Apr
26
Jesus And The Parable Of The Sower And Why This Is
Filed Under Writing Emails With A Purpose Articles Reprint | Leave a Comment
Connie Limon
Great multitudes gathered around Jesus to hear his words. Jesus went into a ship and the multitude of people interested in his words stood on the shore. Jesus spoke many things to them in parables.
His disciples asked him why you speak to the multitude of people in parables. Jesus answered and said because it given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Jesus said these people saw, but did not really see, and heard, but really did not hear and they did not understand. This was to fulfill the prophecy of E-sai’as.
Jesus said this particular group of people had hearts waxed gross, ears dull of hearing and eyes they have closed. If at any time they would see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, they would be converted and Jesus could heal them.
I have seen this same type of people. I see, hear and know things it seems that others just can’t grasp hold of, and I feel within my heart, if only they could see things as I do, and hear as I hear, they would understand what I am trying to tell them about Jesus and spirituality and they too would become converted as I have. I feel like there has and will always be people just as those Jesus was speaking to when these passages of scripture was written. I also think the cause for this could be just simply that everyone has a “free” will to hear, see and understand what they choose. We have to “choose” and be “open” to the book of instruction as we read it and also choose to be open to whatever Jesus and the Holy Ghost tells us or shows us. Not everyone is capable of doing this. Not everyone is “desirous” of doing this.
Jesus goes on with more parables and the parable of the sower, which says when any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, this gives space for the devil to come along and catch away what was sown in the heart. Jesus describes this person as a person who receives seed by the way side. It could be just for a moment that person hears about the kingdom of heaven, just long enough to hear it, but they don’t understand what they heard, so before they can find understanding, the devil comes along and steals what they just heard. That person most likely just keeps on walking.
Then there are people who receive seed and hear words about the kingdom of heaven in stony places. They are joyous about what they hear, but fail to take root, or they fail to act upon what they heard for the long term because persecutions arose against them because of the word, and they were offended. This type of person is described as enduring for awhile, but then falling by the wayside.
The parable of the sower next explains people who receive seed among the thorns. These are people, who hear the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and these people fail to become fruitful. They are just too busy with all else in this world to really concentrate upon being a prisoner for the Lord. If they have plenty of money, there is always plenty of ways to spend it that keeps a person’s mind off Christ. To serve Christ takes times being alone with Christ.
Then there is the man who receives seed on good ground. He hears the word and understands it. He then bears fruit and brings forth sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty. Some will be called into the ministry. Some may cast out devils. Others will receive the gifts of healing. Some will simply sit on the seat or simply keep the commandments, but for those who understand more of the word, deeper levels of spirituality is possible.
The Holy Ghost taught me the different levels can be compared to a child in school. There will be children who will be able to understand everything the teacher teaches them and come out of class with 100%. Then there will be children who will grasp hold of 80% of what is taught in their class, and so forth. Children learn at a different pace and they all have different aptitude as to how much they will retain and how well they will do at test time. All who receive a passing grade will go on to the next level. As we learn about holiness, and practice the rules of holiness, we achieve the different levels which are described in biblical terms of a thirty fold Christian or a sixty fold Christian.
I am unsure of my exact grade, but I do know it is at least “average,” or slightly above average in some areas. I have not been used to cast out devils, but I have experienced some discernment in this area. I have been used to foretell the future and have been shown inside the hearts of some, and just recently, I received this new assignment as a “teacher.”
I have also been used in the interpretation of tongues. I was the leading speaker or prophetess in one tribe of people, who treated me much like Jesus was treated and much like the old prophets were treated. People don’t like to hear their faults revealed. They like to hear “smooth” sayings, and I was not a prophetess to bring only “smooth” sayings. Very few times was I sent with acceptable words to these people, and therefore, I became one they rather not have in their congregation. I had to stay, of course, until my spiritual assignment was complete.
I did not leave just because of their persecutions against me. I left when Jesus said, “well done, my good and faithful servant, you may rest now from these.” And a rest I have surely had.
I am sent back to these from time to time, but not often. The country of Israel was lead one time by a woman prophetess by the name of Deborah. Women in spiritual works are often looked upon much like in the work world and business world. I sat next to men of who had to submit to me when the Holy Ghost moved on me, and they didn’t like that very well. The Holy Ghost knows no gender. It moves upon whichever man or woman is worthy. This is something that particular tribe of people could not accept. Remember how Little David was chosen out of all others?
The Holy Ghost will always teach us in a way that we can understand in our particular environment and in our particular time in history and only if we have received seed on the good ground. Otherwise, the words of Jesus and the Holy Ghost will sound like riddles and parables.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
Great multitudes gathered around Jesus to hear his words. Jesus went into a ship and the multitude of people interested in his words stood on the shore. Jesus spoke many things to them in parables.
His disciples asked him why you speak to the multitude of people in parables. Jesus answered and said because it given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Jesus said these people saw, but did not really see, and heard, but really did not hear and they did not understand. This was to fulfill the prophecy of E-sai’as.
Jesus said this particular group of people had hearts waxed gross, ears dull of hearing and eyes they have closed. If at any time they would see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, they would be converted and Jesus could heal them.
I have seen this same type of people. I see, hear and know things it seems that others just can’t grasp hold of, and I feel within my heart, if only they could see things as I do, and hear as I hear, they would understand what I am trying to tell them about Jesus and spirituality and they too would become converted as I have. I feel like there has and will always be people just as those Jesus was speaking to when these passages of scripture was written. I also think the cause for this could be just simply that everyone has a “free” will to hear, see and understand what they choose. We have to “choose” and be “open” to the book of instruction as we read it and also choose to be open to whatever Jesus and the Holy Ghost tells us or shows us. Not everyone is capable of doing this. Not everyone is “desirous” of doing this.
Jesus goes on with more parables and the parable of the sower, which says when any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, this gives space for the devil to come along and catch away what was sown in the heart. Jesus describes this person as a person who receives seed by the way side. It could be just for a moment that person hears about the kingdom of heaven, just long enough to hear it, but they don’t understand what they heard, so before they can find understanding, the devil comes along and steals what they just heard. That person most likely just keeps on walking.
Then there are people who receive seed and hear words about the kingdom of heaven in stony places. They are joyous about what they hear, but fail to take root, or they fail to act upon what they heard for the long term because persecutions arose against them because of the word, and they were offended. This type of person is described as enduring for awhile, but then falling by the wayside.
The parable of the sower next explains people who receive seed among the thorns. These are people, who hear the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and these people fail to become fruitful. They are just too busy with all else in this world to really concentrate upon being a prisoner for the Lord. If they have plenty of money, there is always plenty of ways to spend it that keeps a person’s mind off Christ. To serve Christ takes times being alone with Christ.
