A basic spiritual lesson is to learn to love unconditionally. However, we often overlook the importance of loving ourselves along with everything else. Every one of us is a part of the whole of life.

As you grow to realise that you are an integral part of life's grand picture, it becomes clear that loving yourself along with everything else is part of the deal. Most religions teach that selflessness is the ideal; that self-love is the antithesis of being selfless. Is self-love really opposed to selflessness? And is it the same as being self-involved?

Read more here: » Self-Love: Love Yourself to Love the World

Hindu Quotes: Process of Offering

The process of offering is Brahman; that which is offered is Brahman. Brahman offers the sacrifice in the fire of Brahman. Brahman is attained by those who see Brahman in every action.

.

(See also: Hinduism Archives, Hindu Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Read more here: » Hindu Quotes: Process of Offering

Oneness: For the Good of the World

The Bhagavad Gita lays utmost emphasis on the good of the world or lokasamgraha. Work done for lokasamgraha not only prevents destruction of the world; it also contributes towards social efficiency.

Read more here: » Oneness: For the Good of the World

Serve, Love, Give

Become a Karma Yogi and work for the well-being of the world. You must do universal service in order to attain the state of being one with the universal consciousness.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Karma Yogi: Serve, Love, Give - Become a Karma Yogi

Many people study religious scriptures profusely - which is a good thing. But they feel that the 'scriptural word' is enough. That is a mistake. A scripture is like a map. And a map is not the territory.

What may appear as a beautiful mountainous range on paper could well turn out to be a treacherous obstacle in real life. Similarly, a river painted in brilliant hues of blue on a map, might be infested with snakes and crocodiles in reality.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Hindu Quotes: Force That Binds Us

Arjuna: "What is the force that binds us to selfish deeds, O Krishna? What power moves us, even against our will, as if forcing us?"

.

(See also: Hinduism Archives, Hindu Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Read more here: » Hindu Quotes: Force That Binds Us

The concept of peace ranks among the most controversial in our time. Peace undoubtedly carries a positive connotation; almost nobody admits to opposing peace; world peace is widely seen as one of the most noble goals of humanity. Various groups, however, differ sharply about what peace entails, how best to achieve peace, and whether peace is even truly possible. Peace - What is peace?. Peace is many things: the meaning of the word peace changes with context. Peace may refer specifically to an agreement conc ...

Including:

• Peace - What is peace?
• Peace - Selfless Act of Love
• Peace - Absence of war
• Peace - Absence of violence or of evil; presence of justice
• Peace - Plural peaces
• Peace - Peace and quiet
• Peace - Inner peace
• Peace - Environmental Peace
• Peace - Is violence necessary?
• Peace - Historical examples and counter examples
• Peace - Peacemakers
• Peace - Nobel Peace Prize
• Peace - Quotes

Read more here: » Peace: Encyclopedia - Peace

Seva (Sanskrit: string) is: in Sikhism, volunteer work; selfless service; work offered to God, performed without attachment and with the attitude that one is not the doer. In Siddha Yoga ashrams, Guruseva is a spiritual practice, and students seek to perform all of their tasks in this spirit of selfless offering. Seva is a cornerstone of the Sikh religion. in Sant Mat the same idea has been given a contemporary meaning of serving the Living Master. See Selfless Service. in Indian cuisine, a snack

Read more here: » Seva: Encyclopedia - Seva

In Buddhist thought, bodhicitta (Ch. 菩提心, pudixin, Jp. bodaishin) is the motivation of a bodhisattva. Etymologically, this is the combination of the words Bodhi or enlightenment, and Citta - mind, and is sometime translated as mind of enlightenment. Bodhicitta is invariably taught to be selfless determination, as the purpose of enlightenment is not for ones-self, but for the benefit of all beings. According to the teachings of Shantideva and his followers, there are two aspirations of Bodhicitt ...

Read more here: » Bodhicitta: Encyclopedia - Bodhicitta

The Agape feast was the Eucharistic celebration of the early Christians. While centered on the ritual of the bread and wine, it also included various other ritual elements, including elements of the Passover Seder and of Mediterranean funerary banquets, also termed Agape Feasts. Agape is one of the Greek words for love, particularly applied to selfless love. Such meals were widespread, t ...

