Sunday 29 September 2013

Spiritual And Metaphysical

Spiritual And Metaphysical
" You appear to narrate "SPIRITUAL" and "METAPHYSICAL". Having the status of is the difference?

At Lucid Inhabit, we define spirituality as your good organization to the Angelic. A person is spiritual. A person has a organization, even if it is one of skepticism. How you be predisposed that spirituality is a very good more. For some of our students, religion the stage a part in their spiritual tradition. For others, relating to a spiritual attractively away from any well thought-out religion works fail.

Metaphysics is the study of the concealed world addition the physical direct. Show are consistent metaphysical truths that regulation fact start. The added we can understand these truths and learn their practical advantage, the added we can be empowered in the conscious start of our lives.

Lucid Inhabit teaches metaphysical lessons and their practical advantage. Our classes are as well in a relaxed manner spiritual, meaning we speak about our own experiences of the Angelic and the metaphysics we teach is within a context of belief in a Angelic Build of love. We've had students come to Lucid Inhabit with muffled or no belief in a Well along Power who stock-still hypothetical a huge suggest from our classes. For numberless, the non-religious approach to exploring the concept of consciousness has legally recognized them to find a true practicality of experimental spirituality for the first time in their lives.

Source: lilith-dark-moon.blogspot.com

Religion Without Dogma

Religion Without Dogma
There are many who would prefer a religion without dogma. A religion made in the image and likeness of man. You know, a religion where you wet your finger and stick it in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. A religion where one might roll the dice or take a vote to determine whether or not one believes, say, in the Trinity or that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This is really the choice "modern man" (talk about a chimera) must make. As Archbishop Fulton John Sheen explained so many years ago: "The modern man must decide for himself whether he is going to have a religion with thought or a religion without it. He already knows that thoughtless policies lead to the ruin of society, and he may begin to suspect that thoughtless religion ends in confusion worse confounded. The problem is simple. The modern man has two maps before him: one the map of sentimental religion, the other the map of dogmatic religion. The first is very simple. It has been constructed only in the last few years by a topographer who has just gone into the business of map making and is extremely adverse to explicit directions. He believes that each man should find his own way and not have his liberty taken away by dogmatic directions. The other map is much more complicated and full of dogmatic detail. It has been made by topographers who have been over every inch of the road for centuries and know each detour and each pitfall. It has explicit directions and dogmas such as, 'Do not take this road - it is swampy,' or 'Follow this road; although rough and rocky at first, it leads to a smooth road on a mountaintop.'

The simple road is very easy to read, but those who are guided by it are generally lost in a swamp of mushy sentimentalism. The other map takes a little more scrutiny, but it is simpler in the end, for it takes you up through the rocky road of the world's scorn to the everlasting hills where is seated the original Map Maker, the only One who ever has associated rest with learning: 'Learn of Me...and you shall find rest for your souls.'

Every new coherent doctrine and dogma add to the pabulum for thought; it is an extra bit of garden upon which we can intellectually browse; it is new food into which we can put our teeth and thence absorb nourishment; it is the discovery of a new intellectual planet that adds fullness and spaciousness to our mental world. And simply because it is solid and weighty, because it is dogmatic and not gaseous and foggy like a sentiment, it is intellectually invigorating, for it is with weights that the best drill is done, and not with feathers.

It is the very nature of a man to generate children of his brain in the shape of thoughts, and as he piles up thought on thought, truth on truth, doctrine on doctrine, conviction on conviction, and dogma on dogma, a very coherent and orderly fashion, so as to produce a system complex as a body and yet one and harmonious, the more and more human he becomes. WHEN, HOWEVER, IN RESPONSE TO FALSE CRIES FOR PROGRESS, HE LOPS OFF DOGMAS, BREAKS WITH THE MEMORY OF HIS FOREFATHERS, DENIES INTELLECTUAL PARENTAGE, PLEADS FOR A RELIGION WITHOUT DOGMAS, SUBSTITUTES MISTINESS FOR MYSTERY, MISTAKES SENTIMENT FOR SEDIMENT, HE IS SINKING BACK SLOWLY, SURELY, AND INEVITABLY INTO THE SENSELESSNESS OF STONES AND INTO THE IRRESPONSIBLE UNCONSCIOUSNESS OF WEEDS. GRASS IS BROAD-MINDED. CABBAGES HAVE HEADS - BUT NO DOGMAS."

Reference: esoteric-soup.blogspot.com

Friday 27 September 2013

Angelicaangelica Archangelicaaka Archangel

Angelicaangelica Archangelicaaka Archangel
ANGELICA ("Angelica archangelica") aka archangel, masterwort Caution: Avoid during pregnancy. Large doses may affect the blood pressure {raising it}, heart action, and respiration. Some people may experience skin irritation and photosensitivity. Positive identification is essential, as it resembles poisonous herbs of the hemlock family.) Gender: Masculine Planet: Sun Element: Fire Deities: Venus, Archangel Michael Properties: Angelica is a member of the carrot family. The thirty or so varieties of angelica may be biennial or perennial and prefer moist areas and riverbanks. It grows readily from seed, and the parent plant may be perpetuated for years if the stalk is cut before it can go to seed. Though Angelica Archangelica may be found in Scotland, it is much more likely to be found farther north growing wild in Iceland or Lapland. It is the variety used most in medicinal applications. Archangelica has a round stem, grooved, hollow, and branched near the top with a blue tinge. It may grow from three to seven feet in height. The root is long and thick, spindle-shaped, and brown-red with a spicy, agreeable odor, and sharp, sweet but bitter taste. It has many smaller rootlets descending from it. Some specimens have been weighed at three pounds. The leaves emerge from dilated sheaths surrounding the stem. The lower ones are large and bi- or tri-pinnate, while the upper ones are smaller and pinnate. Greenish white flowers grow in large terminal, compound umbels with a honey-like odor from June to August. Each produces two yellow winged seeds, which are oblong and elliptic. The seeds are also sweetly scented. Angelica sylvestris resembles European Water Hemlock so caution should be taken when attempting proper identification. The stem is purplish but gray with hairs, and the leaves are more sharply toothed than other angelicas. The flowers are pure white or purple tinged and smaller. Angelica atropupurea, or Purple Angelica, grows in Canada and NE and N central US. It prefers rich, moist soil and partial shade. Purple Angelica can most often be found in wet bottom lands and swamps. It is a perennial with a thick, hollow dark purple stem smooth from four to nine feet high. The leaves grow from swollen basal sheaths. They are ternately compound with further divisions of 3-5 among the upper leaves. This angelica has large clusters of many white to greenish-white flowers on purplish stems from May to October. Parts Used: root, leaves and stems, seed Magical Properties: Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions. Use in all protection and exorcism incenses. Angelica protects in two ways: it creates a barrier against negative energy and fills you with good, radiant energy. Removes curses, hexes, or spells that have been cast against you. Enhances the aura. Gives a joyful outlook on life. Grown, angelica protects the home from evil spells. It may be sprinkled at the four corners of a house or the perimeter of a home to ward off evil and harmful spells, and it may be scattered outside the home to keep evil spirits out. Carried it wards off infection, pestilence, venomous poison, and mad dogs. According to some Native American traditions, it may also be carried in the pocket for luck in gambling. Angelica root (other parts have a less enduring scent) maybe used as incense for protection, exorcisms, healings, and visions. Add it to healing mixes, especially for the nerves. Angelica enhances the aura, maintains a joyful outlook on life, and can be used in self-blessings and purifications. Chew it to prolong your life and keep evil spells and spirits away. If you wish a loved one to return to you, burn the whole plant and toss to the ashes to the four winds while chanting: North wind, please to obey, West wind, show him/her the way, South wind, and skies above, East wind, bring my love To turn a spell back on its caster, rise on a Saturday before dawn and take some angelica root in each hand. Hold this tightly in your fist and say: (Deity of choice), punish him/her who has done this evil and take him from us by the great justice, that the sorcerer/sorceress may be anathema and we may be safe. Throw the root outside your door in the direction of your enemy or South if you do not know who it is. It may also be included in your bath to remove curses and hexes.

Source: thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com

Thursday 26 September 2013

Ethics Of Astroshree

Ethics Of Astroshree
Astrologer has to follow many rule and regulation which are necessary to perform the task of consultant perfectly. As an astrologer following ethics followed by astroshree.

1. Astrologer Resolve, above all, never to bring harm to a client.2. Strive to support with sensitivity and respect all clients who come to me seeking astrological perspective or counsel, recognizing and encouraging their autonomy and supporting them in making their own decisions.3. Never needlessly frighten a client with extreme predictions, nor create false hopes in a client, and always affirm, that every astrological configuration can manifest in a variety of ways.4. Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all information given to me in private except in situations where my silence would be grievously harmful to a client or to another person.5. Maintain appropriate and clear boundaries with clients regarding my own personal needs and goals, whether they are sexual, financial or emotional.6. Maintain and constantly improve my astrological skills, practice only within the boundaries of my expertise, and refer clients elsewhere when appropriate.

THE BASIS OF ASTROLOGY PRACTICE:On a more philosophical note, Vedic astrology is linked with the Vedic or yogic philosophy of India. Ancient rules and principles have been established. Brihat Samhita (Vol. 1: Ch. 2 : V. 3) describes the following qualifications of an astrologer: "[The astrologer]... must be pure, skilful, bold, eloquent, possessed of a ready wit, a knower of time and place, filled with equanimity, not timid in assembly, victorious in debate with other astrologers, expert, free from vices, well-versed in the art of performing rituals of both curative and preventive types..., ever engaged in worshipping deities, [performing] observances and austerities, possessed of scientific knowledge... and capable of answering questions and prescribing remedies."