Then there is the man who receives seed on good ground. He hears the word and understands it. He then bears fruit and brings forth sometimes sixty, sometimes thirty. Some will be called into the ministry. Some may cast out devils. Others will receive the gifts of healing. Some will simply sit on the seat or simply keep the commandments, but for those who understand more of the word, deeper levels of spirituality is possible.
The Holy Ghost taught me the different levels can be compared to a child in school. There will be children who will be able to understand everything the teacher teaches them and come out of class with 100%. Then there will be children who will grasp hold of 80% of what is taught in their class, and so forth. Children learn at a different pace and they all have different aptitude as to how much they will retain and how well they will do at test time. All who receive a passing grade will go on to the next level. As we learn about holiness, and practice the rules of holiness, we achieve the different levels which are described in biblical terms of a thirty fold Christian or a sixty fold Christian.
I am unsure of my exact grade, but I do know it is at least “average,” or slightly above average in some areas. I have not been used to cast out devils, but I have experienced some discernment in this area. I have been used to foretell the future and have been shown inside the hearts of some, and just recently, I received this new assignment as a “teacher.”
I have also been used in the interpretation of tongues. I was the leading speaker or prophetess in one tribe of people, who treated me much like Jesus was treated and much like the old prophets were treated. People don’t like to hear their faults revealed. They like to hear “smooth” sayings, and I was not a prophetess to bring only “smooth” sayings. Very few times was I sent with acceptable words to these people, and therefore, I became one they rather not have in their congregation. I had to stay, of course, until my spiritual assignment was complete.
I did not leave just because of their persecutions against me. I left when Jesus said, “well done, my good and faithful servant, you may rest now from these.” And a rest I have surely had.
I am sent back to these from time to time, but not often. The country of Israel was lead one time by a woman prophetess by the name of Deborah. Women in spiritual works are often looked upon much like in the work world and business world. I sat next to men of who had to submit to me when the Holy Ghost moved on me, and they didn’t like that very well. The Holy Ghost knows no gender. It moves upon whichever man or woman is worthy. This is something that particular tribe of people could not accept. Remember how Little David was chosen out of all others?
The Holy Ghost will always teach us in a way that we can understand in our particular environment and in our particular time in history and only if we have received seed on the good ground. Otherwise, the words of Jesus and the Holy Ghost will sound like riddles and parables.
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
Apr
25
In Bible versus Quran: the Lord Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Filed Under In The Quran: Has Allah Created The Angels Females While They Were Witnesses? | Leave a Comment
Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil
The Sons of the Lord God in Bible versus Quran (20)
This is the 20th article (and the last one) of the series:
“The Sons of the Lord God in Bible versus Quran”
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus said no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again of water and the Spirit and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. The Noble Quran says that the Spirit belongs to Allah’s knowledge, about which you know not. Also the Quran replies the disbelievers who claim that the Angels are God’s daughters; and also, the Quran answers the dualists who claim that Satan is Allah’s partner.
It is interesting that the Bible claims that the Lord Jesus said that the wind blows wherever it pleases, you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from and you cannot tell where it goes.
From the scientific point of view, winds are plotted on surface weather analyses indicating the direction the wind is blowing from as well as its strength, and over much of the globe wind speeds are measured over a ten-minute time frame. Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates and where it goes with the use of weather vanes. Everyday, the “Weather Forecasts” on TV, radio, newspaper etc. determine precisely the direction of the wind, where it comes from and where it goes.
Hence, the Bible initiates an important question:
Has the Lord Jesus refuted the climatology and the Wind Advisory? Has the Lord Jesus denied the Weather Forecasts?
As a matter of fact, I do not believe that the Lord Jesus said that; He knows better than the Scientists.
——————————————————————–
The Sons of the Lord God in the Bible (20)
The Bible (John 3:1-8) says:
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
——————————————–
John 3:1-8 (King James Version)
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
===================================================
The Sons of the Lord God in the Quran (20)
The Noble Quran says that the Spirit is of the command of Allah; it belongs to His knowledge, about which you know not.
Also, the Quran answers back the disbelievers who claim that the angels were God’s daughters by asking them many sensible questions.
In addition, the Quran replies the dualists who claim that Satan is Allah’s partner in that Allah created the good things while Satan created the evil ones.
Then, the Quran says that Allah exonerates Himself from the lies they attribute unto Him. He is exalted, above what they attribute to Him in the way of His having a child or a partner.
Essentially, the Quran decisively forbids saying that Allah has a son.
It is not befitting for the Majesty of Allah to take to Himself a son.
Allah is exalted, magnified; He is above what they associate with Him of son or partner. Allah is far transcendent above all that they ascribe unto Him!
In Islam, this point is very important faith wise.
Basically, it is unforgivable sin to say or to believe that the One Almighty Creator [who is Allah or God or the Lord or Jehovah or whatever name(s) you are giving Him] has a son or Sons.
From the Islamic point of view, the conclusion of this essential topic that may establish or tear down the faith is that:
Any one who believe that the Almighty Creator has a son or Sons; he corrupts and spoils his faith and he is considered as a disbeliever; and in the afterlife he will dwell in the eternal fire.
Any one who believes that the Almighty Creator has no son or partner, he has a good faith and he is considered as a believer; and in the afterlife, he will dwell in the eternal paradise.
Verses 17:85 and 37:149-159 of the Noble Quran (respectively) make the topic of the Spirit and the son(s) of God plain, clear and understandable.
——————————————–
The meanings of verse 17:85
The background of the verse
It is narrated that some members of the Jewish ruling council went to the Prophet Muhammad and asked him: O Muhammad, what do you say about the Spirit? They asked him this question to know if he is a true or a false prophet. Muhammad kept quiet. Then a revelation was coming to him.
Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse (17:85):
“They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little”.
The meaning of the verse 17:85
And they (that is, the Jews) will question you O Muhammad, concerning the Spirit, from which the body receives life. Say, to them: ‘the Spirit is of the marvels of my Lord; the Spirit is of the command of my Lord, that is, it belongs to His knowledge, about which you know not. And of knowledge you have not been given except a little’, relative to His knowledge, exalted be He.
——————————————————
The meanings of verse 37:149
Before Islam, the ignorant disbelievers among Arabs used to **** having female girls and they preferred having sons, also, they used to kill their female because they think that it is shameful to have females and it is an honor to have sons. On the other hand, they claim that the Angels are God’s daughters! The verse says: So ask the disbelievers (O Muhammad): are daughters to be for your Lord, after their claim that the angels were God’s daughters, while sons are to be for them? Do you wish for Allah what you do not wish for yourselves? “That is to say, the best (as they think) are exclusively theirs?
