Posts by Ireneus

12

Yoga Sutras Of Pantanjali (1600 Years Ago)

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i know a lot of people might not want anything to do with any religion and i can sympathize, the bible an ancient collection of books compiled by the catholic church authorities and the some what restricted version by protestant movement we have the less voluminous of collected "holy" books call the king james.

which i think we have a lot to learn from them if we look at them from a more psychological point of view and not force them to be literally understood.. i think it is the same with these sutras, what is it telling us about the mind?

what can we expect from certain meditative practices.

Ireneus

The wise have always understood the wisdom of looking beyond thoughts which are just chattering of the internal mouth called mind. (Luke 17:21) “The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the thinker.The moment you start watching the thinker, a higher level of consciousness becomes activated. You then begin to realize that there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought, that thought is only a tiny aspect of that intelligence. You also realize that all the things that truly matter – beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace – arise from beyond the mind. You begin to awaken.”-- Eckhart Tolle

JWs would never understand this. For them emptying the mind means inviting demons--demons who were originally presented as personification of vices for the sake simplicity and clarity, hence never exist as person.

23

Banned words in the organization

by Addison0998 in

i was talking to my sister in law the other day about death, and i mentioned something about the afterlife, i don’t remember what i said but it was nothing shocking .

but she squealed, “we don’t believe in the afterlife!

!” and i reasoned, well we kinda do...life after death is the after life..and she just insisted no no it’s not the same thing.

Ireneus

It is about such practices Jesus said: "You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!"--Mathew 23:24

52

144000 The numbers don't add up

by LevelThePlayingField in

in 1935 there were 63,146 who attended the memorial and 52,465 partook.

(proclaimers book page 717).

according to the bible teach book on page 78, it says, “since the days of the apostles, god has been selecting faithful christians in order to complete the number 144,000”.

Ireneus

Very solid point!

7

God and even nature are against all practices of mind control

by Ireneus in

most of the people with skin problems have something in common.

they feel their individuality is being threatened somehow and others have power over them as though they are feeling thin-skinned or things as tending to get under their skin.

it is under the skin that our nerves function, and skin is the largest sense-organ which is like a blanket over the whole body, hence is a symbol of protection.

Ireneus

Most of the people with skin problems have something in common. They feel their individuality is being threatened somehow and others have power over them as though they are feeling thin-skinned or things as tending to get under their skin. It is under the skin that our nerves function, and skin is the largest sense-organ which is like a blanket over the whole body, hence is a symbol of protection. When reeling under the heavy-handedness of somebody/some cultic organization, skin feels the weight of it, and when prolonged it expresses itself as some of form skin dis-ease—from minor to major depending upon the degree of control being felt from others. And it is also observed and when a person takes back his own power, and begin to nurture himself saying in his mind “I love myself, and I am by own boss, I abandon beliefs thrust upon me …etc it is observed that skin feels at ease and restores its normalcy.

This shows the very design of our body rules out validity of cultic organizations that thrive on their mind-control practices. No wonder one ancient proverb says “mercy is the supreme form of righteousness” which lays down natural behavior pattern that should exist between humans! Interestingly, Jesus is quoted as telling a cultic organization of his time: “Go and learn what God meant when he said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13; 12:7; Hosea 6:6) which his half-brother James later extolled it as supreme quality when he wrote: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13) It means no one can value “being right” even more than showing compassion or mercy—which is at the root of phariseeism, an inordinate love for being right which results in the practices of even shunning towards those who disagree. In shunning, the supreme quality, compassion, is also being shunned, which means compassion and mind-control are mutually exclusive.

14

Most illogical verse in the Bible

by Ireneus in

in exodus 20:3-5 god is depicted as saying: “you should have no other gods” and worshipping them would bring ‘punishment for three to four generation’ and worshipping me would bring blessings for “a thousand generations.”.

the sentiments behind this command is same as the one that was displayed by othello who punished his wife desdemona all because of a handkerchief (given to her by othello on their honeymoon) that was happened to be found with someone else.. if it were the real god, he would have said something like this: “you are my children, and you should not worship me.

how can father accept worship from his children?

Ireneus

That is an interesting summing up, Diogenesister,

Very few people only attempt to read between the lines. When I read the Bible, I read it like a witness—as a totally dispassionate observer which makes me discriminate between essence and human thinking. For example, when God says something, it should be befitting to His stature. Instead of God asking us to avoid worshipping other gods (which means He hates them) as Almighty, He can easily exercise the easiest option of not permitting a situation where rebels disturb the peace of Himself and of others and thus first save Himself by ridding Himself of hatred—a deep negative emotion if found among humans ‘would cause many diseases’. Hatred (from the Hebrew root, Yiddish, Haete, meaning “that never goes; to remain rooted”) has a strong, negative implication.

Scriptures are the product of human thinking; and thinking is internal talking (of the mind) just like external talking (of the mouth). Thinking leads at the best to the opinion, not necessarily to truth. In fact it often veils the truth. One can realize the truth only in the space of consciousness, free from thoughts—something Jesus implied when he said “Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) If one has chosen to bind himself to human thinking (own or of others), it means he is free to sever that bondage too.

14

Most illogical verse in the Bible

by Ireneus in

in exodus 20:3-5 god is depicted as saying: “you should have no other gods” and worshipping them would bring ‘punishment for three to four generation’ and worshipping me would bring blessings for “a thousand generations.”.

the sentiments behind this command is same as the one that was displayed by othello who punished his wife desdemona all because of a handkerchief (given to her by othello on their honeymoon) that was happened to be found with someone else.. if it were the real god, he would have said something like this: “you are my children, and you should not worship me.

how can father accept worship from his children?

