Islam: The Four Phases of Islamic Thought

Islamic thought, Shariah and Fiqh as it exists today has metamorphosed through various processes and stages before reaching us. Basically all the religions have two stages. The initial phase is the foundation, the period of the founder of the religion.

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The Upanishads are records of the thoughts and teachings of ancient Indian sages who lived in forest hermitages. They are among the oldest religious scriptures in the world. All of them are preoccupied with the quest for knowledge of the Self.

Isa Upanishad is a compact and highly poetic scripture. It contains all the quintessential teachings of all the Upanishads. When asked to condense his life's message in three words, Gandhiji said: "Renounce and enjoy". This is the dictum in the very first stanza of Isa Upanishad: "All this - whatever moves on earth - should be enveloped by the Lord. Fortify yourself through this renunciation. Do not covet anybody's wealth; to whom does wealth belong?

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Message of Control, Charity and Compassion

Breathing Meditation: Radio Interview with Swami Prajnanananda Giri

This is a transcription of an interview with Swami Praj–anananda Giri for the "PhenomeNews" radio program in Detroit, USA, in December 1996.

Read more here: » Breathing Meditation: Radio Interview with Swami Prajnanananda Giri

The Agamas : Another class of popular scriptures are the Agamas. The Agamas are theological treatises and practical manuals of divine worship. The Agamas include the Tantras, Mantras and Yantras. These are treatises explaining the external worship of God, in idols, temples, etc. All the Agamas treat of (i) Jnana or Knowledge, (ii) Yoga or Concentration, (iii) Kriya or Esoteric Ritual and (iv) Charya or Exoteric Worship.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Agamas: The Agamas in the Hindu Scriptures

A Sutra or an aphorism is a short formula with the least possible number of letters, without any ambiguity or doubtful assertion, containing the very essence, embracing all meanings, without any stop or obstruction and absolutely faultless in nature.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Sutra : Sutra in the Hindu Scriptures

The Six Darsanas are the intellectual section of the Hindu writings, while the first four are intuitional, and the fifth inspirational and emotional. Darsanas are schools of philosophy based on the Vedas. The Agamas are theological. The Darsana literature is philosophical. The Darsanas are meant for the erudite scholars who are endowed with acute acumen, good understanding, power of reasoning and subtle intellect. The Itihasas, Puranas and Agamas are meant for the masses. The Darsanas appeal to the intellect, while the Itihasas, Puranas, etc., appeal to the heart.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Six Darsanas : The Six Darsanas in the Hindu Scriptures

Aitreya Upanishad

It belongs to the Rg Veda. It is considered as one of the principal Upanisads and concerns with imparting the knowledge of the Self (atman) as the unequalled substance of the universe, that He is pure consciousness, that he also has become everything from Indra and Prajapati down to the lowest and last in creation.

(See also: Aitreya Upanishad , Hinduism, Vedic Scriptures, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Scriptures Dictionary

Since our current thoughts, words and deeds are far from reaching that state of perfection, we need to adopt the path shown by Prophet Zarathushtra: cultivating the habit of truthfulness at all times, and developing the moral courage to publicly accept our failure when we get diverted from this difficult practice.

Read more here: » Zarathushtra: Good Thoughts, Words, Deeds and More

Yoga Philosophy explained thru the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (yoga postures) were used in trade along the river. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites - mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon - in order to bring reconciliation between them. Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas – the ancient scriptures of India. There is a legend that says that the knowledge of Yoga was first offered by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and then passed on to the world.

Read more here: » Patanjali: Yoga Philosophy and the Patanjali Yoga Sutras

While the Upanishads are indeed classed within the fold of the "Vedas," their actual importance to Hindu thought has far exceeded that of possibly any other set of Hindu scriptures, and even resulted in the Bhagavad Gita, which is a self-proclaimed yoga upanishad. Thus, they deserve a look that is independent from the samhitas and brahamans, whose excessive ritualism the Upanishads famously rebelled against. They form Vedanta and ...

See also:

Hindu scripture, Hindu scripture - The Vedas, Hindu scripture - The Upanishads, Hindu scripture - Post-Vedic Hindu scriptures, Hindu scripture - The Bhagavad Gita, Hindu scripture - The Puranas, Hindu scripture - Other Hindu texts

Read more here: » Hindu scripture: Encyclopedia II - Hindu scripture - The Upanishads

The Jain philosophy of Anekantavada (multitude beliefs) tells us that there are no absolute theories or formulae that can describe reality in absolute terms. Rather, our belief of Anekantavada tells us that we do not know the complete truth. We can learn from others as well. Let truth prevail, say Jains . Truth in its final analysis is wholesome and one, which leads us to love and understanding. And that is the very necessary essence of all religions.

Read more here: » Jainism: Let Truth Prevail

Tirumantiram: (Tamil) "Holy incantation."