The meanings of verse 37:150
Or did Allah create the angels females as you claim while they were witnesses to the act of Allah’s creation? Were they present thereof that they might then say such a thing?
The meanings of verse 37:151
Lo! It is indeed out of their [own] mendacity, their [own] lies, it is of their falsehood) it is due to their denial that they say,
The meanings of verse 37:152
God has begotten’, for they claimed the angels are Allah’s daughters. And verily they are liars, in what they say.
The meanings of verse 37:153
And again of their falsehood, Has Allah preferred daughters to sons?
The meanings of verse 37:154
What is wrong with you? How do you judge? It means that you consider having female an evil and shameful although you choose for Allah what you would not accept for yourselves,
The meanings of verse 37:155
Will you not then remember? Will you not then reflect? Will you not take heed from what you say? That Allah, glory be to Him, is exalted above having a child?
The meanings of verse 37:156
Or do you have a clear warrant, a Scripture stating that the angels are Allah’s daughters? Do you have a plain definitive proof that God has a child?
The meanings of verse 37:157
Allah said: then produce your scripture, and show Me that the angels are Allah’s daughters in it, if you are being truthful, about this statement of yours.
The meanings of verse 37:158
And the disbelievers have set up between Allah, exalted be He, and the angels a kinship, by saying that they are God’s daughters, while the angels certainly know that the disbelievers shall indeed be arraigned, into the Eternal Fire, to be chastised therein.
It is also said that this verse was revealed about the dualists who claimed that Satan is Allah’s partner in that Allah created the good things while Satan created the evil ones; However, the angels know well that the disbelievers who claim that will be brought before Allah and will be chastised in the Eternal Hell.
The meanings of verse 37:159
Glorified be Allah, He exonerates Himself from the lies they attribute unto Him. He is exalted, above what they attribute, to Him in the way of His having a child or a partner.
===============================
Verses 17:85 and 37:149-159 of the Noble Quran in one translation (YUSUFALI):
Verse17:85 (YUSUFALI Translation):
they ask thee concerning the spirit (of inspiration). say: “the spirit (cometh) by command of my lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (o men!)”
————————————————————-
Verses 37:149-159 (YUSUFALI Translation):
Verse 37:149
Now ask them their opinion: is it that thy lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?-
Verse 37:150
Or that we created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)?
Verse 37:151
Is it not that they say, from their own invention,
Verse 37:152
“Allah has begotten children”? but they are liars!
Verse 37:153
Did he (then) choose daughters rather than sons?
Verse 37:154
What is the matter with you? how judge ye?
Verse 37:155
Will ye not then receive admonition?
Verse 37:156
Or have ye an authority manifest?
Verse 37:157
Then bring ye your book (of authority) if ye be truthful!
Verse 37:158
And they have invented a blood-relationship between him and the angels: but the angels know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his judgment-seat)!
Verse 37:159
Glory to Allah! (he is free) from the things they ascribe (to him)!
========================
Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
The Sons of the Lord God in Bible versus Quran (20)
This is the 20th article (and the last one) of the series:
“The Sons of the Lord God in Bible versus Quran”
The Bible says that the Lord Jesus said no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again of water and the Spirit and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. The Noble Quran says that the Spirit belongs to Allah’s knowledge, about which you know not. Also the Quran replies the disbelievers who claim that the Angels are God’s daughters; and also, the Quran answers the dualists who claim that Satan is Allah’s partner.
It is interesting that the Bible claims that the Lord Jesus said that the wind blows wherever it pleases, you hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from and you cannot tell where it goes.
From the scientific point of view, winds are plotted on surface weather analyses indicating the direction the wind is blowing from as well as its strength, and over much of the globe wind speeds are measured over a ten-minute time frame. Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates and where it goes with the use of weather vanes. Everyday, the “Weather Forecasts” on TV, radio, newspaper etc. determine precisely the direction of the wind, where it comes from and where it goes.
Hence, the Bible initiates an important question:
Has the Lord Jesus refuted the climatology and the Wind Advisory? Has the Lord Jesus denied the Weather Forecasts?
As a matter of fact, I do not believe that the Lord Jesus said that; He knows better than the Scientists.
——————————————————————–
The Sons of the Lord God in the Bible (20)
The Bible (John 3:1-8) says:
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
——————————————–
John 3:1-8 (King James Version)
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
===================================================
The Sons of the Lord God in the Quran (20)
The Noble Quran says that the Spirit is of the command of Allah; it belongs to His knowledge, about which you know not.
Also, the Quran answers back the disbelievers who claim that the angels were God’s daughters by asking them many sensible questions.
In addition, the Quran replies the dualists who claim that Satan is Allah’s partner in that Allah created the good things while Satan created the evil ones.
Then, the Quran says that Allah exonerates Himself from the lies they attribute unto Him. He is exalted, above what they attribute to Him in the way of His having a child or a partner.
Essentially, the Quran decisively forbids saying that Allah has a son.
It is not befitting for the Majesty of Allah to take to Himself a son.
Allah is exalted, magnified; He is above what they associate with Him of son or partner. Allah is far transcendent above all that they ascribe unto Him!
In Islam, this point is very important faith wise.
Basically, it is unforgivable sin to say or to believe that the One Almighty Creator [who is Allah or God or the Lord or Jehovah or whatever name(s) you are giving Him] has a son or Sons.
From the Islamic point of view, the conclusion of this essential topic that may establish or tear down the faith is that:
Any one who believe that the Almighty Creator has a son or Sons; he corrupts and spoils his faith and he is considered as a disbeliever; and in the afterlife he will dwell in the eternal fire.
Any one who believes that the Almighty Creator has no son or partner, he has a good faith and he is considered as a believer; and in the afterlife, he will dwell in the eternal paradise.
Verses 17:85 and 37:149-159 of the Noble Quran (respectively) make the topic of the Spirit and the son(s) of God plain, clear and understandable.
——————————————–
The meanings of verse 17:85
The background of the verse
It is narrated that some members of the Jewish ruling council went to the Prophet Muhammad and asked him: O Muhammad, what do you say about the Spirit? They asked him this question to know if he is a true or a false prophet. Muhammad kept quiet. Then a revelation was coming to him.
Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse (17:85):
“They are asking thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little”.
The meaning of the verse 17:85
And they (that is, the Jews) will question you O Muhammad, concerning the Spirit, from which the body receives life. Say, to them: ‘the Spirit is of the marvels of my Lord; the Spirit is of the command of my Lord, that is, it belongs to His knowledge, about which you know not. And of knowledge you have not been given except a little’, relative to His knowledge, exalted be He.