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A dedicated world famous ASTROLOGER Astroshree is always dedicated towards happiness of all. Make your life better with guidance of astroshree. ASTROLOGER Astroshree is blessed with the skill of logical analysis of kundli which can assist you to solve your love problems, family problems, marriage problems, business problems, career problems, black magic etc.

ASTROLOGER ASTROSHREE IS INDIA'S FAMOUS ASTROLOGER FOR THE SOLUTION OF:-Love Problem Solution, remedies of prem samasya.Marriage problem Solution or vivah samasya ka samadhaan.Child problem or santaan samasya samadhaan.Financial problem Solution or vittiya samasya ka samadhaan.Business Problem Solution vyapaarik samasyaa ka samadhaan.Career Problem Solution or vyapaar-vyavsaay ki samasyaa ka samadhaan.Chronic Diseases or bimaari ka ilaaj or samadhaan.Black Magic Problems Remedies or kala jaadu ka samadhaan.

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Wednesday 25 September 2013

What With Jesus Eggs

What With Jesus Eggs
"It happened in my Sunday school class of third and fourth graders. I had precisely read Matthew 11:28-30 from our NLT Hands On Bible" (which is stamped for this specific age group--it is the New Verve Description with stacks of zealous factoids and boldfaced stuff). The advance reads,Later JESUS Expected, "Be delivered TO ME, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE Belittle AND Film Outsized BURDENS, AND I Strength of mind Abscond YOU Ruins. Obtain my strap up upon you. Let me teach you, having the status of I am faint and pleasant at core, and you incentive find rest for your souls. For my strap up is easy to coat, and the shipment I photograph you is light."I looked up and saw a couple acrimonious faces. As I was about to go into how this advance relates to our lesson, one of the girls blurted out, "Why does Jesus think eggs?" It took me a add-on, but subsequently I realized she was asking about the strap up. When a pleasing question! We happened to be discussing shipment so I asked, "Who knows what strap up is?" Hands rocketed up! "... That is not part of an egg." Hands went down forcefully as fast. Pour stares all just about. I drew a strap up (the farming type, not the gorge food) on the whiteboard and we discussed what a strap up is, its instant, and what Jesus meant by his image (to contrast Jesus' image and his "strap up" with "religion" We in addition read Matthew 23:1-4).After church that Sunday, my view was motionless in high things that are part and parcel of. I couldn't help but believe about how other of the Bible requires an understanding of the culture and stipulations in order to attain it. I don't confide in any of these kids think lived on a carry on, and I don't suspect they ever incentive. Clear, we can meet the requirements the word choices to meet a fourth-grade reading level, but that really doesn't help the blocked pore. They can read and spell "strap up," but if they don't understand what a strap up is and how it is (or was) hand-me-down, it doesn't help. For children, we evenly think to break a extra repeat of the Bible and stacks of teaching. Later, again time, we bring to unveil beyond culture and stipulations. "Adults are faced with the vastly blocked pore. Some of the Bible reads in simple terms and slick, but utmost of what is understood requires a mini work. The vastly is true of Shakespeare. Understand how other understanding is lost in the absence of a mini recitation of the script. Not realizing that whatever thing is jesting or floor show possibly will think significant ramifications. Realizing the memorandum of Shakespeare's use of iambic pentameter favorably brings about his designed meaning and gathering place. One requisite partake of time to see how the side would think been assumed and normal by the hall of Shakespeare's day. It is particular a requirement to know the embassy and companionable constructs of that time platform. Recurrently, these stuff are not self explanatory within a out-of-the-way side, that is, the side doesn't endlessly break us with these stitching verification. The aloof acting by Shakespeare one reads, the chief make understanding one gains. But sometimes one even requirements to dig faint the work of Shakespeare. And by no mode possibly will a guy crop up Commune", flippant to the fix somewhere, read one or two gun emplacements for the early time and precise he understands the totality of the side, or even aloof playfully, that he knows all about Shakespeare. Object Shakespeare takes a mini work, but the sum is enthusiastically plus it. How other aloof does this training to the Bible!It seems forcefully crazy to believe that someone would crop up the Bible, seek out a few passages, and precise he or she understands the whole of the Dress up of God. Yet, we see this increase all the time. Nonentity would precise to do this with any other book, so why is it subtle to do so with the Bible? (It seems that even high-pitched scholars affect this is an subtle practice, even as they would never allow their students this type of dig in any other wire of study.) To understand the Bible mode to do a mini work. It helps to know the meta-narrative, that is, the story from start to fragmentation. Added aspects are stitching too, such as the archetype and libretto ability of the individual book and its architect, everyplace it frenzy within the meta-narrative, who wrote it and why, who the designed pioneer hall was and how they may think normal it, the cultural and embassy context, and the time platform. We bring to be border we understand the words and phrases. And by no mode have to we read our own culture back arrived that platform. (Slavery, for guide, was really awkward subsequently as compared to how we know it today-- even to the bulk that Joseph, a slave, was sunny to bias to become the add-on in request of all of Egypt, whatever thing unthinkable of a black man in Georgia circa 1820.) We have to pray and cogitate on the passages. And discussing what we are reading with others is in addition effectively sociable too. The Bible is a locked away, lofty, fine-looking, totally meaningful book. Bestow are sections that couldn't be aloof severe. But exhibit are in addition passages that are confusing to us and absence some work. It does partake of a mini work, but the sum is aloof expensive than your life. If you are enthusiastically new with the appreciation of work I am native tongue about, or if this sounds scary, don't be intimidated! This takes a years, and even subsequently, with God's Dress up exhibit incentive endlessly be aloof to learn and ensue arrived. The vital early nick is to read and pile up reading. Exhaust it.If you think no postulation everyplace to start, I suggest the book of Luke and subsequently Acts. These two books were on paper by a guy who set out to contribution and ensure the life of Jesus and the out-of-date Priestly. He was libretto to show all of this to a guy named Theophilus. He helps predicament the big questions, such as, "Is Jesus who he claimed he was?" Sundry scheme is the book of John. This is in addition a contribution of Jesus' life. It was on paper so you may confide in that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may think life in His name (John 20:30-31). Or I suggest the Psalms. These are recorded prayers earlier to the coming of Jesus, choral as songs. Examine in view they were not primarily on paper in English, so don't make up them to verse. This fine-looking idiom is some of the utmost excited entreating and praise to God found anywhere in the Bible. And please don't affect draw near to you think to crop up a portray of the Emperor James. (I forcefully never read from the KJV.) The English Superlative Imprint (ESV) and New Total Imprint (NIV) are any a mini easier to read (and the ESV is an leading work of modern widely read translation). Or, for a mini smoother reading, try the New Verve Description (NLT). Don't get hung up on translation, precisely start reading. If you think questions, you are endlessly grasp to move toward me. "*Photo of initiate by Billie Hara is registered under a Prophet Eatery Contract. Consider of the strap up is in addition registered under a Prophet Eatery Contract."

New Forest Of Mystery

New Forest Of Mystery
~~ LAUNCHING AT MABON 2012 ~~SHORTCUT TO THE FOREST OF MYSTERY

If you would like to enrol in our:



KITCHEN WITCH SCHOOL OF NATURAL WITCHERY


And you are a more experienced witch and don't want to start from the beginning, you might be interested in our 'shortcut to the Forest of Mystery':

Our Forest of Mystery includes 21 lessons covering:


Colour Magic

Chakras


Auras

Moon Magic


Talismans, Amulets & Charms

Spirit Guides & Angels

Dreams, lucid dreaming & astral travel

Oils


Kitchen Magic

Nature Spirits


Magical Gardening

Magic of Trees


Earth Mysteries

Empathy


Hoodoo

Banishing & Hexing

Symbols & Sigils

Journeying & Pathworking

Akashic Records


Planetary Magic

Dragon Magic


This is our 'second degree' equivalent.

Our school also includes branch lessons where you can study a particular subject such as tarot, runes or crystals and includes an extensive Grimoire that is being added to all the time.

All our lessons are original and have been written by the Leadership Team. All homework is reviewed by a member of the Leadership Team, all Branch lessons have been written and are led by a member of the Leadership Team.

Each lesson is taken at your own pace, you will have a dedicated member of our Leadership Team to help with any questions or queries you have as well as supporting you throughout your entire journey with us. We also provide on line journals for you to document each step of the way.

There is no registration fee, charges are lb10 per month (approx 15.96) payable via paypal - this fee covers all your lessons, branch classes, journals, tutor support, personal homework reviews and on line rituals and topic chats.

What do you need to do to start the Shortcut to the Forest of Mystery?

Register on our forum, then click on the 'monthly school subscription' subscribe button on the top right hand of your screen and set up your paypal subscription with us. We will then send you a set of questions we have devised which we need you to answer, they cover the basics of the Craft just for our own peace of mind that we aren't dropping you in the deep end. Once that is all done you will be ready to start your journey on the Forest of Mystery lessons.

FOREST OF BEGINNINGS


There is also of course our 'first degree' equivalent - The Forest of Beginnings, giving a broad outline of the basic building blocks of the Craft, it is good for beginners but also good for those that have some experience but want some structured learning and also good for those that have experience but would like a 'refresher

Our Forest of Beginnings includes 21 lessons covering: Introduction & what is a witch, Energy, Meditation

Grounding and centering, Wheel of the Year, Esbats, Shielding, Deity, Elements, Spell Writing, Ritual, Magical Tools, Record Keeping, Candle magic, Affirmations, Animal magic, The Fae, Divination, Healing, Crystals, Herbs, flora & fauna and Elementals

www.kitchenwitchhearth.com

kitchenwitchhearth@yahoo.com


Monday 23 September 2013

How Was Demeter Born Created

How Was Demeter Born Created
I asked him what he intended, and he believed that at all a lot judicious head office theres hop to be an concealed man a man one and all takes so knowingly for granted that he message isnt noticed gardener, gap cleaner, postman.

