Valerie Tarico, AlterNet
Waking Times

Some of humanity’s technological innovations are things we would have been better off without: the medieval rack, the atomic bomb and powdered lead potions come to mind. Religions tend to invent ideas or concepts rather than technologies, but like every other creative human enterprise, they produce some really bad ones along with the good.

I’ve previously highlighted some of humanity’s best moral and spiritual concepts, our shared moral core. Here, by way of contrast, are some of the worst. These twelve dubious concepts promote conflict, cruelty, suffering and death rather than love and peace. To paraphrase Christopher Hitchens, they belong in the dustbin of history just as soon as we can get them there.

1. Chosen People –The term “Chosen People” typically refers to the Hebrew Bible and the ugly idea that God has given certain tribes a Promised Land (even though it is already occupied by other people)...

By David Gelfand

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

At the very core of our being, from the moment we’re born, it becomes apparent that not all things are like. There are good and bad, hot and cold, lazy and relentless, and so on. Life, from the moment we’re born to the day we pass, becomes a balancing act.

The concepts of choice, freedom and will power are what define our every move. We choose our destiny, define our action and live with the results. The beauty of a human being is that he or she has the capability to understand and analyze choices as they play out in life.

Balance, when demonstrated on such a grandiose and high-level approach, may appear daunting, confusing and uncertain. However, when broken down, balance can become much more manageable. When applied to our daily lives, balance represents the handle and organization of various elements within our lives, both internal and external.

Success is often a popularity contest, where one person holds a group of people hostage in their mind and imagination.
 
The mind is easily influenced by anything, or anyone, promising relief from the pain of existence.  Like frightened sheep, they will follow anyone claiming to possess the staff of authority, the price often clouded in deception, ignorance, and personal delusion.
 
We must be careful not to sell ourselves out to anyone offering the newest snake oil, or quick fix.

Namaste.
Robert and CJ

**If you enjoyed this post, please share it!
email Robert: robertcosmar@gmail.com
email CJ: cjheck60porsche@gmail.com

Each year that goes by, we get a spectacular new set of things to see in our skies. How exciting is that? Be sure to mark your calendars for these amazing celestial events.

April 4th, Total solar eclipse

You won’t see a moon in the sky on April 4th, but right around noon, the Earth will pass between the sun and the moon, triggering a total solar eclipse visible to the south Pacific, including Australia, Alaska and Japan. North America will see a partial eclipse. Womp womp.

July 30th, Jupiter and Venus.

On July 30th, Jupiter and Venus will be side by side in the night sky. This paring will be visible for only 7 days.

September 27th, Super Moon

North America, Africa and Europe will experience the spectacular super moon on September 27th beginning at 10pm.

I’ve always loved the religious philosophy of Zen Buddhism, for many reasons, and one of those reasons is that just by speaking a few words, Zen masters are able to transmit tremendously important messages that are of immense value to all seekers on the path to spiritual awakening. Here you will find for yourself a collection of some (100!) of the best zen sayings and proverbs of all time, which will hopefully help you see yourself and the world with new, fresh eyes.

The Present Moment and Mindfulness

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”- Alan Watts

“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.”- Eckhart Tolle

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. – Alan Watts

A rough day at work, a big fight with your spouse, the loss of a loved one, a setback in your business, personal issues you can’t seem to get away from, the fight of addiction, and countless other challenges.

We all have different types of challenges, but we all have challenges.

We all have stresses, we all experience pain, and we all ultimately suffer in some way and at some point in our lives.

But this doesn’t mean that’s all there is. Life is2n’t some big dark ball of sadness and tough times. If you know how, you can completely transform your challenges into moments of great love, gratitude, and appreciation.

Perhaps this enlightenment you seek is your coming to the point when and where you realize what matters -- the merit of life itself on Earth, life and love, the Oneness of All Life. As you discover the Fullness of Love in its entirety, you know, once and for all, that your cup runneth over.

Yes, life and love matter, and they are inevitable. Life and love are soaring and unstoppable. And so it is. In life, you discover Life itself and the quality and abundance of love, the discovery of Self, the finding of Self and recovering of it, uncovering what was always there yet hidden from your view and the view of the populace. Now you are finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the bluebird of happiness in your own back yard, and God in Heaven, and you find that all is well.

As you arrive at this point, what uproarious laughter We, you and I, will have. We will roll on the floor. We will not be able to get up. We will not be able to stop laughing. You will see what has always been, and you will begin to discover your True Standing in the Universe.

For so long, while on Earth, each Child of Mine, including you, plays the part of a fool, a serious fool, a joker in a deck of cards, taking himself and current events with such seriousness and naiveté, perhaps a scholarly fool yet a scholar who is fooled, who fools himself and becomes one of the crowd on Earth, taking a fool’s errand as if that were the sum and substance of life when, all the while, Infinity stares him in the face.