#forsake worldliness

[yeslordmyking]

If You Return to Sin After Being Delivered From It, Your Punishment Will Be Worse

2 Peter 2:20-22

[20]For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

[21]For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

[22]But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

To learn something is sinful and to turn and repent of it, but then return to that sin is like a dog returning to it's vomit. It's better not to know something is sinful than to learn it's sinful and return to it after God has delivered you. Don't return to your wickedness, no matter how hard it is to be righteous. Ask God and the Holy Spirit for strength to walk in rightstanding with Him and not fall weak to flesh.

I know we can't be sinless, I know it takes time to change your lifestyle from habits and wordly mindsets, but in the end there's no excuses for knowledgeably sinning than to admit selfishness, wickedness, and to know eternal punishment is the result of such ignorant defiance of the Lord. Prayers that I myself, the lost and unsaved, and other brothers and sisters in Christ, completely turn from sin and backsliding. No matter how much it "made us happy", "satisfied us", seemed "harmless" to our souls, or how "miserable" we feel without it. Firstly God is the only thing that can actually make us happy and anything else is deception by our flesh. Secondly, we should rather prefer misery and holy suffering in our temporary lives far more than anything that risks the reward of eternal suffering and damnation. You don't have to be happy, you just have to obey God's commands and be holy. Maybe choosing that will have God bless us with happiness we don't see coming until we're truly righteous. I pray we forsake feelings and emotions, and only act out of holiness righteousness and purity.

#and maaaaaybe i condemn things that aren't actually unholy and sinful like loving fashion or watching superhero cartoons #but at this point if it even has a chance of becoming something i love more than God i completely drop it #i dream of nothing and want nothing and pursue nothing unless it's directly related to serving God #and yeah i'm sad that i can't return to watching sinful youtubers and movies or listening to 80s music and kpop because they're fun #i want to have fun. i want to be able to enjoy life without breaking into a cold sweat that God hates everything i enjoy and care about #but I should do what He commands even if it doesn't satisfy me the way i »think« temporary hobbies and dreams do #there's nothing in this world for us. we just think there is #forsake it all and be a vessel to bring souls to Christ. eternal salvation beats any happiness and satisfaction in this life. i can do it. #not suggesting everyone has to do what I'm doing but if you're attached to meaningless things that won't get you to heaven... let it go #boohoo poor widdle evil wordly me has a sad blah blah blah blah blah k i'm done trying to justify my wickedness now sorry bye 🫣 #God #Jesus #christianity #faith #turn from sin to God #repent of your sins #do not return to sin #forsake worldliness #forsake the world #hate all sin #deny flesh #deny self #be holy not happy #you don't have a life. you have a purpose #there is nothing but God #you are a sinner #you are wicked #bible study #bible verses #may it please the Lord

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Forsake the Worldly

"Why cling to these trappings? They are but tools and affectations. True wealth can be possessed only in the afterlife."

Artist: Steve Argyle TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

#mtg #magic the gathering #tcg #$0.19 #steve argyle #forsake the worldly #the list #instant

[thewordfortheday]

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Too often our repentance is shallow. We’re sad over the consequences of our actions and upset that we’ve failed to live up to our own standards of good behavior. But genuine repentance goes deeper than that; it involves a sense of grief over having wronged God by sinning against Him.

Our desire should be to please our heavenly Father, not grieve Him. So genuine repentance leads us to forsake the sin and practise obedience. When we humble ourselves and truly repent, the Holy Spirit pours His power and strength into our life. He enables us to turn from that sin in order to walk in obedience to our Lord.

#bible verse #daily devotional #christian quotes #bible quotes #inspiration #daily devotion #christian quote #christian life #scripture #bible #repent

[unleashedforchrist]

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus distinguishes two types of disciples marked by very different traits. The first group pursues the will of God and embraces poverty, hunger and insults for the sake of the gospel. Forsaking worldly comforts, these believers grieve over the lost generation.The second group is driven by the present needs of life - striving for material riches, earthly comforts and popular approval. Which group are we in is a point to ponder for each one of us. 📖Bible reading: Luke 6:17-26. ✝️#Unleashedforchrist 📆#02Mar2023 🛐🌱#Lenten https://www.instagram.com/p/CpRbf8dvz5N/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#unleashedforchrist #02mar2023 #lenten

[aysufs]

Yahya Ibn Mu`aadh (rahimahullah) used to say:

I am not instructing you to (completely) forsake the Dunya (worldly pleasures); but I only instruct you to abandon the sins.

