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.
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.
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.
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.
.
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOGBovOnt8 SteveKubanTheMinister
lyrics
I
am a new creation
No more in condemnation
Here in the grace of God I stand
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
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
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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