The supreme Self is neither born nor dies. He cannot be burned, moved, pierced, cut, nor dried. Beyond all attributes, the supreme Self is the eternal witness, ever pure, indivisible, and uncompounded, far beyond the senses and the ego.... He is omnipresent, beyond all thought, without action in the external world, without action in the internal world. Detached from the outer and the inner, This supreme Self purifies the impure.
He is fire and the sun, and the moon and the stars. He is the air and the sea, and the Creator, Prajapati. He is this boy, he is that girl, he is this man, he is that woman, and he is this old man, too, tottering on his staff. His face is everywhere. He is the blue bird, he is the green bird with red eyes; he is the thundercloud, and he is the seasons and the seas. He has no beginning, he has no end. He is the source from which the worlds evolve. From his divine power comes forth all this magical show of name and form, of you and me, which casts the spell of pain and pleasure. Only when we pierce through this magic veil do we see the One who appears as many.
People will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. Turn up your driveway, not even sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door, as innocent as children, longing for the past. 'Of course we won't mind if you look around,' you'll say, 'it's only twenty dollars per person.' They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have and peace they lack. They'll walk off to the bleachers, sit in their shirt sleeves on a perfect afternoon. [They'll] find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game. It'll be as if they've dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces.
He has renounced all selfish attachments and observes no rites and ceremonies. He has only minimum possessions, and lives his life for the welfare of all. He has no staff nor tuft nor sacred thread. He faces heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor with equal calm. He is not affected by calumny, pride, jealousy, status, joy, or sorrow, greed, anger, or infatuation, excitement, egoism or other goads; for he knows that he is neither body nor mind... The Lord is his true home ... for he has entered the unitive state. Having renounced every selfish desire, he has found his rest in the Lord of Love.... He offers no ancestral oblations; he praises nobody, blames nobody, is never dependent on anyone. He has no need to repeat the mantram, no more need to practice meditation. The world of change and changeless Reality are one to him, for he sees all in God.
Certain cereals and pulses (legumes) were domesticated in very ancient times. In about 8000 BC in the Fertile Crescent of the Near and Middle East (present-day Syria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Israel), wheats, barley, lentil, pea, bitter vetch, chick-pea, and possibly faba bean, were brought into cultivation by the Neolithic people. These crops spread from the point of origin. Archaeological evidence indicates that the wheats, and some of the legumes, had reached Greece by 6000 BC and evidence of their presence within that millennium has been found in the Danube Basin, the Nile valley, and the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan). Dispersal continued throughout Europe, the crops reaching Britain and Scandinavia in 4,000-2,000 BC.
Words That Encourage Light and The Spirit of The Lord: Believing, Calmness, Charity, Cheerful, Contrite, Contrition, Faith, Forgiving, Generous, Gentleness, Giving, Happy, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Longsuffering, Loving, Meekness, Nurturing, Oneness, Openness, Optimistic, Patience, Peaceful, Positive, Prayer, Sacrifice, Selfless, Sharing, Thankful, Trusting, Worship,
Words That Encourage Darkness and The Adversary: Angry, Antagonistic, Appetites, Arrogant, Confused, Contention, Covetous, Critical, Depressed, Domineering, Doubt, Easily Offended, Evasive, Fear, Frustrated, Harshness, Impatience, Ineffective, Irritable, Jealousy, Negative, Pessimistic, Possessive, Resentful, Secretive, Self-C entered, Selfish, Troubled, Uncontrolled, Unhappy, Vindictive,
If we could know Which of us, beloved, would be first to go, Who would be first to break the swelling tide, And step alone upon the other side If we could know! If it were you, Should I walk softly, keeping death in view? Should I my love to you more oft express? Or should I grieve you, beloved, any less If it were you! If it were I, Should I improve the moments slipping by! Should I more closely follow God's great plan, Be filled with sweeter charity to man If it were I! If we could know! We cannot, beloved, end 'tis better so. I should forget, just as I do today, And walk along the same old stumbling way lf I could know. I would not know Which of us, beloved, will be the first to go, I only wish the space may not be long Between the parting and the greeting song; But when, or where, or how we're called to go I would not know.
A farmer purchased an old, rundown, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields were grown over with weeds, the farmhouse was falling apart, and the fences were broken down. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, 'May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!' A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's a completely different place. The farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there is plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in wellfenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. 'Amazing!' the preacher says. 'Look what God and you have accomplished together!' 'Yes, reverend,' says the farmer, 'but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!'
The true gentleman is God's servant. The world's master and his own man. Virtue is his business, study his recreation. Contentment his rest and happiness his reward. God is his father, Jesus Christ his Savior, the Saints his brethren, and all that need him his friends. Devotion is his chaplain, chastity his chamberlain, sobriety his butler, temperance his work, hospitality his housekeeper, providence his steward, purity his mistress of the house, and discretion his porter, to be let in and out as most fit; thus is his whole family made up of virtue and he is the master of the house.
As Easter time approaches, let me share with you the tender story of an eleven-year-old boy named Philip, a Down's syndrome child who was in a Sunday School class with eight other children. Easter Sunday the teacher brought an empty plastic egg for each child. They were instructed to go out of the church building onto the grounds and put into the egg something that would remind them of the meaning of Easter. All returned joyfully. As each egg was opened there were exclamations of delight at a butterfly, a twig, a flower, a blade of grass. Then the last egg was opened. It was Philip's, and it was empty! Some of the children made fun of Philip. 'But, teacher,' he said, 'teacher, the tomb was empty.' A newspaper article announcing Philip's death a few months later noted that at the conclusion of the funeral eight children marched forward and put a large empty egg on the small casket. On it was a banner that said, 'The tomb was empty.'