Forsaking the Dunya is Fadheelah (graciousness or doing more than what is obligatory),

while abandoning the sins is Fareedhah (an obligation).

For you are in a greater need of fulfilling the obligations (fareedhah) first, over fulfilling that which is optional (fadheelah).

[Sifatus-Safwah, 2/297]

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Wakeel— The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs, The Guardian— on 14 occasions in the Quran. Al-Wakeel is the only One who takes charge of the affairs of those under His care, managing all matters as He pleases. He is the One to be relied on, for all power belongs to Him!

 The Disposer of Affairs, The One to be Relied Upon

Wakeel comes from the root waaw-kaaf-laam, which points to three main meanings. The first meaning is to appoint or entrust for the care or management of something. The second main meaning is to be a guardian of one’s interests, and the third is to rely upon.

This root appears 70 times in the Quran in four derived forms. Examples of these forms include tawakkaltu (“I put my trust”) and al-mutawakkileen (“the ones who put trust”).

Linguistically the wakeel of someone else is the person who efficiently represents him or does what he is incapable of doing on his behalf. Al-Wakeel is the ultimate Trustee, guardian and administrator of all things and we can trust in the fact that Al-Wakeel will provide the perfect resolution for every matter!

Al-Wakeel Himself says: . . . But it increased them in faith, and they said, “Sufficient for us is Allah , and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs [Quran, 3:173] . . . To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs [Quran, 4:171] and The Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs [Quran, 73:]

Al-Wakeel and Other Names

In the ayaat in which the name Al-Wakeel is mentioned, Allah gives a reference to His power and authority. The name Al-Wakeel is related in meaning to Al-Haseeb (The Reckoner, The Sufficer) and to Al-Qadeer (The All-Powerful); we entrust our affairs to Allah because only He has control over all things and only He is sufficient for us as provider and reckoner.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1.       Have trust and work hard.
Reliance on Allah (tawakkul) means you entrust your affairs to Him, take every worldly precaution, and submit to Al-Wakeel for the result. An example is the hijrah for which the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and Abu Bakr radiyyallahu ‘anhu planned according to their means. However, they were overtaken by the Quraysh. This is when the prophet calmed Abu Bakr with a beautiful statement of tawakkul, saying What do you think is the destiny of two people who have Allah for their Companion?

2.       Pray istakharah.

One of the most beautiful examples of trusting in Al-Wakeel’s choice is the istakharah prayer. Ask Allah that if the matter is good for you to make it easy for you and if not, to take it away and then be content with the decree of Al-Wakeel.  Make it a habit to practice this sunnah in your daily life, for big and small matters, as the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught the companions to make istakharah in all things, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Quran!

3.       Don’t be anxious about the future.

Many people are depressed or worried about their or their children’s future. Don’t fear the power of the enemy, never go for unlawful earnings, and know that you can trust Al-Wakeel because He will manage your affairs in the way best for you! Be inspired by what Ibraheem ‘alayhi sallam said when he was thrown in the fire: Allah suffices me, for He is the best disposer of affairs (hasbunallaahu wa ni’mal wakeel)!* Take the example of those who entrusted their souls to Al-Wakeel, like Haajar, when she was left in the desert with Ismaeel ‘alayhi sallam who said with true belief: Did your Lord order you to do so, then He shall not forsake us.

