Buddhism, based on the
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama

Quotations involving Buddhism:

	"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity" A widely cited, but apparently spurious quotation attributed to Albert Einstein 1
	"The greatest achievement is selflessness. The greatest worth is self-mastery. The greatest quality is seeking to serve others. The greatest precept is continual awareness. The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything. The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways. The greatest magic is transmuting the passions. The greatest generosity is non-attachment. The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind. The greatest patience is humility. The greatest effort is not concerned with results. The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go. The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances." Atisha.
	"If you live the sacred and despise the ordinary, you are still bobbing in the ocean of delusion." Lin-Chi.
	"Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life." Thich Nhat Hanh.
	"When the mind begins to become still, we then begin to truly see it. When you first try to stabilize and pacify the mind, initially it will become very busy because it's not accustomed to being still. In fact, it doesn't even necessarily want to become still, but it is essential to get a hold of the mind to recognize its nature. This practice is extremely important. ... Eventually you will find yourself in a state where your mind is clear and open all the time. It is just like when the clouds are removed from the sky and the sun can clearly be seen, shining all the time. This is coming close to the state of liberation, liberation from all traces of suffering. ... The truth of this practice is universal. It isn't necessary to call it a religion to practice it. Whether one is a Hindu or a Moslem or a Christian or a Buddhist simply doesn't matter. Anyone can practice this because this is the nature of the mind, the nature of everyone's mind. If you can get a handle on your mind, and pacify it in this way, you will definitely experience these results, and you will see them in your daily life situation. There is no need to put this into any kind of category, any kind of "ism." Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche Is Buddhism a religion? Whether Buddhism is or is not a religion depends upon how you define "religion." Many groups recognize Buddhism as a religion: Census offices and public opinion pollsters generally recognize Buddhism as a religion. Books that describe the religions of the world generally cover Buddhism along with Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc. Even the Boy Scouts of America, who root out and expel Atheists, Agnostics and homosexuals, accept Buddhists as members. The Government of Canada denies registration of religious charities unless they teach the belief in one or more Gods or Goddesses. However, they allow Buddhist faith groups to register. The Drepung Loseling Institute states: "Like all major religions, Buddhism contains an explanation of the origin of existence, a morality, and a specific set of rituals and behaviors. ... Buddhism presents a transformational goal, a desire to improve one's situation, and a distinct moral code. 5 Kerry Trembath writes that Buddhism is not what we call a "top-down religion" -- one in which a deity reveals religious and spiritual truths to humanity. It is a "bottom-up religion" created by humans as an attempt to express spiritual concepts: "Buddhism does not deny the existence of gods or of other worlds, and indeed the devotional practices of many Buddhist traditions involve the veneration and invocation of special beings such as Avalokitesvara (known as Kwan Yin to many Chinese, or Kannon to the Japanese). However, at its core Buddhism is a non-theistic religion and, unlike other world religions, Buddhism is not a doctrine of revelation. The Buddha did not claim to be the bearer of a message from on high. He made it clear that what he taught he had discovered for himself through his own efforts." "The Buddha himself is revered not as a deity or supernatural being but as a very special kind of human being. He was a human who achieved the ultimate in development of his human potential. The Buddha taught that this achievement is within the reach of every human being, and he spent his life teaching a practical methodology which, if followed with purity of mind and great diligence, would enable others to reach the same objective. In other words, he taught a method rather than a doctrine. When questioned about the validity of his teachings, the Buddha did not refer to the higher authority of a deity. He explained that his teachings were based on his own direct personal experience, and he invited all who were interested to test for themselves whether the method he taught was effective." However, some definitions of "religion" strictly require a belief in the existence of one or more supernatural deities. That would disqualify most branches of Buddhism from being considered as religious groups. With about 365 milliion followers -- 6% of the world's population -- Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world. It is exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Buddhism was founded in Northern India by Siddhartha Gautama. However, Buddhists believe that there were countless Buddhas before him and that there will be many more after him. In the sixth century BCE, Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened) Buddhism later died out in India, but had become established in Sri Lanka. From there, it expanded across Asia, evolving into two or three main forms: Theravada Buddhism (sometimes called Southern Buddhism; occasionally spelled Therevada) "has been the dominant school of Buddhism in most of Southeast Asia since the thirteenth century, with the establishment of the monarchies in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos." Mahayana Buddhism (sometimes called Northern Buddhism) is largely found in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia. Vajrayāna Buddhism (a.k.a. Tantric Buddhism, Mantrayana, Tantrayana, Esoteric Buddhism, or True Words Sect). Some consider this to be a part of Mahayana Buddhism; others view it as a third Buddhist path. To these might be added: Tibetan Buddhism. This developed largely in isolation from Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism because of the remoteness of Tibet. Zen Buddhism. This developed from within the Chinese Mahayana school known as Chan. Zen Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular in the West. Since the late 19th century: Modern Buddhism has emerged as a truly international movement. It started as an attempt to produce a single form of Buddhism, without local accretions, that all Buddhists could embrace.