The test of a man is the fight that he makes, the grit that he daily shows; the way that he stands on his feet and takes fates numerous bumps and blows. A coward can smile when theres naught to fear and nothing his progress bars, but it takes a man to stand up and cheer when the other fellow stars. It isnt the victory after all, but the fight that a brother makes. The man who, driven against the wall, still stands erect and takes the blows of fate with his head held high, bleeding and bruised and pale. Hes the man wholl win in the by and by, for he isnt afraid to fail. Its the bumps you get and the shocks, you get and the jolts that your courage stands; the hours of sorrow and vain regrets, the prize that escapes your hand that tests your metal and proves your worth. It isnt the blows that you deal, its the blows you take on this good old earth that show if your stuff is real.
One great source of failure is found in a lack of concentration of purpose. There will be adverse winds in every voyage, but the able seaman firmly resists their influence, while he takes advantage of every favorable breeze to speed him on his course. So in our aims and pursuits we shall find much to counteract them, much to draw our attention from them, and, unless we are armed with a steadfast purpose, that can subordinate the lesser to the greater, that can repel hindrances, resist attractions, and bend circumstances to our will, our efforts will not be crowned with success.
There is a shady side of life, And a sunny side as well, And 'tis for everyone to say On which he'd choose to dwell; For everyone unto himself Commits a grievous sin, Who bars the blessed sunshine out, And shuts the shadows in. The clouds may wear their saddest robes, The sun refuses to smile, And sorrow, with her troop of ills, May threaten us the while; But still the cheerful heart has power A sunbeam to provide, And only those whose souls are dark, Dwell on life's shady side. Then wear a happy heart, my friend, And fix your faith above; A Heavenly Father may afflict, But does it all in love. And they who strive to do His will, And read His word aright, With songs of triumph on their lips, Walk always in the light.
I built a shipa great large ship, And Pride stood at the helm And steered for Fame, that wondrous land, And Wealthbright, golden realm! And Pride was captain, mate, and crew, And launched my ship with much ado. 'Now go, my ship, my great, great ship, And laugh the winds to scorn.' And lo, my ship came back to me All broken, bent. and torn! I built a ship, a lovely ship, With modern wings of white, And thought not of bright Wealth or Fame, But Service rose in sight. Love was my captain, mate, and crew And launched my ship without ado. 'Now go, my ship, my lowly ship, Thy modest wings unfold.' And lo, my ship came dancing back Just weighted down with gold!
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.... I asked for health, that I might do greater things I was given infirmity, that I might do better things... I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise... I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.... I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life I was given life that I might enjoy all things.... I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among men, most richly blessed!
O Father, whose voice I hear in the woods and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I am a man before you, one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunsets. Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught my people, the lessons you have hid in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, Father not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and a straight eye, so that when life fades like a fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
Pain stayed so long, I said to him today, 'I will not have you with me any more,' I stamped my foot and said, 'Be on your way,' And paused there, startled at the look he wore. 'I, who have been your friend,' he said to me; 'I, who have been your teacherall you know Of understanding love, of sympathy And patience I have taught you. Shall I go?'
We ran out of new ideas somewhere around 1978, since then we've been repeating ourselves. Same songs, same movies, same clothes, even the same crimes. Like this Robie guy, no imagination. He's just part of the rhythm and the rhyme of all this repeating. This is 1996, here comes the millennium. But people are nervous, they're on edge, they're jumpy. This is supposed to be something new. But we can't look that in the face, can we? So what do we do? We grab a little something from one year in the fifties and a little of something else from some other year, maybe late sixties. We think we're creating something new and different, but really, all we're doing is just repeating the same old ... nothing. We're all copycats.
There are two trees, each yielding its own fruit. One of them is negative ... it grows from lack of selfworth and its fruits are fear, anger, envy, bitterness, sorrow and any other negative emotion. Then there is the tree of positive emotions. Its nutrients include selfforgiveness and a correct self concept. Its fruits are love, joy, acceptance, selfesteem, faith, peace ... and other uplifting emotions.
It is difficult to place a monetary value on the many vital services that trees provide. However, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection calculates that a single tree that lives for fifty years will contribute service worth nearly $200,000 (in 1994 dollars) to the community during its lifetime. This includes providing oxygen ($31,250), recycling water and regulating humidity ($37,000), controlling air pollution ($62,500), producing protein ($2,500), providing shelter for wildlife ($31,250), and controlling land erosion and fertilizing the soil ($31,250).
It is nothing less than fantastic the way mathematical odds add up. For instance take the possibility of making a mistake in making a telephone call. Most local exchanges require seven digits, which is accomplished in four or five seconds. The phone has ten digits on it. The mathematical formula of possibilities is ten to the seventh power, which is 10,000,000, or it is 9,999,999 to 1 that you would enter a wrong number if you didn't know what you were doing. Add the four digits to get a long distance number and it becomes 100,000,000,000. Mortality, which fortunately lasts for most of us many times that four or five seconds that it takes to place a telephone call, is also full of chances to make mistakes. Fortunately, too, the path through mortality is well marked, and we can, with exercising care, get to where we all desire to be at the end of mortality.