——————————————————
The meanings of verse 37:149
Before Islam, the ignorant disbelievers among Arabs used to **** having female girls and they preferred having sons, also, they used to kill their female because they think that it is shameful to have females and it is an honor to have sons. On the other hand, they claim that the Angels are God’s daughters! The verse says: So ask the disbelievers (O Muhammad): are daughters to be for your Lord, after their claim that the angels were God’s daughters, while sons are to be for them? Do you wish for Allah what you do not wish for yourselves? “That is to say, the best (as they think) are exclusively theirs?
The meanings of verse 37:150
Or did Allah create the angels females as you claim while they were witnesses to the act of Allah’s creation? Were they present thereof that they might then say such a thing?
The meanings of verse 37:151
Lo! It is indeed out of their [own] mendacity, their [own] lies, it is of their falsehood) it is due to their denial that they say,
The meanings of verse 37:152
God has begotten’, for they claimed the angels are Allah’s daughters. And verily they are liars, in what they say.
The meanings of verse 37:153
And again of their falsehood, Has Allah preferred daughters to sons?
The meanings of verse 37:154
What is wrong with you? How do you judge? It means that you consider having female an evil and shameful although you choose for Allah what you would not accept for yourselves,
The meanings of verse 37:155
Will you not then remember? Will you not then reflect? Will you not take heed from what you say? That Allah, glory be to Him, is exalted above having a child?
The meanings of verse 37:156
Or do you have a clear warrant, a Scripture stating that the angels are Allah’s daughters? Do you have a plain definitive proof that God has a child?
The meanings of verse 37:157
Allah said: then produce your scripture, and show Me that the angels are Allah’s daughters in it, if you are being truthful, about this statement of yours.
The meanings of verse 37:158
And the disbelievers have set up between Allah, exalted be He, and the angels a kinship, by saying that they are God’s daughters, while the angels certainly know that the disbelievers shall indeed be arraigned, into the Eternal Fire, to be chastised therein.
It is also said that this verse was revealed about the dualists who claimed that Satan is Allah’s partner in that Allah created the good things while Satan created the evil ones; However, the angels know well that the disbelievers who claim that will be brought before Allah and will be chastised in the Eternal Hell.
The meanings of verse 37:159
Glorified be Allah, He exonerates Himself from the lies they attribute unto Him. He is exalted, above what they attribute, to Him in the way of His having a child or a partner.
===============================
Verses 17:85 and 37:149-159 of the Noble Quran in one translation (YUSUFALI):
Verse17:85 (YUSUFALI Translation):
they ask thee concerning the spirit (of inspiration). say: “the spirit (cometh) by command of my lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (o men!)”
————————————————————-
Verses 37:149-159 (YUSUFALI Translation):
Verse 37:149
Now ask them their opinion: is it that thy lord has (only) daughters, and they have sons?-
Verse 37:150
Or that we created the angels female, and they are witnesses (thereto)?
Verse 37:151
Is it not that they say, from their own invention,
Verse 37:152
“Allah has begotten children”? but they are liars!
Verse 37:153
Did he (then) choose daughters rather than sons?
Verse 37:154
What is the matter with you? how judge ye?
Verse 37:155
Will ye not then receive admonition?
Verse 37:156
Or have ye an authority manifest?
Verse 37:157
Then bring ye your book (of authority) if ye be truthful!
Verse 37:158
And they have invented a blood-relationship between him and the angels: but the angels know (quite well) that they have indeed to appear (before his judgment-seat)!
Verse 37:159
Glory to Allah! (he is free) from the things they ascribe (to him)!
========================
Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Is the Quran quoted from the Bible?
Apr
22
Religion – A Small Scale Industry
Filed Under News And Society | Leave a Comment
Vitus Ejiogu
Religion is nothing but the various aspects of the relationship between man and God. But one thing stands clear: in this relationship, God is always the initiator. God is the creator of man, with whom only he enters into a special conscious relationship called religion. It is God who calls man to this kind of relationship. It is the dynamics of God’s call and man’s response that establishes religion. It is not man that seeks for God, or initiates the search for God. That is to say that God is the founder of religion. This article considers the genuineness of many claims of men in religious matters today and establishes the fact that has lost the zeal for true religion.
It is very easy today and also dangerous for ordinary and mortal man to start religion, as well as it is contradictory also to think of religion as beginning from man’s nature and tending towards God. Such religion cannot surpass human limitations of mortality and profanity (John 3:6). It stands to be intrinsically insufficient and wanting because man cannot save himself. In his divine wisdom, God saw it necessary that His Son, who is God, should come and wash away man’s sins with His blood when man was helpless. A religion that originates from man – that is a man-to-God relationship – can neither change man nor save him. If man knew what would be done in order to save himself, he shouldn’t have called on God. Such man-to-God relationship is like one of those human inventions which like all human kingdoms and powers are doomed to failure in the course of time.
Religion is an area God has kept for himself. Let us consider the relationship between God and the Israelites; the Jewish religion that was a preparatory to the Christian religion. In contradistinction to the worship of the numerous gods of the time, God intervened with the call of Abram (Gen. 12:1-3).
Before creation, biblical literature indicated that the earth was a “formless void” (Gen. 1:2). It is true that God gave the earth a form at creation, yet we can rightly say that it is with the beginnings of religion that is, with the call of Abraham through whom all nations will be called to a relationship with God that the earth recognized its vision and direction. From then, through Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob to Moses and the Israelites, God dictated the details of this new relationship. God both initiated and spelt out the order and details of this relationship with the Old Testament people. At the fullness of time, God sent His Son to establish the new Covenant which the old Covenant merely looked toward to.
In various ways, Christ also continued this old relationship but in a new way. He summarized the ten old laws into one – that of Love. He expatiated the details of this New Law in the beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11), lived it out by His passion and death on the cross, and vindicated His claims by His resurrection. You still see that God is the initiator and regulator of religion. That is why in matters of religion, i.e. God-to-man-relationship, anarchy has no place. But what do we see today? There are as too many founders of religious groups and ‘Churches’ as there are diversifications of human interest. There is neither order nor system. Each person is his own religious entity, with his own mode of worship, theology and doctrine.
Religion, employed as God intended it, is the best thing that has happened to the world and the best gift God gave to man. This is because religion itself is life: the life of God in man. Think of the social, spiritual and psychological effects of religion. Without religion, man would be wolf to man. The world is a battle ground for the survival of the fittest, an arena for mutual clashes even with all the inhibitions and call to peace by religion. How would it have been without it; that is why some thinkers said that even if there were no God, it is necessary to invent the idea of Him. At moments of depression and hopelessness, it is only one’s religious convictions that can help make life worth living. It is only religion that explains why many people have not committed ******* when life tastes sour. The obvious relevance of religion is truly enumerable.
