Guest guest Posted August 6, 1999 Report Share Posted August 6, 1999 Hi Eric, After reading your post I just can't bear this thought to say you 'Man , you are on a right path...' go and grab 'Rajyoga' which is a part of 'complete works of Swami Vivekananda'. He explained everything so simply and so marvelously that you won't finde it difficult at all.. Best Luck, Unmesh ----Original Message Follows---- "ebrown_subs" <ebrown_subs Hi Shepard, I can give you my perspective on your atheist's question because I was one once. When I became an atheist, I studied physics. In this part of my life, I eventually chose to invent a different definition for God than the one I had been taught in U.S. culture. I decided that I would call 'God' everything that was in and of the universe. Afterall, as an atheist, the universe was my creator. The reason physics interested me so much is that it seemed the only way to really know God. One day I read a small little book called 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis. This book describes the difference between the modern Christian/western transcendent God and the modern Buddhist/eastern pantheistic (not pagan) God. This was the first time I had seen reference to different definitions of God. As an atheist turning agnostic, it was easier for me to believe in a pantheistic God that is of the universe than a transcendent God that exists outside the universe. This simple definition change influences the nature of evil and whether man is a part of God or separate. I'm not quite sure how I made the leap from believing in a God that *is* the universe to believing there must be some way to experience God other than studying physics. Perhaps it was just curiosity. I can tell you that I have been practicing Kundalini yoga as taught by 3HO for many years now and have had many very interesting experiences. Whether I have simply hallucinated or actually experienced God on some occasions isn't important. What is important is what *I believe* to have happened. If you do study Kundalini yoga by a 3HO teacher, you will inevitably find a lot of Sikh influence. For me, the most important thing I have learned from Sikhism was the one time I read the English translation of their morning prayer, Jap Ji. It taught me that God is both pantheistic and transcendent at the same time. It took me some time to realize that this isn't a contradiction. Now, it is a relief. I think all religions have aspects of both. In their pure forms, I think they have more similarities than differences. As to what to say to your atheist, don't expect to convince them to believe in God. I try on occasion and have come to the conclusion that beliefs are very strong and something best changed through experience rather than argument. Convince yourself and then try to experience God if you wish. Set an example. Eric yogieric - Shepard <aeugius <Kundaliniyoga > Saturday, July 31, 1999 7:34 AM My introduction & posting to your mailing list. > "Shepard" <aeugius > > Dear fellow seekers of the Light, > > Thankyou, Gordon, for setting up an online yoga site. I am sure it would prove a great blessing to all who have the will but not the means to find lessons on Kundalini Yoga. I am glad I found your site. There are only 2 locations in NJ that offer classes. They are both too far away from my house or work, to make regular trips. > > My name is Raj. I am a 27 year old immigrant Indian living in Ridgewood, NJ. I have lived in US for 15 years. My spiritual search began 17 years ago! My mother claimed visions of Christ. I have been curious to explore and discover ever since. I never had a first hand experience of God. Born as a Hindu and raised as one till my mother's conversion to Christianity, I joined her too. > Shortly afterward, we immigrated to US. > > I read and studied the Bible with passion. I admit that I couldn't understand everything. Jesus' teachings were the hardest to understand. I would take the words superficially and try to apply them to life. It didn't seem practical. One day I was asked by an atheist, what evidence I had for the existence of God. I didn't know how to answer in a real, logical and factual manner. That's when I decided, I wouldn't call myself a christian, till I have understood the teachings and properly apply them to my life. > > To this day, I have been reading and studying. I turned to the teachings in Hinduism where I started. I began to read the speeches of Swami Vivekananda. Light shone on me. The teachings of Christ are becoming clearer. > > I practiced meditation twice a day. I fast to cleanse my body. I observe Mouna everyday. I am slowly phasing out meat from my diet. My health overall improved because of this. A measurable difference was that my blood pressure used to be 180/101 pulse 80. Now its only 128/85 pulse 70. > > I am not satisfied yet, because I still cannot answer that atheist. I must experience God first hand. That's when I will be able. I hope to achieve that through the practice of Pranayama, meditation and finally the state of Kundalini. > > Shepard > > [Attachments have been removed from this message] > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > Transfer your big list to ONElist and earn $500! > For program details, go to > /info/biglistbon_intro.html > > ------ > "OUR DESTINY IS TO BE HAPPY" > - Yogi Bhajan > > Check out our website: > http://www.gtmark.com/ky/index.htm > > Sponsored by Yoga Technology Press > publishers of a popular range of books > on Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. > http://www.yogatech.com > > To from this list, go to > ONElist Member Center, or send mail to > Kundaliniyoga- > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- ONElist: the best place to EXPLORE topics, SHARE ideas, and CONNECT to people with the same interests. ------ "OUR DESTINY IS TO BE HAPPY" - Yogi Bhajan Check out our website: http://www.gtmark.com/ky/index.htm Sponsored by Yoga Technology Press publishers of a popular range of books on Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. http://www.yogatech.com To from this list, go to ONElist Member Center, or send mail to Kundaliniyoga- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 1999 Report Share Posted August 6, 1999 Hi seekers of the world!!! If you see anything, you