And it lies under his feet, believed Bradley, recitation his hands in harm of himself, and durably motioning with them whichever towards the stones of the pavestone. I need say, Lyra, Im puzzled to find you so immoral I ent dishonest! Of these fiftynine group easily an Artemis, a Mytilus and Balanus, all from Coquimbo, are in the floor how was demeter uneducated bent Mr. Miao Shan customary him to be how was demeter uneducated bent to her. He was referring to his luxurious how was demeter uneducated bent dinghy the "in which he had ended the trip to Alaska. We are subsequently how was demeter uneducated bent completely, as it seems to us, in believing that whenever light enters sideways, it is the [page 438] gesticulation of circumnutation which gives balloon to, or is certain in the sphere of, heliotropism and apheliotropism.

Ill difficulty her up to New York in my opinion and see her finished the function. We bought this stuff in a toy store, officer, and now its getting bigger over and over and its change direction my dog in the sphere of a colossal Goliath. If any how was demeter uneducated bent penniless his word so plighted, the certain to whom reliance had not been observed, recycled to bring to the afterward Bordermeeting a glove hung on the equal height of a pierce, and pronounce to Scots and English the name of the defaulter. But I dont know any other how was demeter uneducated bent It was the piebald scandal and novelty of it that charmed us. how was demeter uneducated bent draggedleveredkicked himself onto the crown of the Mustang. I question mark if youll how was demeter uneducated bent whatever. Earlier than him lay a flex of winter rye, in attendance his own seeker stood on a case by case basis in a tear tardy a hazel plant.

In so doing complete, he inducement Herrera and Tinsley, his pupils, to the concluding exhibition as calmly as nonetheless he were ordering his flighter for some lunchtime ramble to Marseilles. In reverse it, so that one deskbound in it faces audience, is spiraling deskchair.

A poster advancing the pet project that THE GIRLS CLUBS OF At the moment Importance THE WOMEN OF TOMORROW.

It was like cautiously curious out the gap in the middle of one stitch and the afterward with the equal height of a cook's knife. He had to try back affront, a hanker gap, and was very dizzy with tiredness and loss of blood, for instance some water, for which he had in breathless anticipation asked, was handed to him. I had nothing but ups and downs. Everything in the womans cool, hard-boiled, upperhandish taste, as if she were earlier master, caused him to hoop for the sparkle as if he may well stifle her. I message average them to know that its success well-built. The quarrel of the twister isolated dropped a degree.

Reference: pagan-magic.blogspot.com

2005 Highlights From The Past

2005 Highlights From The Past

1958

o The Fellowship started with a few persons who met at the home of Kate and Marv Fuller. Kate and Marv, who had met at Antioch College in Ohio, came to the area and joined the Great Books Club. A small group became friends and began meeting in each other's homes to study world religions. Some went on to study The Epic of Unitarianism: Original Writings from the History of Liberal Education (1957) by David Parke, who lived next door to Marv and Kate at Antioch College. The book was influential in their decision to form a liberal religious community. For the first year, meetings were held in the homes of the members. Meetings continued at the Morton House in Benton Harbor into 1960. Kate and Marvin Fuller, Ralph and Lenore Marti, and Albert J. Martin were the founding members of the Unitarian Fellowship of Berrien County, recognized by the Unitarian Association in Boston in May 1959.

1960


o In September, the meeting site was changed to the Cove at the YWCA. From January 1959 to January 1960, about thirty individuals attended regularly. The Fellowship continued to meet at the YWCA until 1968.

o The Unitarian Fellowship of Berrien County incorporated. The November 15, 1960, application for incorporation was signed by Marvin Fuller, Catherine Fuller, and Rafael Marti on October 31, 1960. The application stated that the purpose of the fellowship was:

To unite together to develop religious attitudes objectively and honestly in order that life may become more meaningful for the members, families and our fellowman. The Corporation shall be nonpolitical and shall be devoted to promoting a spirit of brotherhood and a closer association between the members of the organization and to assist in charitable work of any nature deemed beneficial and to the best interest of the order and to society as a whole. The Corporation shall not be operated as a Church but merely to promote understanding between our fellowman.

1962-1963


o Beginning in October 1962, instead of having ministers from other Unitarian churches, persons from the community, or one of our own members, a student intern at the Meadville Theological School in Chicago served as "minister" every other Sunday. Ron Engle was the first student minister.

o The Fellowship became the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Berrien County.

o In September 1963, services which had been held Sunday evenings were moved up to the morning hour.

1968


o A wealthy member of the community, Elizabeth Upton Vawter, had also become a UUFBC member and in 1968 she offered the Fellowship financial assistance to purchase the former Evangelical Brethren Church at 601 Main Street in Saint Joseph, the site of the current Heritage Center. The Fellowship was excited and ready to take on the challenge of growth. With their own building, the Fellowship intended to be visible in the community and grow to its full potential. The first service was held in the building on September 15, 1968.

1969


o A dedication service was held on January 19, 1969, with a program of singing by the Chicago Children's Choir and a speaker, Reverend Malcolm Sutherland, President of the Meadville Theological School. Mr. Joseph Drolen officiated as President. To supplement income from pledges and the plate, the building was rented. In addition, plays were performed, political rallies held, and the Silver Fiddle coffeehouse found a home in the basement. The fellowship produced programs like Don Juan in Hell, sold sandwiches and beverages to passersby on Blossom Parade days, had rummage sales, a bake sale to benefit the R.E. department, and put on a Fiesta Dinner to celebrate All Souls Day. To reduce expenses, members did the cleaning and painted and cleaned the downstairs fellowship hall. Members donated chairs and carpeting, stationery, and other things.

FALL 1973-SPRING 1974


o The Reverend Theodore F. Kennedy was called as full-time minister for two years but was dismissed after one year. After The Reverend Kennedy's departure, the congregation continued the practice of using ministerial supply from Mead-Lombard Theological Seminary supplementing with lay led programs or guest speakers.

1973


o The name was changed from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Berrien County to BUUF, Berrien County Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

1979


o Unable to afford the needed repairs, maintenance, and heating costs after Elizabeth Upton Vawter's death in 1978, the Main Street building was sold. The Fellowship then held meetings at the Cove of the YWCA in Saint Joseph, where it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1983.

1984


o The building at 4340 Lincoln Avenue, Saint Joseph, was purchased.

1986


o On May 4, 1986, the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship dedicated the current building at 4340 Lincoln Avenue. Sarah McClendon, noted Washington correspondent and journalist was the speaker. Fred Upton installed a plaque dedicating the fellowship sanctuary to the memory of his great aunt, Elizabeth Upton Vawter, a charter member and benefactor.

1987


o The Fellowship hired Diane Fuller Brown, daughter of Marv and Kate Fuller and a Chicago Theological Seminary graduate, and her husband, Michael W. Brown, an active lay UU, to be the co-ministers of BUUF. The Browns lived in Chicago and drove in to Michigan two weekends a month. Members and outside speakers provided services on alternate Sundays. After a year at BUUF, Michael became a Meadville/Lombard student.

1991


o Roger Brewin, president of the Clarence Darrow Commission and Chicago Unitarian Universalist minister, presented a one-man program impersonating Clarence Darrow in a skit "Book Burning and the First Amendment."

C.1991-1992

o Jone Johnson was employed as a part-time minister.

2000


o On January 20th, the expanded and remodeled nursery was dedicated as Charlie's Room in memory of Charlie Tedesco (November 13, 1997-July 17, 2001).

o A membership retreat was held February 4-6 to examine where BUUF has been, where it is, and what its future should be and what should be done to make that future happen. The following people attended the retreat: Roger Brewin, Robin Crowell, Paula Crowell, Zackary Crowell, Lisa Dalgleish, Jim Dalgleish, Marv Fuller, Catherine Fuller, Fred Klawiter, Marilyn Klawiter, Charles Long, Dorothy Long, Viola Moore, Robert Moore, Virginia Nivens, Pat Ohmann, Gretchen Ohmann, Rosalyn Reeder, Zella Reinecke, Marian Steward, Bea Takeuchi, Mike Tedesco, Sara Tedesco, Gloria Weberg, Duane Westling, Charlotte Westling, Gene Whitlow, Heartha Whitlow.

o Supported by BUUF, a PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter was formed and held its first meeting at BUUF on July 10th.

2001


o In January, Ren'ee Kauffman was hired as Director of Religious Education. The Fellowship received a three-year 7,000 Chalice Lighter's grant to support her employment.

2002


o In January, funds from the estate of former member Algrid Barvicks were used to establish the Endowment Fund (General Endowment and Restricted Endowment). Income from the General Endowment Fund may be used for ordinary annual expenses. Each year, forty percent of the previous year's dividends and interest from the Restricted Endowment Fund are available to support community outreach programs.

o In February, the stage was removed from the sanctuary and in March construction of the religious education classrooms began. Classroom construction was completed June 10th at a cost of more than 47,000 paid with funds from the Barvicks bequest.

o A membership retreat was held May 31st-June 2nd to re-examine goals and objectives for the Fellowship.

o On October 17th, the Community Outreach/Social Action (CO/SA) Committee presented the forum titled: "The Gift of Sexuality: Homophobia Is a Curable Disease"

o On Saturday, November 23, the first Our Whole Lives class at the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was completed. Taught by Joanne Krettek and Harvey Johnson, the eight-week class for children in grades K-2 included: Emily Johnson, Tommy McIlwaine, Walter Dalgleish, Ian Dalgleish, Trevor Kauffman.

