I'm very blessed to have two spiritual traditions to draw on. Yes, I'm Christian and don't think I could ever be otherwise, but that doesn't mean that because I find the fullness of truth in the Christian scriptures, that I can't occasionally draw on the spiritual wealth of Hinduism, which has amassed in India over centuries
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This topic of ‘Breath’, which is the chosen Loose Bloggers’ Consortium for this week, has so many implications, spiritual included. Why? Well, as long as there’s breath, there’s life. The Bible tells us that God made the first man from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. When God breathed into the man, he became alive. It’s there for all to see in the book of Genesis (Chapter 2, Verse 7), New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being
I heard a talk once by a Bible scholar who said that ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’ are one and the same thing. It’s an interesting concept all right
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This topic of ‘Breath’, which is the chosen Loose Bloggers’ Consortium for this week, has so many implications, spiritual included. Why? Well, as long as there’s breath, there’s life. The Bible tells us that God made the first man from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. When God breathed into the man, he became alive. It’s there for all to see in the book of Genesis (Chapter 2, Verse 7), New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being
I heard a talk once by a Bible scholar who said that ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’ are one and the same thing. It’s an interesting concept all right
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I read an interesting quote from the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, a revered scripture of Hinduism, which says
: Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sarire" "Consciousness is eternal it is not vanquished with the destruction of the temporary body
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I apologise for not knowing what edition and version and translation of the Bhagavad Gita this is, nor the chapter and verse
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This may come as a surprise to some, but spirit and soul are not exactly the same thing. The soul is your mind, will and emotions. The spirit is the eternal part of you, the part that lives with God when you die and (presumeably) reach salvation. The book of Thessalonions in the Bible speaks of them as if they are quite distinct
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“May the God of grace and peace Himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thessalonions, Chapter 5, verse 23, NRSV
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There are so many implications in the word ‘breath’, that this is the deepest I could go in this area.
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I apologise for not knowing what edition and version and translation of the Bhagavad Gita this is, nor the chapter and verse
.
This may come as a surprise to some, but spirit and soul are not exactly the same thing. The soul is your mind, will and emotions. The spirit is the eternal part of you, the part that lives with God when you die and (presumeably) reach salvation. The book of Thessalonions in the Bible speaks of them as if they are quite distinct
.
“May the God of grace and peace Himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Thessalonions, Chapter 5, verse 23, NRSV
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There are so many implications in the word ‘breath’, that this is the deepest I could go in this area.
The formatting in Blogger is very bad right now, so apologies for this untidy looking post
This is my weekly post for the Loose Blogger Consortium. We are a group of bloggers from different parts of the world with diverse views and styles of writing, and we post simultaneously (well, we try to) on a weekly basis on a given topic. Our members are, in no particular order, Anu, Maria Silverfox, Magpie, Will Knott, Rohit, Noor, Joe, Paul, Akanksha, Delirious, Padmini, Ashok, Conrad, Maria, Grannymar, and Rummuser. This topic 'Breath' was chosen by Padmini
Thank you for sharing some teachings from the Baghvad Ghita...(sorry I think I spelled that wrong). I believe that truth is eternal, and can be found in all religions.
ReplyDeleteYou talking of breath giving life got me thinking of breath on a flame - how an invisible zephyr can raise a flicker into beacon.
ReplyDeleteI think we should be tolerant of all religions but I think Christianity has some unique features such as Christ dying for you and me.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else do that in any other religion?
I like to hear about other faiths.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
I think that this is what you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteChapter 4, Verse 27.
Those who are interested in self-realization, in terms of mind and sense control, offer the functions of all the senses, as well as the vital force [breath], as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.
Life and death are different ends of the same breath.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read this take on the topic..though not quite from the person I was expecting it from. However, was nice to read the comparison. Of the very few religious scriptures that have fascinated me, Bible has been one and it's always interesting to see a new layer, a new way of interpreting it. Funnily enough, in the other spiritual tradition (read Hinduism) you compare it with...there is a quote in one of its scriptures which talks about the body being made of 5 elements, with earth and air facilitating balance of the three other elements. The essence really is the same. Its amazing how much spirituality has in common in different traditions across the world...more in common than differences! This is something that we should cherish really :)
ReplyDelete