One of the distinctive features of Opus Dei is it's stress of lay spirituality - a spiritual life for lay people living an everyday life and doing ordinary work. Escriva takes decided position against the concept of having an interior spiritual life and a separate "not spiritual" professional, social, and family life. According to Opus Dei, Opus Dei's spirituality commits lay people to sanctify themselves in the same place where they were before they met Opus Dei a ...

See also:

Teachings of Opus Dei, Teachings of Opus Dei - Lay spirituality in ordinary life, Teachings of Opus Dei - Love for freedom, Teachings of Opus Dei - Prayer and mortification, Teachings of Opus Dei - Charity and apostolate, Teachings of Opus Dei - Unity of life, Teachings of Opus Dei - Foundation: divine filiation, Teachings of Opus Dei - Opus Dei teachings and Vatican II, Teachings of Opus Dei - Studies about St. Josemaria's teachings

Read more here: » Teachings of Opus Dei: Encyclopedia II - Teachings of Opus Dei - Lay spirituality in ordinary life

See also:

Spiritual Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Typical methodology and structure of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Theological teachings of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Some historically contextual aspects of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Implied antagonism of Islam within the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Spiritual viewpoint of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Modern applications of the Exercises

Read more here: » Spiritual Exercises: Encyclopedia II - Spiritual Exercises - Theological teachings of the Exercises

One of the central teachings of the Catholic Church's Second Vatican Council is that "All the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord, each in his own way, to that perfect holiness whereby the Father Himself is perfect (Mt 5:48)." "It belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in the affairs of the world and directing them according to God's will." According to José Cardinal Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, "the message of St Josemaría belongs to the ...

See also:

Opus Dei, Opus Dei - Mission in the Catholic Church, Opus Dei - Spiritual teachings: an overview, Opus Dei - Structure: Catholic personal prelature, Opus Dei - Vocation membership and training, Opus Dei - Vocation and membership, Opus Dei - Instruction and training, Opus Dei - Doctrine demands and consequences, Opus Dei - Novelty of doctrine and controversies, Opus Dei - Fidelity and truth vs. ultraconservatism, Opus Dei - Demands: theological basis, Opus Dei - Allegations of being a cult, Opus Dei - Canonisation of Opus Dei's founder, Opus Dei - Opus Dei in society, Opus Dei - Mission and general strategy, Opus Dei - Membership profile, Opus Dei - Activities and work, Opus Dei - Freedom and pluralism vs. far-right politics, Opus Dei - Revolutionary or conservative?, Opus Dei - History of Opus Dei: A timeline, Opus Dei - Footnotes

Read more here: » Opus Dei: Encyclopedia II - Opus Dei - Spiritual teachings: an overview

History of Buddhism

The history of Buddhism is the story of one man's spiritual journey to Enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it.

Read more here: » Buddhism: History of Buddhism

In YOGA Tradition, Karma has a much deeper meaning, which, to a certain extent only, is related to the western idea of Destiny or Fate. In this vision, Karma is the accumulation of our past actions. These past actions (triggering actions) are causes which determine other actions (triggered reactions) in exact accordance with the charge of the corresponding past actions.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma, The Law of Action followed by Reaction

Karma Yoga Lesson IX

All worship began as the worship of the dead, The offer of thilah, good thoughts, and akshatas undying affection to the manes; The tarpana; The fire mystery; The use of incense; the modern fire worship suggested; The Lord's prayer and Fateha; The obligations to other lives in Nature; The Eucharist; The duty to the Universal Mind, Brahma.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson IX (of XI )

Introduction to Buddhism.

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life. This makes Buddhism different from many other faiths for it is not centred on the relationship between humanity and God. Buddhism doesn't fit the pattern of other faiths and needs to be seen in its own terms to be understood properly. Buddhists do not believe in a personal creator God. It does not have the concept of a Saviour, nor of Heaven and Hell in the popular sense. Buddhism doesn't demand blind faith or belief, and says that people should test its teachings against personal experience.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Introduction to Buddhism

A profound comment on history from an unknown source says, ''When you hear two eye-witness accounts of the same traffic accident, you grow suspicious about history''. History of several countries, since long, had been subjected to the Bed of Procrustes of ideologies and fancies; a fact bigger than the bed is cut to size and one shorter is stretched to fill it up. Yet something survives the operation. Despite omissions and exaggerations by the chroniclers, the time-spirit has culled out ideas from events or characters that have contributed to our understanding of the profundities and complexities of life, to the growth of our consciousness, both at the individual and collective planes.