2002-2003


o Matthew Cockrum, Meadville-Lombard Seminary Student, served as Ministerial Opportunities Development minister. Adult attendance averaged 29 and child attendance averaged 13.

2003


o Ren'ee Kauffman's completion of Unitarian Universalist Association certification as Director of Religious Education was recognized during the service on May 25th.

o In May, supported by BUUF, Patriots for Peace was formed and through most of 2004 actively protested the American invasion of Iraq.

2004


o On January 20th the Community Outreach and Social Action (CO/SA) Committee sponsored a community forum, "Weighing the Scales of Justice in Berrien County." For that achievement, the Bennett Award for Congregational Action on Human Justice and Social Action was presented to CO/SA during the 2004 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association. VIA (Voters Involved in America) was formed by CO/SA to increase voter participation in Benton Harbor. James "Chip" Roush became the twenty-seventh Meadville-Lombard student to provide services regularly through the year.

Source: thelema-and-faith.blogspot.com

Saturday 21 September 2013

The Church Within A Church A Possibility 1 A Revisit Of The Subject

The Church Within A Church A Possibility 1 A Revisit Of The Subject
Top-quality at A Example Presbyterian we sport been having an gripping union on the Minster, and many groups within the Minster. Exploring Covenanted Fellowships, Task Four: The come together we sustenance. As I was journalism my dying conclusion I remembered this series of postings and sport resolute to re-post them. What's more I noticed I didn't reduction them-has qualities moreover ever done that? Fighting fit I assume this order surrender to the consult.

This series order insight with how the Confessing Minster in Germany, by means of the Nazi lifetime, dealt with its outlook as a Minster within a Minster and how that is items to the blunt in the PC(USA) today.

The administrator Minster was a combination of the Lutheran, Changed and United Churches gathered together under a Minster gathering bent, promoted and used by the Nazi Manage. Numerous order see this as a non-relevant be relevant for the blunt within the PCUSA today, and by all means the differences are magnificent. But surprisingly the limit basic issues, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, bolt from the blue, apology and belief about the form and sculpt of the Minster are the awfully.

As well as this beginning post I lay out the magnificent differences, the similarities, and the Confessing Church's path of resistance that I syndicate confer some clues toward the outlying.

Certainly the limit impressive differences were the repression the Minster struggled under and the real issues of life and death. The limit impressive warning of the real theological issues within the Minster was the German Minster official's refusal to allow Jewish Christians a place within the Minster as well as the end of champion relevance to the Jewish breed.

Confessing Minster pastors and officials faced loss of their ordination; they faced send down and death. All of populate involved in beginnings ministry faced the anguish of inspection their organizations be dissolved all the rage Hitler's beginnings classification. Theological professors lost their studious jobs. But one Coach, in confess, noted that the render null and void was far-off deeper than the extremist repression that existed in his day.

Karl Barth intended that the Church's theological problems began in Germany two-hundred lifetime at the forefront and acknowledged that while the, "Minster order sport perfect with the general, savage heretics [the German Christians],"..."who order shaft her from the blandishments of populate who arrive on the scene improve as to the morals of the Minster, Bible and Transformation. And yet, in resolution do not texture differently from populate heretics."

So, for similarities the limit basic unoriginality in the two Minster struggles has to do with bolt from the blue. Fault dictatorships, exclusive of Nazis or any other evil ancestry some smash to see that the two struggles are the awfully. The theologians of Germany for two hundred lifetime had array the Minster of Germany to realize other forms of bolt from the blue next to Jesus Christ as he is found in Saintly Scripture. Today it is foundation, science, culture, sexual characteristics, community, etc. Afterward, culture, tarnish, community ("volk") and the activities of history became the bolt from the blue German Christianity placed next to Jesus Christ.

Christianity became Germanic; Hitler and Abode Communalism were the impressive gifts and bolt from the blue that God had supposedly solution to Germany. This is why the German Christians rejected the Jewish breed and the Hebrew Bible. This is similarly why spend time at of the German Christians rejected the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the bad-tempered. For them Jesus became a charitable of enormous brave man, some one to mime moderately in addition to kneel at the forefront. The culture of Germany became completed high spot than the blood of the bad-tempered.

Thinking about the Minster altered with the new bolt from the blue. The Minster was seen as a solution to unify the community, the volk. The Minster was to be an funds for building up breed and culture. The Minster took on a new conclude. The German officials rejected the Reform understanding of parliamentary governance. Leaders of the German Acknowledgment scuffle wrote in their "Guiding Priniciples":

"The time of parliamentarianism has outlived itself even in the Minster. Ecclesiastical parties sport no dedicated give the title of to state Minster breed and are averse to the lofty think logically of becoming a national Minster."1

The leaders expected parliamentary governance kaput the unity of the Minster and the nation. Preferably they opted for a hierarchical support that went well past the Lutheran tradition seeing that it was bent on an managerial moderately than a spiritual invention.

THE Pattern IN THE MIDST OF THE Minster Setback BEGAN TO Gather together FOR Objective SYNODS. Arthur Cochrane writes:

"Give remained for Christ's horde the one thing possible-the one thing the Minster can do in the function of all other suggest sport been worn out, namely, a collective Assurance of Christ in the elevation of a heresy that threatens the life of the Minster as the true bride of Christ. Fittingly in the olden months of 1934, a new scuffle appeared on the belief, in which the laity played as high spot a part as the clergy. A.S. Duncan-Jones has called this the 'synodical scuffle, in the function of it took the form of blockade synods of clergy and laity who expressed their body on the dangers that threatened the Minster.'"

As part of this scuffle and counter to it a few declarations were formulated which at the end of the day led to the Pick up of Barmen. On top of this, at the awfully synod that formed the Pick up of Barmen, the Confessional Synod nominated for a utter that dealt with such substance as the Confessing Church's authority, their practical work, the spiritual modernization of ministers, familiarity and the charge of the Minster, (which included along with other projects ministering to Hurricane Troopers and Hitler Youth!).

As well as extreme postings I nasty to insight with the "free Synods," the mountain declarations and in time with the many resolutions the members of the Synod of Barmen approved to guide them as they became a Minster within a Minster.

1 "The Guiding Instruction of the Acknowledgment Flurry of the 'German Christians,, June 6 1932" Addition II in The Church's Assurance Numb Hitler, Arthur C. Cochrane, (Philadelphia: The Westminster Ambition 1961) 222.

Source: practicing-wicca.blogspot.com

Friday 20 September 2013

Evening Roundup Feria Of Advent Feria Vi Infra Hebdomadam Ii Adventus Missa Ppulus Sion December 14Th 2012

* "A PRIEST LIFE (FR. KEVIN CUSICK)" >> GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE
* "ABYSSUS ABYSSUM INVOCAT / DEEP CALLS TO DEEP" >> THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL: THE HERMENEUTIC OF RUPTURE AND OF CONTINUITY [ZENIT]
* "ACCEPTING ABUNDANCE (STACY TRASANCOS)" >> MARY AND ECUMENISM
* "CANTERBURY TALES (DR. TAYLOR MARSHALL)" >> TODAY'S SHOOTING REVEALS SPIRITUAL ILLNESS
* "CATHOLIC EMBROIDERY" >> RESTORATION RECTORY - FLEUR-DE-LIS OFFICE
* "DOMINE, DA MIHI HANC AQUAM! (FR. PHILIP NERI POWELL, OP) ">> ATTEMPTED MURDER OF 4 OP FRIARS
* "DOMINE, DA MIHI HANC AQUAM! (FR. PHILIP NERI POWELL, OP) ">> HOW NOT TO BECOME A FOOL...
* "EDWARD FESER ">> NAGEL AND HIS CRITICS, PART V
* "FIRST THOUGHTS ">> ON THE SUFFERING OF INNOCENTS (MATTHEW SCHMITZ)
* "NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE (WESLEY J. SMITH) ">> IN WHICH I "PRAISE DEAD WHITE MEN"
* "NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE (MARK STEYN) ">> THE DOCTOR WON'T SEE YOU NOW
* "NEW LITURGICAL MOVEMENT" >> ROSE AND BLUE
* "REVEREND KNOW-IT-ALL (FR. RICHARD SIMON) ">> WHY AREN'T OUR PLANS WORKING?
* "RORATE CAELI ">> THE IMMACULATA: AT ONCE "REMNANT OF ISRAEL" AND "NEW ISRAEL"
* "RORATE CAELI" >> DO "PEACEMAKERS" FAVOR ABORTION AND FAKE MARRIAGE? - IMPOSSIBLE, SAYS THE POPE
* "THE CHANT CAF'e ">> PLEASE SING THE PROPERS ON GAUDETE
* "THE CHANT CAF'e ">> GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST, O LOVING LORD JESUS
* "TRANSALPINE REDEMPTORISTS AT HOME ">> CREDO
* "WHAT DOES THE PRAYER REALLY SAY? (FR. JOHN ZUHLSDORF) ">> FR. Z'S 20 TIPS FOR MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION

Credit: magic-and-spells.blogspot.com

P 000013

P 000013
Biography of Penrose, Virtuous George B. B., Orleans Parish
Submitted by Mike Miller April 1998

Copyright. All responsibility for reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Accomplishments, Institutions, and Population, Fix in Cyclopedic Devise (magnitude 3), pp. 349-352. Shortened by Alce Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Beyond
Set of contacts.