Religion though, is one of the best things that have happened to the human race, yet when mishandled, can be the best tool for many negative achievements especially that of exploitation. Of the various senses exploitation can be used, the sense adopted here is the act of using another person to achieve one’s own selfish needs without considering the effect on the others. There are various forms of exploitation – economic, political etc. There is also religious exploitation. This may sound surprising, and even contradictory. But it is nonetheless true. Religious exploitation is, going under the banner of religion, and/or cashing on people’s religious background or sentiments, and making people mere means to one’s hidden selfish ends. Religious exploitation is subtle and more dangerous because it operates under the guise of the holy.
The exploiter is as dangerous as the “angel one does not know”. Veiled under religious innocence, the exploiter devastates the exploited or victim who remains unsuspecting and unresistant even when there are clear indices of exploitation. The force of religious exploitation can be better understood when one considers the many religious crusades, campaigns and even wars in history.
Religion deals with the spirit which is the seat of conviction. Ideas rule the world, and rule persons too. Religious sentiments are stronger than philosophical or ideological convictions. The former, always appealing to the unseen, the fundamental depth of the human person and the goal of the human person, carries with it a ferocious and impervious rock of conviction that can withstand all efforts to subdue it. Also, always going under a divine banner, mandate and mission, it can perfectly veil whatever else it carries as interest.
Religion goes with experience that is deep-seated and not merely physical. One can thus understand the readiness of the early Christians and the apostles to die rather than disobey God. The strength and conviction of the martyrs are traceable to religious sentiments as well as the force of Jihad can also be.
In considering the many shades of exploitation veiled under religion, I want to state here first that inhumanity to man can be found everywhere and can be practised anywhere also. There are thousand and one ways people have been and are being exploited today in the name of religion. We are aware of the subtle and tricky machinations with which some ancient traditional pagan society used to settle quarrels in the name of consulting an oracle. The oracle, believed to be the highest court of appeal, believed also to be impartial, fair and just was however used by the powers that be to impose guilt and punishment like ostracization on those they planned to deal with. The oracle thus became a principle/symbol of oppression while apparently retaining its image as the voice of God.
In another way, brainwashing and hypnotism play a strong role in religious exploitation. It was Karl Marx who looked at religion and concluded wrongly that it is the “opium of the masses”; a device or dose given to the hopeless and helpless, promising them a bright future, and thereby making them succumb to the suffering and pains of today. Religion, in Marx’s understanding, promises people a “sugar candy mountain” using the phrase of George O’well in his classical satirical novel “The Animal Farm”. Karl Marx was wrong by underrating the whole edifice of religion; and even by criticizing the hope which religion offers in this world that is a valley of tears. But today, various religious bodies are making Marx appear believable; by offering religion as opiums in the sense Marx used it. What is the effect when people are brainwashed with doctrines, and teachings that are socially counterproductive forced down the throats of adherents?
In many cases, for instance, people have been taught to disregard medicine totally and just to have ‘faith’ in God; disengage from every social organizations and groupings, and even work. People have been taught the irrelevance of engaging in any serious academic pursuit or tedious learning of a trade because it will not lead one to salvation. Some have been brainwashed to see their religious leader/minister as super-human. Hypnosis is employed incessantly, either directly or indirectly, and people are now manipulated like machines as with a remote control.
People are exploited religiously also when religion, instead of being a source of solace and relief is employed to promote fear, insecurity and alienation. Today the gospel of doom and satan is trying to overshadow the gospel of love, mercy and salvation, as visions and prophecies that instill fear and submissiveness in people are constantly hammered upon. These systems of doctrines are forms of religious exploitation when you consider their natural and social implications, especially on people already tortured by many problems ranging from political instability, tribal and ethnic conflicts and civil wars, mounting economic insecurity, joblessness, poverty, lack of social amenities, etc. Since the end in sight, as they are meant to believe, these already oppressed people fold their hands in fateful resignation and look forward to the day of salvation, in most cases, risk their lives in the name of fighting for their gods. Since for them, God ordains these disasters inevitably, it engenders into them passivity and abandonment.
God is not the author of confusion. We must try our best to always follow the truth and do what is right. Let us be quick to know when we are being exploited in the name of religion. It will save us a lot of pains!
Religion is nothing but the various aspects of the relationship between man and God. But one thing stands clear: in this relationship, God is always the initiator. God is the creator of man, with whom only he enters into a special conscious relationship called religion. It is God who calls man to this kind of relationship. It is the dynamics of God’s call and man’s response that establishes religion. It is not man that seeks for God, or initiates the search for God. That is to say that God is the founder of religion. This article considers the genuineness of many claims of men in religious matters today and establishes the fact that has lost the zeal for true religion.
It is very easy today and also dangerous for ordinary and mortal man to start religion, as well as it is contradictory also to think of religion as beginning from man’s nature and tending towards God. Such religion cannot surpass human limitations of mortality and profanity (John 3:6). It stands to be intrinsically insufficient and wanting because man cannot save himself. In his divine wisdom, God saw it necessary that His Son, who is God, should come and wash away man’s sins with His blood when man was helpless. A religion that originates from man – that is a man-to-God relationship – can neither change man nor save him. If man knew what would be done in order to save himself, he shouldn’t have called on God. Such man-to-God relationship is like one of those human inventions which like all human kingdoms and powers are doomed to failure in the course of time.
Religion is an area God has kept for himself. Let us consider the relationship between God and the Israelites; the Jewish religion that was a preparatory to the Christian religion. In contradistinction to the worship of the numerous gods of the time, God intervened with the call of Abram (Gen. 12:1-3).
Before creation, biblical literature indicated that the earth was a “formless void” (Gen. 1:2). It is true that God gave the earth a form at creation, yet we can rightly say that it is with the beginnings of religion that is, with the call of Abraham through whom all nations will be called to a relationship with God that the earth recognized its vision and direction. From then, through Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob to Moses and the Israelites, God dictated the details of this new relationship. God both initiated and spelt out the order and details of this relationship with the Old Testament people. At the fullness of time, God sent His Son to establish the new Covenant which the old Covenant merely looked toward to.
In various ways, Christ also continued this old relationship but in a new way. He summarized the ten old laws into one – that of Love. He expatiated the details of this New Law in the beatitudes (Mt. 5:3-11), lived it out by His passion and death on the cross, and vindicated His claims by His resurrection. You still see that God is the initiator and regulator of religion. That is why in matters of religion, i.e. God-to-man-relationship, anarchy has no place. But what do we see today? There are as too many founders of religious groups and ‘Churches’ as there are diversifications of human interest. There is neither order nor system. Each person is his own religious entity, with his own mode of worship, theology and doctrine.
