In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord has thus ordained : ye yatha mam prapadyante tanstathaiva bhajamyaha ? | mama vartmanuvartante manu?ya ? partha sarvasa ? || Tr: The way they approach me, I too approach them in the same (reciprocating) manner. O Partha, all human beings follow paths leading to me. To the seers of the Rigveda, the Brahma revealed Itself in the form of Rcs; to the saints as all powerful deities manifesting in different forms; to the philosophers as dual existence dealt in the sankhya philosophy; while to a mathematician It is manifested in the form of mathematical equations. Dr. Chidambarams work ushers readers into the mathematical landscape of spirituality. It is simple enough to understand with some basic knowledge of mathematics. It will pave way for coming generations of mathematicians to chart novel ways to understand the Ultimate reality, the Supreme Brahman, through mathematics as laid down here. Dr. Pramod Pathak, Author and Indologist, Panaji,Goa
In "Natural Law in the Spiritual World" author explores how the world of religion and spirituality relates to the physical world and argues that faith was by no means in conflict with science. "Love the Greatest Thing in the World" - In his most famous work, the author meditates upon what he considers the greatest thing in the world—love.
Mathematics and the Divine seem to correspond to diametrically opposed tendencies of the human mind. Does the mathematician not seek what is precisely defined, and do the objects intended by the mystic and the theologian not lie beyond definition? Is mathematics not Man's search for a measure, and isn't the Divine that which is immeasurable ?The present book shows that the domains of mathematics and the Divine, which may seem so radically separated, have throughout history and across cultures, proved to be intimately related. Religious activities such as the building of temples, the telling of ritual stories or the drawing of enigmatic figures all display distinct mathematical features. Major philosophical systems dealing with the Absolute and theological speculations focussing on our knowledge of the Ultimate have been based on or inspired by mathematics. A series of chapters by an international team of experts highlighting key figures, schools and trains of thought is presented here. Chinese number mysticism, the views of Pythagoras and Plato and their followers, Nicholas of Cusa's theological geometry, Spinozism and intuitionism as a philosophy of mathematics are treated side by side among many other themes in an attempt at creating a global view on the relation of mathematics and Man's quest for the Absolute in the course of history.·Mathematics and man's quest for the Absolute·A selective history highlighting key figures, schools and trains of thought ·An international team of historians presenting specific new findings as well as general overviews·Confronting and uniting otherwise compartmentalized information
Increasingly, the modern neo-liberal world marginalises any notion of religion or spirituality, leaving little or no room for the sacred in the public sphere. While this process advances, the conservative and harmful behaviours associated with some religions and their adherents exacerbate this marginalisation by driving out those who remain religious or spiritual. And all of this is seen through the lens of social science, which seems to agree that religion remains important, if not in spiritual sense, at least as a source of folklore and a means of identification: religions remain rooted in the societies from which they emerged, and the legal systems of many of those societies emerged from religious sources, even if those societies remain unwilling to admit that fact. In the modern materialistic world of conformity, religion is less a source of guidance than a label of identification. The world therefore faces two issues. First, the decreasing level of spirituality in the ‘West’ widens the gap between worshippers and those who have left their faith (eg agnostics and atheists, or those who look at religion as a matter of ‘picking and choosing’ from a range of options). And, second, the strong connections to religion which remain in many nations, but which are often misused in the secular public sphere (both in the West and internationally). In such divided worlds, both religious and secular forces tend to lock themselves into closed groupings of ‘pure truth’ and in so doing increase the level of disagreement, in turn producing radicalism. In short, the modern world is divided in two ways: between religious and non-religious (although some have argued that the non-religious secular is itself a form of civil religion), and between those subscribing to divergent understandings of the same religious tradition. While hyperbolic and histrionic, the term ‘culture wars’ nonetheless best captures what we see happening in the public sphere today. The question emerges, then: how best to accommodate the democratic principle which posits that the majority should feel that it lives in a society of its own with the human rights principle, holding that is necessary to ensure the full protection of the minority’s rights? How to balance these seemingly opposed principles? We are very familiar with the differences that appear between secular and sacred in the modern world; yet, what of the similarities amongst scriptures and laws which seek to encourage mutual understanding, cooperation and even cohabitation? Because religion itself is a source of law, a set of exhortations or commands as much as a set of rights, every major religion offers an approach to encountering ‘the Other’ in a positive, constructive, affirming way; and it is here that religions reveal much that they have in common. This book draws together the work of scholars engaged in exploring the possibilities for a ‘utopian’ world in the sense fostered by St Thomas More. The essays explore those dimensions of religious and civil law where ‘love’ – however that is defined by relevant texts – fosters and encourages acceptance of ‘the Other’ and will offer perspectives on the ways in which religious or civil/state law command one to act in the spirit of ‘love’.