Ireneus

Hi AlexPancho

That'is what exactly my point is. God is the fullness of all qualities; hence He can only give, not receive. Wanting something denotes deficiency.

Hence, such concepts/verses about God are human inventions.

14

Most illogical verse in the Bible

by Ireneus in

in exodus 20:3-5 god is depicted as saying: “you should have no other gods” and worshipping them would bring ‘punishment for three to four generation’ and worshipping me would bring blessings for “a thousand generations.”.

the sentiments behind this command is same as the one that was displayed by othello who punished his wife desdemona all because of a handkerchief (given to her by othello on their honeymoon) that was happened to be found with someone else.. if it were the real god, he would have said something like this: “you are my children, and you should not worship me.

how can father accept worship from his children?

Ireneus

In Exodus 20:3-5 God is depicted as saying: “You should have no other gods” and worshipping them would bring ‘punishment for three to four generation’ and worshipping me would bring blessings for “a thousand generations.”

The sentiments behind this command is same as the one that was displayed by Othello who punished his wife Desdemona all because of a handkerchief (given to her by Othello on their honeymoon) that was happened to be found with someone else.

If it were the real God, He would have said something like this: “You are my children, and you should not worship me. How can father accept worship from his children? When there is true love between you, you become worship-worthy. I am in no need of worship.”

This shows the whole episode of Exodus is the product of human imagination which means verses carry no meaning at all just like Exodus 20:7 which says He would hold anyone “guilty” for the misuse of His name Jehovah. But we find Jehovah’s Witnesses misusing that very name putting it everywhere—on their publications, property, wall, gate, and also on themselves who pretend to be spokesperson for God, yet keep on changing the teachings according to their convenience—and even when they fight court cases—for/against them. If misusing the name on such a global scale is not noticed by God, then it would mean other verses too have no meaning.

11

Job 26:7 “Earth is hanged upon nothing”—proof of inspiration?

by Ireneus in

jws has been saying bible is authored by god because job 26:7 says: “earth is being hanged upon nothing.” and this verse in combination with isaiah 40:22 which says “god resides above the circle of earth” implies that earth is spherical and remains unsupported from above or from beneath.

thus, bible contains the knowledge which science confirmed later.. however, recent understanding of science is that the whole visible part of the universe is only 4%, and the visible exists because of the invisible 96%-- “dark matter 26%” and “dark energy 70%”--which is a fifth and previously unknown type of fundamental force called quintessence, which fills the universe like a fluid serving as a support to the visible universe.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/dark-matter/.

Ireneus

JWs has been saying Bible is authored by God because Job 26:7 says: “Earth is being hanged upon nothing.” And this verse in combination with Isaiah 40:22 which says “God resides above the circle of earth” implies that earth is spherical and remains unsupported from above or from beneath. Thus, Bible contains the knowledge which science confirmed later.

However, recent understanding of science is that the whole visible part of the universe is only 4%, and the visible exists because of the invisible 96%-- “dark matter 26%” and “dark energy 70%”--which is a fifth and previously unknown type of fundamental force called quintessence, which fills the universe like a fluid serving as a support to the visible universe.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/dark-matter/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4760730/Huge-map-cosmos-reveals-dark-matter.html

It would then mean that Job 26:7 cannot be used the way JWs do. Job was simply implying that earth was not touching the sky, not as a truth revealed even before the scientists could know.

2

Mathew 12:35—a verse of paramount importance

by Ireneus in

jesus taught he would not use an organization on earth once he leaves the stage (mathew 7:12, 21-23; luke 6:38 …etc) this is because god respects the free-will of everyone and would not force anyone to follow certain path, which means system of things would climax in the situation described in 2tim 3:1-5.. yet those who want to lead a life of ease are not left in the lurch.

there is a verse of paramount importance that jesus spoke of: ‘everyone acts/reacts according to his passion—beneficial or wasteful’ (mathew 12:35) which means there is no basis for certain expected response, towards your action, from others.

this is interesting, because we often get disappointed when others do not appreciate the good we do or are not grateful to us.

Ireneus

Jesus taught he would not use an organization on earth once he leaves the stage (Mathew 7:12, 21-23; Luke 6:38 …etc) This is because God respects the free-will of everyone and would not force anyone to follow certain path, which means system of things would climax in the situation described in 2Tim 3:1-5.

Yet those who want to lead a life of ease are not left in the lurch. There is a verse of paramount importance that Jesus spoke of: ‘Everyone acts/reacts according to his passion—beneficial or wasteful’ (Mathew 12:35) which means there is no basis for certain expected response, towards your action, from others. This is interesting, because we often get disappointed when others do not appreciate the good we do or are not grateful to us. Interestingly, Bruce Lee understood the folly of expectation: "I'm not in this world to live up to your expectations and you're not in this world to live up to mine."

This understanding is of great importance because our physical life is full of conditions and would result in ease to the body if we fulfill those conditions. But our spiritual life is without any conditions—we have to act spiritually (or beneficially) and should not bother about responses we receive from others. In this realization, there is no confusion at any time and in any situation. It is like we keep on making our own road!

21

Are older women holding the congregations together (at least in the US)?

by Spiral in

so i went and had a facial yesterday, and the aesthetician (and business owner) was a 30 something women, and we got on very well from the start.

the conversation came around to how many new churches are being built in this area, and i said i was surprised by it all.

she had a very interesting take on the situation.

Ireneus

It is likely to happen, I feel.