A recent post from the blog of Fr. Jordan Stratford.

A recent post from the blog of Fr. Jordan Stratford.

Wikipedia is deleting ALL articles on Contemporary Gnosticism

An entire NRM has been declared unworthy in the eyes of Wikipedia and is being systematically erased. The Apostolic Johannite Church, the Alexandrian Gnostic Church, the Ecclesia Gnostica, Gnostic authors and university professors, even this article on modern Gnosticism itself are on the chopping block or have already been deleted.

We're talking about independently published books, peer-reviewed academic authors, university and college course materials, internationally published news stories – all of these sources are being dismissed as either not relevant or not reliable. Given the AJCs coverage in US News, and the EG's coverage in the LA Times as well as the definitive work on the Independent Sacramental Movement, these churches don't have the "reliable third party source" chops for a few powerful Wikipedia editors.

Given that Gnosticism straddles esoteric Christianity, Paganism, Jungian thought and even Buddhism, what chance does Asatru or Druidry or Hellenismos have of maintaining a presence on Wikipedia when their populations are so much smaller and the level of academic interest is marginal (though, I argue, significant and noteworthy)? Most of these vital and important movements have a fraction of the independent cred that Gnosticism possesses. Even PanGaia magazine, a newstand publication with a print run of 8,000 copies that I've personally seen on the racks in 3 different cities, is dismissed snidely as a "web" publication (and therefore irrelevant). So someone with 30 articles and 30,000 readers on Witchvox doesn't stand much of a chance of withstanding scrutiny, I suppose.

Where's the activity in New Religious Movements? On the 'net, and in academic journals. And yet suddenly these don't matter, according to some.

As a friend suggested, we'd best stick to our knitting: we have work to do and patients to visit and volunteer hours to clock and services to perform. And she's completely right. We'll survive this tempest in a teapot.

But I do wonder about the actual usefulness of Wikipedia as a resource for NRM researchers should these various independent and Pagan organizations cease to officially "exist" according to a few self-appointed mods.

U P D A T E :

"Regarding your post on Wikipedia and deletion of Gnosticism articles: Deletion has been canceled for Wikipedia article "Gnosticism in Modern Times"."

Now, this article needs a LOT of work and is certainly not up to, I think, anybody's standards (especially with all that Crowley and Vogelin in there, oy vey) but it's a voice at the table, and that's all we're asking for.

My way was obscured and I sought the direction forward. You stood at the entrance to a cleared Path.

Taking up your walking-stick/Bishop's Crozier in one hand and grasping your sword in the other, you walked forward with me.

But it was your walking-stick that kept me from stumbling and your sword-arm that kept the Path clear when no others were there to walk it with you

I Thank you that you grasped that sword and wield it as you do.