Religion, employed as God intended it, is the best thing that has happened to the world and the best gift God gave to man. This is because religion itself is life: the life of God in man. Think of the social, spiritual and psychological effects of religion. Without religion, man would be wolf to man. The world is a battle ground for the survival of the fittest, an arena for mutual clashes even with all the inhibitions and call to peace by religion. How would it have been without it; that is why some thinkers said that even if there were no God, it is necessary to invent the idea of Him. At moments of depression and hopelessness, it is only one’s religious convictions that can help make life worth living. It is only religion that explains why many people have not committed ******* when life tastes sour. The obvious relevance of religion is truly enumerable.
Religion though, is one of the best things that have happened to the human race, yet when mishandled, can be the best tool for many negative achievements especially that of exploitation. Of the various senses exploitation can be used, the sense adopted here is the act of using another person to achieve one’s own selfish needs without considering the effect on the others. There are various forms of exploitation – economic, political etc. There is also religious exploitation. This may sound surprising, and even contradictory. But it is nonetheless true. Religious exploitation is, going under the banner of religion, and/or cashing on people’s religious background or sentiments, and making people mere means to one’s hidden selfish ends. Religious exploitation is subtle and more dangerous because it operates under the guise of the holy.
The exploiter is as dangerous as the “angel one does not know”. Veiled under religious innocence, the exploiter devastates the exploited or victim who remains unsuspecting and unresistant even when there are clear indices of exploitation. The force of religious exploitation can be better understood when one considers the many religious crusades, campaigns and even wars in history.
Religion deals with the spirit which is the seat of conviction. Ideas rule the world, and rule persons too. Religious sentiments are stronger than philosophical or ideological convictions. The former, always appealing to the unseen, the fundamental depth of the human person and the goal of the human person, carries with it a ferocious and impervious rock of conviction that can withstand all efforts to subdue it. Also, always going under a divine banner, mandate and mission, it can perfectly veil whatever else it carries as interest.
Religion goes with experience that is deep-seated and not merely physical. One can thus understand the readiness of the early Christians and the apostles to die rather than disobey God. The strength and conviction of the martyrs are traceable to religious sentiments as well as the force of Jihad can also be.
In considering the many shades of exploitation veiled under religion, I want to state here first that inhumanity to man can be found everywhere and can be practised anywhere also. There are thousand and one ways people have been and are being exploited today in the name of religion. We are aware of the subtle and tricky machinations with which some ancient traditional pagan society used to settle quarrels in the name of consulting an oracle. The oracle, believed to be the highest court of appeal, believed also to be impartial, fair and just was however used by the powers that be to impose guilt and punishment like ostracization on those they planned to deal with. The oracle thus became a principle/symbol of oppression while apparently retaining its image as the voice of God.
In another way, brainwashing and hypnotism play a strong role in religious exploitation. It was Karl Marx who looked at religion and concluded wrongly that it is the “opium of the masses”; a device or dose given to the hopeless and helpless, promising them a bright future, and thereby making them succumb to the suffering and pains of today. Religion, in Marx’s understanding, promises people a “sugar candy mountain” using the phrase of George O’well in his classical satirical novel “The Animal Farm”. Karl Marx was wrong by underrating the whole edifice of religion; and even by criticizing the hope which religion offers in this world that is a valley of tears. But today, various religious bodies are making Marx appear believable; by offering religion as opiums in the sense Marx used it. What is the effect when people are brainwashed with doctrines, and teachings that are socially counterproductive forced down the throats of adherents?
In many cases, for instance, people have been taught to disregard medicine totally and just to have ‘faith’ in God; disengage from every social organizations and groupings, and even work. People have been taught the irrelevance of engaging in any serious academic pursuit or tedious learning of a trade because it will not lead one to salvation. Some have been brainwashed to see their religious leader/minister as super-human. Hypnosis is employed incessantly, either directly or indirectly, and people are now manipulated like machines as with a remote control.
People are exploited religiously also when religion, instead of being a source of solace and relief is employed to promote fear, insecurity and alienation. Today the gospel of doom and satan is trying to overshadow the gospel of love, mercy and salvation, as visions and prophecies that instill fear and submissiveness in people are constantly hammered upon. These systems of doctrines are forms of religious exploitation when you consider their natural and social implications, especially on people already tortured by many problems ranging from political instability, tribal and ethnic conflicts and civil wars, mounting economic insecurity, joblessness, poverty, lack of social amenities, etc. Since the end in sight, as they are meant to believe, these already oppressed people fold their hands in fateful resignation and look forward to the day of salvation, in most cases, risk their lives in the name of fighting for their gods. Since for them, God ordains these disasters inevitably, it engenders into them passivity and abandonment.
God is not the author of confusion. We must try our best to always follow the truth and do what is right. Let us be quick to know when we are being exploited in the name of religion. It will save us a lot of pains!
Apr
12
Aramaic: The Language of Jesus (Yeshua)
Filed Under Trainee Comments On Teaching The New Standard IX English Course Book | Leave a Comment
Steve Caruso
The Aramaic Language
You may know Aramaic as the language of Jesus, but did you know that Aramaic is actually a 3,000 year old language that evolved in the Middle East alongside Hebrew?
Aramaic has been the lingua franca of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, has been the language not only of books of the Old Testament/Tanakh and the New Testament, but Buddhist epistles and even written out in Chinese characters! We can even thank Aramaic for the Hebrew alphabet, which was originally written in Phoenician characters, but adopted the Aramaic writing system during the Babylonian exile. There are even numerous modern dialects of Aramaic still spoken today, but needless to say, your average 1st century BCE Aramean wouldn’t understand a word the modern speaker was saying.
However, if we’re going to talk about Aramaic, the first question to ask is: which one?
The Aramaic of Jesus 1st Century Galilean
Thanks to Mel Gibson, it’s now common knowledge that Jesus, or Yeshua in his native tongue, spoke Aramaic, specifically 1st Century Galilean Aramaic. “Spoke” is a little modest: Jesus had a remarkable way with words. Did you know that most of his dialogues from the New Testament rhyme in the Aramaic? Did you know that he was fond of puns?
What do we know today about Jesus’ brand of Aramaic? We know that, according to the Talmud, the Pharisees wanted 1st Century Galilean Aramaic speakers banned from praying in the Temple! Was this a deliberate move against Jesus? Apparently not. Galilean Aramaic was so distinctive a dialect that concerned busybodies feared their prayers sounded like curses.
The Aramaic Language
You may know Aramaic as the language of Jesus, but did you know that Aramaic is actually a 3,000 year old language that evolved in the Middle East alongside Hebrew?
