Forwarded from Spiritual Books Meditations
The Vedanta recognises no sin, it only recognises error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta, is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that. Every time you think in that way, you, as it were, rivet one more link in the chain that binds you down, you add one more layer of hypnotism on to your own soul. Therefore, whosoever thinks he is weak is wrong, whosoever thinks he is impure is wrong, and is throwing a bad thought into the world. This we must always bear in mind that in the Vedanta there is no attempt at reconciling the present life — the hypnotised life, this false life which we have assumed — with the ideal; but this false life must go, and the real life which is always existing must manifest itself, must shine out. No man becomes purer and purer, it is a matter of greater manifestation. The veil drops away, and the native purity of the soul begins to manifest itself. Everything is ours already — infinite purity, freedom, love, and power.
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Swami Vivekananda
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Swami Vivekananda
Forwarded from ESTOICISMO
"Não diga a si mesmo nada além do que a impressão inicial lhe informa. Alguém lhe insultou, por exemplo. Diga isso, mas não que isso lhe causou algum mal. O fato de que meu filho está doente — isso eu posso ver. Mas 'que ele pode morrer', não. Foque nas primeiras impressões. Não extrapole e nada poderá lhe causar mal."
— Marco Aurélio
— Marco Aurélio
Forwarded from The Classical Wisdom Tradition
Below is a historically informed reading list to begin your journey. The order matters. This list is based on what we know some historical Platonists used as a curriculum.
The first two are short and straightforward and will transform your life if you engage seriously with them. I recommend reading them frequently and meditating on them daily.
This curriculum will take you through a plan of moral purification and gradually introduce you to deeper philosophical matters.
While not part of the "standard" historical Platonic curriculum, as far as I know, I do also recommend reading Book VII of Plato's Republic, which contains the famous cave allegory. Additionally, Sallust's On the Gods and the World is a good introduction to the Platonic path.
1. The Pythagorean Golden Verses
2. The Handbook of Epictetus
3. Select dialogues of Plato:
1. Alcibiades I
2. Gorgias
3. Phaedo
4. Cratylus
5. Theaetetus
6. Sophist
7. Statesman
8. Phaedrus
9. Symposium
10. Philebus
11. Timaeus
12. Parmenides
Moving on from here, there are ancient commentaries available on many of these texts, as well as numerous other Stoic and Platonic texts, such as those by Epictetus, Seneca, Plotinus and Proclus.
The first two are short and straightforward and will transform your life if you engage seriously with them. I recommend reading them frequently and meditating on them daily.
This curriculum will take you through a plan of moral purification and gradually introduce you to deeper philosophical matters.
While not part of the "standard" historical Platonic curriculum, as far as I know, I do also recommend reading Book VII of Plato's Republic, which contains the famous cave allegory. Additionally, Sallust's On the Gods and the World is a good introduction to the Platonic path.
1. The Pythagorean Golden Verses
2. The Handbook of Epictetus
3. Select dialogues of Plato:
1. Alcibiades I
2. Gorgias
3. Phaedo
4. Cratylus
5. Theaetetus
6. Sophist
7. Statesman
8. Phaedrus
9. Symposium
10. Philebus
11. Timaeus
12. Parmenides
Moving on from here, there are ancient commentaries available on many of these texts, as well as numerous other Stoic and Platonic texts, such as those by Epictetus, Seneca, Plotinus and Proclus.
Forwarded from Srila Prabhupada's Teachings
Who is Krishna..(Janmashtami Special).pdf
2.8 MB
Who is Krishna..(Janmashtami Special).pdf
>The world is a place where fallen souls attempt to enjoy existence separately from God.
>The ultimate purpose of the world is reformation of character and attitude, by which the soul can attain liberation. The soul suffers not so much through his location but through his rebellious attitude.
>The ultimate purpose of the world is reformation of character and attitude, by which the soul can attain liberation. The soul suffers not so much through his location but through his rebellious attitude.