Now we have some others that walk with *us*.


shamelessly lifted from Noetic Apprehenson

What is Ash Wednsday?
In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.
Not all Christian churches observe Ash Wednesday or Lent. They are mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.
The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.
When is Ash Wednesday 2009? Visit the 2009

Valentinus
Valentinus was a second century Christian mystic and poet. He is sometimes refered to as a "Gnostic" because of the importance that mystical knowledge (gnosis) plays in his thought. Valentinus was born in Phrebonis in upper Egypt about 100 AD and educated in nearby Alexandria. There he became a disciple of the Christian teacher Theudas who had been a disciple of Saint Paul. He claimed that Theudas taught him secret wisdom that Paul had taught privately to his inner circle.
Like many early Christian mystics, Valentinus claimed that that he had a vision of the risen Christ. Following his vision, he began his career as a Christian teacher at Alexandria around 120AD. His esoteric theology quickly attracted a large following in Egypt and Syria. In 136 AD, he went to Rome after stopping briefly in Cyprus. At Rome he quickly rose to prominence and was widely respected for his eloquence. He was so well regarded in the Roman church that in 143 AD he was a candidate for the office of bishop. It seems likely he refused the position. He continued to teach in Rome for at least ten more years.
Nothing certain is known of his later career. He may have died at Rome around 155 AD. According to a late source, he left Rome and went to Cyprus. Some of the legends about "Saint Valentine" probably reflect the lasting prestige he enjoyed at Rome. After Valentinus' death, his disciples further developed his ideas and spread them throughout the Roman Empire.
(An excellent introduction to Valentinus and his tradition is given by Dr. Stephan Hoeller in Valentinus: A Gnostic for All Seasons, available in this Archives.)

Valentinus
Valentinus was a second century Christian mystic and poet. He is sometimes refered to as a "Gnostic" because of the importance that mystical knowledge (gnosis) plays in his thought. Valentinus was born in Phrebonis in upper Egypt about 100 AD and educated in nearby Alexandria. There he became a disciple of the Christian teacher Theudas who had been a disciple of Saint Paul. He claimed that Theudas taught him secret wisdom that Paul had taught privately to his inner circle.
Like many early Christian mystics, Valentinus claimed that that he had a vision of the risen Christ. Following his vision, he began his career as a Christian teacher at Alexandria around 120AD. His esoteric theology quickly attracted a large following in Egypt and Syria. In 136 AD, he went to Rome after stopping briefly in Cyprus. At Rome he quickly rose to prominence and was widely respected for his eloquence. He was so well regarded in the Roman church that in 143 AD he was a candidate for the office of bishop. It seems likely he refused the position. He continued to teach in Rome for at least ten more years.
Nothing certain is known of his later career. He may have died at Rome around 155 AD. According to a late source, he left Rome and went to Cyprus. Some of the legends about "Saint Valentine" probably reflect the lasting prestige he enjoyed at Rome. After Valentinus' death, his disciples further developed his ideas and spread them throughout the Roman Empire.
(An excellent introduction to Valentinus and his tradition is given by Dr. Stephan Hoeller in Valentinus: A Gnostic for All Seasons, available in this Archives.)

GNOSTIC ROSARY

Sign of the cross
Nous(forehead), Christos(heart), Pistis(left shoulder), Sofia(right shoulder). Amen.

3 Faces
Hail Sophia, filled with light, the Christ is with you. Blessed art thou among Aeons, and blessed is the liberator of thy light, Jesus. Holy Sophia, Mother of all, pray to the light for us thy children, now and in our hour of darkness. Amen (x3)

Triangle/Connector
Almighty God, whose footstool is the highest firmament: Great Ruler of heaven and all the powers therein: Hear the prayer of thy servant who has put his/her trust in thee. Supply my needs from day to day. Command thy heavenly host to comfort and succor me. That it may be to thy glory and unto the good of men. Forgive me my transgressions as I forgive my brothers and sisters. Be present with me, strengthen and sustain me. For I am but an instrument in thy hands. Let me not fall into temptation, but defend me from all danger and evil. Let thy mighty power ever guard and protect me, thou great fount of knowledge and wisdom. Instruct thy servant by thy holy presence, guide and support me now and forever. Amen

Diamonds
Glory be to the Father, Mother, Son and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

10 Small beads
· Most Compassionate
· Ever Merciful
· Bringer of Peace
· Creator of Life
· All Knowing
· Supreme Healer
· Holy Father
· Holy Mother
· Holy Child
· Holy Sprit
Large Bead
Father, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hated, let me bring love.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me shine your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in forgiving that we receive;
It is pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Repeat for the next three decades.