Aramaic has been the lingua franca of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, has been the language not only of books of the Old Testament/Tanakh and the New Testament, but Buddhist epistles and even written out in Chinese characters! We can even thank Aramaic for the Hebrew alphabet, which was originally written in Phoenician characters, but adopted the Aramaic writing system during the Babylonian exile. There are even numerous modern dialects of Aramaic still spoken today, but needless to say, your average 1st century BCE Aramean wouldn’t understand a word the modern speaker was saying.
However, if we’re going to talk about Aramaic, the first question to ask is: which one?
The Aramaic of Jesus 1st Century Galilean
Thanks to Mel Gibson, it’s now common knowledge that Jesus, or Yeshua in his native tongue, spoke Aramaic, specifically 1st Century Galilean Aramaic. “Spoke” is a little modest: Jesus had a remarkable way with words. Did you know that most of his dialogues from the New Testament rhyme in the Aramaic? Did you know that he was fond of puns?
What do we know today about Jesus’ brand of Aramaic? We know that, according to the Talmud, the Pharisees wanted 1st Century Galilean Aramaic speakers banned from praying in the Temple! Was this a deliberate move against Jesus? Apparently not. Galilean Aramaic was so distinctive a dialect that concerned busybodies feared their prayers sounded like curses.
The Assyrian and Babylonian Empire Imperial Aramaic
Under the Assyrian and Babylonian kings, Aramaic enjoyed its widest influence, reaching from Egypt to India. During this period, we have the Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people, and it would be during that time that they adopted Aramaic as their writing system. Many Jewish texts coming out of the Exile were written in Aramaic, including several stories in the Mishna (which was compiled around the 2nd century CE even if the stories were older). To this day, some branches of Jewish learning are still written in a dialect of Aramaic. You can read up on the Mishna and its history in the following Wikipedia article, the editors of which know their stuff.
The Aramaic Language
You may know Aramaic as the language of Jesus, but did you know that Aramaic is actually a 3,000 year old language that evolved in the Middle East alongside Hebrew?
Aramaic has been the lingua franca of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, has been the language not only of books of the Old Testament/Tanakh and the New Testament, but Buddhist epistles and even written out in Chinese characters! We can even thank Aramaic for the Hebrew alphabet, which was originally written in Phoenician characters, but adopted the Aramaic writing system during the Babylonian exile. There are even numerous modern dialects of Aramaic still spoken today, but needless to say, your average 1st century BCE Aramean wouldn’t understand a word the modern speaker was saying.
However, if we’re going to talk about Aramaic, the first question to ask is: which one?
The Aramaic of Jesus 1st Century Galilean
Thanks to Mel Gibson, it’s now common knowledge that Jesus, or Yeshua in his native tongue, spoke Aramaic, specifically 1st Century Galilean Aramaic. “Spoke” is a little modest: Jesus had a remarkable way with words. Did you know that most of his dialogues from the New Testament rhyme in the Aramaic? Did you know that he was fond of puns?
What do we know today about Jesus’ brand of Aramaic? We know that, according to the Talmud, the Pharisees wanted 1st Century Galilean Aramaic speakers banned from praying in the Temple! Was this a deliberate move against Jesus? Apparently not. Galilean Aramaic was so distinctive a dialect that concerned busybodies feared their prayers sounded like curses.
The Aramaic Language
You may know Aramaic as the language of Jesus, but did you know that Aramaic is actually a 3,000 year old language that evolved in the Middle East alongside Hebrew?
Aramaic has been the lingua franca of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, has been the language not only of books of the Old Testament/Tanakh and the New Testament, but Buddhist epistles and even written out in Chinese characters! We can even thank Aramaic for the Hebrew alphabet, which was originally written in Phoenician characters, but adopted the Aramaic writing system during the Babylonian exile. There are even numerous modern dialects of Aramaic still spoken today, but needless to say, your average 1st century BCE Aramean wouldn’t understand a word the modern speaker was saying.
However, if we’re going to talk about Aramaic, the first question to ask is: which one?
The Aramaic of Jesus 1st Century Galilean
Thanks to Mel Gibson, it’s now common knowledge that Jesus, or Yeshua in his native tongue, spoke Aramaic, specifically 1st Century Galilean Aramaic. “Spoke” is a little modest: Jesus had a remarkable way with words. Did you know that most of his dialogues from the New Testament rhyme in the Aramaic? Did you know that he was fond of puns?
What do we know today about Jesus’ brand of Aramaic? We know that, according to the Talmud, the Pharisees wanted 1st Century Galilean Aramaic speakers banned from praying in the Temple! Was this a deliberate move against Jesus? Apparently not. Galilean Aramaic was so distinctive a dialect that concerned busybodies feared their prayers sounded like curses.
The Assyrian and Babylonian Empire Imperial Aramaic
Under the Assyrian and Babylonian kings, Aramaic enjoyed its widest influence, reaching from Egypt to India. During this period, we have the Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people, and it would be during that time that they adopted Aramaic as their writing system. Many Jewish texts coming out of the Exile were written in Aramaic, including several stories in the Mishna (which was compiled around the 2nd century CE even if the stories were older). To this day, some branches of Jewish learning are still written in a dialect of Aramaic. You can read up on the Mishna and its history in the following Wikipedia article, the editors of which know their stuff.
Apr
2
Freedom From Religion?
Filed Under News And Society | Leave a Comment
Anagarika Eddie
Once the Buddha was asked if anyone can become enlightened, even if they were not a follower of the Buddha. His answer – a resounding; “Of course!”
He even went further than that. He warned about becoming attached to the religion itself, and suggested that one only use Buddhism as a raft to cross over from delusion to enlightenment. Then, just as one who has crossed a river in a raft gets out of the raft on the far shore and leaves it behind, so an enlightened person should do the same with Buddhism. He wasn’t trying to build a religion, he was trying to free people.
He did have one caveat to these statements, however.
What faith or religion one belongs to, or no religion or faith, doesn’t matter. But something else does. And without this something else, which has no relationship to any particular beliefs or non-beliefs, enlightenment is not possible.
So what could this be, this universal requirement for enlightenment; this applicable-to-all proposition that can free humankind?
The Buddha said that eight things must be understood for enlightenment to happen, regardless of or in addition to one’s beliefs, and if even one of these eight things are missing, enlightenment will not occur.
These eight things, he said, could even be broken down into three things: Morality, self introspection, and the wisdom or insight that results in spiritual transcendence.
It wouldn’t matter what deity one believed in or what path one followed, as long as that path led to a moral character and pure, innocent and honorable actions. Then the mind would have no regrets and worries, and without regrets and worries, it could relax into calm and peaceful states that would in turn cut through our devious illusions and foster a true wisdom and insight that would transcend mind itself and enter truly spiritual, ineffable realms. What good are beliefs and ideals if the end product is a clinging to beliefs and ideals to the point of excluding or disliking others?