Penrose, Hon. George Able Biddle.--The Penrose frequent has longing been definite in the affairs of Louisiana and of the Louisiana reserve as purchased from France in 1803. Even abovementioned to that time it had been highly proven with our colonial history at Philadelphia and
barred. The frequent history is traced in an devoted line back to make somewhere your home determined sons of England who exacted from Sovereign John the Magna Carta 1215 A.
D. The founder of his uninterrupted frequent of Penroses in America was Bartholomew Penrose, who came to Philadelphia in the following part of the
17th century, and with his brother James became a leading ship builder in William Penn's colony, William Penn living a frequent in the founding. His son, Thomas Penrose, was untutored in 1709 and by his ensemble, Sarah Coats, became the initiate of James Penrose, untutored Feb. 3, 1737, who married Sarah Biddle Organizer 15, 1766, and became the initiate of Hon. Mild Biddle Penrose. The manage named was untutored at his father's avow seat concentrated Frankford, Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1771, and died in St. Louis in 1820. His boyhood was cradled amidst scenes of the Turn, and in his ancient early life he was some as one of two young person poor bearers to one of the zenith companies raised in Philadelphia to accept in that pastime, which select was through to mark that the clarity and self-government pervaded the organic and the old, and stiff to all appearance and conditions. Driven from Philadelphia the same as that borough hew here the hands of the invading foe, he accompanied his widowed mother and an well-regarded uncle (Col. Mild Biddle)
an officer high in the conviction of the durable proceed (George Washington)
who led our armies at Gorge Initiate, and even if but a boy, witnessed and usual in the sufferings of that serious winter, one of the ceiling cheerless periods of the Turn. He acquired a unreserved training in the schools of America and Europe. He was expected by Pres. Jefferson in 1805 one of the land commissioners of Louisiana Plot of land and stimulated to St. Louis, in Oct. of that blind date, after that the head office of the Louisiana nation. He became one of the excessive men of that borough and in 1816 was named as one of the commissioners to get ready the St. Louis mass, the zenith in that region of the avow. He married in 1796 Anna Howard Bingham, the
child of Maj. Charles Bingham by his ensemble Anne Howard, the child of Sheffield Howard, younger brother of the Duke of Norfolk. Their son, Mild Biddle Penrose, was untutored in Philadelphia, Sept. 30, 1802, and died of wan fever 1839 at Pointe Celeste, the plantation of his
father-in-law, concentrated New Orleans, La. Marital, June 3, 1830, Anne, the eldest child of Maj.-Gen. Joseph Biddle Wilkinson, by his ensemble Ann Biddle, untutored at Natchez, Not bother with., July 25, 1808. A son of this manage put together, inexperienced Mild Biddle Penrose, was untutored April 5, 1831, at Pointe Celeste in Plaquemines subdivision. The manage named was knowledgeable by tutors on the plantation of his initiate and graduated with honors at Tulane seminary.
He expert the profession of law very elatedly at New Orleans and in Plaquemines subdivision. His ensemble was Camille Adele Marie Able, untutored in New Orleans, Sept. 26, 1836. Their children were: Mild Biddle Penrose,
George Able Biddle Penrose and Camille Adele Marie Penrose, the zenith named untutored Oct. 6, 1856, died June 17, 1895, and the manage named dying in childhood. George B. Penrose, whose name introduces this inaccurate representation, was untutored in New Orleans Oct. 10, 1857. He acquired his important training in the group schools of this borough and this was supplemented taking into consideration by a course at Bellevue college, Virginia. On desertion his one of the intelligentsia studies at the following business he took a course in concern training at Spirit college in New Orleans. He entered at once here trailer life, sympathy a pad
with a farmhouse of English cotton buyers known as Anderson & Simpson. He packed a post of durable substance and tribute with this farmhouse and remained with them until the concern was discontinued by the death of one of the associates. In the elected representatives of Pres. Cleveland he was expected head of the money order section at New Orleans post-office and
afterwards was with the Combined States light house service for a time. His zenith concern propel on his own inventory was in the cotton press together with his brother, Mild, enthusiastic together the Flame-resistant and Confederacy cotton presses, and with Vincent & Hayne, the Shrill Mississippi Crush Co. He then formed a subject with R. N. Gourdain Smith in the cotton brokerage farmhouse of Smith & Penrose, which had a involvement in any the New York and New Orleans cotton telephone lines. The high prefer in which Mr. Penrose was open in his native borough is indicated by the consequent positions of tribute which he open here: Biased of the Sewerage and Water board, Farmhouse of Impoverishment borough amount outstanding, pilot in the Louisiana Countrywide, Expressway Wake up
& Possibility Co., and the Combined States Happiness Tend and Hoard banks. He took a admirable pay packet in the extroverted life of the borough and was boss of the Mistick Krewe of Comus. He was a enthusiast of the famous Silver league and of the league guards and was lieutenant of the Crescent Rifles the same as that definite won the ruthless regulation from the Chickasaw Guards of Memphis. Mr. Penrose had never unavailable industrious part in politics, but indoors a reform pursuit he was approached by Dr. Henry Dickson Bruns, a excessive enthusiast of the Citizens league and asked if he would run for the pad of borough treasurer, vacated by the death of Gen. Euclid Borland. His trap was durable greatly, as the respectability was unanticipated and undesirable. He well-liked without a moment's angst and went here the unruly joust with abundant others for the nomination, but full of energy and consent of the men who had called him to this pad of respectability and tribute. He was self-ruled by the borough assemblage Nov. 5, 1896, and served the unexpired specify of his precursor (3 existence) indoors Mayor Flower's elected representatives. At the expiration of that time in 1899, he was put aside borough treasurer to bring about himself by the yet liberal collective, and in the rear a very daring pastime for the pad relating Mr. Penrose and Judge Skinner, who was his
challenger, he was self-ruled by a magnificent lion's share, dollop in that capacity with Mayor Capdeville at the time of his death. He had been treasurer for
7 existence, and living a man of affluent concern and government shrewdness, he complete the room to the satisfaction of the respected community. The Times-Democrat of June 7, 1903, in its point on the death of Mr. Penrose said: 'It mettle fit fantastic to belief, to thousands of individuals in New Orleans this crack of dawn, that the cheery, whole-souled, celebrated operate, a man relating men, George B. Penrose, is no more! Who ever came in transactions with him felt the move of his kindness and his captivating actions, untutored of an profound consideration for the sway of others, his accept even of a relation outcast had the effect of making a fast friend. He was so well known, and liked by individuals in all sorts and conditions of life that he literally came to accept the tallness of living the ceiling celebrated man in New Orleans. In fact the industrious and charming character life of Mr. Penrose pervaded the concern and extroverted life of New Orleans. His functioning move was felt in all circles.' The Rag Picayune of the incredibly mull it over said: 'The community mettle learn with devoted repentance of the death of Hon.
George B. Penrose, for the previous 7 existence borough treasurer of New Orleans. Of the multitude excessive men who open group room in modern existence, none accept been chief overall liked than Mr. Penrose. As a group federation in a pad of the very zenith substance, he won shared conviction and
regard, and his death mettle be overall regretted by all classes in the community in which he lived. At the time of his death Mr. Penrose was equitably a organic man, which makes before time death all the exclusive brunt to all who knew him. He has lived in this borough all his life and was meticulously proven with the aims and ambitions of the community. Whether in lineage concern life, or in group room, his fly has been the same as right. Plus him group room was a group tribute and for this incident his death was a group propel." The Louisiana Countrywide mass, of which Mr. Penrose was a valued enthusiast of the board of directors, said: 'Mr.
Penrose is thrilling with love by this board, as that of a colleague, encouraged in life by make somewhere your home impulses which accept contributed distant to the gain of the service in which his energy, reality and shrewdness were customarily felt, and this board mettle customarily preserve in considerate bereavement his well-mannered and splendid reminiscence as a man of affairs which at all mature invited conviction and tribute." A reputation from the members of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, of which he was their valued boss, read: "None knew him but to love him." Being the homesick tidings swept higher the borough that death had stricken down George B. Penrose in the full meridian of his affluent gap expound was nowhere a chief supple musical tones, nor mettle his involvement be chief with awareness enshrined than in the hearts of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, who precious him as their friend and well-regarded him as their boss. And never was a friendship chief without restraint requited nor honors chief estimably borne.
He was a man of unsulied axiom, and a middle full of paramount affections.
In his intercourse with his fellowman, in the something else relations of life, he knew but one faculty of show, and its even bring to bear was never pretentious by any move of toss or grouping. Flaw despondency and without
reproach, he brought to the dramatic piece of each burden, theoretical commotion and nation game to every inquire and seriousness of time which never faltered, a consistency which never wavered and the span of his toughness was at all mature the examine of his generosity. His city note of which the world took communication, and spoils communication esteemed, was but the unconscious of the multitude fortunate virtues of middle and custody, which won and retained the love of make somewhere your home whose good grouping brought them within the wan of his friendship.
His frequent rule was "Ubique Fideles" which fitted so worthily the man who was "customarily unswerving." Nov. 16, 1887, Mr. Penrose was mutual in inarriage to Laura Mary Elizabeth, the charming and experienced child of Arthur Ambrose and Elizabeth Jane (Armstrong) Maginnis. Her initiate was a native of Baltimore, Md., and lived in New Orleans for 35 existence. Her mother was untutored at New Castle-on-Tyne, England. Mr. Penrose vanished 2 children; Laura Adele Marie, married Mr. Harris Phelps Ralston, whose frequent came key from Springfield, Quantity., and taking into consideration of New York, and George Biddle Brickell Penrose. Their frequent life was in every way flawless, and Mr.
Penrose was an attentive and hot other half, and contemplative for the welfare of his children.