Chanukah in a Nutshell

Chanukah -- the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of Kislev 25 -- celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality. More than twenty-one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d. When they sought to light the Temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled. On Chanukah we also recite Hallel and the Al HaNissim prayer to offer praise and thanksgiving to G-d for "delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few... the wicked into the hands of the righteous." Chanukah customs include eating foods fried in oil -- latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts); playing with the dreidel (a spinning top on which are inscribed the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hei and shin, an acronym for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, "a great miracle happened there"); and the giving of Chanukah gelt, gifts of money, to children.

Apostolic Johannite Curch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apostolic Johannite Church?
We are an esoteric Gnostic Christian communion with valid Apostolic Succession.

What does Johannite mean?
It relates to the Gospel of John, embraced by early Gnostics, to the Apostle John, and to the Initiatic Tradition of John the Baptist.

Is the Apostolic Johannite Church a Christian Church?
We are part of the "catholic" (universal) Tradition as it was understood by the pre-Nicene Christian Churches, and we use Christian form and Sacraments in our worship. While many of our members do consider themselves Christian, we welcome members from a wide variety of faith traditions including Wiccans, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, and Hermeticists.

Do you believe in the Bible?
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are sources of our inspiration, as are other works including the Corpus Hermeticum and the Nag Hammadi Gnostic Scriptures. We understand these texts from a Gnostic view, rather than a superficial or literalist one.

What do you believe in?
We invite you to read our Statement of Principles...

"We affirm that there is one Great, Unknowable, and Ineffable Godhead that made manifest the Universe through Emanation and that while the Universe is contained within this Divine Godhead, the Godhead transcends it.

We affirm that every Being contains the 'Sacred Flame,' a Spark of the Divine and that Awareness of the Sacred Flame within constitutes the highest level of Self-Knowledge and the Experience of God simultaneously. This act of Awareness, which is held to be liberating, transcendent and experiential, is called Gnosis."

(click here for more...)

What do you mean by Gnostic?
Gnosticism is a pre-Christian syncretic religious tradition that stresses mysticism, personal responsibilty, revelation, and practical philosophy. We are saved from Ignorance and Deception through Knowledge (gnosis) of our own Divine origin and nature.

Do you practice the Sacraments?
We do honour the seven Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony, Penance, Holy Orders, Eucharist, and Extreme Unction as part of our Apostolic Tradition.

Are your Sacraments valid?
Yes. As an Apostolic Church our clergy and Sacraments are recognized as "valid yet illicit" by the Vatican.

Do you believe in the Trinity?
We do affirm the Trinity of the Divine as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also use the language of Pleroma (fullness), Logos (word), and Hagia Sophia (holy wisdom).

Are you those guys in the Da Vinci Code?
The book is a work of fiction, and takes its themes to extremes for the purposes of entertainment. However, it did make many people aware of the esoteric tradition that has been part of Western religion for millennia. We are a part of that Tradition.

Do you believe Mary Magdalene married Jesus?
Literally, no. This is best thought of in archetypal terms, as the illustration of the joining of different complementary ideas: Christianity "wedded to" older traditions of the Divine Feminine, whom we identify as both Mary and Sophia.

Is there a Parish in my area?
We currently have Parishes in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Spain and Australia. Please check here for your closest Parish or Narthex (study group).

How many clergy do you have?
Worldwide we currently have three Bishops (including our Patriarch), eight Priests, and four Deacons.

Are you connected with the Ecclesia Gnostica?
We have the highest regard for Bishop +Hoeller's work and the EG, but at this time we have no formal association.

Are you connected with Freemasonry?
We welcome Freemasons in our Church, and there is a longstanding connection between Masonic and Gnostic Traditions. However we are not formally associated with any Masonic Lodge or organization.

Do you ordain women?
Yes. As in our Statement of Principles...
"We recognize the Sacred Flame to be present in all Beings and therefore our Offices are open to all humanity without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, social status or sexual orientation."

Can I attend Mass and take Communion even if I'm not a member?
Yes. We welcome all who come respectfully and openly.