One thing the Buddha was good at was explaining things clearly, not couched in mystery, so that they could easily be understood. Therefore he explained in detail what these eight steps are, involving morality, self introspection, and the resulting insight and wisdom.
The first step is balanced understanding. This means that we understand the reality of life; that it consists more or less of endless attempts for happiness by way of endless attempts to escape our discontent. That we are driven to this goal, and that this constant pressure to be happy equates as stress. And being thus driven, we sometimes harm others in our relentless pursuit of our own happiness, never coming to terms with happiness’s unreliability and transience.
The second step is balanced thought. This means cultivating thoughts of good will, an absence of cruelty, and disconnect from blinding greed and hatred. This also means dedicating one’s life to perfecting one’s character and spirituality even over one’s social status or material wealth.
The third step is balanced speech. This entails an awareness of how we speak to others, from outright lying to subtle harm where we might talk behind another’s back, slander someone unfairly, pass on hearsay as if we knew it to be our own truthful facts, gossip, use harsh speech where we might swear or exaggerate in order to make up for our insecurities in expressing ourselves, and even frivolous speech which is speech merely in order to keep each other entertained.
The fourth step is balanced action. This means cultivating calm and guiltless mental states by not harming others, including any living beings that treasure their life as much as we do and protect themselves from death. This also includes not harming one’s established sexual relationship by greedily involving oneself with another. With stealing, and with involving oneself with intoxicants or illicit drugs.
The fifth step is balanced livelihood. This means making a non-harmful living free of deceit, underhandedness, unfairness, human slavery and prostitution, dealing in weapons, dealing in intoxicants, butchery, poisons, and dealing in profit made from profit.
The sixth step is balanced effort. Here we encourage positive mind states to arise within us such as loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and sympathetic joy. We discourage harmful mind states to arise such as greed, hatred and delusion. We further cultivate positive mind states that have already arisen in us to grow, and weed out harmful states that are still with us.
The seventh step is balanced mindfulness. Here we embark upon the true spiritual aspects of religion by contemplating what exactly we are regarding our bodies and minds, and whether or not an ego is a reality or a delusion. This results in wisdom and insight into life. We actively investigate our feelings, our body, our consciousness and the reality or the truths of life as we experience it.
The eighth step is balanced concentration. This is the crux of practice; meditation that frees the mind from its illusions and pain and enables us to see all of the seventh above steps of balanced mindfulness clearly.
The above is just a thumbnail sketch of Buddhist practice, a practice that for over 2600 years has produced many enlightened individuals. But regardless of whether one becomes fully enlightened or not, the first day that one puts these practices into sincere action is the day that their entire life begins to turn around.
Once the Buddha was asked if anyone can become enlightened, even if they were not a follower of the Buddha. His answer – a resounding; “Of course!”
He even went further than that. He warned about becoming attached to the religion itself, and suggested that one only use Buddhism as a raft to cross over from delusion to enlightenment. Then, just as one who has crossed a river in a raft gets out of the raft on the far shore and leaves it behind, so an enlightened person should do the same with Buddhism. He wasn’t trying to build a religion, he was trying to free people.
He did have one caveat to these statements, however.
What faith or religion one belongs to, or no religion or faith, doesn’t matter. But something else does. And without this something else, which has no relationship to any particular beliefs or non-beliefs, enlightenment is not possible.
So what could this be, this universal requirement for enlightenment; this applicable-to-all proposition that can free humankind?
The Buddha said that eight things must be understood for enlightenment to happen, regardless of or in addition to one’s beliefs, and if even one of these eight things are missing, enlightenment will not occur.
These eight things, he said, could even be broken down into three things: Morality, self introspection, and the wisdom or insight that results in spiritual transcendence.
It wouldn’t matter what deity one believed in or what path one followed, as long as that path led to a moral character and pure, innocent and honorable actions. Then the mind would have no regrets and worries, and without regrets and worries, it could relax into calm and peaceful states that would in turn cut through our devious illusions and foster a true wisdom and insight that would transcend mind itself and enter truly spiritual, ineffable realms. What good are beliefs and ideals if the end product is a clinging to beliefs and ideals to the point of excluding or disliking others?
One thing the Buddha was good at was explaining things clearly, not couched in mystery, so that they could easily be understood. Therefore he explained in detail what these eight steps are, involving morality, self introspection, and the resulting insight and wisdom.
The first step is balanced understanding. This means that we understand the reality of life; that it consists more or less of endless attempts for happiness by way of endless attempts to escape our discontent. That we are driven to this goal, and that this constant pressure to be happy equates as stress. And being thus driven, we sometimes harm others in our relentless pursuit of our own happiness, never coming to terms with happiness’s unreliability and transience.
The second step is balanced thought. This means cultivating thoughts of good will, an absence of cruelty, and disconnect from blinding greed and hatred. This also means dedicating one’s life to perfecting one’s character and spirituality even over one’s social status or material wealth.
The third step is balanced speech. This entails an awareness of how we speak to others, from outright lying to subtle harm where we might talk behind another’s back, slander someone unfairly, pass on hearsay as if we knew it to be our own truthful facts, gossip, use harsh speech where we might swear or exaggerate in order to make up for our insecurities in expressing ourselves, and even frivolous speech which is speech merely in order to keep each other entertained.
The fourth step is balanced action. This means cultivating calm and guiltless mental states by not harming others, including any living beings that treasure their life as much as we do and protect themselves from death. This also includes not harming one’s established sexual relationship by greedily involving oneself with another. With stealing, and with involving oneself with intoxicants or illicit drugs.
The fifth step is balanced livelihood. This means making a non-harmful living free of deceit, underhandedness, unfairness, human slavery and prostitution, dealing in weapons, dealing in intoxicants, butchery, poisons, and dealing in profit made from profit.
The sixth step is balanced effort. Here we encourage positive mind states to arise within us such as loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and sympathetic joy. We discourage harmful mind states to arise such as greed, hatred and delusion. We further cultivate positive mind states that have already arisen in us to grow, and weed out harmful states that are still with us.
The seventh step is balanced mindfulness. Here we embark upon the true spiritual aspects of religion by contemplating what exactly we are regarding our bodies and minds, and whether or not an ego is a reality or a delusion. This results in wisdom and insight into life. We actively investigate our feelings, our body, our consciousness and the reality or the truths of life as we experience it.
The eighth step is balanced concentration. This is the crux of practice; meditation that frees the mind from its illusions and pain and enables us to see all of the seventh above steps of balanced mindfulness clearly.
The above is just a thumbnail sketch of Buddhist practice, a practice that for over 2600 years has produced many enlightened individuals. But regardless of whether one becomes fully enlightened or not, the first day that one puts these practices into sincere action is the day that their entire life begins to turn around.