternative medicine, meditation has gained popularity. Yet, depending on the context, meditation can be defined in a variety of ways. Quite simply, meditation is defined as reflecting and contemplating. It makes no value statement any more than thinking or dreaming does. The subject of a person's meditation is what brings value to the act of meditating.

Meditation: Who Does It?
Meditation is generally seen as a practice of the New Age movement. This comes primarily from the movement's association with Transcendental Meditation. Transcendental Meditation (TM) was developed by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi of the Hindu religion. On their website, TM is described as "a simple, natural, effortless procedure…. During this technique, the individual's awareness settles down and experiences a unique state of restful alertness. As the body becomes deeply relaxed, the mind transcends all mental activity to experience the simplest form of awareness, Transcendental Consciousness, where consciousness is open to itself" (www.tm.org). The site touts the benefits of TM as enhancing creativity, effectiveness, and success. The site goes on to say that people from any age, background, or religion can practice TM.

However, TM is steeped in Hindu philosophy. The "yogi" in the TM founder's name indicates his status in Hinduism. The philosophy and benefits behind TM are similar with Hinduism's practice that seeks to bring people into union with one's "higher self." Additionally, courts in the U.S. have ruled that TM is not a secular discipline; it is Hindu religion (U.S. District Court, Newark, NJ, on October 29, 1977, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Philadelphia, PA February 2, 1979.)

Meditation: Is It Biblical?
Not all meditation is Transcendental Meditation. In fact, the Bible commands us to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, God tells us to meditate on His word day and night so we will obey it. The words, "meditate" or "meditation" are mentioned 20 times. But meditation's association with New Age philosophy and Eastern mysticism has frightened off many Christians.

In the Old Testament there are two primary Hebrew words for meditation. Haga, which means to utter, groan, meditate, or ponder. Sihach, which means to muse, rehearse in one's mind, or contemplate. These words can also be translated as dwell, diligently consider, and heed.

Meditation: A History
One form of meditation that has been used by Christians since at least the 4th century is the lectio divina. It has been traditionally used in monastic religious orders and is enjoying a resurgence today. Lectio divina means "sacred reading" and has four stages: lectio (reading), meditatio (discursive meditation), oratio (effective prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation). In the lectio (reading) stage, one finds a passage and reads it deliberately. The next stage, meditatio (discursive meditation), is where one ponders the text. In the oratio (effective prayer) stage, one talks to God about the reading, asking Him to reveal the truth. In the final, contemplatio (contemplation) stage, one simply rests in God's presence.

As we can see, meditation is simply pondering or thinking over something. The subject of a person's meditation, and the purpose of the meditation, is what differentiates one kind of meditation from another.

Source: all about spirituality.org

This information is not to be used on terms of " I am right...you are wrong" theories. The same information found in the Old Testament is also found in the Isalm and Jewish Bibles. I am sure that it can also be found in other religions.

• This is "not information" from the terms of who's religion is correct. It is information on the power of God, and what was told to these early writers.

The Bible is a collection of writings, and the earliest ones were set down nearly 3,500 years ago. Thinking about that fact and how long it took science to catch-up to these facts. That is quite amazing! Remember when Columbus sailed to America...they still thought the world was flat. It was in the 1400's. If not from God, how did these writers already know these Facts?

•  It is the "soul of a man/woman" that matters to God. ~ Not, the "religion or social class" he/she comes from.

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Source: livingwaters.com