Why so Churchy? Aren't you a bunch of heretics?
For centuries, Gnostic ideas flourished in the Catholic church. Countless Catholic Bishops died peacefully in their sleep after lifetimes of preaching and practicing Gnosticism. These people contributed, debated, and crafted much of what we see of Catholic liturgical culture today. The Cathars and Bogomils had Bishops. The Valentinians and Nestorians celebrated the Eucharist. And of course the Gnostic Revival of the nineteenth century also embraced the structure and liturgy of Catholicism, with a pneumatic understanding.

How can I learn more about Gnosticism?
There are some excellent sources available online;
The Gnostic Society
Wikiepedia
Gnosticism 101

We also recommend Bishop +Stephan Hoeller's "Gnosticism" and Elaine Pagel's "Beyond Belief" and "The Gnostic Gospels".

Icon of John the Baptist
©Eileen McGuckin

Shamelessly lifted from web site of the Apostolic Johannite Church

Prayer of St. Francis

O Lord
Make me an instrument of your Peace.
Where there is hatred,
let me sow Love;
Where there is injury,
Pardon.
Where there is discord,
Unity.
Where there is doubt,
Faith.
Where there is error,
Truth.
Where there is despair,
Hope.
Where there is sadness,
Joy.
Where there is darkness,
Light;

Quantum Physics ?

Quantum Physics Made Fun

As a healer, I know the premise of 'What the Bleep?' is true: illuminating your consciousness can change your reality. By Diane Goldner

People are lining up to see it. Then, they return, again and again, and take their closest friends. They'll contemplate it deeply. They'll take concepts from it and sprinkle it in their daily life. I myself was "kidnapped" by friends to go see it and loved it. It described so many of my experiences as a healer and spiritual seeker. Of course, some people walk out before it is over, swearing it is ridiculous. Still, it's the surprise sleeper of the year. It's been held over in theaters in Los Angeles, Arizona, New York, and Washington State.

What is it? It's "What the Bleep Do We Know?!", a film about quantum physics. Quantum physics made fun. Quantum physics made relevant. Actually, you could say it's a film about reality. Or you could say it's a film about you, and how you create your life. It's done in a way that's fun, with psychedelic visuals, a good story line, great music, and good pacing.

While most movies these days portray events you wouldn't want happening to you-"What the Bleep?" is an exploration of the deepest existential questions, the ones most of us ask, sooner or later. These questions include: Who are we? Where are we going? Why are we here? And, What is reality? Why do we keep creating the same reality? Why do we keep having the same relationships? Why do we keep getting the same jobs over and over again? And, how can we make our reality better?

The movie is a series of interviews with leading quantum theorists, experts on the biology of emotion, and spiritual philosophers/counselors. Everyone has impressive mainstream credentials-professorships and/or degrees from top universities and major theoretical or practical discoveries to their credit-although there is one channeler, who could push buttons for some people who don't go in for that kind of thing. Nevertheless, every one of these talking heads is someone you might want to hang out with at a dinner party.

Then, inter-cut through the movie is another movie, the story of a photographer, Amanda, played by Marlee Maitlin, who learns first-hand how her thoughts create her reality. Ever since catching her husband in bed with another woman, she has hated weddings, churches, and men. She's addicted to pain medication. She's grumpy and somber while her houseguest is bouncy and light. Her boss describes Amanda's dilemma perfectly when he tells her: "You live in your past.... You have too many memories clouding your vision."

The movie takes us down one rabbit hole after another. That's easy to do since quantum physics is the ultimate mind-bender. This physics of the 20th and 21st century has found that the seemingly solid world in which we exist is made up almost entirely of empty space. As one of the physicists says, "In fact, there is essentially nothing to matter at all." Even the particles that make up the nucleus of an atom vibrate in and out of existence. As one of the founders of quantum physics once put it: "Atoms are not things, they are only tendencies. "

The closer you look, the stranger it gets. Experiments have found that particles can appear in two places at once. Plus the laws of the quantum domain suggest that there is no distinction between past and future. "It's only in conscious experience that we seem to go forward in time," explains one of the experts. "In quantum theory, we can also go backwards in time."

Perhaps the most dramatic aspect of quantum physics is that the consciousness of the observer affects the reality seen, even the outcomes of experiments. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming message of the movie is that our thoughts influence reality. In the choices we make, we collapse the wave of infinite possibilities into particles of experience.