4.       Be someone others can trust and rely on. Be someone others can turn to when they need help, and when you have to act on someone’s behalf fear Al-Wakeel and fulfill your duty as good as you can. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. [Muslim]

5. Train yourself to trust Al-Wakeel.
The first time Musa ‘alayhi sallam saw the stick becoming a snake, he ran away in fear. The second time he did not run but felt fright within himself upon being confronted by the magicians, and the third time, the most difficult of these situations, when the army of the Pharaoh was behind them and the sea in front of them, he had no fear; he said what can be translated as, Not at all. Surely my Lord is with me; He will soon guide me. [Quran, 26: 62]  [paraphrased from the series In Thy Name we live by Dr. A. Khaled]

6.      Do dhikr with this name.
Every morning and evening say: حَسْبِ اللهُ لا إله إلا هو، عليه توكلت و هو ربَ العرش العظيم
Allah is sufficient for me. There is no God but He.  I have placed my trust in Him, He is Lord of the Majestic Throne. Whoever says this seven times in the morning after fajr, and seven times after Asr, Allah will take care of whatever worries him of the matter of this world and the hereafter. [Abu Dawood, Muslim]

The Prophet said: Whoever says(when he leaves his house) – Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ‘alaa Allaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah – In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah and there is no power and no strength except with Allah- , it will be said to him: You are taken care of and you are protected and guided, and the devils will move away from him, and one devil says: What can you do with a man who has been guided, taken care of and protected? [Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi]

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

O Allah, Al-Wakeel, we know that You take care of all matters.  Make us of the mutawakkileen, those who gracefully rely on You and guide us to work in this world to the best of our ability. Make us of those others can trust in, protect us against our enemies and ourselves, guard over us and make us entrust our souls to you in times of ease and hardship, ameen!

#allah #islam #revert help team #asma al husna #revert help #muslim #ayat #daily #allah’s name #dua #pray #prayer #salah #muslimah #hijab #religion #reminder #mohammed #new muslim #new revert #new convert #how to convert islam #converthelp #convert islam #become a muslim #welcome to islam #daily ayat #prophet #god #revert

[childofchrist1983]

Jesus Christ lights the way as we walk upon the path of righteousness. We are often distracted, falling away from our walk with Him due to sin and the temptation of sin. Our fleshly, earthly priorities and desires become more important than our relationship with God. Nothing and no one is more important than Jesus and our relationship with Him! We must not lose our footing as we remain on the narrow road with Christ and His promise of eternal life in His Kingdom of Heaven. May God forgive us when we become distracted. As Christians, we choose to keep Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ first in our hearts and lives and all other worldly desires behind us. He extends salvation to everyone, and we want to show the world the freedom, hope and peace they can have in accepting and following Him. May we follow and serve God daily with love, trust, awe and wonder. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ strengthen our faith, lift our spirits, protect our hearts, and show us opportunities to help bring others to Him and His Gospel Truth daily.

We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with sincere hearts to ask forgiveness and follow Him and His Holy Word and Spirit always. We praise Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the mercy He bestows upon us and we are grateful for His grace and mercy and infinite blessings. By surrendering our hearts and our lives to His will, we see all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. God our refuge and our salvation and our constant provider. We lift our voices to Him in praise for His steadfast love, mercy and understanding. May Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ open our minds and hearts more and more to perceive and embrace Him and His truths. May He help us to find time to pray and read and study the Holy Bible daily and to find power in prayer, praying according to His Holy Word and will. May He help us to come to Him in true repentance and with faith in Him and His grace and merciful nature. May He give us the grace, courage and strength we need to walk with Him and do His will daily. May He teach us to watch our words when we pray to Him and to speak reverently and rightly. May we continually ask God to transform our hearts and make us faithful and humble as we walk with Him daily. We must come to Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ with honest, humble and repentant hearts. We must seek Him and His will and choose to follow Him all the days of our lives. May He help transform our hearts, help us to seek and live for Him above all else and to grow spiritually and build our faith and relationship with Him with each passing day. May He forgive our sinful nature and help us always make Him and our relationship with Him top priority.