Introduction A life of Healing, a life of Health, A life worth living is a life of Wealth. I have practiced over 25 years as a chiropractor and I have learned that most people come to me to treat their pain. I’m sure that most doctors and therapists have the same experience, people want to receive a treatment that will cure their illness. As I treat my patients I’m also analyzing how their problem was created. I’m looking at various factors like diet, lack of exercise, injurious repetitive movements or anything else that could provoke the problem. I’m trying to get the patient to take responsibility for their problem and help me with their treatment. It appears that I’m treating their physical illness but over the years I have come to a new realization, that a person’s emotional, mental and spiritual side can also affect their health. The reality of the situation is that we can’t separate an illness into a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual ailment, because everything works together. I now understand that attitudes play an essential role in our health and wellbeing. Attitudes have characteristics that are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. In psychology attitudes are labeled as behavioral (physical), affective (emotional) and cognitive (mental). In this book attitudes have a spiritual side as well, attitudes will have a positive spiritual value or a negative spiritual value. Attitudes that bring people together and unite them has an energy with a positive spiritual value and attitudes that are divisive and cause separation has a negative value. If we have attitudes with a negative spiritual energy then they will cause illness; physical illness, mental illness and emotional illness. We need to adopt attitudes with a positive spiritual energy if we want to stay healthy and grow spiritually. Spiritual growth is there for all of us but we have to make the effort, no one can make us grow spiritually. Looking for someone to cure our ills is a short-term proposition, the long term cure is when we discover what is causing us harm and create a healthy lifestyle. The 7 Laws of Human Nature is a scientific philosophical study into the human consciousness, the 7 chakras and the human aura. We use theories to make sense about what we are observing in life, to explain ideas and interpret facts. The 1st chapter is the Theory of the Oneness of Universal Love, which will present 7 hypotheses. These hypotheses will present facts and suppositions of facts, which will be followed up by a theory. This is all happening on four energy levels; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Life on Earth has to have a reason, our lives aren’t an accident and this book presents a logical theory on the how and why of life. This is a book on love and how love works in our lives. With Love and Devotion to All
On the Path of Good Luck and Bad Luck There are either of two paths, one can take in life: the path of good luck, or the path of bad luck. Whether making small decisions, big decisions, random choices, or short or long term plans, it is important to remember, that each decision, choice, or plan can lead one on either a path of good luck, or a path of bad luck. The path of good luck is, sometimes, referred to, as the path of milk and honey, where the road is wide open, and free of obstacles and hardships. The path of bad luck is, sometimes, referred to, as the path of darkness and thorns, where the road is narrow and twisted, and full of obstacles and hardships. The most important thing in traveling on any path is to make the right decision, choice, or plan to begin with, as to what path one should travel on, or the gate, or entrance way of which path to enter through, first. We must keep in mind, that once we go through the entrance gate, or once we have established ourselves on one path, it is hard, and, sometimes, even impossible, to leave that path to enter into, and travel on another path. This is, especially, true if the path, we are traveling on, or we have just entered, is the path of bad luck. Once we have entered through the entrance gate of the path of bad luck, we know, there is no turning back, or, at least, little reward, or repenting of our sins. The path of good luck is the easiest path from which to enter onto other paths, or from which to enter through the entrance gate of almost any other path. This is because the path of good luck is the path from which all other paths lead. Once we are on the path of good luck, it is possible to turn right or left onto any path, or go straight ahead on the same path if we have already set a final goal, and have met no obstacles. It is even possible to go backwards on the path of good luck, because the road is open, and wide, and there are no obstacles. That is, one can go backwards on 2 the path of good luck within consecutive times, and travel the same path, or through the same decision making process, and with the same goals as before. The most important thing when traveling on the path of good luck is to remember, that there are always side paths, or traps, that one can fall into, that will only lead to minor or major paths of bad luck, that are hard to get out of. The more the path is a path of bad luck, the harder it is to get out of, because the more the road will be dimmer, narrower, and full of thorns, ruts, twisted ways, and bogs, that can become very entrapping, and hard to get out of. Once on the path of good luck, it can be hard to stay on the path of good luck. One must be aware of side paths and traps, that will lead to obstacles. One must have made a final plan, that leads to a final goal, while