Many of us 'forget' oft to thank God for anything we received from him. We must continuously thank God and pray to him, otherwise we can not receive salvation and eternal life in Paradise.Our life is very short, we make only a shortly stopover between posterity and future on the Earth. Do not forget to thank God for everything you have received from him in 2011 and to pray to him for his help and blessings in 2012. 1 Chronicles 16:8 King James Version (KJV) 8Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
I've noticed that genuinely thankful people are usually happy people. It's the opposite mentality to that of expecting others to bend to our wishes, which normally results in dissatisfaction and bitterness. I'm not a religious person Ostap. Maybe some day - maybe not. I've seen too many religious folks thanking God when things are going their way; but when they are dealt a bad hand and trying times are upon them, I've only known one person in real life that still possessed the same degree of sincerity in their thankful attitude. I suppose one is better than none, but I would think, given the pervasive nature of religion in our midst, there should certainly be more than one.
Yes,, this morning I'll walk into my local Theravada Buddist temple, light three sticks of incense and give thanks to the Buddha for getting me through last year with my health and happiness, and the health and happiness of my family and friends. Then I'll have an informal chat with the novices, share a joke or two with them,, then be on my way. Not bad for an Atheist huh?
The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. God had forgotten him. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Got was punishing him and he didn't know why. What could he have done that was so bad that God would cause everything he owned to be lost in a fire. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart. Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground - - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. Tipsycatlover Posts: 3094Joined: February 2nd, 2008, 9:26 pm
I'm not sure anything adheres to Zen or the Mahayana. It's just a series of mental conditions and "tricks" to snatch the mind out of its endless loops of introspective selfhood - and just be. Heh - easier said than done, huh? The Satori of the Sudden school isn't so sudden. Some very slippery stuff! I always got the impression that the Theravada way was overly dogmatic and ritualistic rather than experiential - a strange paradox. It seemed to me to be more about learning and adopting sets of concepts, while those very concepts form yet more bricks in the wall that lock the mind into its prison of "isms", thus actually clouding the water, so to speak. OK - whatever... lol
Theravada Buddhism is very ritualistic but Lao Buddhism is different again and very unique. Many of the rituals have roots in animist cultures. One in particular is the "baci" (Google it, very interesting). Theravada Buddhism is all about learning, and that learning process will last a lifetime for lifelong monks. Having said that, most young males will take on the robes and bowl at some time in their lives. Usually between the time they leave school and get married. Some remain as monks a lifetime. This is part of their education process and gives merit to their mother. There is no kind of "contract" and they leave when they deem fit. When there is a death in the family, most males will spend some time in the wat, especially if the deceased is a parent. Although I'm non-religious I like to attend the Buddhist celebrations here in Laos. They are colourful, vibrant and a heap of fun,, and usually end up in a some kind of party where eating, drinking and dancing caps everything off. There is a small temple around the corner from our house. If I'm up early enough, I enjoy giving alms as the small group of monks (mainly novices) pass by our house.
If we believe and pray anything is possible by God. Matthew 17:20 King James Version (KJV) 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I do not follow Jesus because I am perfect, or even a good person. I follow Jesus because I am neither.
but i don’t know if there is a god or that i would swear fealty to it and if god exists and is responsible for my desires i do not owe it thanks for the problems it created Though if it could not help but create me it may not deserve blame I might feel it’s nice that it made me but that’s just how it made me it’s not meaningful