The Nandinatha Sampradaya's oldest Tamil scripture; written ca 200 bce by Rishi Tirumular. It is the earliest of the Tirumurai, and a vast storehouse of esoteric yogic and tantric knowledge. It contains the mystical essence of raja yoga and siddha yoga, and the fundamental doctrines of the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas, which in turn are the heritage of the ancient pre-historic traditions of Saivism.

As the Agamas themselves are now partially lost, the Tirumantiram is a rare source of the complete Agamanta (collection of Agamic lore). Its 3047 verses were, as legend has it, composed in a rather extraordinary way. Before writing each verse, Tirumular would meditate for an entire year, then summarize his meditation in a fourline Tamil verse. He did this for 3,000 years! The allegory is said to mean that 3,000 years of knowledge is compacted in this one book. The text is organized in nine parts, called tantras, summarized as follows:

1)    basic rules of religious morality;

2)    allegorical explanations of Saiva mythological stories; five powers of Siva, three classifications of souls;

3)    a complete treatise on raja yoga;

4)    mantras and tantras;

5)    the essential features of the Saiva religion; the four forms of Saivism, four stages, unorthodox paths, conduct to be avoided;

6)    the Sivaguru, grace, renunciation, sin, penance, jnana, worthy and unworthy persons;

7)    siddha yoga, more on grace, mudras, control of ida and pingala, worlds reached by different classes of yogis after death, refinements of yoga, the satguru;

8)    essential theology: five sheaths, eleven states, three padarthas (Pati-pashu-pasha), 36 tattvas, four states of consciousness, three malas, three gunas, ten karanas, etc.;

9)    the fruits of realization, liberation, jnana, Siva's dances, meeting of the guru.

See: Tirumurai, Tirumular.

(See also: Tirumantiram , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Scriptures Dictionary

There are five great daily sacrifices that are to be performed by every householder. They are: Brahma Yajna, called also Veda Yajna, sacrifice to Brahman or the Vedas or the sages; Deva Yajna, sacrifice to the celestials; (iii) Pitri Yajna, sacrifice to the manes; Bhuta Yajna, sacrifice to all the creatures; and Manushya Yajna, sacrifice to men.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Pancha Mahayajnas: The Hindu Ritual Pancha Mahayajnas

Veda: (Sanskrit) "Wisdom." Sagely revelations which

comprise Hinduism's most authoritative scripture. They, along with the Agamas, are shruti, "that which is heard."

The Vedas are a body of dozens of holy texts known

collectively as the Veda, or as the four Vedas: Rig, Yajur,

Sama and Atharva. In all they include over 100,000

verses, as well as additional prose. The knowledge

imparted by the Vedas is highly mystical or

superconscious rather than intellectual. Each Veda has

four sections: Samhitas (hymn collections), Brahmanas

(priestly manuals), Aranyakas (forest treatises) and

Upanishads (enlightened discourses). The Samhitas and

Brahmanas (together known as the karmakanda, "ritual

section") detail a transcendent-immanent Supreme-Being

cosmology and a system of worship through fire ceremony

and chanting to establish communication with the Gods.

The Aranyakas and Upanishads (the jnanakanda,

"knowledge section") outline the soul's evolutionary

journey, providing yogic-philosophic training and

propounding a lofty, nondual realization as the destiny of

all souls. The oldest portions of the Vedas are thought to

date back as far as 6,000 bce, written down in Sanskrit in

the last few millennia, making them the world's most

ancient scriptures.

See: Aranyaka, Brahmana, shruti,

Upanishad, Vedanga.

(See also: Veda , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Scriptures Dictionary

The interpretation of scripture by the Church fathers is asserted by the geocentrists to be unanimously in favor of a geocentrist position. The early Church Fathers such as Augustine and Origen argued against the heliocentrism of the pagan Greeks well before Copernicus' time. Modern geocentrists often quote these works which seem to admonish that scriptural references about geocentrism not be interpreted as allegorical or phenomenological since such an interpretation could lead to the appearance that ...

See also:

Modern geocentrism, Modern geocentrism - Overview of modern geocentrism, Modern geocentrism - History of modern geocentrism, Modern geocentrism - Biblical references, Modern geocentrism - Catholic geocentricity, Modern geocentrism - The modern scientific point of view, Modern geocentrism - There is no special position., Modern geocentrism - The cosmic microwave background radiation determines the only special velocity., Modern geocentrism - The inertial frame is the only special rotation., Modern geocentrism - Non-falsifiability of geocentrism, Modern geocentrism - Modern geocentrism and astronomical observations, Modern geocentrism - Gamma ray bursts, Modern geocentrism - Quantization of redshifts, Modern geocentrism - Forms of modern geocentrism, Modern geocentrism - The observations, Modern geocentrism - Geocentrism based on classical gravitation, Modern geocentrism - Geocentrism based on a rigid aether, Modern geocentrism - Geocentrism based on a radically different cosmology

Read more here: » Modern geocentrism: Encyclopedia II - Modern geocentrism - Catholic geocentricity

Kama

Kama in a wider sense means desire and in a narrow sense, sexual desire. Hinduism prescribes fulfillment of sexual passions for the householders and abstinence from it for the students and ascetics who are engaged in the study of the scriptures and in the pursuit of Brahman. 

