god without religion

antichrist · Post by **antichrist** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:38 pm

Here is a great philosopher/mystic named Sankara Saranam. I've never read any work that comes as close to what i feel in my heart and reason with my mind. Here are some quotes from his site:

As founder of the Pranayama Institute, please tell us what pranayama is and why you chose it.
I chose to focus on pranayama as a path to spiritual knowledge because of its scientific rationale and its universal application. The scientific basis for all mystical traditions, pranayama is the secret technique of yogis, prophets, and early religious figures such as the Buddha, Elijah, and Jesus Christ. Prana refers to nervous energy and yama means control. Getting in touch with the motion of prana in the body and brain helps us better understand our existence, while controlling this motion by directing awareness inward can unite humanity in the shared appreciation of God experienced by the expansive sense of self.

How do you define the expansive sense of self, and why should we seek to understand it?
The sense of self, or identity, can expand to include all of humanity, regardless of nationality, beliefs, ethnicity, race, gender, or lifestyle. If a suburban midwesterner could identify with an Iraqi farmer, a straight white southerner could relate to a gay African American couple, or a Congressman could see a Palestinian merchant as part of his family, and vice versa, we wouldn't be able to propagate hatred and violence. God Without Religion guides readers to expand their sense of self until it encompasses every living being, eradicating all preconditions for conflict and war.

- Sankara saranam, author of "god without religion"
www.godwithoutreligion.com

the book is well worth reading

methylatedghosts · Post by **methylatedghosts** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 6:08 am

Hmmm, looks really interesting. I shall look into it.

Also it sounds like you might be interested in reading Converations with God by Neale Donald Walsch. I recommend you check it out

hindweb · Post by **hindweb** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:03 am

This sounds interesting, I need to check it out.

http://dharma.indviews.com

Confused · Post by **Confused** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:14 pm

Why can't one just believe in a God without any set of tennets to abide by. Why can we just not accept a creator and live our lives as best we can while creating the least damage to the earth and others. No rituals, no sins. Why must there always be elaborate homeage to be paid?

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:29 am

Confused wrote:Why can't one just believe in a God without any set of tennets to abide by. Why can we just not accept a creator and live our lives as best we can while creating the least damage to the earth and others. No rituals, no sins. Why must there always be elaborate homeage to be paid?

That's called deism.

Confused · Post by **Confused** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:30 pm

McCulloch wrote:
Confused wrote:Why can't one just believe in a God without any set of tennets to abide by. Why can we just not accept a creator and live our lives as best we can while creating the least damage to the earth and others. No rituals, no sins. Why must there always be elaborate homeage to be paid?
That's called deism.

I realize this, but do people have an easier time accepting Christianity with all its contradictions and questionable basis than just accepting a God and end it at that?

tambi · Post by **tambi** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:28 am

Confused wrote:I realize this, but do people have an easier time accepting Christianity with all its contradictions and questionable basis than just accepting a God and end it at that?

I guess it depends on the conversion experience, and the person's opinions about religion. you would think that it would be much harder to convince people that Christianity specifically is the absolute truth, but if the conversion is done out of fear of hell or relief of forgiveness, then perhaps the emotional experience supersedes any doubts.