What Is The Spiritual Path?Written by Saleem Rana
For many years of my life, I thought spiritual path had something to do with following one of major world religions or pursuing an Eastern practice. I even thought it had something to do with morality and ethics. Today my comprehension of spiritual path has changed completely. Instead of complexity of any of disciplines to becoming a good person, I have found that path is simple. In fact, some of greatest atheists have followed it better than many theists. An example that comes to mind is famous British Philosopher Bertrand Russell, who lived an impeccable life of wisdom, compassion, and grace.. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That is spiritual path. Everything else--all theology, philosophy, and practices--lead you to that singular ideal. Physically, do you like to be murdered, wounded, beaten, or raped? Emotionally, do you like to be humiliated, disenfranchised, betrayed, abandoned, disrespected, alienated, and cast aside? Mentally, do you like to be cheated, swindled, lied to, vilified or misinformed? Of course not. In fact, your whole body just cringes at thought of such mishap. Yet, this is what we do to others. If we are truly savage, we abuse others physically. If a little more sophisticated, we abuse others mentally and emotionally. And in this process we abuse ourselves. In actuality, there is no enemy, for we are all connected at collective unconscious, and misperception that “they” are different from “us” has been historical cause of most human suffering. Often this abuse is perpetuated from collective rules referred to as ethics and morality. What is ethical and moral is defined by who is making up rules.
| | THE DEVIL CAME BY MY HOUSEWritten by Irvin L. Rozier
Job 1 verses 7-10 7: And LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered LORD, and said, From going to and fro in earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8: And LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9: Then Satan answered LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10: Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed work of his hands, and his substance is increased in land. Yes, Satan walked by Job's house, but God had a hedge of protection around him. He could not penetrate it without God's permission. Does devil walk about earth today? Does he look for ones to attack? Yes, he does. 1 Peter 5 verse 8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." During my 18 years of serving Jesus, I have experienced many vicious attacks from devil...from being assaulted, shot at, oppressed, attacks on my health, finances, family, and ministry. Yet, through these many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. My experience has been, that right before LORD moves mightily in your behalf, enemy comes in like a flood.
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