“The Kybalion” by The Three Initiates
The Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean
“Life's Riddle” by Nils A. Amneus
“Expanding Horizons” by James A. Long
“To Light a Thousand Lamps” by Grace F. Knoche
“The Ocean of Theosophy” by William Q. Judge
“The Key to Theosophy” by H. P. Blavatsky
“An Invitation to The Secret Doctrine” by H. P. Blavatsky
“The Voice of the Silence” by H. P. Blavatsky
“The Secret Doctrine” by H. P. Blavatsky
“Isis Unveiled” by H. P. Blavatsky
“The Esoteric Tradition” by G. de Purucker
“Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy” by G. de Purucker
“Fountain Source of Occultism” by G. de Purucker
“Wondrous Wisdom” by Michael R. Kellogg
“Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and it’s Attainment”
by Rudolph Steiner
“Attaining the Worlds Beyond” by Michael Laitman
“Stillness Speaks” by Eckhart Tolle
“The Power of Now - A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment”
by Eckhart Tolle
“Secret of the Ages” by Robert Collier
“The Secret Teachings of all Ages” by Manly P. Hall
“The Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles
“The Science of Being Well” by Wallace D. Wattles
“The Science of Being Great” by Wallace D. Wattles
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Man’s Self-Made Destiny
“There is a bit of Eastern Wisdom which says that:
If you sow a thought you reap an act;
If you sow an act you reap a habit;
If you sow a habit you reap a character;
If you sow a character you reap a destiny.
If we live up to the best that is in us, our character will constantly improve and set us on the road to a bright and fruitful destiny. If we seem to be heading in the wrong direction, this can be changed, but to change it, we must first change our character.
To do this, we must change our habits, our acts and our thoughts, which of course takes time and steady effort.
All that we are is the consequence of what we have thought. It is based on our thoughts. It is all derived from our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a thought of evil, suffering follows him, exactly as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the cart.
All that we are is the consequence of what we have thought. It is based on our thoughts; it is derived from our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an innocent and pure thought, happiness follows him, exactly like a shadow that never leaves him.
"He treated me badly; he struck me; he overcame me; he robbed me" -- in those who cultivate such feelings hate will never cease.
"He treated me badly; he struck me; he overcame me; he robbed me" -- in those who do not cultivate such thoughts, hatred will die.
For hate never is overcome by hate at any time. Hate passes away through love. This is the ancient rule.
Our destiny, then, is ultimately determined by our own thoughts and deeds. We are not "predestined" to anything by anyone else. As we alter our character for better or for worse, so do we ourselves thereby determine our own destiny.”
-“Life’s Riddle” by Nils A. Amneus, Ch. 4 ‘Man’s Complex Nature’
If you sow a thought you reap an act;
If you sow an act you reap a habit;
If you sow a habit you reap a character;
If you sow a character you reap a destiny.
If we live up to the best that is in us, our character will constantly improve and set us on the road to a bright and fruitful destiny. If we seem to be heading in the wrong direction, this can be changed, but to change it, we must first change our character.
To do this, we must change our habits, our acts and our thoughts, which of course takes time and steady effort.
All that we are is the consequence of what we have thought. It is based on our thoughts. It is all derived from our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with a thought of evil, suffering follows him, exactly as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the cart.
All that we are is the consequence of what we have thought. It is based on our thoughts; it is derived from our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an innocent and pure thought, happiness follows him, exactly like a shadow that never leaves him.
"He treated me badly; he struck me; he overcame me; he robbed me" -- in those who cultivate such feelings hate will never cease.
"He treated me badly; he struck me; he overcame me; he robbed me" -- in those who do not cultivate such thoughts, hatred will die.
For hate never is overcome by hate at any time. Hate passes away through love. This is the ancient rule.
Our destiny, then, is ultimately determined by our own thoughts and deeds. We are not "predestined" to anything by anyone else. As we alter our character for better or for worse, so do we ourselves thereby determine our own destiny.”
-“Life’s Riddle” by Nils A. Amneus, Ch. 4 ‘Man’s Complex Nature’
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Stumbling Block is Selfishness
“It is generally agreed that the simple teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, if taken seriously and applied in practice, would be sufficient to establish Brotherhood, and man's failure to do this has not been due to a lack of ethical teachings on the subject.
The altruist and the humanitarian do take these teachings seriously and seek to benefit their fellow men without selfish motives. Many sincere attempts have been made by religious and other groups to practice Brotherhood, and if it were not for such efforts by people of good will this world would be in a far worse condition than it is. But those who try to practice Brotherhood meet with difficulties. They have to deal with others, who by their selfishness hamper the efforts for Brotherhood, and make these ineffective.
It is the selfish man who causes the strife and disharmony in the world. He too has had the ethical teachings of religion presented to him, but has ignored them for ages past and is doing the same today. Unless he can be induced to change his selfish attitude, Brotherhood will not become a reality. Evidently ethical teachings, wonderful as they are, are not sufficient to accomplish this when standing alone and are ineffective where they are most needed.
The selfish man feels that selfishness offers immediate and concrete advantages, while the benefits resulting from altruism are uncertain and may never materialize. He sees others practice selfishness with apparently favorable results and hence concludes that selfishness "pays" better than altruism and that is his reason for acting selfishly.
Selfishness and crime can not be eliminated as long as man believes that they are profitable. Unless it can be shown that they are unprofitable and injurious to man's welfare, selfishness, corruption and crime will continue, become more aggravated and eventually wreck our civilization as they have done with so many others in the past."
-“Life’s Riddle” by Nils A. Amneus, Ch. 9 ‘Brotherhood’
The altruist and the humanitarian do take these teachings seriously and seek to benefit their fellow men without selfish motives. Many sincere attempts have been made by religious and other groups to practice Brotherhood, and if it were not for such efforts by people of good will this world would be in a far worse condition than it is. But those who try to practice Brotherhood meet with difficulties. They have to deal with others, who by their selfishness hamper the efforts for Brotherhood, and make these ineffective.
It is the selfish man who causes the strife and disharmony in the world. He too has had the ethical teachings of religion presented to him, but has ignored them for ages past and is doing the same today. Unless he can be induced to change his selfish attitude, Brotherhood will not become a reality. Evidently ethical teachings, wonderful as they are, are not sufficient to accomplish this when standing alone and are ineffective where they are most needed.
The selfish man feels that selfishness offers immediate and concrete advantages, while the benefits resulting from altruism are uncertain and may never materialize. He sees others practice selfishness with apparently favorable results and hence concludes that selfishness "pays" better than altruism and that is his reason for acting selfishly.
Selfishness and crime can not be eliminated as long as man believes that they are profitable. Unless it can be shown that they are unprofitable and injurious to man's welfare, selfishness, corruption and crime will continue, become more aggravated and eventually wreck our civilization as they have done with so many others in the past."
-“Life’s Riddle” by Nils A. Amneus, Ch. 9 ‘Brotherhood’
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