Practical Spirituality

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Steve, what you say is in one way surprising. America tends to be far less bound to tradition than the old Europe, but in this aspect maybe it is doing worse.

I've Always imagined America like the place where innovation and new ideas in all fields are accepted and welcome, so maybe I was thinking about California in particular. It is sad to hear that across the board in matters of religion it's the other way around.

Here in Italy the Catholic culture is of course very strong and the bible is also king, or queen in this case. But I do not pay attention to it. Some people are skeptics or atheists, some others are Catholic but do not practice. I was one of the rare exceptions who welcomed eccentric and out of the ordinary ideas. A misfit according to some, a wise one according to an objective view. Well, I know the latter may sound a self praise but it is not, I'm simply realizing that religion-wise I had the gift of a developed discrimination. In other things I didn't but in this fortunately I've been lucky.

mccoy The SRF lessons are so superior to the Bible, practically speaking, that I have given up on that old text written by man with all his ideas about what God is. Why do i often seem to make an issue of the Bible? ..... because our culture here in the states has been brain washed into believing that book is all the word of God. The cult of the Bible is the largest single cult in this nation with people still coming to your door trying to convert you into old worn out spiritual beliefs and people all over at any place you may go eager to convert you into old worn out beliefs that will not help your spiritual growth but will only increase dogmatism. All truth is contained in a book? This kind of thought only leads to ignorance. Truth is not a thing read but rather experienced. How does one experience? By practice. Practice leads us inward, not outward in a book, but inward in meditation. This outward talk about the Bible will only waste our spiritual time,  which is short in this life, to find the Self. 

Dogmatism is the one single cause of most world conflict today. So many people think their spiritual beliefs are right and want to inflict them on others. Maybe it would be better to compare are spiritual beliefs and learn and take the best from each other.

i think Amma has summed it up when someone asked her if the Bible was true she replied:"Some of it." The teachings of Jesus however reflect a much higher wisdom. The SRF lessons are full of practical advice for spiritual mental and physical development. Lately Brock has given us much practical advice from Ramana Maharshi and Ram Dass as well. It is a slightly different slant on yogi than say Yogananda. It is very Jnana oriented. It impels us to investigate our thoughts to find the Self behind them.

[mccoy]

Steve, now I understand you are against the obnoxious presentation of the Bible as carried out by some religious groups.

In your description I see the Jehova's witnesses in Italy. They pedantically cite verses of the bible and everything must bend to the book. that's preposterous, if all groups in America behave that way I'm afraid that such a situation can only boost atheism.

The bible by itself though is just another body of religious writings, which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.

So pls allow me this suggestion, you should not criticize the bible, you should just criticize the religious zealots, who are imposing their views of such scripture on anyone.

It's totally out of doubt that Yogananda's lessons are far superior to the bible and any other classic religious writings, because they are practical and they provide practical methods for the spiritual advancement which are concealed within the other writings.

Another tricky issue is the 'weird' parts of the bible, especially so the old testament. They are weird, granted, but I do not worry too much about it. To argue with the zealots is wasted time, and to discuss about the weird passages of the bible maybe is not so constructive.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Steve, now I understand you are against the obnoxious presentation of the Bible as carried out by some religious groups.

In your description I see the Jehova's witnesses in Italy. They pedantically cite verses of the bible and everything must bend to the book. that's preposterous, if all groups in America behave that way I'm afraid that such a situation can only boost atheism.

The bible by itself though is just another body of religious writings, which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.

So pls allow me this suggestion, you should not criticize the bible, you should just criticize the religious zealots, who are imposing their views of such scripture on anyone.

It's totally out of doubt that Yogananda's lessons are far superior to the bible and any other classic religious writings, because they are practical and they provide practical methods for the spiritual advancement which are concealed within the other writings.

Another tricky issue is the 'weird' parts of the bible, especially so the old testament. They are weird, granted, but I do not worry too much about it. To argue with the zealots is wasted time, and to discuss about the weird passages of the bible maybe is not so constructive.

Some parts of the Bible are not only wrong for today they are actually  foolish.

"Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28 New International Version

Nobody has to interpret it. It's as plain as the earth spinning around every 24 hours.

[SpiritImage]

The bible by itself though is just another body of religious writings, which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.

This makes sense, who was that said something like, 'It's not the religion that bothers me, it's the followers'.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

The bible by itself though is just another body of religious writings, which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.

This makes sense, who was that said something like, 'It's not the religion that bothers me, it's the followers'.

I'm glad it makes sense to you. Many parts of the Bible make no sense to me. There is actual foolishness and ignorance in the Bible... side by side with spirituality and truth.

The Bible was written and re-written by man. There are many parts of it that are hopeless.

[SpiritImage]

Some parts of the Bible are not only wrong for today they are actually  foolish.

"Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28 New International Version

I think the problem is, a lot is taken out of context and there is really no way to really know what some of it means since it seems a lot of it is based on the times it happened (2000 or 4000 years ago).

I'm glad it makes sense to you. Many parts of the Bible make no sense to me. There is actual foolishness and ignorance in the Bible... side by side with spirituality and truth.

The Bible was written and re-written by man. There are many parts of it that are hopeless.

Steve, now I didn't say the Bible made sense, I just meant that when mccoy said "which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.", I agree with that.

There are many interpretations of many writings, The Gita, The Bible, The Sutras, etc., and not all of them make sense.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Some parts of the Bible are not only wrong for today they are actually  foolish.

"Be fruitful and increase in number. Fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28 New International Version

I think the problem is, a lot is taken out of context and there is really no way to really know what some of it means since it seems a lot of it is based on the times it happened (2000 or 4000 years ago).

I'm glad it makes sense to you. Many parts of the Bible make no sense to me. There is actual foolishness and ignorance in the Bible... side by side with spirituality and truth.

The Bible was written and re-written by man. There are many parts of it that are hopeless.

Steve, now I didn't say the Bible made sense, I just meant that when mccoy said "which should be intepreted only by spiritually evolved beings.", I agree with that.

There are many interpretations of many writings, The Gita, The Bible, The Sutras, etc., and not all of them make sense.

The best interpretation  I have heard was from Amma. She was asked if the Bible was true and her answer was: "Some of it." Many political leaders in charge of translating it put their own 'touch' and prejudices in it. And some writers had a field day telling stories.

[SpiritImage]

The best interpretation  I have heard was from Amma. She was asked if the Bible was true and her answer was: "Some of it."

I would think that most any reasonable spiritual seeker could come to that conclusion.