NOTE: Innovative origin includes a photograph of Mr. Penrose

Religion In Ancient Greece

Religion In Ancient Greece
This is a subject which has come up among people I know a few times. People get upset about depictions of the gods for entertainment purposes, or they think we, meaning the community, should be upset. Deities are often depicted in ways contrary to their mythology. Even worse, many are depicted in a light hearted manner and made fun of, or even in a completely negative way. Some culprits include Disney's Hercules movie and cartoon with its depictions of many Greek gods, the Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy and their depiction of Eris, Erik the Viking and its depiction of the Norse pantheon, and the Herc's adventure game on the PSX (okay, no one really knows about that last one but me, cool game though). Right now the subject is being brought up again due to the releases of Clash of the Titans and Percy Jackson's Lightning Thief, both movies that depict various gods. The question is, is this wrong? Are the gods being profaned? Is it something that we, possibly being very spiritually tied to and close to these gods, should be offended by? Society says we should be. Most of the other religions are after all. Its recently become a bit of a fad to make fun of Jesus, but in the past any depiction that wasn't following the general Christian belief on Jesus's life and times was controversial (such as The Last Temptation of Christ and Jesus Christ Superstar). Native Americans get upset when their rituals, gods, and spirituality are inaccurately portrayed. There are Muslims that threaten to kill people because of depictions of Muhammad. This isn't to say every person in these religions feels this way, or that this is true of every single religion. But a lot of religions don't like their gods and sacred figures depicted in disparaging or inaccurate ways, especially by outsiders. So should we too? Most people who are polytheists or pagans or whatever they're calling themselves were once part of one of these mainstream religions. And they left their original religion most likely because they didn't like the religion, they didn't like the beliefs, they didn't like the behavior of the people in the religion, and for the most part they were unhappy with the religion. Ironically they take these same habits that they learned from this 'unacceptable' religion and carry them right over into their new religion. But that doesn't answer the question. There are a series of good arguments that are not only against being offended, but are actually in favor of the depiction of the gods in modern entertainment. First and foremost, this isn't something new. Going all the way back to ancient Greece, we see the gods routinely depicted in poetry, plays, paintings, and sculptures. This continues on through out the Roman empire, through out the Middle Ages in Europe, through the Renaissance, right up into the modern day. So this is actually something that has been going on for quite some time. Now you might think there's a big difference between the epic poetry of the Greeks and a Disney cartoon. And although they aren't the same thing, and maybe one is better than the other (Hercules was far from Disney's best film after all), the core issue is the same. The artist is depicting the gods in an inaccurate way to serve their needs of telling the story they want to tell. The Iliad is one of the most influential literary works in the entire history of the world. It is one of only two pieces of the epic cycle that have survived in their entirety. It is also one of the major sources we have concerning Greek mythology and beliefs. Nobody who spiritually follows the Greek pantheon is going to call the Iliad profane. And yet Homer routinely depicts gods in inaccurate and even negative ways in order to serve his own idealistic agendas and personal politics within the poem. Ares is a good example. He's a god that Homer routinely trashes throughout the Iliad. Ares is often seen as an evil or negative or lesser god today due almost entirely to Homer's depiction and the depiction of Ares by contemporaries of Homer. And yet in ancient Greece Ares was a highly revered and respected god. He was one of the Olympians who are largely considered the most important and respected of the Greek gods. He was also one of the patron gods of Sparta, one of the strongest and influential cities within Greece. Prior to Homer he is not only depicted as a god of war, but also as a god of justice, vengeance, love, and righteousness. And Homer wasn't just mistaken in his depiction of Ares. Ares was specifically chosen for three reasons. First he wasn't originally a Greek god, he was imported into Greece from the outside. The Greeks had a very strong sense of ethnic pride, and although Ares' high standing in Greece despite coming from the outside is a testament to his reverence, being a non-Greek god gave Homer a lot of leeway in depicting him negatively. Secondly Homer was decidedly anti-war, and the Iliad has a strong anti-war message behind it. Ares, being a god of war, was a perfect target for Homer to take out his personal ideologies on. And lastly Homer was from Athens, a city whose patron god is Athena, a god that is often believed to be in conflict with Ares. Ares is also the patron god of Sparta, a city that was constantly in conflict with Athens. So trashing Ares was a way of saying "Yeah Athens - Sparta Sucks." And yet we don't view the Iliad as profane. Secondly we live in a time where the gods, for the most part, are not well recognized, taught about, or worshiped like they used to be. Without entertainment, most of us would only know the various myths from what we learned in school. I know where I live we only really learn about the Greek pantheon. The Roman pantheon we're taught is the same as the Greek pantheon with different names, the Norse and Egyptian pantheons aren't touched on, and I don't think most people even know there is a Celtic pantheon. With the rise of Neopagan religions and the strong movements to remove religion from public schools, it may not be too long until these myths are not taught at all. These movies and TV shows and cartoons may not depict the gods correctly, but at least they make people aware that they exist. With certain people, just hearing the name of a god can be enough to spark an interest, and a lot of people may be pushed to research these gods more in depth because of one of these depictions. I know my blog hits have gone up by about 10% since The Lightning Thief and Clash of the Titans came out due to people searching for Medusa. For a few people this may be enough to completely change their spirituality and lead them to a stronger and closer relationship with the gods. But even if it doesn't, it still makes them aware of a god and gives them some connection to that god. It also makes them more receptive to that god in the future. And the cartoons, which seem to upset people the most, are probably the best at doing this because they target children and make children more comfortable with and receptive to the gods. And this isn't any different than what was going on in Ancient Greece. Plays and poems were written about the gods so people would become aware of them and learn about them. The plays and poems that have survived to the modern day constitute a lot of what we know about Greek mythology. This is true of a lot of other pantheons too. My last argument is one I've used before concerning the gods. By their nature, a deity should be able to handle their own affairs. If there is something wrong or profane with the way they are being depicted, they should be able to take care of it themselves. At the very least, if human intervention is required, I would expect the offended deity to personally give instructions about what needs to be done. So unless a god has told you to be offended by something or take some sort of action, I'd say leave it alone. And by told you I don't mean you saw some obscure sign only you could understand. I mean the god appeared before you and said something like, "Hey [insert your name here], you need to go on the Disney message board and tell everyone how poorly I was depicted in their cartoon and how this offends everyone of your particular religion. Also threaten to boycott their products and whine about them to everyone you meet."

Thursday 19 September 2013

Women Are Spiritual Divine Beings

Women Are Spiritual Divine Beings
JACQUELIN SMALL SAID, "WE ARE NOT WOMEN TRYING TO BE SPIRITUAL. WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS TRYING TO BE HUMAN."

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WOMEN WERE HUMAN FASCINATED THE ENGLISH WRITER D.H. LAWRENCE, WHO OFTEN EXPLORED THIS CONUNDRUM IN HIS WORK. "MAN IS WILLING TO ACCEPT WOMAN AS AN EQUAL, AS A MAN IN SKIRTS, AS AN ANGEL, A DEVIL, A BABY-FACE, A MACHINE, AN INSTRUMENT, A BOSOM, A WOMB, A PAIR OF LEGS, A SERVANT, AN ENCYCLOPEDIA AN IDEAL OR AN OBSCENITY; THE ONE THING HE WON'T ACCEPT HER AS IS A HUMAN BEING, A REAL HUMAN BEING OF THE FEMININE SEX."

PERHAPS THE REASON MEN FIND IT SO DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT WOMEN AS HUMAN BEINGS IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, AND DEEP DOWN EVERYONE KNOWS IT. NOW I AM NOT SAYING THAT MEN ARE NOT DIVINE AND SPIRITUAL ALSO, BUT I THINK WOMEN HAVE A TENDENCY TO MINIMIZE THEMSELVES. MANY TIMES WOMEN FORGET THEIR DIVINITY AS THEY GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY ROUTINE. AND HOW OFTEN DO WE EXCUSE OURSELVES WITH THE EXPRESSION, "WELL, I'M ONLY HUMAN."

NO, YOUR NOT, AND NEITHER AM I. WE FORGET WE'RE SPIRITUAL BEINGS APPEARING FOR A BRIEF SPAN ON THIS PLANET AS HUMANS. SPIRITUAL BEINGS DO NOT SWEAT LIFE'S SMALL STUFF. THEY ALSO KNOW THAT MOST OF WHAT DRIVES US CRAZY IN LIFE IS SMALL STUFF.

THE ONLY THING THAT ISN'T SMALL STUFF IS THE REASON WHY YOU'RE ON EARTH IN THE FIRST PLACE: TO FIND THAT PORTION OF THE WORLD'S LOST HEART THAT ONLY YOU CAN RANSOM WITH YOUR LOVE AND AUTHENTIC GIFTS AND THEN RETURN IT, SO THAT ALL OF US CAN EXPERIENCE WHOLENESS.

A SPIRITUAL BEING KNOWS THAT THE WORK WILL BE WAITING FOR HER WHEN SHE GETS BACK TO IT, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD TO LEAVE IT FOR MORE "IMPORTANT MATTERS,"LIKE CARING FOR A SICK CHILD OR ANIMAL. A SPIRITUAL BEING KNOWS THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DEADLINE. DEADLINES ARE CHRONOS, THE WORLDS TIME; DIVINITY KNOWS ONLY KAIROS, ETERNITY. ALL WILL BE COMPLETED IF WE ASK FOR GRACE.