Read more here: » Kama: Hinduism Kama

Study of the Puranas, listening to sacred recitals of scriptures, describing and expounding of the transcendent Lilas of the Blessed LordÑthese form an important part of Sadhana of the Lords devotees. It is most pleasing to the Lord. Sravana is a part of Navavidha-Bhakti. Kathas and Upanyasas open the springs of devotion in the hearts of hearers and develop Prema-Bhakti which confers immortality on the Jiva.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Puranas: The Puranas in the Hindu Scriptures

Aum - Origin. Found first in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Aum has been seen as the first manifestation of the unmanifest Brahman (the single Divine Ground of Hinduism) that resulted in the phenomenal universe. Essentially, all the cosmos stems from the vibration of the sound 'Aum' in Hindu cosmology. Indeed, so sacred is it that it is prefixed and suffixed to all Hindu mantras and incantations. It is undoubted ...

See also:

Aum, Aum - The Significance of the Symbol Om, Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition, Aum - Origin, Aum - Philosophy of AUM, Aum - Om in Jain tradition, Aum - Om in Buddhist tradition, Aum - Om in Sikh tradition, Aum - When you pronounce AUM:, Aum - Some quotations from Hindu scriptures regarding AUM, Aum - Other traditions interpretations and understandings

Read more here: » Aum: Encyclopedia II - Aum - Aum in Hindu tradition

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures

Principal scripture of Christian Science.

(See also: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Scriptures Dictionary

The Church against which the Reformers directed these arguments did not see scripture and the traditions of the faith as mutually exclusive sources of authority; they believed that scripture was handed down through its traditions. Accepted traditions were also perceived as cohesive in nature. The ones receiving the scripture trusted the people from whom they received it and their accompanying teachings. The proper interpretation of the Scriptures was seen as part of the faith of the Church, and seen indeed as the manner in which Biblical aut ...

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Sola scriptura, Sola scriptura - The singular authority of Scripture, Sola scriptura - Scripture and Tradition, Sola scriptura - Tradition vs. Scripture, Sola scriptura - Legacy, Sola scriptura - Biblical references

Read more here: » Sola scriptura: Encyclopedia II - Sola scriptura - Scripture and Tradition

The doctrine of Aum Shinrikyo is based on original Buddhist sutras (scriptures), known as the Pali Canon. Besides the Pali Canon, Aum Shinrikyo uses other texts, such as Tibetan sutras, Yoga-Sutra by Patanjali and Taoist scriptures. The sutras are studied together with comments, written by Shoko Asahara himself. The learning system (kyogaku system) has several stages, similar to university education: only those who complete a preliminary stage can move on and advance to further steps if they successfully pass the examination. The collection of publi ...

See also:

Shoko Asahara, Shoko Asahara - Early years, Shoko Asahara - Relentless religious search, Shoko Asahara - Birth of Aum Shinrikyo, Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine, Shoko Asahara - Tokyo subway gas incident accusations and trial

Read more here: » Shoko Asahara: Encyclopedia II - Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: the Doctrine

shruti: (Sanskrit) "That which is heard."

Hinduism's revealed scriptures, of supreme theological authority and spiritual value. They are timeless teachings transmitted to rishis, or seers, directly by God thousands of years ago. Shruti is thus said to be apaurusheya, "impersonal," or rather "suprahuman."

Shruti consists essentially of the Vedas and the Agamas, preserved initially through oral tradition and eventually written down in Sanskrit. Among the many sacred books of the Hindus, these two bodies of knowledge are held in the highest esteem. For countless centuries shruti has been the basis of philosophical discussion, study and commentary, and this attention has given rise to countless schools of thought. It is also the subject of deep study and meditation, to realize the wisdom of the ancients within oneself.

Most mantras are drawn from shruti, used for rites of worship, both public and domestic, as well as personal prayer and japa. It is a remarkable tribute to Hindu culture that so much of shruti was preserved for thousands of years without alteration by means of oral instruction from guru to shishya, generation after generation. In the Veda tradition this was accomplished by requiring the student to learn each verse in eleven different ways, including backwards. Traditionally shruti is not read, but chanted according to extremely precise rules of grammar, pitch, intonation and rhythm. This brings forth its greatest power. In the sacred language of shruti, word and meaning are so closely aligned that hearing these holy scriptures properly chanted is magical in its effect upon the soul of the listener.

See: Agamas, smriti, Vedas.

(See also: Shruti , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Scriptures Dictionary