As true and born-again Christians, we choose to walk in His righteous path and lead a life that is pleasing to Him. We desire Him and His will above anything else. We desire to walk in accordance with the love and light He has shown to us through His Holy Word and Spirit. We long for a deeper relationship with Him and a deeper fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well. When we fall into temptation and sin, we must turn to Him for forgiveness, strength and guidance. When believers learn to walk in accordance with God's Holy Word and Spirit, they have deeper fellowship with both God and one another. And the sin that could threaten to destroy that fellowship, if confessed (1 John 1:9), is covered in the blood of Jesus Christ and no longer a barrier between us and God. May we ask Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ to forgive us for any sins we have sinned this day or in days past. May we be faithful to Him and His Holy Word always. May He help us to walk more consistently in the light and to not neglect long to confess and forsake any sins that hinder our walk with Him. May He lead us in the direction He wants us to go so that we may seek and serve Him faithfully. God is holy and almighty and deserving of all praise honor and glory. We rejoice in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, knowing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). May our hearts always be filled with thanksgiving and rejoicing. May He help us to praise Him freely and honestly like all believers who came before us. May we live a life that showcases our love and trust in Him and His Holy Word and Spirit as He uses us draw others to Him and His soul-saving Gospel Truth daily. May He continue guide, correct and protect us, so that we continue to grow in Him and not weaken and stray. May we all remain faithful to Him and to this duty and purpose He has called us to. Seek and put your faith and trust in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ and let Him do the rest. May He humble our hearts and help us focus on following and serving Him daily and helping others with joy and happiness. We lift our voices in praise to Him for His love, mercy, peace, faithfulness and grace - For EVERYTHING!

It is vital that we remain rooted in Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit and that we live and walk as a beacon of His light and love and share and spread the Gospel Truth daily, so that the lost souls in this world can come to know Him and be saved. The more we focus on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ, growing spiritually by building our relationship with Him, leaning on Him and His Holy Word and Spirit, the better off we will be. Thanks to this and our faith in Him, we know that everything will be alright. And we will forever be grateful to Him. As true and born-again Christians, we believe in Him and His Holy Word and we strive daily to walk in His Holy Spirit. We know though our mortal bodies should die, He will raise us up and into new and glorious bodies (The Rapture). We who are truly His and alive at His second coming will never die, and our bodies will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and so shall we ever be with Him in His Kingdom of Heaven forevermore (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is one of many promises given to us by God Himself. Thank God for His strength and guidance when we are faced with sin and temptation. Thank Him for His mercy and grace. Through Bible study and prayer, God reveals His wisdom and guides us to see opportunities to grow closer to Him and grow spiritually. He gives us direction to live our lives daily according to His will.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven (John 3:5, 14:6), the ONLY way to salvation (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9) and He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26). Jesus Christ the LORD of lords, the KING of kings, the GOD of gods (Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, Revelation 19:16) - He is the Living, Almighty and Everlasting God (Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 1:8, John 3:16, John 3:36, Jeremiah 10:10). There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5). We MUST humble ourselves before Him, turning our backs on false teachers, false gods and idols and our sinful ways. We MUST repent and turn back to God and recognize who He is and love Him in return for His great love for us. We MUST make God top priority everyday! May we be motivated to spread God's Holy Word and Gospel Truth to all the Earth, knowing that it is the only hope of all those lost in their sins. Let us not hold out a false hope for men to be saved without the Gospel, but instead, strive to do our part to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.

Leaning on Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ through prayer and His Holy Word and Spirit strengthens us and our knowledge and wisdom about God and His Gospel Truth, exposing these imposters. May God help us to seek and lean on Him daily to gain the strength, wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to expose Satan and his imposters who seek to destroy us and God's ultimate Truth. Everyday, we must remember to share Jesus Christ's Gospel Truth with the world and to thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for the grace that He poured out for us on the cross at Calvary. He has freed us from the burdens of sin and from the eternal damnation of Hell. In all we say and do, may all praise, honor and glory always be given to Him and His Kingdom of Heaven.

