What I've gathered from being a Christian for the past 9 years is that there are plenty of ethical, intelligent compassionate people, but not everyone who is Christian is necessarily all of these things. It doesn't seem like religion has anything to do with determining whether someone is actually a spirit-filled person. I have found God in secular humanists, atheists, Christians, Muslims, Jews and Vaishnavites (is that the right term for ISKCON followers?) So I love Jesus, but sometimes it's exhausting worrying about suffering all the time. I think that some meditation would help me to relieve the anxiety that I've gained from giving away much of my money and time to other people. Not even prayer: I just want to transcend. Using drugs, meditation, whatever. that's all for now.
use God to bring you inner peace. it is awesme that you have compassion, but do not get stressed because of so. you are helping because of love. try meditation, meditate on God and peace lovex
Hare Krishna! "What I've gathered from being a Christian for the past 9 years is that there are plenty of ethical, intelligent compassionate people, but not everyone who is Christian is necessarily all of these things. It doesn't seem like religion has anything to do with determining whether someone is actually a spirit-filled person. I have found God in secular humanists, atheists, Christians, Muslims, Jews and Vaishnavites (is that the right term for ISKCON followers?) So I love Jesus, but sometimes it's exhausting worrying about suffering all the time. I think that some meditation would help me to relieve the anxiety that I've gained from giving away much of my money and time to other people. Not even prayer: I just want to transcend. Using drugs, meditation, whatever. that's all for now. __________________.......................From MollyBloom" Dear MollyBloom, You have very truly said that religion has nothing to do with determining whether someone is actually a spirit-filled person or not. But let me assure you that your true love for Jesus makes you love the whole mankind no matter whether one is a Christian, Muslim, Jew or a Vaishnavite. And you can identify yourself with all other people belonging to all other religions. First of all it is not religion but your love for one and all (Considering all to be Christ's or God's manifestation) enriches you spiritually. Please try to think that you gave away Lord's money and His time to Him only in different forms, all your anxiety and pain will go away and you will feel happiness. To truly and permanently transcend there is no better known drug than the Lord's name and the love for Him. Only the name of Jesus can take you to the world of eternal bliss. My fervent request, please restrain yourself and refrain from using any drug. Love Jesus and meditate on Him alone, believe me, this whole universe will be yours. Love, Kumar.
Dear Molly - Here's a link to some very simple ideas for meditation centered within the Christian tradition: http://www.worthabbey.net/bbc/meditate.htm Some of the other stuff on the site may also be of interest.
Cool. Thanks for all the guidance. I'll visit this site too, BlackBillBlake. I find it ironic that my own spiritual well feels so empty because I spend so much time thinking and talking about religion.
Dear Molly, I'm sure that it's not only you who feels that way. Often, Christianity is seen mainly as 'doing' - active good works and so on. The other side -'being', or 'contemplation' - is sometimes neglected. But without that it is difficult to get chance to re-chage one's spiritual 'batteries'. Christ gave His two great commandments - Love God, and Love thy neighbour. It's probably a good thing to try to establish a balance between the two. Loving one's neighbour is only half the equation. It is perhaps good to set aside some time to practice 'loving God', or just trying to be in His presence. There are many kinds of contemplative and meditative practice. Both outside Christianity in other traditions, and also within it, mainly I've found in monastic traditions - but I think anyone can do it regardless of their position in the world. I don't think it's necessary to pay money to someone for a 'meditation course' or something similar, or look for a complicated technique. If you just give and give, and never take time to step back, then I think you do risk feeling drained - and even more so if you deal with negative people. It's not a big step from prayer to meditation, and faith is also a great help with it. So if you've got that you're already on your way.
