Love Feasts, Agapae (Ancient Greek). These banquets of charity held by the earliest Christians were founded at Rome by Clemens, in the reign of Domitian. Professor A. Kestner’s The Agape or the Secret World Society (Wiltbund) of the Primitive Christians" (published 1819 at Jena) speaks of these Love Feasts as "having a hierarchical constitution, and a groundwork of Masonic symbolism and Mysteries" ; and shows a direct connection between the old Agape and the Table Lodges or Banquets of the Freemasons. Having, however, exiled from their suppers the "holy kiss" and women, the banquets of the latter are rather "drinking" than "love" feasts. The early Agape were certainly the same as the Phallica, which "were once as pure as the Love Feasts of early Christians" as Mr. Bonwick very justly remarks, "though like them rapidly degenerating into licentiousness". (Eg. Bel. and Mod. Thought, p. 260.)

(See also: Love Feasts, Agapae, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

International Society of Divine Love

(ISDL) Founded by H. D. Prakashanand Saraswati, Hindu-based organization teaching Bhakti Yoga.

(See also: International Society of Divine Love, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

International Society of Divine Love

(ISDL) Founded by H. D. Prakashanand Saraswati, Hindu-based organization teaching Bhakti Yoga.

(See also: International Society of Divine Love, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Come out of the circle of time, and into the circle of love.

- Rumi

(See also: Spiritual Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Tell me whom you love, and I will tell you who you are.

- Houssaye

(See also: Spiritual Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

Love and timeÑthose are the only two things in all the world and all of life that cannot be bought, but only spent.

- Gary Jennings

(See also: Spiritual Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

When love comes from the heart, it is the motivator, energiser and strengthener that gives you the power to speak boldly and act courageously - all the while respecting the people and conditions you find yourself in.

One day, this statement from Sathya Sai Baba really caught our attention: 

There is no power more effective than Love.

See also: Spirituality At Work, Work As A Spiritual Practice, Spiritual Based Leadership)

There's this story about a writer who drifted into journalism. Sent to a distant island to cover a civil war, he happily lazed around in a beach house, watched spectacular sunrises and breathtaking sunsets, and occasionally heard the distant 'musical' rumble of guns.

He faithfully recorded all this, and was promptly sacked for missing the 'big story'. But while he was an utter failure as a journalist, wasn't he an astute observer of the relative truth of the waking state?

(See also: Spirituality and Journalism, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things donÕt matter at all, because once you are Real you canÕt be ugly, except to people who donÕt understand.

- Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

(See also: Spiritual Quotes, Love Quotes, Friendship Quotes, Life Quotes)

All of us need to believe that we are loved and are lovable. We begin life secure in our mother's love, swaddled in our innocence. Love was never in question, but over time, we become increasingly unsure...

In The Path to Love , Deepak Chopra says that by bringing spirituality back into our relationships, we can discover a world of depth and meaning. He says: "You were created to be completely loved and to be completely lovable for your whole life".

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

Where does the average seeker find stability in spiritual growth? Is there a 'how to' manual of integration into daily life? Many a spiritual seeker is becoming aware that he is more than his physical body.

There is a deep craving to understand what is their calling. The revival of ancient wisdom is growing and that growth is having an effect on the way we perceive spirituality.

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

We have our ups and downs, successes and failures, elations and disappointments. Nothing is certain but change. Winners turn losers and vice versa, for that is the law of nature. Impermanence is a permanent feature of life. The best way to deal with the transiency is to learn to maximise our spiritual quotient.

Many of us know of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People where he elaborates on habits we need to acquire in order to be effective. Twenty virtues have been elaborated by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

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

A young boy went to a guru and asked him how he could find God. The guru realised that the boy had spiritual leanings but was far too young to be educated in the abstract knowledge of the Vedas and the Upanishads . He asked the boy who he loved the most. The boy replied: "My calf. I play with him all the time. He is my companion". The guru asked the boy to meditate on the calf.