With renewed minds, hearts and wills, let us serve Him humbly and faithfully out of pure love and grateful rejoicing. May He remind us of His presence and to remain at peace, fully knowing that all will be well because He is always with us. Let us seek Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ today and everyday with all our heart and being, looking for His love, light and will for our lives with each step we take. Let us seek to please Him with our thoughts, words, and deeds and seek to advance His Kingdom of Heaven and His glory with our lives. Let us seek Him from a pure and humble heart, and when we so seek, we believe Him and His promise that we will find. May He help us all to be more sensitive to the teaching ministry of His Holy Word and Spirit, relying on Him and allowing Him to speak to us and guide us every step of our Christian journey.

God gave us the Holy Bible - His living and Holy Word - to let us know of Him and His abiding love and care as well as guide and prepare us for all our lives. May He help us encourage one another as we continue our walk with Him and our duty to Him daily. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for being present for all our new beginnings and all our lives. May He redirect any anxiety we feel as He provides countless opportunities for growth and change. May we humble ourselves before God always, asking Him to forgive our sins and make our hearts and lives anew through His Holy Word and Spirit. May He help us make Him and His Holy Word top priority, so we can grow spiritually and grow in our relationship with Him as we apply it to our daily lives. Thank God that we can focus on Him and everything about Him, for that is what keeps us sane and at peace. May our words and actions always be a reflection of Him and His Holy Word and Spirit and will.

May He help us to always walk in His grace and Holy Spirit, not by our own measure. May He give us the humble humility to know that our freedom and eternal salvation is found only in Him, so that His grace may sustain us, and we may never lose sight of His love and light and mercy. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for calling us to Him and to serve Him. May He equip us to do all that He has called us to do so that as He works through us, He may use us to produce fruit, to reach others, and to encourage all brothers and sisters in Christ. May He work all of these things in us and through us for His Kingdom and His glory. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all His creation, for His miraculous ways and for everything He does and has done for us! Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your walk with Jesus! He loves us and He knows what is best for us. Seek, follow and trust in Him - Always!

Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Word and for sending His Holy Spirit so that we might have His grace, not only to awaken us and transform our hearts in our spiritual rebirth and guarantee our eternity with Him, but to also call upon Him whenever we are in need. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for all the reminders of His love and mercy and faithfulness within His Holy Word. He is bigger than any challenge or circumstance in our lives. Knowing this within our minds and our hearts, nothing can deter our faith in Him and His Truth. May we all accept Him and His eternal gift of salvation and ask that He would transform our hearts and lives according to His will and ways. Thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit who saves, seals and leads us. May we always thank Father God Almighty and the LORD Jesus Christ for His almighty power and saving grace. For He is our strength, and He alone is able to save us, forgive our sins and gift us eternal salvation and entry into His Kingdom of Heaven.

May we make sure that we give our hearts and lives to God and take time to seek and praise Him and share His Truth with the world daily. May the LORD our God and Father in Heaven help us to stay diligent and obedient and help us to guard our hearts in Him and His Holy Word daily. May He help us to remain faithful and full of excitement to do our duty to Him and for His glorious return and our reunion in Heaven as well as all that awaits us there. May we never forget to thank the LORD our God and our Creator and Father in Heaven for all this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a mighty God we serve! What a Savior this is! What a wonderful LORD, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

[blessed1neha]

What did Sri Ramana Maharshi say about the world?

To understand what Sri Ramana Maharshi said about the world, his utterances regarding this can be divided into four categories

The Unreality of the World

The Enticement of the World

The Barrenness of the World

Conduct in the World

All these four categories and the verses that come under it have been taken from the English translation of Guru Vachaka Kovai by Dr. T. V. Venkatasubrahmaniam, Robert Butler and David Godman. Edited and annotated by David Godman.

