During the mid-19th century, Baha'u'llah proclaimed three cardinal principles: The oneness of mankind, oneness of God and oneness of religion. He provided the blueprint for a New World Order which would help reduce h uman suffering.

Baha'u'llah revealed: "The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy." The entire focus of Baha'u'llah's revelation is the well-being of humanity, mitigation of man's suffering in this world and the progress of his soul both in this world and in the world to come.

(See also: Declaration of the Bab , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Declaration of the Bab: Three Principles to Unite the World  

The gory massacre at Godhra and the subsequent retaliatory slaughter throughout Gujarat underlines how easily communal passions can be aroused among otherwise normal people.

A major cause for such behaviour is a mindset, found both among Muslims and Hindus, that believes that tolerance is a sign of weakness. Convinced about the infallibility of their own faith, they are totally intolerant to the views of others. Bolstered by the exhortations of their religious and political leaders, they feel no compunctions in smashing all that stands in their way including the laws of the land.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Tolerance the Key To Lasting Peace

The traditional festivals of the Indian diaspora all reflect the ancient concept of the Utsav Mela, which encouraged everyone to congregate, meet and mix amid festivity and pageantry. In fact, the word mela (fair) is derived from the word mil , meaning 'to meet'.

Baisakhi epitomises the mela notion of convergence for it brings together people of all castes and communities on the first day of Vaisakha, the beginning of the traditional Indian New Year. Basically a harvest festival, Baisakhi marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest, especially in the Punjab. It is called the Naba Barsha celebrations in Bengal, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pooram (Vishu) in Kerala.

(See also: Baisakhi , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Baisakhi: Baisakhi Is Both Sacred And Secular  

An important distinction needs to be made between spirituality in religion and spirituality as opposed to religion. In recent years, spirituality in religion often carries connotations of the believer's faith being more personal, less dogmatic, more open to new ideas and myriad influences, and more pluralistic than the faiths of established religions. It also can connote the nature of a believer's personal relationship with God, as opposed to the general relationship ...

See also:

Spirituality, Spirituality - The spiritual and the religious, Spirituality - Directed spirituality, Spirituality - Spirituality and personal well-being, Spirituality - The Spiritual and Science, Spirituality - Spiritual traditions and communities

Read more here: » Spirituality: Encyclopedia II - Spirituality - The spiritual and the religious

Galloway was born in Dundee, Scotland, of partial Irish Catholic extraction, and attended the Harris Academy. He was married from 1979 to 1999 to Elaine Fyffe, with whom he has a daughter. In March 2000, he married Dr. Amineh Abu-Zayyad, a Muslim Palestinian biologist. Five years later she announced to The Sunday Times that she would be filing for divorce, alleging that Galloway had been unfaithful throughout their marriage. She said she had "received a number of phone calls from women who claim to have had romantic links with him", b ...

See also:

George Galloway, George Galloway - Early and personal life, George Galloway - War on Want, George Galloway - Parliamentary career, George Galloway - Member of Parliament Glasgow, George Galloway - Troubles within the Labour Party, George Galloway - Pakistani activities, George Galloway - Expulsion from the Labour Party, George Galloway - 2005 election, George Galloway - Parliamentary participation statistics, George Galloway - Political views and characteristics, George Galloway - Iraq, George Galloway - Views on Blair and Bush, George Galloway - July 2005 London bombings, George Galloway - Rhetorical skill, George Galloway - John Malkovich incident, George Galloway - Muslim/Progressive Alliance, George Galloway - Corruption allegations, George Galloway - Mariam Appeal, George Galloway - Oil for Food, George Galloway - Publishing/media activities, George Galloway - Asian Voice, George Galloway - Autobiography, George Galloway - Friction, George Galloway - Celebrity Big Brother, George Galloway - Notes

Read more here: » George Galloway: Encyclopedia II - George Galloway - Early and personal life

Followers of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the second coming of Jesus, as well as the prophecies of the 5th Buddha and many other religious prophecies of a second coming, were fulfilled in Bahá'u'lláh. They commonly compare Bahá'u'lláh's fulfillment of Christian prophecies to Jesus' fulfillment of Jewish prophecies, where in both cases people were expecting the literal fulfillment of apocalyptic statements. Given the natural debate that arises from the claims of the Bahá'í Faith, many books have been published on the issues of ...