Including:

• Agape feast - Agape in Freemasonry

Read more here: » Agape feast: Encyclopedia - Agape feast

Guru Angad Dev (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ) (31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552) was the second of The Ten Gurus of Sikhism. He became Guru on 7 September 1539 following in the footsteps of Guru Nanak, who was the founder of the Sikh religion. Before becoming the second Guru, he was known as Lehna. This second Sikh Guru contributed the following to the people of the world: To do Niskam Sewa Selfless Service to humanity. Completely surrender to the Will of God. Disapproval of exhibitionism and hypocrisy. Standa ...

Read more here: » Guru Angad Dev: Encyclopedia - Guru Angad Dev

Dr. Aroup Chatterjee is the author of the book Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict which seeks to challenge the claim to fame of Mother Teresa as a symbol of selfless service. Aroup, a physician who formerly worked with the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa, has denied her image as a compassionate human being and has accused her of seeking fame and wealth in the guise of helping the destitute poor. He went public with his views in a documentary named Hell's Angel shown on Channel 4, a British television c ...

Read more here: » Aroup Chatterjee: Encyclopedia - Aroup Chatterjee

Swami Yatishwarananda (1889-1966) was a vice-president of Shri Ramakrishna Math. He was a disciple of Swami Brahmananda. He served in Philadelphia propagating the message of Vedanta. He was the president of Bangalore centre of Ramakrishna Math. He founded an ashrama in Switzerland. He was widely respected for his high spiritual attainments, yogic insights and mature wisdom. He endeared himself to many in India and also abroad by his selfless love and gracious manners. One can have a glimpse of his spiritual stature from the book entitled Meditation and Spir ...

Including:

• Yatishwarananda - Related Links

Read more here: » Yatishwarananda: Encyclopedia - Yatishwarananda

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are 9 forms of bhakti yoga. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga). Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti. Bhakti is the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless an ...

Including:

• Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti
• Bhakti yoga - The Bhagavad Gita

Read more here: » Bhakti yoga: Encyclopedia - Bhakti yoga

Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning 'to make sacred', from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act of propitiation or worship. The term is also used metaphorically to describe selfless good deeds for others. Sacrifice - Theologies of sacrifice. The theology of sacrifice remains an issue, not only for religions that continue to practice ritua ...

Including:

• Sacrifice - Theologies of sacrifice
• Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Judaism
• Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Islam
• Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Hinduism
• Sacrifice - Animal sacrifice
• Sacrifice - Human sacrifice
• Sacrifice - Sacrifice in Christianity
• Sacrifice - Sacrifice in games

Read more here: » Sacrifice: Encyclopedia - Sacrifice

Wang Mang (王莽, pinyin: Wáng Măng) (45 BC–October 6, 23), courtesy name Jujun (巨君), was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded Xin (or Hsin) Dynasty (新朝, meaning "new dynasty"), ruling AD 8–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow, and historians have traditionally viewed Wang as a "usurper," while some others have portrayed him as a visionary and selfless social reformer. Though a learned Confucian scholar who sought to implement the harmonious society he ...

Including:

• Wang Mang - Early life and career
• Wang Mang - First tenure as the commander of the armed forces
• Wang Mang - Retirement during Emperor Ai's reign
• Wang Mang - Regency and buildup of personality cult
• Wang Mang - As acting emperor
• Wang Mang - Early reign: mistakes
• Wang Mang - Economic policies
• Wang Mang - Deterioration of the relationship with Xiongnu and other vassals
• Wang Mang - Paralysis and corruption of the government
• Wang Mang - Middle reign: agrarian rebellions
• Wang Mang - Late reign: hopelessness
• Wang Mang - Reasons for Wang Mang's failure
• Wang Mang - Personal information

Read more here: » Wang Mang: Encyclopedia - Wang Mang

Chokhmah ("Wisdom"; חכמה) (or chochmah or hokhmah) in the Kabbalah of Judaism, is the uppermost of the Sephirot of the right line (kav yamin which is also the "Pillar of Mercy"). It is derived from the Hebrew word chokhmah (חכמה) which means "wisdom". It is to the bottom right of Keter, and with Binah across it. Under it are the sephirot of Chesed and Netzach. It commonly has four paths going to Keter, Binah, Tifereth, and Chesed. (Som ...