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

Islam and Hinduism: Symbiotic Mysticism In Devotional Poems

Few have heard of the mystic poems Brahma Prakash or Dasa Avatar by the mediaeval Muslim saint Pir Shams. Both are famous ginans of South Asia's Ismaili community, sometimes also known as Khojas or Aga Khanis in popular parlance.

Ginans are hymn-like poems of spiritual import. They are revered by the faithful in deep veneration as repositories of wisdom and spiritual knowledge, and as transmitting the essential teachings of the Holy Qur'an in the vernacular. Composed in Sindhi, Gujarati, Hindustani and Punjabi among other subcontinental languages, the oldest are ascribed to the pirs or saints who first preached Ismaili Islam in India nearly 1,000 years ago.

Read more here: » Islam and Hinduism: Symbiotic Mysticism In Devotional Poems

Pilgrims are flocking to the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer on the occasion of the annual Urs. Popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, the dargah symbolises a touching synthesis of the hopes and prayers of various faiths and communities.

Both Hindus and Muslims remember Moinuddin Chishti as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, revering him for his simple teachings and eclectic philosophy. The Khwaja believed that no spiritual exercise, penitence, prayer, or vigil had greater value than bringing succour to distressed hearts and helping the needy. He directed all his efforts towards alleviation of human misery.

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

The practice of Christian meditation dates back to the beginning of Christianity; its objective is to daily 'empty the self' to experience the fullness of God. It is consonant with Jesus's invitation to his disciples to take up their cross daily and follow him. It is central to Easter celebrations, 'dying' to rise to a New Life.

The way of meditation is the way of silence. Silencing the ceaseless chatter of a mind buzzing with thoughts is not easy. The way to silence is the way of the mantra. Choosing a sacred word and repeating it from the beginning to the end of the period of meditation forms part of the essential teaching of Christian meditation. It is advisable to choose a word of four syllables and pronounce them with equal length. The recommended word in the Christian Tradition is Ma-ra-na-tha. In Aramaic, the language of Jesus's time, it means 'The Lord comes'.

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

Limited availability of resources and their limited potential is everybody's concern. But the Self within a human being has unlimited potential. That's why the concept of self-management is of utmost importance.

Self-management improves efficiency; it bestows peace, cheer and equanimity and equips us to handle the many complexities of life well. Jainism advocates overcoming pesky vices like krodha or anger, mada or vanity, kama or sex and lobha or greed. Jainism recommends the practice of five principal virtues: Ahimsa or non-violence, satya or truth, achaurya or non-covetousness, Brahma-charya or celibacy and aparigraha or non-possession.

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

Science and Spirituality: See the World in a Grain of Salt

Revelation of this excellence in God's creation has been the constant endeavour of science right from the days of Aristotle, Newton and Einstein to the present day.

Realising God's excellence in nature only brought these scientists closer to God - some of them even expressed a feeling of deep religiosity. Einstein said: "Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind".

Read more here: » Science and Spirituality: See the World in a Grain of Salt

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, (written within 1522-1524) is a brief set of meditations, prayers and mental exercises, available in various book formats, designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days. The book is approximately 200 pages long. They appear to have been written with the intention of enhancing and strengthening one's faith-experience in a manner that includes distinctly Roman Catholic nuances. Spiritual Exercises - Typical methodology and structure of the Exercises. ...

Including:

• Spiritual Exercises - Typical methodology and structure of the Exercises
• Spiritual Exercises - Theological teachings of the Exercises
• Spiritual Exercises - Some historically contextual aspects of the Exercises
• Spiritual Exercises - Implied antagonism of Islam within the Exercises
• Spiritual Exercises - Spiritual viewpoint of the Exercises
• Spiritual Exercises - Modern applications of the Exercises

Read more here: » Spiritual Exercises: Encyclopedia - Spiritual Exercises

Epiphany: Amid darkness, light

There's a temptation to feel a little bit of a letdown this time of year, even after a really great holiday season. And there's unrest in many places vying for center stage on news broadcasts around the world. Not all the darkness is outside; our hearts have been touched and saddened.

Read more here: » Christian Science: Epiphany - Amid darkness, light

In Hindu philosophy the cycle of evolution of life is divided into four yugas (epochs or eras): Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga Treta Yuga Dwapara Yuga Kali Yuga Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga. In Hindu tradition, the world goes through a continuous cycle of these epochs. Each ascending phase of the cycle from Kali Yuga to Satya Yuga is followed by a descending phase back to Kali Yuga, then another ascending phase and so on. Alt ...