1) The Unreality of the World :

'Though this world that manifests before your eyes, appearing and disappearing, does not exist all the time, it is still real [when it appears].’ So insist some people with great confidence. We refute their assertion by questioning, 'Is not an eternally existing nature one of the hallmarks of reality?’ {Guru Vachaka Kovai, verse 63}

'Though this world seems fragmented to the senses, it's fragmentary nature does not invalidate it's reality.’ So argue some people. We refute their assertion by questioning, 'Is not indivisible wholeness [ paripuranam ] also a characteristic of reality?’ {Guru Vachaka Kovai, verse 64}

Those who have known the truth as it really is will not declare this world, which is forever undergoing destruction by the wheel of time, to be real. Only the plenitude that shines uninterruptedly at all times and in all places, transcending time and space, is the nature of reality. {Ibid. 65}

2) The Enticement of the World :

For the sake of impermanent worldly prosperity, people will gleefully wander in vain, like the pointless swinging of a goat's dewlap, but they will look contemptuously upon the conduct that leads to liberation, the eternal Self. Alas! The conduct of such ignorant people is so pitiable, the wise cannot even bear to see it. {Ibid. 71}

People of the world will pine for the thoroughly dubious pleasures, tiny as sesame seeds, obtained laboriously ploughing with their minds the brackish land of sense objects, which are a creation of maya. They will not desire the unlimited bliss that is produced by easily ploughing, through consciousness, the truly fertile field of the Heart, the source of the mind. What can one say about the wonder of maya? {Ibid. 72}

Even at the very moment that the 'I’ rises, this lady, the moonlike sense of individuality, is duty bound to carefully conduct herself in a chaste way in the Heart — the space of consciousness — as the legitimate wife of the Lord, the Self that is the sun of jnana. If she forsakes the bliss of the Self, which is in harmony with her Dharma, and slips from that chaste conduct through infidelity, hankering after worldly enjoyment and wallowing in it, this is just frenzied act of stupidity caused by beginningless, past karma. {Ibid. 73}

3) The Barrenness of the World

Unlike those crazy people who are deluded into believing that this false world is real, jnanis who have realised the truth will not consider anything other than Brahman, which is wholly consciousness, to be worth attaining and enjoying. {Ibid. 75}

Will those whose consciousness goes to and rests in reality stray towards the despicable ways of the world? To plunge headling into and merge with that unreal world — is this not the activity of a base animal that, operating exclusively through the senses, has no stability in consciousness? {Ibid. 76}

There is no happiness that exists in its own right in any single one of the objects of the inert world. When this is the case, why does the stupid mind delude itself, imagining that happiness arises from the objects of the world? {Ibid. 78}

Wealth will pass away, leaving in want and suffering those foolish ones who once exulted in and felt pride in the wealth they formerly possessed. {Ibid. 79}

4) Conduct in the World

Reach the Heart by clearly knowing your true nature and abide there permanently as that unattached Supreme Self, without slipping from the state of knowledge. Then, act according to the human role you have assumed, outwardly behaving as if, like all others in the world, you are experiencing joy and misery. {Ibid. 81}

Sage Vasishta also gave similar advice to Sri Rama. This advice, which originally appeared in Yoga Vasishta, was translated into the following Tamil verses by Bhagavan (which the editor David Godman has produced in support of the verse 81 of the Guru Vachaka Kovai) :

Having investigated the various states of being, and seizing firmly by the mind that state of supreme reality, play your part, O hero, ever in the world. You have known the truth which is at the heart of all kinds of appearances. Without ever turning away from that reality, play in the world, O hero, as if in love with it. Seeming to have enthusiasm and delight, seeming to have excitement and aversion, seeming to exercise initiative and perseverance, and yet without attachment, play, O hero, in the world. Released from all bonds of attachment and with equanimity of mind, acting outwardly in all situations in accordance with the part you have assumed, play as you please, O hero, in the world.

Guru Vachaka Kovai, containing the sayings of Sri Ramana Maharshi was composed in verse form by his foremost disciple Sri Muruganar.

All the verses in this book were read and verified by Sri Ramana Maharshi himself. And wherever necessary, Sri Ramana Maharshi himself composed additional verses and added them along with the original verses composed by Sri Muruganar.