See also:

Second Coming, Second Coming - Christianity, Second Coming - Islam, Second Coming - Bahá'í Faith, Second Coming - Judaism, Second Coming - New Church / Swedenborgianism, Second Coming - New Age / Maitreya, Second Coming - Rastafari, Second Coming - Reference literature

Read more here: » Second Coming: Encyclopedia II - Second Coming - Bahá'í Faith

Faith (saddha/ sraddha) is an important constituent element of the teachings of the Buddha - both in the Theravada tradition as in the Mahayana. While not of the “blind” variety and on occasion linked with insight (prajna), Buddhist faith (as advocated by the Buddha of the various scriptures) nevertheless requires a degree of trusting confidence and belief primarily in the spiritual attainment and salvational knowledge of the Buddha. Faith in Buddhism centres on belief in the Buddha as a supremely Awakened being, on his unexcelled role a ...

See also:

Faith, Faith - Religious Faith, Faith - Christianity, Faith - Islam, Faith - Buddhism, Faith - Rastafari, Faith - Neurobiological findings, Faith - Notes, Faith - Classic reflections on the nature of faith, Faith - The Reformation view of faith

Read more here: » Faith: Encyclopedia II - Faith - Buddhism

Faith in Christianity centers on faith in the saving grace of Christ the Son of the living God, who died for the sin of the world. The precise meaning and content of faith in Christianity differs somewhat between the various Christian religions. The definition of this quality for Christians is found in the scriptural text at Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not yet beheld". (NWT) For m ...

See also:

Faith, Faith - Religious Faith, Faith - Christianity, Faith - Islam, Faith - Buddhism, Faith - Rastafari, Faith - Neurobiological findings, Faith - Notes, Faith - Classic reflections on the nature of faith, Faith - The Reformation view of faith

Read more here: » Faith: Encyclopedia II - Faith - Christianity

Today is the martyrdom day of Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed. In 61 Hizrat (680 AD) a battle took place at Karbala, Iraq, on the banks of the river Euphrates.

A large army mobilised by Yazid, descendant of the Umayyad regime, besieged a small group led by Imam Husain, and forced them to pay allegiance to the Caliph and submit to his authority. Husain and his small group put up a brave resistance but were killed in the fierce battle.

(See also: Imam Husain , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Imam Husain: Husain's Sacrifice To Uphold Truth  

The word faith has various uses; its central meaning is similar to "belief", "trust" or "confidence", but unlike these terms, "faith" tends to imply a transpersonal rather than interpersonal relationship – with God or a higher power. The object of faith can be a person (or even an inanimate object or state of affairs) or a proposition (or body of propositions, such as a religious credo). In each case, however, the faithful subject's faith is in an aspect of the object that cannot be rationally proven or objectively known. ...

Including:

• Faith - Religious Faith
• Faith - Christianity
• Faith - Islam
• Faith - Buddhism
• Faith - Rastafari
• Faith - Neurobiological findings
• Faith - Notes
• Faith - Classic reflections on the nature of faith
• Faith - The Reformation view of faith

Read more here: » Faith: Encyclopedia - Faith

Faith in Islam centers on faith in the fulfillment of prophecy by Mohammed, the prophet and messenger of the holy God Allah. For more, see: Faith in Islam ...