Including:

• Yuga - The spiritual states of civilization in each yuga
• Yuga - References
• Yuga - Sri Yukteswar's teachings on the yugas
• Yuga - Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet's teachings on the yugas
• Yuga - Yugas in Ayyavazhi
• Yuga - References

Read more here: » Yuga: Encyclopedia - Yuga

Charles Buell Anderson, born ca. 1926, is the controversial founder and head of the organization currently known as Endeavor Academy, which also operates under the name "New Christian Church of Full Endeavor." The headquarters for his organization is located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA. Endeavor Academy is a spiritual residential community/school that incorporates many aspects of the spiritual teachings known as A Course In Miracles (or ACIM). Anderson has a policy of seldom granting personal interviews. One of the results of t ...

Including:

• Charles Buell Anderson - Anderson's experience at ground-zero of Nagasaki and early adult life
• Charles Buell Anderson - Two more 'uncommon spiritual experiences'
• Charles Buell Anderson - An experience of forgiveness
• Charles Buell Anderson - An experience of being 'gutted'
• Charles Buell Anderson - Beginnings of a student organization
• Charles Buell Anderson - Early teachings
• Charles Buell Anderson - Comparison of teachings to ACIM teachings
• Charles Buell Anderson - Founding of international centers
• Charles Buell Anderson - Reports of former students
• Charles Buell Anderson - Hailed for removing ACIM copyrights
• Charles Buell Anderson - Footnotes

Read more here: » Charles Buell Anderson: Encyclopedia - Charles Buell Anderson

David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. is an American author, mystic, spiritual teacher, and psychiatrist in Sedona, Arizona. He is a proponent of using applied kinesiology to calibrate the consciousness level of ideas, things, and people. Hawkins directs the non-profit Institute for Advanced Spiritual Research and operates Veritas Publishing to publish his work. David R. Hawkins - Background. His promoters claim he is unique in that he achieved a very advanced state of spiritual awareness and his scientific and cli ...

Including:

• David R. Hawkins - Background
• David R. Hawkins - Early life and professional development
• David R. Hawkins - Professional life
• David R. Hawkins - Spiritual teaching
• David R. Hawkins - Calibration
• David R. Hawkins - Quotes
• David R. Hawkins - Books

Read more here: » David R. Hawkins: Encyclopedia - David R. Hawkins

The Báb · Abdu'l-Bahá Kitáb-i-Aqdas · Kitáb-i-Íqán The Hidden Words Administrative Order The Guardian Universal House of Justice Continental Counsellors Spiritual Assembly Haifa · Akká Shiraz · Baghdad Bahá'í History · Timeline Bábís · Shaykh Ahmad Táhirih · Quddús · Badí' Shoghi Effendi Rúhíyyih Khanum Unity of humanity Unity of religion Gender equality Universal education Science and religion Auxilliary language Symbols · H ...

Including:

• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Teachings
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Spiritual nature of women
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Women's role in the addvancement of humanity
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Equality of women as a prerequisite to peace
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Education of women
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Women's relationship to men
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Historical reasons why women have been seen as lower than men
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Historical women figures in Bahá'í history
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Táhirih
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Bahíyyih Khánum
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Social initiatives
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Voting
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Laws giving preference to women or men
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Laws giving preference to women
• Bahá'í Faith and gender equality - Laws giving preference to men

Read more here: » Bahá'í Faith and gender equality: Encyclopedia - Bahá'í Faith and gender equality

The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei, commonly known as Opus Dei (Latin for "Work of God") or Opus ("the Work"), is a prelature created by the Roman Catholic Church, composed of a prelate, secular priests, and lay people, whose mission is to spread the Catholic teaching that everyone is called to become a saint and an apostle. The Opus Dei Prelature "encourages Christians of all social classes to live consistently with their faith in the middle of ...

Including:

• Opus Dei - Mission in the Catholic Church
• Opus Dei - Spiritual teachings: an overview
• Opus Dei - Structure: Catholic personal prelature
• Opus Dei - Vocation membership and training
• Opus Dei - Vocation and membership
• Opus Dei - Instruction and training
• Opus Dei - Doctrine demands and consequences
• Opus Dei - Novelty of doctrine and controversies
• Opus Dei - Fidelity and truth vs. ultraconservatism
• Opus Dei - Demands: theological basis
• Opus Dei - Allegations of being a cult
• Opus Dei - Canonisation of Opus Dei's founder
• Opus Dei - Opus Dei in society
• Opus Dei - Mission and general strategy
• Opus Dei - Membership profile
• Opus Dei - Activities and work
• Opus Dei - Freedom and pluralism vs. far-right politics
• Opus Dei - Revolutionary or conservative?
• Opus Dei - History of Opus Dei: A timeline
• Opus Dei - Footnotes

Read more here: » Opus Dei: Encyclopedia - Opus Dei