One of the most vivid scenes of the movie shows photographs of water molecules that have been exposed to different thoughts and intentions. On a bottle of water on which the word "love" was written, the molecules formed beautiful crystals. Another bottle received the words, "You make me sick. I want to kill you." The water molecules are shapeless and sorry-looking.

Likewise, in a self-loathing moment, Amanda sees herself not as a beautiful curvaceous woman, but as grotesquely misshapen with huge hips and thighs. Then in an epiphany, she moves from self-loathing to self-love. In a beatific state, she draws all over her chest, arms and legs, a beautiful scrolling vine with hearts and the words, "I love you" growing out of it.

People who object to this movie claim it is dabbling in pseudoscience. It is true that many mainstream quantum physicists can't accept that the quantum laws govern humans, as well as quantum particles. But even the founders of quantum physics felt that quantum theory turned the world inside out and upside down. Today, while it is little known, experimenters at top universities such as Princeton University are finding that consciousness does influence the physical domain, even across time and space. It's not a strictly Newtonian world. The inside and the outside, the consciousness and the physical reality, are deeply related.

When, as a "rational" investigative journalist, I first began to have experiences of spiritual energy and how powerful it can be, it was my physics professor (I was taking physics at a local college) who encouraged me to read about quantum physics. Is that irony? Or perfection? As a healer, I now live in a world where the things claimed by quantum physics are part of my moment-to-moment experience, where illuminating someone's consciousness can truly change that person's reality. For me, quantum physics is only describing a level of reality that is always there. You can call it the quantum domain or the spiritual domain. At the very least, as the movie suggests, these domains are intimately related.

If I have any caution about this movie, it's that the subject is so vast that at times the movie, while a terrific overview, could be accused of being glib about how easy it is to change one's consciousness. The relationship between consciousness and reality is complex, to say the least. I'd love to see a sequel that deals with more of the actual mechanics of transformation. Nevertheless, I found "What the Bleep" to be profound. It's also a lot of fun. And everything in it? Well, as one of the scientists suggest, "Don't just take it at face value. Test it and see if it is true."

Diane Goldner, a healer and writer based in Los Angeles and New York, is the author of 'How People Heal: Exploring the Scientific Basis of Subtle Energy in Healing' (Hampton Roads, 2003). She can be reached at www.howpeopleheal.net or dianegoldner@msn.com.

The Sikhs

Numbers: 18 million

Founder: Guru Nanak (1469-1539 C.E.) was the first of Sikhism's ten Gurus, a lineage of holy teachers that continued until the end of the seventeenth century. The Gurus are understood to be the mediators of divine grace.

Main tenets: The term Sikh is derived from the Sanskrit word for "disciple" or "learner." Sikhs are those who are disciples to the Guru. Sikhism originated in the Punjab region of northwest India, where it drew on elements from Bhakti Hinduism and Islamic Sufism to develop into a distinctive religious tradition in its own right. Sikhs believe that liberation from the karmic cycle of rebirths occurs in the merging of the human spirit with the all-embracing spirit of God. Their religious worship involves contemplation of the divine Name. The ultimate deity is known by several names: Sat (truth), Sat Guru (true Guru), Akal Purakh (timeless being), Kartar (creator) and Wahi-Guru ("praise to the Guru"). By concentrating on God's Name (or many titles), one conquers the ego and unites with God.

Known as the "religion of the householder," Sikhism emphasizes the family, and advocates living in the world without being worldly. Moral purity is considered the chief basis of religion. There is no priesthood per se, but there are official readers of scripture.

The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, instituted the Khalsa brotherhood, in which initiates are required to wear five distinctive symbols: uncut hair, a comb, a steel wrist bangle, a sword, and short underpants. Not all Sikhs belong to this disciplined fellowship, but many do obey the principle rules of Khalsa. Guru Gobind Singh also required all male Sikhs to take the name Singh (meaning "lion") and all female Sikhs to take the name Kaur ("princess"). These measures give Sikhs a strong sense of communal identity, symbolized by the characteristic turbans and beards worn by Sikh men.