See also:

Faith, Faith - Religious Faith, Faith - Christianity, Faith - Islam, Faith - Buddhism, Faith - Rastafari, Faith - Neurobiological findings, Faith - Notes, Faith - Classic reflections on the nature of faith, Faith - The Reformation view of faith

Read more here: » Faith: Encyclopedia II - Faith - Islam

Vira Saivism (Saiva): (Sanskrit) "Heroic Saivism." Made

prominent by Basavanna in the 12th century. Also called

Lingayat Saivism. Followers, called Lingayats,

Lingavantas or Sivasharanas, always wear a Sivalinga on

their person. Vira Saivites are proudly egalitarian and

emphasize the personal relationship with Siva, rather than

temple worship. Vira Saiva priests, jangamas, conduct

marriages and other domestic rites and also act as gurus or

teachers. Among the most central texts are Basavanna's

Vachanas, Allama Prabhu's Mantragopya,

Chennabasavanna's Karana Hasuge, and the collected

work called Shunya Sampadane. The monistic-theistic

doctrine of Vira Saivism is called Shakti Vishishtadvaita -

a version of qualified nondualism which accepts both difference and nondifference between soul and God, like

rays are to the sun. In brief, Siva and the cosmic force or

existence are one ("Siva are you; you shall return to

Siva."). Yet, Siva is beyond His creation, which is real,

not illusory. God is both efficient and material cause. In

Vira Saivism, Siva divides from His Absolute state into

Linga (Supreme Lord) and anga, individual soul, the two

eventually reuniting in undifferentiated oneness. There are

three aspects of Sivalinga. 1) Ishtalinga, personal form of

Siva, in which He fulfills desires and removes afflictions -

God as bliss or joy; 2) Bhavalinga, Siva beyond space and

time, the highest divine principle, knowable through

intuition; 3) Pranalinga, the reality of God which can be

apprehended by the mind. The soul merges with Siva by a

progressive, six-stage path called shatsthala, consisting of

bhakti (devotion), mahesha (charity and selfless service),

prasada (seeking Siva's grace), Pranalinga (experience of

all as Siva), sharana (egoless refuge in Siva) and aikya

(oneness with Siva). Today Vira Saivism is a vibrant faith,

particularly strong in its religious homeland of Karnataka,

South Central India. Roughly 40 million people live here,

of which perhaps 25% are members of the Vira Saiva

religion. Early on, they rejected brahminical authority, and

along with it the entire caste system and the Vedas. By

rejecting the Vedas, they continue to stand outside

mainstream Hinduism, but in their profound love of Siva

and acceptance of certain Saiva Agamas, as well as the

main truths of the Vedic wisdom, they have identified

themselves as a unique Saiva sect. Though they have

established their faith as a distinct and independent

religion in Indian courts of law, they are still widely

embraced as devout brothers and sisters of the Hindu

dharma.

See: Lingavanta, Saivism.

(See also: Vira Saivism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Personal Faith Dictionary

Buddha: What is a Buddha?

Buddha is a word in the ancient Indian languages Pali and Sanskrit which means "one who has become awake". It is derived from the verbal root "�budh", meaning "to awaken or be enlightened."

Read more here: » Buddha: What is a Buddha?

The year 2005 comes under the banner of 'Spirituality' and is ruled by the strongest God Force represented by number 7.

In Western Astrology, this number is associated with the watery planet Neptune and in Hindu Astrology it swings to the moods of the half-planet Ketu.

It is said that during our time, which is in 'kaliyug' (the era of darkness), Rahu, Ketu and Saturn have become more powerful and active than other planets and exert maximum influence on mankind and the earth as a whole.

(See also: Spiritual Awakening , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Spiritual Awakening: 2005 - The Year Of Spiritual Awakening  

Toward Ultimate Communion: Yoga

 Hindus look to God and the Gods for very practical assistance - from affairs of employment, family, heart to knowledge both secular and superconscious. A Hindu devoutly believes that the Gods from their dwelling in the Third World are capable of consciously working with the forces of evolution in the universe and they could then certainly manage a few simpler problems. He devoutly believes that the Gods are given to care for man on the planet and see him through his tenure on earth and that their decisions are vast in their implications. Their overview spans time itself, and yet their detailed focus upon the complicated fabric of human affairs is just as awesome.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Toward Ultimate Communion - Yoga

Yellow Bamboo is a Balinese white magic society with over 30,000 members. Yellow Bamboo is one of the most powerful personal development tool available today. Thanks to our cooperation with the Yellow Bamboo network, we are able to offer you an extensive video course for free download!

Read more here: » Yellow Bamboo: Download free course in Yellow Bamboo!

