Monday, October 17, 2016

As a Hindu-based movement, Transcendental Meditation teaches that only Brahman exists, and all else is illusion (maya), including all creation. It rejects the biblical account of divine Creation and instead accept forms of pantheism - there is no start or finish of creation, only continuing successions of life and death.

Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation: A Hindu-based Movement Linked to New Age Philosophy
Transcendental Meditation is a Hindu-based movement that finds popularity in the United States.
Other offshoots of Hinduism increasing in attention due to the New Age philosophy are the Vendata Society, Self-realization Fellowship, Theosophy, Ecknakar, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna).
Western "sects" based on Hindu concepts have also grown in recent years, including Christian Science, the United Church of Christ, and the Unity School of Christianity.
Transcendental Meditation: The Roots of Hinduism
In order to understand Transcendental Meditation and other extensions of Hindu philosophy, it is important to investigate the foundation of Hinduism itself.
Hinduism began in India around 1500 and 2500 B.C. It is the world's oldest organized religion.
Hinduism is a massive and eccentric group of divisions founded on more than 2000 years of diverse philosophical and religious writings. Included are the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Puranas, and Upanishads.
Adherents of Hinduism differ in belief systems, with no dominant doctrine or overarching truth.
Hinduism has its background in ancient paganism, in which nature, animals, and humanity are represented by various gods and goddesses. 
Although Hindus believe in many gods, they believe in Brahman as the one definitive, impersonal, spiritual actuality over all existence.
Sectarian Hinduism personalizes Brahman as the following separate and distinct entities:
-"Brahma" (the Creator; the god with four heads representing creative energy),
-"Vishnu" (the Preserver; the god of stability and control), and
-"Shiva" (the Destroyer; the god of endings).
Most Hindus also worship "Krishna" and "Rama," two of Vishnu's ten incarnations.
Actually, it gets very complex, as Hindus claim the existence of millions of gods. Throughout the year, Hindus worship a variety of regional, family and individual gods.
Hindus also focus a great deal on astrology and the spirit world.
Transcendental Meditation: The Diversity of Hinduism
Transcendental Meditation is just one example of the wide variety of Hindu worship, integrating diverse symbols, offerings, fasting, and dance.

On a daily basis, most Hindus worship an image of their chosen deity, with chants (mantras), flowers, and incense.
Worship, whether in a home or temple, is primarily individualistic rather than congregational.
Hinduism is typically separated into two divisions.
- The first, "popular Hinduism" is articulated by worshipping gods, making offerings, ritualistic practices, and prayers.
- The second, "philosophical Hinduism" is comprised of a multifaceted system of meditation, yoga practices, and the study of early philosophical writings.
Traditional Hindu movements include the Ramkrishna Mission and Vedanta Societies, Sri Aurobindo Society, Satya Sai Baba Movement, Self Realization Fellowship, and International Sivananda Yoga Society.
Recent estimates state that there are roughly 850 million Hindus in the world today. Of these, approximately 780 million live in India, 20 million in Bangladesh, 20 million in Indonesia, 20 million in Nepal, 3 million in Sri Lanka, 2 million in Pakistan and 1.5 million in the United States.
In addition, it is estimated that Hindus comprise approximately 20% of the following populations: Mauritius, Fiji, Surinam, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago.
Transcendental Meditation: An Endless Life Cycle
Hinduism rejects the biblical account of divine Creation and instead accept forms of pantheism.
Hindus believe that only Brahman exists, and all else is illusion (maya), including all creation.
According to Hinduism, there is no start or finish of creation, only
continuing successions of life and death. The soul (atman) of man is a "spark" of Brahman trapped in the physical body.
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Repeated lives or reincarnations (samsara) are required before the soul can be liberated  (moksha) from the body. An individual's present life is determined by his efforts in previous lives (the law of karma), and the physical body is ultimately an illusion (maya).
Bodies are usually cremated, and the soul goes to an intermediate state of punishment or reward before rebirth into another body.
Reincarnations are experienced until karma has been removed and the individual soul is reabsorbed into Brahman.
Freedom from infinite being and final self-realization of the truth (moksha) is the goal of existence.
Yoga and meditation (especially raja-yoga) taught by a religious teacher (guru) is one way to attain moksha.
The other paths for moksha are the way of works (karma marga), the way of knowledge (jnana marga), and the way of love and devotion (bhakti marga).
Hinduism's fundamental goal is to escape the cycle of reincarnation, and thereby to erase the illusion of personal existence - eventually becoming one with Brahman.
We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. 
Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible.
If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, "Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.
Would you want to have a deeper relationship with God?
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following prayer:

“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.

I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.

Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.

I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to your Word, I am now born again.

Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Please use me for Your glory.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”

RELATED POSTS:
Would I receive rewards in the next life by doing good works now? What does the Bible say about karma?" 

Does The Bible Talk About Karma?


 5 Ways to Cultivate a Discerning Spirit
http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/08/discerning-spirit-word-of-god-gives-us.html


        “I AM NEW CREATION”                
                                                                                       Dave Bilbrough


lyrics
I am a new creation
No more in condemnation
Here in the grace of God I stand
My heart is overflowing
My life just keeps on going
Here in the grace of God I stand
And i will praise you Lord
I will sing of all that you have done
A joy that knows no limit
And lightness in my spirit
Here in the grace of God I stand

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