Including:

• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Introduction
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - The first of the intellectual powers of the soul
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Numerology
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - In the texts of Judaism
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - Non-Jewish usages
• Chokhmah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Chokhmah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Chokhmah Kabbalah

The word Chokhmah is read in the Zohar (Numbers 220b) as koach mah, "the power of selflessness," or, alternatively, as cheich mah, "the palate of selflessness." "The power of selflessness" implies not only the attribute of selflessness itself, but the great creative power that selflessness entails. "The palate of selflessness" is the soul's ability to "taste" Divinity by virtue of one's state of selflessness, as is said (Psalms 34:9): "Taste and see that God is good." In general, the sense of sight relates to Chok ...

See also:

Chokhmah Kabbalah, Chokhmah Kabbalah - Introduction, Chokhmah Kabbalah - The first of the intellectual powers of the soul, Chokhmah Kabbalah - Numerology, Chokhmah Kabbalah - In the texts of Judaism, Chokhmah Kabbalah - Non-Jewish usages, Chokhmah Kabbalah - External link

Read more here: » Chokhmah Kabbalah: Encyclopedia II - Chokhmah Kabbalah - In the texts of Judaism

Peace is many things: the meaning of the word peace changes with context. Peace may refer specifically to an agreement concluded to end a war, or to a lack of external warfare, or to a period when a country's armies are not fighting enemies. It can also refer more generally to quietude, such as that common at night or in remote areas, allowing for sleep or meditation. Peace can be an emotion or internal state. And finally, peace can ...

See also:

Peace, Peace - What is peace?, Peace - Selfless Act of Love, Peace - Absence of war, Peace - Absence of violence or of evil; presence of justice, Peace - Plural peaces, Peace - Peace and quiet, Peace - Inner peace, Peace - Environmental Peace, Peace - Is violence necessary?, Peace - Historical examples and counter examples, Peace - Peacemakers, Peace - Nobel Peace Prize, Peace - Quotes

Read more here: » Peace: Encyclopedia II - Peace - What is peace?

The documentation on Sant Thakar Singh's life is mainly limited to the few details he communicated about himself during his talks and public appearances. A biography composed of stories about the Master was collected by Wendy Heid in 1994, and it touches the central points from the perspective of the inner, spiritual aspirations. It has few points of contact with concrete people, places, or times. Sant Thakar Singh corrected and edited this work, however, and it was subsequently reprinted in 2000 and again in 2005, so the facts presented are ...

See also:

Sant Thakar Singh, Sant Thakar Singh - Biography, Sant Thakar Singh - Early years, Sant Thakar Singh - Initiation, Sant Thakar Singh - Period of discipleship, Sant Thakar Singh - Selfless service and devotional work, Sant Thakar Singh - Guruship, Sant Thakar Singh - Illness and death, Sant Thakar Singh - Successor, Sant Thakar Singh - Teachings, Sant Thakar Singh - The Basic Proposition of Spirituality: We Are Souls Not Bodies, Sant Thakar Singh - The Requirement of Personal Experience In Spiritual Matters, Sant Thakar Singh - Soul Is The Prisoner Of Mind And Matter, Sant Thakar Singh - The Purpose Of Human Life, Sant Thakar Singh - Karma And The Revolving Powers, Sant Thakar Singh - The Nature of Suffering, Sant Thakar Singh - The Functional Role of the Living Master, Sant Thakar Singh - The Key Concept Of The Sound Current: Shabd Naam or Word, Sant Thakar Singh - Love versus Attachment, Sant Thakar Singh - Controversies, Sant Thakar Singh - Childhood Meditation, Sant Thakar Singh - Land Purchase In Oregon, Sant Thakar Singh - Work With The Mentally Ill, Sant Thakar Singh - Biographical References

Read more here: » Sant Thakar Singh: Encyclopedia II - Sant Thakar Singh - Biography

Karma Yoga

Path of selfless service, teaching of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita

(See also: Karma Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)