Main sacred text: The compilation of the Sikh scriptures, the Adi Granth, was begun in 1604 by the Fifth Guru. The last of the ten Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh, announced that he would be the last personal Guru and that thereafter, Sikhs were to regard the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib) as their teacher. This sacred book is considered the living embodiment of all ten Gurus and is therefore the focus of worship in all Sikh temples and local gurudwaras, or sanctuaries. The Adi Granth comprises three main parts: a long poem by Nanak summing up the elements of Sikhism, a collection of Ragas, or songs composed by the first five Gurus, and a mixed collection of commentaries elaborating on the Ragas together with hymns of many Hindu saints and Sufi mystics.

Principal center: The Golden Temple of Amritsar in India.

---

बुद्दिस्त

Four Noble Truths:
~Existence in samsara is inseparable from suffering.
~The cause of suffering is desire and lust for existence in samsara.
~The cessation of suffering is through eradicating desire and lust for existence in samsara.
~The path to the cessation of suffering is
the Eight-fold Path.


Eight-fold Path:
Right view, which leads to:
Right thought, which leads to:
Right speech, which leads to:
Right conduct, which leads to:
Right livelihood, which leads to:
Right effort, which leads to:
Right mindfulness, which leads to:
Right concentration.
from Water Marks,
by Dru Kristél and Makundananda Dorje Rinpoche

Baha"i

Numbers: About 6 million people claim affiliation with Baha'i and its predecessor, Babism.

Main tenets: Baha'is believe in the unity of all humankind, and therefore the unity of all religions. This means that Baha'i adherents believe that all religions teach the same truth. They therefore reject prejudice--racial, political, or otherwise--and stress ethical teachings such as world peace, education, and sexual equality. Although they believe that God is completely unknowable, they hold that God's presence and works are evident in the creation of the world and the existence of the prophets, among other things. Important Baha'i prophets include Adam, the Jewish prophets, Jesus, and Muhammed, all of whom have been succeeded by Baha'ullah, the founder of Baha'i.

Founder: Baha'i was founded in Iran in the mid-nineteenth century by Mirza Husayn Ali (1817-1892). Better known as Baha'ullah, he believed that he was the prophet foretold by the Bab, a religious leader who was a direct descendent of the prophet Muhammad. Baha'ullah was persecuted and banished several times during his life, and he died as a prisoner in Palestine. After his death, one of his two sons set out on missionary journeys to Egypt, Europe, and America, establishing branches of the community.

Main sacred text: Among his many writings, Baha'ullah's Kitab al-Aqdas ("The Most Holy Book"), which contains detailed instructions for Baha'i life, is perhaps the closest to scriptures for Baha'is. However, there is no formal public ritual or priesthood. Local congregations hold informal devotional sessions.

Historical roots: Baha'i is an outgrowth of a religious movement known as Babism. Babism stemmed from the Twelver Shi'a sect of Islam, which holds that the twelfth of a series of great imams vanished from sight but is still alive and will return to institute an era of justice and peace.

Headquarters: Currently located in Haifa, Israel, near the graves of Baha'ullah and his predecessor, the Bab.