After a few months when the guru went to meet the young disciple, he found him crying. "I am losing my mind", he said. "The calf has become so small that it sits on my palm". The guru advised the disciple to continue meditating on the calf.

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

In today's fast-changing world, materialism and stress have become part of our everyday lives. We are constantly looking for answers: How to live a successful and happy life?

One way of finding out answers to this question could be to explore the Spiritual Quotient (SQ), relating to our ability to understand and comprehend the spiritual aspects of life, which, contrary to popular belief, are not necessarily connected to religion.

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

A regular at religious discourses, I've often found followers of one guru or faith criticising other gurus, teachers and devotees, because they think that their own philosophy is far superior. They tend to assess the learnedness or otherwise of a teacher according to the number of disciples and ashrams.

If those who profess to be spiritual seekers behave in this manner, what can we expect from lesser mortals? Why is it so difficult for us to respect the right of others to follow any teaching or teacher of their choice? No one who claims loyalty to any faith that advocates compassion, tolerance and understanding can afford to ignore these tenets.

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

The fourteenth century Native American Iroquois Constitution opens with a prayer of gratitude. It offers thanks "to the earth where men dwell; to streams of water, springs and lakes; to the maize and fruits and medicinal herbs; to the sun and moon, wind and thunder... and to the great creator, the source of life".

Gratitude is one of the first principles of spiritual well-being. Blessings abound in the life of each of us, and a keener appreciation of the same unlocks the secrets of the universe. In opening our hearts wide to render thanks we automatically create the space in our consciousness for greater grace to flow in. A thankful heart is an open heart and is thus, open to receiving. Meister Eckhart, the German mystic observed, "If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice."

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

MP3

This is a 27 minutes long interview with Neal Donald Walsch, one of the most successful authors and dedicated messengers of our time in the spiritual field. He is the author of the popular *Conversations with God* trilogy, and many others great books has comed from his pen.

He also made the move "Indigo" together with James Twyman and Stephen Simon.

Neal Donald Walsch was interviewd by Jacob Mathiassen in Arhus, Denmark, October 6th 2005.

It is a great interview!!

Please click here to listen: www.joyto.be/Neale_Interview.mp3

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

"Beloved Friends,

On 15th of November an eight minute report about Indigo Children was broadcast worldwide on CNN, showing that the subject has at last reached mass consciousness. Articles in USA Today as well as other major newspapers and magazines indicates that our goal of bringing the message of the Children to the world is being achieved. If you would like to view the report online, please go to:

www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2005/11/15/tuchman.indigo.children.affl

This means that when THE INDIGO EVOLUTION documentary is released this January, the world will be ready to finally respond to the messages as well as the needs of the New Children. The success of the World Premier test-screening of the film in Phoenix earlier this week has set the stage for major impact. Thanks to everyone who has supported this movement and the Children themselves. It looks as if all our effort is about to pay off, for the Children and for humanity itself.

James Twyman"

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Why have children? I often put this question to parents and I get varied answers: For the sheer joy of having them around, to ensure the continuity of the family tree, to produce heirs, for security in old age, and so on.

Others say that children enrich their lives. But how? I've always wanted to hear more on this, but they usually stop short of giving a deeper explanation.

In fact, very few parents have been able to give expression to the learning experience they undergo in the process of raising or interacting with children. Raising children or educating them is not just a one-sided affair where all learning / teaching flows from the parents or teachers to the child-students.

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

A man who wished to be initiated into meditation went to a great sage and asked to be accepted as his disciple. The sage made him close his eyes gently and told him that the first step of meditation was to practise compassion. "Amity, compassion, amity, compassion" - the sage kept repeating.

The man, however, was not concentrating. Finally he opened his eyes and begged to be allowed to say something. "I can wish everybody well but my neighbour. I have a lawsuit against him. Can I leave him out?"

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