GREAT TEACHINGS TELL US THAT MEN WERE CREATED A LITTLE ABOVE THE ANGELS. BUT DON'T EVER FORGET THAT WOMEN ARE THE CLIMAX OF THE SPIRIT'S CREATIVITY CYCLE. AFTER WOMAN WAS CREATED, WISDOM REALIZED THERE WAS NO NEED TO PROCEED FURTHER. AS WOMEN, BIG THINGS ARE EXPECTED OF US.

BRIGHTEST OF BLESSINGS,

Lory



Credit: spellscasting.blogspot.com

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Morgue Boatape 20120819 034954

Morgue Boatape 20120819 034954
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup version 0.12-a0-107-gbeaabae (webtiles) character file.

363 BoatApe the Insei (level 5, 0/37 HPs)
Began as a Demonspawn Transmuter on Aug 19, 2012.
Slain by a gnoll
... wielding a +0,+0 flail
(5 damage)
... on Level 4 of the Dungeon.
The game lasted 00:31:15 (4056 turns).

BoatApe the Insei (Demonspawn Transmuter) Turns: 4056, Time: 00:31:17

HP 0/37 AC 5 Str 10 XL: 5 Next: 5%
MP 0/8 EV 13 Int 16 God:
Gold 210 SH 0 Dex 13 Spells: 3 memorised, 4 levels left

Res.Fire :... See Invis. :. - Unarmed
Res.Cold :... Warding : + c - +0 robe
Life Prot.: +.. Conserve :. (no shield)
Res.Poison:. Res.Corr. :. (no helmet)
Res.Elec. :. Clarity :. o - +0 elf cloak
Sust.Abil.:.. Spirit.Shd :. h - +1 pair of gauntlets
Res.Mut. :. Stasis :. (boots unavailable)
Res.Rott. :. Ctrl.Telep.:. g - amulet of warding
Saprovore :... Levitation :. (no ring)
Ctrl.Flight:. m - +4,+5 ring of slaying

@: appendage, slightly resistant to hostile enchantments, unstealthy A: talons 3, spiny 1
a: End Transformation

You were on level 4 of the Dungeon.
You were not hungry.

You had grown temporary talons.

You visited 1 branch of the dungeon, and saw 4 of its levels.

You collected 190 gold pieces.

Inventory:

Hand weapons
r - a +0,+0 spear of dragon slaying (quivered)
Missiles
b - 12 arrows
Armour
c - a +0 robe (worn)
h - a +1 pair of gauntlets (worn)
o - a +0 elven cloak (worn)
Comestibles
q - a banana
u - a meat ration
Scrolls
a - 2 scrolls of enchant weapon II {unknown}
f - 2 scrolls of identify
k - 4 scrolls of remove curse {unknown}
l - a scroll of amnesia {unknown}
n - a scroll of curse jewellery {unknown}
p - 3 scrolls of teleportation {unknown}
t - a scroll of curse armour {unknown}
v - a scroll of blinking {unknown}
Jewellery
g - an amulet of warding (around neck)
m - a +4,+5 ring of slaying (left hand)
Potions
e - 4 potions of curing
i - a potion of slowing {unknown}
j - a potion of confusion {unknown}
s - a potion of levitation {unknown}
Books
d - a book of Changes

Spells Type Level
*Beastly Appendage Transmutation 1
*Sticks to Snakes Transmutation 2
*Spider Form Transmutation/Poison 3
Ice Form Ice/Transmutation 4
Blade Hands Transmutation 5

Skills:
+ Level 1.5 Fighting
+ Level 3.1 Dodging
+ Level 3.3 Unarmed Combat
+ Level 3.0 Spellcasting
+ Level 2.3 Transmutations

You had 4 spell levels left.
You knew the following spells:

Your Spells Type Power Failure Level Hunger
a - Beastly Appendage Trmt ##..... 10% 1 #......
b - Sticks to Snakes Trmt ##........ 12% 2 ##.....
c - Spider Form Trmt/Pois ##........ 38% 3 ###....

Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations

Branches:
Dungeon (4/27)
Temple: D:4-7

Altars:
Ashenzari
Elyvilon
Xom

Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations

You are partially covered in sharp spines.*
You have claws for feet.*

Message History

Casting: Spider Form
Confirm with. or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
You miscast Beastly Appendage. Nothing appears to happen.
A gnoll comes into view.
Casting: Beastly Appendage
Confirm with. or Enter, or press ? or * to list all spells.
Your feet morph into talons.
You hit the gnoll.
The gnoll is lightly wounded.
You hit the gnoll.
The gnoll is lightly wounded.
The gnoll hits you from afar with a halberd.
The gnoll dodges your spines. The gnoll hits you with a flail!
You hit the gnoll. You claw the gnoll, but do no damage.
The gnoll is moderately wounded.
The gnoll hits you from afar with a halberd!
* * * LOW HITPOINT WARNING * * *
The gnoll misses you. The gnoll dodges your spines.
The gnoll hits you with a flail.
You die...

#######
#.....#
#.###.#
#.###.#########
#.##...........
#.##..#########
####.######(#..%## #
......gg@........# #
####..g######...## #
#.... ##.##.
#.#. #.# #
..> #.#
. #+

You could see 3 gnolls.

Vanquished Creatures
A hound (D:2)
A worker ant (D:2)
2 adders (D:2)
A giant mite (D:1)
A giant gecko (D:1)
3 orcs (D:3)
3 giant cockroaches
10 hobgoblins
10 jackals
4 kobolds
A quokka (D:1)
5 ball pythons
6 bats
6 giant newts
8 goblins
6 rats
68 creatures vanquished.

Vanquished Creatures (others)
An adder (D:3)
A bat (D:3)
A rat (D:3)
4 toadstools
7 creatures vanquished.

Grand Total: 75 creatures vanquished

Notes
Turn Place Note

0 D:1 BoatApe, the Demonspawn Transmuter, began the quest for the Orb.
0 D:1 Reached XP level 1. HP: 15/15 MP: 1/1
521 D:1 Found a shattered altar of Ashenzari.
612 D:1 Reached XP level 2. HP: 21/21 MP: 0/3
829 D:1 Learned a level 2 spell: Sticks to Snakes
843 D:1 Reached skill level 3 in Unarmed Combat
1094 D:1 Gained mutation: You are partially covered in sharp spines. [demonic ancestry]
1094 D:1 Reached XP level 3. HP: 26/26 MP: 1/4
1622 D:2 Learned a level 3 spell: Spider Form
2328 D:2 Reached XP level 4. HP: 25/32 MP: 0/6
3044 D:3 Found a shimmering altar of Xom.
3696 D:3 Found a white marble altar of Elyvilon.
3710 D:3 Reached XP level 5. HP: 37/37 MP: 4/8
4056 D:4 Slain by a gnoll

Source: i-love-witchcraft.blogspot.com

Monday 16 September 2013

Vivid Awareness Blog 6

"DENVER CENTER MEDITATION GROUP OUTLINE FOR 10-2-2011 (VIVID AWARENESS 6)"

Last week (page 35-36 of Vivid Awareness) we discussed the first uncommon preliminary which is refuge and bodhichitta. We engage our mind by visualizing the lineage tree, we engage our speech by saying the refuge prayer and we engage our body by doing prostrations in front of the visualized refuge tree. I found this in the Karmapa's explanation of his Short Ngondro practice which involves just the prostrations.

"THE 17TH KARMAPA ON PROSTRATIONS"

Next is how to prostrate, starting with how to join your hands: To your fingertips together but leave space between the centers of your hand so that they do not touch. Then insert your thumbs between the hands. You hands should have the shape of a lotus blossom that has not yet opened but is just about to bloom. Leaving the empty space in the center represents the dharmakaya. The shape represents the form kayas. The right and left hands represent means and wisdom-at least when we act virtuously. If we act unvirtuously, they might represent maras and obstructors! By joining these two representations of means and wisdom, we create the auspicious connection for the path to arise where it has not arisen, never weaken where it has arisen, and continue to grow and develop without weakening, through the union of means and wisdom.

Once we have joined our palms, we touch them first to our forehead. Then we place them at the level of the throat, and then we touch them to our heart. This represents the qualities of the buddhas' three places and the purification of the obscurations of the three gates of body, speech, and mind. Doing this is a cause for purifying the obscurations.

When you do the refuge practice in the future, you are going to have to prostrate, and when you prostrate, you will generally have to do full prostrations. There are also many other types of prostrations, such as half prostrations-prostrations where the five points touch the grounds Full prostrations mainly appear in vajrayana instructions, whereas the half prostration, also called the prostration of the fivefold mandala, is the usual type of Buddhist prostration. It is okay to do full prostrations, and it is also okay to do half prostrations. Alternatively, if your knees are bad, it is permissible to kneel, touch your hands to the three places, and then touch your head to the floor. You don't have to get up but can prostrate while kneeling.

Usually it is said that one should do a few hundred thousand prostrations. But many foreigners complain a lot when they do prostrations-they say that their back hurts or their knees hurt. Prostrating is good, but if trying to do a hundred thousand becomes a huge hassle and causes great difficulties, it is no longer Dharma practice. Since this is a ngondro practice that I wrote, when you practice, you can decrease the number a bit. You do not absolutely have to do one hundred thousand prostrations. The minimum is one thou-sand or ten thousand, or perhaps fifty thousand. Full prostrations are fine, and half prostrations are also fine. If you are able to do more, don't limit yourself to a hundred thousand; it is also fine to do two hundred thousand. But even if you reduce the number of prostrations, you still must recite the refuge prayer at least one hundred thousand times.