The Confluence of Sacred Times

| Written by Rabbi Arthur Waskow ... in October 2005 Both the Muslim and Jewish calendars are based on lunar "moonths," but the two traditions treat these months in different ways. Seven times in a 19-year cycle, the Jewish calendar adds an additional lunar "leap month" to bring the calendar back into the rhythm of a solar year. Counting from the month of spring, in which Passover occurs, the seventh month in the Jewish calendar is Tishrei - a sabbatical month in which every phase of the moon is honored through a unique festival: Rosh Hashanah at the new moon, Yom Kippur on the tenth day, Sukkot at the full moon, and Sh'mini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah at the waning of the moon. As a result of the constant solar readjustment, Tishrei always occurs in the fall. Since the Muslim calendar is purely lunar, the sacred month of Ramadan moves round the year from season to season. It occasionally, but rarely, coincides with the Jewish sacred month of Tishrei. In the years 2005, 2006, and 2007 of the Western calendar, the two months do coincide. (During 2008, the Jewish calendar adds its "leap month," and the paths of Ramadan and Tishrei then diverge for many years.) In 2005, Tishrei and Ramadan begin with the new moon on October 3-4. Other sacred times also coincide with those days. October 4 is the saint's day of St. Francis of Assisi, known as a proponent of peace and lovingkindness toward all human cultures and all life-forms on earth. October 2 is the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi. And because it is the first Sunday in October, October 2 is also, for Protestant Christians, Worldwide Communion Sunday. Yom Kippur falls on October 13. Since every day of ramadan is a fast day, that day both Jews and Muslims will be fasting. And October 13 is for Hindus Vijayadashami (the tenth day of victory). It comes after Navarathri (nine nights) where many fast, and others have religious observances of various sorts. Although the religious story is filled with images of war and victory (on the 10th day), it is often described as a spiritual struggle similar to jihad (in its proper meaning). Also for Buddhists, October 13 falls within a period of reflection or retreat called Vassa (rainy season). (It is sometimes called the Buddhist "Lent.") Oct. 18 is the full moon day on which this season ends, and is called Pavarana day in the Theravada tradition. At a moment in history when the world is experiencing an upsurge in religious hostility and war, when the blood-streaked strands in the fabrics of many religious traditions seem to win more attention than the peaceful teachings at the heart of all of them, the confluence of these dates seems a gift from God: Can we draw upon this gift to act in ways that honors the best in all our traditions and that reconnects them all with that Unity that calls us toward making peace, seeking justice, healing the earth?

Graditude

We thank Thee Lord, for happy hearts,
For rain and sunny weather.
We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,
And that we are together.

Imagine

John Lennon

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one 

SACRED OFFERS OF PEACE

SACRED OFFERS OF PEACE

Hindu Prayer for Peace
Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.

Buddhist Prayer for Peace
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May all beings swiftly attain Buddha hood.

Zoroastrian Prayer
We pray to God that understanding will triumph over ignorance, that generosity will triumph over indifference,
that trust will triumph over contempt,
and that truth will triumph over falsehood.

Jainism Prayer
Peace and universal love is the essence of all the Gospels.
Forgive do I creatures all,
and let all creatures forgive me.

Jewish Prayer
Oh come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we will beat our swords into ploughshares
and our spears into pruning hooks.

Shinto Prayer
We earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away
all the clouds hanging over the tops of the mountains.

Native African Prayer
For you are one who does not hesitate to respond to our call, you are the cornerstone of peace.

Native American Prayer
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love,
to respect and to be kind to one another,
that we may grow with peace in mind.

Muslim Prayer
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe.
Who has created us and made us into tribes and nations
that we may know each other,
not despise each other

Baha'i Prayer
Be a breath of life unto the body of humankind
a dew upon the human heart,
and a fruit upon the tree of humility.

Sikh Prayer
Know that we attain God when we love,
and only that victory endures in consequence of which
no one is defeated.

Christian Prayer
Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
Blessed be the Peacemakers,
for they shall be called the Children of God.

Gaelic Prayer

Deep peace of the running wave to you,

Of water flowing, rising and falling,

Sometimes advancing, sometimes receding.

May the stream of your life flow unimpeded!

Deep peace of the running wave to you!

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

Which fans your face on a sultry day,

The air which you breathe deeply, rhythmically,

Which imparts to you energy, consciousness, life.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you!

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

Who, herself unmoving, harbors the movements

And facilitates the life of the ten thousand creatures.

While resting contented, stable, tranquil.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you!

Now I've been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
I've been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Something good's bound to come

For out on the edge of darkness
There runs the peace train
Peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train
Hoo-ah-eeh-ah-hoo-ah
Come on the peace train
Peace train's a holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Hoo-ah-eeh-ah-hoo-ah
This is the peace train

Get your bags together
Come bring your good friends too
Because it's getting nearer
Soon it will be with you
Come and join the living
It's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer
Soon it will all be true

Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train
Hoo-ah-eeh-ah-hoo-ah
Come on the peace train

I've been crying lately
Thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating?
Why can't we live in bliss?

For out on the edge of darkness
There rides the peace train
Peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Peace train sounding louder
Ride on the peace train
Hoo-ah-eeh-ah-hoo-ah
Come on the peace train

Come on, come on, come on the peace train...