Guenon on the Transcendent Unity of Religions
"I never said or thought that different traditions had to or even could merge or assimilate in any way whatsoever, even in their theoretical part. All that is possible and desirable, is a common understanding on a certain ground. This cannot be disputed when one admits that, the truth being one, it is possible to establish equivalences between its various modes of expression. I would further add that communication between various traditional doctrines, under conditions which do not detract from their independence, can only be effectuated from above. Perhaps you have already said that; unfortunately it is not possible for me currently to explain myself as clearly as I would like, especially as it would be very difficult, I fear, to find qualified individuals capable of taking the initiative of an effective rapprochement such as the one I am thinking of. Ultimately, this may come. Never despair"
"I never said or thought that different traditions had to or even could merge or assimilate in any way whatsoever, even in their theoretical part. All that is possible and desirable, is a common understanding on a certain ground. This cannot be disputed when one admits that, the truth being one, it is possible to establish equivalences between its various modes of expression. I would further add that communication between various traditional doctrines, under conditions which do not detract from their independence, can only be effectuated from above. Perhaps you have already said that; unfortunately it is not possible for me currently to explain myself as clearly as I would like, especially as it would be very difficult, I fear, to find qualified individuals capable of taking the initiative of an effective rapprochement such as the one I am thinking of. Ultimately, this may come. Never despair"
"The One true freedom is the Highest, and the Absolute is perfect freedom. And when we attain unto that freedom, for us shall desire and doubt vanish away.
When every man is beloved of us, even as the son of our own body, there is the Universal Mind made perfect in us. And this shall be in Paradise.
He who is in all things supreme, is Himself Nirvana, and Nirvana is that true light that abides in the Land that is to come, but this world cannot know it.
Our Lord instructs us that he who rejoices in his faith is, in so doing, in unity with the Highest. For true faith is the seed of light, and the seed of true light is in itself the potentiality of that which is Deity." - Shinran Shonin
When every man is beloved of us, even as the son of our own body, there is the Universal Mind made perfect in us. And this shall be in Paradise.
He who is in all things supreme, is Himself Nirvana, and Nirvana is that true light that abides in the Land that is to come, but this world cannot know it.
Our Lord instructs us that he who rejoices in his faith is, in so doing, in unity with the Highest. For true faith is the seed of light, and the seed of true light is in itself the potentiality of that which is Deity." - Shinran Shonin
"It doesn't take long to discover that, for all its innocent connotation, “just sitting” is a violent proposition, challenging most of the automatic, cognitive functions of the brain. “Just” to sit, after all, is “just” to accept one's situation without attempting to judge it, change it or explain it; “just” to be in the present without yearning toward the future or clinging to the past. In other words, to be without ambition and without ego. In fact, Zen is often called “egokilling‐practice,” and most of its pain and disorientation can safely be laid to ego resistance. Don't suspect, however, that Zen nurtures the romantic fantasy of ego absence, which is so ubiquitous in books on “Eastern wisdom.” Its vision of the human paradox is total and uncompromising: We can't live with our egos and we can't live without them; detachment is natural and impossible; “just sitting” is both the easiest and the hardest thing a man can attempt to do. Zen is not a means of solving the paradox but of exploring and containing it. And the “ambush” of Zen monastic life may be nothing more than the experience of meeting the paradox head‐on."
I resolve to become a Buddha,
Equal in attainment to you, O holy king of the Dharma,
To save living beings from birth-and-death,
And to lead them all to emancipation.
I vow that, when I have become a Buddha,
I shall carry out this promise everywhere;
And to all fear-ridden beings
Shall I give great peace"
- The Larger Sutra on Amida Buddha
Equal in attainment to you, O holy king of the Dharma,
To save living beings from birth-and-death,
And to lead them all to emancipation.
I vow that, when I have become a Buddha,
I shall carry out this promise everywhere;
And to all fear-ridden beings
Shall I give great peace"
- The Larger Sutra on Amida Buddha