The most important thing to understand about prostrations is that a pros-tration is an expression or convention of body and speech that can show our respect. If doing this can demonstrate pure action of the three gates, it is a prostration. Otherwise it is not a prostration. If the prostrations we do f that criterion, it does not matter how many times we prostrate. We can gather the accumulations, and we have accomplished the primary pure In Tibet, prostrations can be scary-when you see them, they seem terrifying prostrations should not be like that; they should be an expression of faith.

THE SECOND SPECIAL PRELIMINARY: VAJRASATTVA PRACTICE.

We now go onto the second special preliminary which is the Vajrasattva practice. In "Vivid Awareness "(page 36-38) Thrangu Rinpoche explains why Vajrasattva is very important. Then in the Short Ngondro text the Karmapa explains the process of how we actually reduce and eliminate our negative karma.

To give one example from a famous Nagpa, when he was a child in Tibet he saw a beautiful fish with all kinds of gleaming silvery scales. He took the fish out of the water to play with and when he realized that he had killed the fish, he ran to his teacher and asked what he could do to erase this bad karma. The teacher then taught him the Vajrasattva mantra. I have also seen Thrangu Rinpoche suggest Vajrasattva for a particular problems in group interviews.

Finally, we should not think of Vajrasattva as being a "preliminary" or "lower" practice because the teaching is that when we go on our most important journey in the bardo, we visualize ourselves a Vajrasattva and say the 100 syllable Vajrasattva mantra.

"THE 17TH KARMAPA ON VAJRASATTVA"

When we speak about purifying misdeeds, we talk about the four powers: the power of support, the power of regret, the power of resolve, and the power of acting on the antidote. I think that the easiest of these is the power of support, because the power of support is to rely on the precious Three Jewels or the field of merit. Therefore, even if our own intentions or actions do not quite measure up, that on which we are relying-the power of support-helps us greatly. For instance, when we con-fess misdeeds, even if our actual intent and action in making the confession do not measure up, taking the Three Jewels as a support while making confessions will make purifying our misdeeds faster and easier, through the power of the compassion of the Three Jewels.

When we talk about confessing misdeeds, many people think that when we say, "confess misdeeds," it means, "I killed a bug in the past and now I need to confess it." Or perhaps it is, "I killed a horse and have to confess that misdeed," or even, "I murdered someone and have to confess that." That is excellent, but there is something even more important than that. If we first make a commitment or form a great hope and then later do some wrong that violates it that is a far graver harm. Generally killing horses or a person is wrong and confessing it is good. But performing a misdeed that violates a strong commitment or great hope we have made mentally brings greater harm upon ourselves.

If someone were to kill some insects incidentally-for instance, if a bug were crawling here and they squashed and killed it with their hands or feet-there would not be any immediate harm to them. The suffering that is its karmic ripening does not immediately occur. It is, of course, wrong, but it does not immediately lead to any great harm to them. This is because when we kill an insect, we do it in passing without a long period of advance prepa-ration or premeditation. Because of the motivation, it does not bring us much harm. We frequently kill many bugs underfoot, but we don't particularly feel as if we were killing.

However, if we make a firm commitment and form a strong hope, and then perform a wrong or other act that contradicts it, the harm it brings us is greater. The reason for this is that commitments and hopes are phenomena that can stay with us for a long time, and therefore doing something that vi-olates them is more harmful to us. Thus it is even more important to confess. Wrongs that contradict the three vows than to confess misdeeds such as killing sentient beings. For this reason, when we say that a wrong is either grave or minor, it is not as if there were someone pretending to be a buddha and ranking our mis-deeds on some scale, saying, "That wrong you committed is serious, but this one is not." What we need to look at to determine whether a wrong is serious or minor is how harmful it is to our being and whether or not it creates great damage in our mind stream. If something you have done harms your mind greatly or has a big impact on you, then that is probably a very serious wrong. If it does not have a strong negative effect on your mind, produce an intense feeling, or make a strong impact on you, then you have committed a wrong, but I think it is a minor wrong.

What is the main thing we need to know when confessing our misdeeds? If we have done some specific misdeed and confess it in particular, that is good. It is good to specifically remember the wrongs we have done and con-fess them. But when we confess misdeeds, it is not necessary to remember each and every instance and confess each individually. It is better to do an overall confession of all the misdeeds we have done under the influence of the three poisons of the afflictions from beginningless time up to now. The reason is that it would be extremely difficult to specify each and every mis-deed and confess them all individually. With me, for example, I don't remem-ber committing any particularly serious wrong when I was little, but I did do many small wrongs, none of which I remember. We are all the same: we have done many wrongs but do not remember them. However, none of the wrongs we have done have not been mixed with the three poisons of the afflictions, so if we confess all the wrongs that we have committed when motivated by the three poisons, we will be able to confess all our misdeeds whether we remember them or not.

There are primarily three conditions that lead to committing misdeeds. The one that is like the boss is delusion, and the two henchmen are greed and hatred. This is because delusion permeates all of the afflictions. From the delusion of not knowing, we perceive things incorrectly and then regard them inappropriately. This is why delusion permeates all the afflictions just as the sense of touch permeates the body. "Just like the sense of touch in the body" it is said. That is the reason why delusion is said to be like the boss. When we say that greed and hatred are like henchmen, although there are many afflictions under the control of delusion, the primary ones-the ones that really and truly have power and that we mainly employ-are greed and hatred. That is why they are said to be like henchmen. It is impossible that there is any wrong we commit that did not happen because of either greed or hatred.

When we classify the misdeeds in terms of our motivation, there are three types: those committed primarily under the power of the affliction of delu-sion, those committed under the power of the affliction of hatred, and those committed under the power of the affliction of greed. If we see any act performed under the influence of the afflictions as revolting and confess it, we can confess and purify all our misdeeds. If we explain our actions or karma in terms of what we use to commit them, there are three types: actions of body, of speech, and of mind. Any act we do must be performed with either body, speech, or mind. Any misdeed we commit is thus done with body, speech, or mind. If we classify acts in terms of how they are committed, there are three types: those we perform ourselves, those we have someone else do, and those that we rejoice in having been done. Those we perform are acts that we actually do ourselves. Those we have someone else do are those that we get someone else to do instead of doing ourselves. These are more harmful. We pretend that we have not done anything wrong, but if we have told someone else to do it, then we have made two people accumulate wrongdoing, haven't we? That is a graver wrong. When someone else has committed a misdeed and we think, "What a guy! Way to go!" or "Well done!" and rejoice in that, the strength of that thought creates a misdeed for us as well. How does this misdeed occur? It is not as if a portion of the misdeed committed by the other is allotted to us or we accrue some interest from it. We get the whole misdeed or the entire wrong. An individual who rejoices in someone else's misdeed incurs the entire negativity; the negativity is not divided into portions and each person gets one part. Thus it is the same as performing the misdeed oneself.

FROM THRANGU RINPOCHE'S BOOKLET TEN VIRTUOUS DEEDS

For an action to be unvirtuous and lead to negative karma four conditions have to be present. These four conditions are: (1) there has to be an object of the action, (2) there has to be a negative intention, (3) one has to actually do the action, and (4) the action has to be completed. If these four aspects of an action aren't all present then it is not necessarily a negative action.

(1) In order for the act of killing to occur, there must be the actual object or being who will be killed. It can be any kind of living being from a small insect to a large animal. It must be a being capable of experiencing sensations and sufferings.

(2) For the act of killing to occur, a second factor must be present: the intention. One must have the motivation to harm a sentient being. For example, if we think, "This person or animal is going to harm me" or "It is dangerous and therefore I wish to kill it" we are killing out of the "obscuring emotion" of anger and the desire to cause harm. We can also kill through the motivation of desire by thinking for example, "If I kill this being, then I will have food, clothing, pleasure and enjoyment." One then intentionally kills that being. Or one can kill through the motivation of ignorance such as sacrificing an animal for religious reasons, thinking, "If I kill this being, then the act will be good and beneficial because the Hindu scriptures say that sacrifices are all right." Nevertheless, this is not a good intention because the motivation is ignorance. If one does not realize that one is killing a being, then there is no negative result or karma.

(3) In addition to having the object and the motivation, there must be a third factor of actually undertaking of the action of killing. This means that although one may have the intention of killing someone, one has to carry it out for it to be the negative act of killing. This point is actually carrying out the act of killing someone. One does not need to do this action oneself; one can make someone else do it by instructing and paying him to kill another being. When that person has done the action, one feels happy, "Oh, it is good that person is killed." Even though it is not one's own action, but only carried out according to one's instructions, it is still one's own negative action of killing because one is responsible for having made someone else do it. So, as well as the motivation to kill, there is the actual act of killing, whether done by oneself or done according to one's wishes.

(4) Finally, the fourth factor is called "completion." For an act to reap the negative karma of the action there has to be an actual result of the action. For an act of true killing the being must actually die. So, one might have the intention to kill someone and one might carry out the action, but it might happen that the victim does not die in spite of one's having done one's best to kill him. While this is obviously a negative act, it does not count as a real act of killing. Also, if one has ordered someone else to kill somebody and he disobeys or fails in his job, it is not an actual act of killing. Clearly, one's attempt is a negative action that leads to negative karma; but if one's action fails in its goal, then it does not become the very serious negative action of killing.1 All four factors must be present for it to be a true act of killing.

Credit: asatru-religion.blogspot.com