see 'face of God.' If you hear anything, you hear 'voice of God.' If you feel anything, you feel 'touching of God.' God in everywhere, dont be afraid!!! bang jaya --- unmesh laddha <unmeshl wrote: > "unmesh laddha" <unmeshl > > Hi Eric, > After reading your post I just can't bear this > thought to say you 'Man , you > are on a right path...' go and grab 'Rajyoga' which > is a part of 'complete > works of Swami Vivekananda'. He explained > everything so simply and so > marvelously that you won't finde it difficult at > all.. > > Best Luck, > Unmesh > > > ----Original Message Follows---- > "ebrown_subs" <ebrown_subs > > Hi Shepard, > > I can give you my perspective on your atheist's > question because I was one > once. > > When I became an atheist, I studied physics. In this > part of my life, I > eventually chose to invent a different definition > for God than the one I had > been taught in U.S. culture. I decided that I would > call 'God' everything > that was in and of the universe. Afterall, as an > atheist, the universe was > my creator. The reason physics interested me so much > is that it seemed the > only way to really know God. > > One day I read a small little book called 'Mere > Christianity' by C.S. Lewis. > This book describes the difference between the > modern Christian/western > transcendent God and the modern Buddhist/eastern > pantheistic (not pagan) > God. This was the first time I had seen reference to > different definitions > of God. > > As an atheist turning agnostic, it was easier for me > to believe in a > pantheistic God that is of the universe than a > transcendent God that exists > outside the universe. This simple definition change > influences the nature of > evil and whether man is a part of God or separate. > > I'm not quite sure how I made the leap from > believing in a God that *is* the > universe to believing there must be some way to > experience God other than > studying physics. Perhaps it was just curiosity. > > I can tell you that I have been practicing Kundalini > yoga as taught by 3HO > for many years now and have had many very > interesting experiences. Whether I > have simply hallucinated or actually experienced God > on some occasions isn't > important. What is important is what *I believe* to > have happened. > > If you do study Kundalini yoga by a 3HO teacher, you > will inevitably find a > lot of Sikh influence. For me, the most important > thing I have learned from > Sikhism was the one time I read the English > translation of their morning > prayer, Jap Ji. It taught me that God is both > pantheistic and transcendent > at the same time. It took me some time to realize > that this isn't a > contradiction. Now, it is a relief. I think all > religions have aspects of > both. In their pure forms, I think they have more > similarities than > differences. > > As to what to say to your atheist, don't expect to > convince them to believe > in God. I try on occasion and have come to the > conclusion that beliefs are > very strong and something best changed through > experience rather than > argument. Convince yourself and then try to > experience God if you wish. Set > an example. > > Eric > yogieric > > > - > Shepard <aeugius > <Kundaliniyoga > > Saturday, July 31, 1999 7:34 AM > My introduction & posting > to your mailing list. > > > > "Shepard" <aeugius > > > > Dear fellow seekers of the Light, > > > > Thankyou, Gordon, for setting up an online yoga > site. I am sure it would > prove a great blessing to all who have the will but > not the means to find > lessons on Kundalini Yoga. I am glad I found your > site. There are only 2 > locations in NJ that offer classes. They are both > too far away from my house > or work, to make regular trips. > > > > My name is Raj. I am a 27 year old immigrant > Indian living in Ridgewood, > NJ. I have lived in US for 15 years. My spiritual > search began 17 years > ago! My mother claimed visions of Christ. I have > been curious to explore > and discover ever since. I never had a first hand > experience of God. Born as > a Hindu and raised as one till my mother's > conversion to Christianity, I > joined her too. > > Shortly afterward, we immigrated to US. > > > > I read and studied the Bible with passion. I > admit that I couldn't > understand everything. Jesus' teachings were the > hardest to understand. I > would take the words superficially and try to apply > them to life. It didn't > seem practical. One day I was asked by an atheist, > what evidence I had for > the existence of God. I didn't know how to answer in > a real, logical and > factual manner. That's when I decided, I wouldn't > call myself a christian, > till I have understood the teachings and properly > apply them to my life. > > > > To this day, I have been reading and studying. I > turned to the teachings > in Hinduism where I started. I began to read the > speeches of Swami > Vivekananda. Light shone on me. The teachings of > Christ are becoming > clearer. > > > > I practiced meditation twice a day. I fast to > cleanse my body. I observe > Mouna everyday. I am slowly phasing out meat from my > diet. My health overall > improved because of this. A measurable difference > was that my blood pressure > used to be 180/101 pulse 80. Now its only 128/85 > pulse 70. > > > > I am not satisfied yet, because I still cannot > answer that atheist. I > must > experience God first hand. That's when I will be > able. I hope to achieve > that through the practice of Pranayama, meditation > and finally the state of > Kundalini. > > > > Shepard > > > > [Attachments have been removed from this message] > > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor > ---------------------------- > > > > Transfer your big list to ONElist and earn $500! > > For program details, go to > > /info/biglistbon_intro.html > > > > > ------ > > "OUR DESTINY IS TO BE HAPPY" > > - Yogi Bhajan > > > > Check out our website: > > http://www.gtmark.com/ky/index.htm > > > > Sponsored by Yoga Technology Press > > publishers of a popular range of books > > on Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. > > http://www.yogatech.com > > > > To from this list, go to > === message truncated === ___________ Bid and sell for free at http://auctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.