traveling on the path of good luck, the whole time. One can make a worthwhile and valuable goal, but without establishing a worthwhile and valuable plan to reach the goal, the individual will fall from the path of good luck, and not reach his or her goal. Also, even if one has established a worthwhile goal, and a worthwhile plan to reach that goal, the individual must remember and keep it, constantly, on his mind, that the goal has not yet been reached, and never will be, unless the individual sticks to the original plan, the original goal, and the path of good luck. At any moment, the individual can be attacked from the sides, the front, or the back by unwanted visitors, strangers, or even thieves, that will try to lure the individual from the path of good luck. They will convince the individual to follow them, and lead him on a path of bad luck. Then, they will betray him, and leave him, and, possibly, even hurt or kill him, or rob him of all his money, and/or clothing. Sometimes, one will be traveling on a path, whether it be a path of good luck or bad luck, or somewhere in between without a definite purpose or plan. One will be mak
The Arc of Spirituality invites readers on a journey through Western history, a journey that begins with the pioneering concepts of ancient Israelites, who understood spirituality communally and covenantally. Continuing biblically with wisdom and apocalyptic conceptions, The Arc of Spirituality examines Western Christian spirituality as it developed historically through twelve phases, culminating in the modern period with ethical, ecumenical, pluralist, and ecological expressions, and most recently, with postmodern secular alternatives. Having described his own journey in previous volumes, in this culminating book Vande Kappelle builds on earlier writings such as Response to the Other, The Second Journey, and The Church Alumni Association to tell the story of the Western world’s unfolding love affair with God. The narrative, while continuously inspiring, necessarily takes us through dark alleys and down deep rabbit holes in spirituality’s never-ending quest to know and experience the transcendence around us and within. The goal of spirituality is always God, and while God makes the journey interesting, it is never easy, for there are no clear steps to follow or learn. While spirituality is more caught than taught, at some point we discover it is more about unlearning than learning, enriched more by subtraction than by addition. The Arc of Spirituality is useful for individual or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions for discussion or reflection.
The Math Mystic’s Guide to Creative Spirituality is unique, provocative, engaging, and a masterpiece of philosophical and mystical exploration. It offers gourmet treats for those with spiritual hunger, a feast of innovative perspectives on building social collateral (trust, forgiveness, resilience . . .), and intellectual desserts for the mathematically inclined. User-friendly for the non-mathematician, the book also provides a smorgasbord of resources for those who want to know more about the math. Deeply personal but also scholarly, with an unprecedented use of mathematical metaphors, this book will appeal to mathematicians, scientists, teachers, philosophers, religious educators, and spiritual seekers of many persuasions. A math professor before becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister, the author has compiled herein a lifetime of creative study about the relationship between math and religion. She has pioneered ways to use mathematics to help clarify such spiritual ideas as God, fairness, equality, redemption, and the nature of things. In the process she coined the terms “matheology” and “mathaphor,” introduced the notion of math sermons, and has expanded the concept of moral math. This exciting collection of essays (with a little poetry as garnish) uses math as a language to nourish the spiritual heart of our global society.
Ernest Holmes, well known for founding the Church of Religious Science (now called “Centers for Spiritual Living”) and for his magnum opus The Science of Mind, published many smaller papers and treatises throughout his career as an author. Now, for the first time, seven of his best classical works are bound together in a single volume, Your Spiritual Power—including four rare works being published by Tarcher/Penguin for the first time. The works in this amazing collection of motivational writing include: —Immortality: Thoughts on what it truly means to be immortal, and ponderings on what experiences after death may be like. —What Religious Science Teaches: Offering the student of life the best that the world has so far discovered, Holmes shows how the ideas of Religious Science have been developed by Taoism, Hindu scriptures, the Koran, the Talmud, and other great spiritual teachings of the world. —Your invisible Power: Considered by Holmes to be one of his most powerful works, this short book expands on a selection of key topics presented in The Science of Mind, and is illustrated throughout. —Pray and Prosper: An essay discussing Holmes’s understanding of prayer and its relationship to the infinite. Holmes contemplates the meaning of prayer, its objectives, and prayer’s relationship to internal spiritual enlightenment. Additionally, this omnibus will include Holmes’s classic works Think Your Troubles Away, Living Without Fear, and Discover a Richer Life. This beautiful, one-of-a-kind collection—brimming with messages of hope, inspiration, and joy—will be a must-have for students of spirituality and fans of Holmes’s work the world over.