Every year, I eagerly await the month of Ramzan. Fasting and praying during the month prepares me to move closer to God. Fasting is not restricted to food and drink; it includes distancing oneself from negative attributes like hypocrisy, covetousness, falsity, backbiting and envy, among others.

Surprisingly and fortunately, the after-effects of this regulated and sanitised lifestyle adopted during Ramzan lingers for several months afterward, enabling one to work towards greater control over one's actions.

(See also: Ramzan , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Ramzan: Why I Love to Fast During Ramzan  

In pre-Mandalised India of the seventies, Prof A L Basham, the author of The Wonder that was India, and I were colleagues at 'El Colegio de Mexico". He once observed that despite innumerable divisive factors of caste, creed and language, the fact that democracy was a functional reality in India, made India a living wonder. Today, I ask myself, are we truly a democratic country?

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Politics is Lowest Form of Leela

Earth, water, fire, wind, sky, the astral bodies, dawn, night, thunderstorms and lightning are all worshipped and deified in Hinduism. If God is 'all’, then where is his abode?

"The Hindu firmly believes that the countless viewpoints of God (the different religions) are all valid and will lead us to the same God. The ultimate experience is beyond the pale of the ego; but the highest spiritual experiences, too, may differ from person to person, as is revealed in the different religions... "Even they who seek material gains - or even spiritual perfection - resort to God only through the various divinities; and God responds to them through the same channel. We adore God in various ways. This knowledge frees us from fear, attachment, anger, intolerance and proselytism".

(See also: Gods in Hinduism , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Gods in Hinduism: Multiple Paths To The Supreme One  

Although the term initially described relations between individuals, it is at times used for political purposes to describe relations between states or peoples ("the Franco-German friendship," for example), indicating in this case an affinity or mutuality of purpose between the two nations. Regarding this aspect of international relations, Lord Palmerston has said that, "Nations have no permanent frien ...

See also:

Friendship, Friendship - Etymology, Friendship - History, Friendship - A tradition in decline, Friendship - Physical manifestations, Friendship - Types, Friendship - Developmental issues, Friendship - Cultural variations, Friendship - Russia, Friendship - Greece, Friendship - Asia, Friendship - Modern west, Friendship - Types of Friendships, Friendship - Non-personal friendships, Friendship - Interspecies friendship, Friendship - Colloquial nomenclature, Friendship - Friendship contrasted with comradeship, Friendship - Bibliography

Read more here: » Friendship: Encyclopedia II - Friendship - Non-personal friendships

The word "faith", translated from the Greek πιστις (pi´stis), primarily conveys the thought of confidence, trust, firm persuasion. Depending on the context, the Greek word may also be understood to mean "faithfulness" or "fidelity".-1Th 3:7; Tit 2:10. Commenting on the function of faith in relation to the covenant of God, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."(Heb 11:1 ESV). Υποστασις (hy-po´sta-sis) ...

See also:

Faith in Christianity, Faith in Christianity - New Testament, Faith in Christianity - Protestantism, Faith in Christianity - Faith is a kind of knowledge, Faith in Christianity - Faith is an operation of the Spirit of God, Faith in Christianity - The warrant of faith is the truthfulness of God, Faith in Christianity - Catholicism, Faith in Christianity - Faith is a supernatural act, Faith in Christianity - Faith not blind

Read more here: » Faith in Christianity: Encyclopedia II - Faith in Christianity - New Testament

Spirituality is, in a narrow sense, a concern with matters of the spirit, however that may be defined; but it is also a wide term with many available readings. It may include belief in supernatural powers, as in religion, but the emphasis is on personal experience. It may be an expression for life perceived as higher, more complex or more integrated with one's worldview, as contrasted with the merely sensual. Spirituality - The spiritual and the religious. An important distinction needs to be made between s ...

Including:

• Spirituality - The spiritual and the religious
• Spirituality - Directed spirituality
• Spirituality - Spirituality and personal well-being
• Spirituality - The Spiritual and Science
• Spirituality - Spiritual traditions and communities

Read more here: » Spirituality: Encyclopedia - Spirituality