#spiritualawakening #spiritual enlightment #spiritual awakening #spirituality #enlightenedconsciousness #enlightenedones #enlightenyourself #enlightenment #vedic jyotish online #astrology numerology vedicastrology #vedic astrology #lordkrishna #harekrishna #hare krishna #krishna #astrology #vedas #ramana maharshi

[pathofregeneration]

Nicholas Roerich, The Hunt

* * *

The Allegory of a Mountain

“There is a Mountain situated in the midst of the earth or center of the world, which is both small and great. It is soft, also above measure hard and stony. It is far off and near at hand, but by the providence of God invisible. In it are hidden the most ample treasures, which the world is not able to value. This mountain—by envy of the devil, who always opposes the glory of God and the happiness of man—is compassed about with very cruel beasts and ravening birds—which make the way thither both difficult and dangerous. And therefore until now—because the time is not yet come—the way thither could not be sought after nor found out. But now at last the way is to be found by those that are worthy—but nonetheless by every man's self-labor and endeavors.

To this Mountain you shall go in a certain night—when it comes—most long and most dark, and see that you prepare yourselves by prayer. Insist upon the way that leads to the Mountain, but ask not of any man where the way lies. Only follow your Guide, who will offer himself to you and will meet you in the way. But you are not to know him. This Guide will bring you to the Mountain at midnight, when all things are silent and dark. It is necessary that you arm yourselves with a resolute, heroic courage, lest you fear those things that will happen, and so fall back. You need no sword nor any other bodily weapons; only call upon God sincerely and heartily.

When you have discovered the Mountain the first miracle that will appear is this: A most vehement and very great wind that will shake the Mountain and shatter the rocks to pieces. You will be encountered also by lions and dragons and other terrible beasts; but fear not any of these things. Be resolute and take heed that you turn not back, for your Guide—who brought you thither—will not suffer any evil to befall you. As for the treasure, it is not yet found, but it is very near.

After this wind will come an earthquake that will overthrow those things which the wind has left, and will make all flat. But be sure that you do not fall off. The earthquake being past, there will follow a fire that will consume the earthly rubbish and disclose the treasure. But as yet you cannot see it.

After these things and near the daybreak there will be a great calm, and you will see the Day-star arise, the dawn will appear, and you will perceive a great treasure. The most important thing in it and the most perfect is a certain exalted Tincture, with which the world—if it served God and were worthy of such gifts—might be touched and turned into most pure gold.

This Tincture being used as your Guide shall teach you will make you young when you are old, and you will perceive no disease in any part of your bodies. By means of this Tincture also you will find pearls of an excellence which cannot be imagined. But do not you arrogate anything to yourselves because of your present power, but be contented with what your Guide shall communicate to you. Praise God perpetually for this His gift, and have a special care that you do not use it for worldly pride, but employ it in such works as are contrary to the world. Use it rightly and enjoy it as if you had it not. Live a temperate life and beware of all sin. Otherwise your Guide will forsake you and you will be deprived of this happiness. For know of a truth: whosoever abuses this Tincture and does not live exemplarly, purely and devoutly before men, will lose this benefit and scarcely any hope will be left of recovering it afterward.”

— Eugenius Philalethes, Lumen de Lumine

#Nicholas Roerich #The Hunt #Art #Beauty #Painting #The Allegory of a Mountain #Eugenius Philalethes #Thomas Vaughan #Lumen de Lumie #Alchemy #Hermeticism #Wisdom #Tincture

[hiswordsarekisses]

All these are to be obtained from God (James 1:5), who gives to every man “liberally,” “without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).

Purchase it upon any terms, spare no pains nor cost to get it. The truth; the true and saving knowledge of God’s mind and will - concerning your salvation - and the way that leads to it.

Sell it not; do not forget it nor forsake it for any worldly advantage. Spare no cost for truths sake, neither depart from it for any gain.

~ Commentaries

[yeslordmyking]

July, 9 (Evening) Devotion

“And God divided the light from the darkness.”

Genesis 1:4

A believer has two principles at work within him. In his natural estate he was subject to one principle only, which was darkness; now light has entered, and the two principles disagree. Mark the apostle Paul’s words in the seventh chapter of Romans: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.” How is this state of things occasioned? “The Lord divided the light from the darkness.” Darkness, by itself, is quiet and undisturbed, but when the Lord sends in light, there is a conflict, for the one is in opposition to the other: a conflict which will never cease till the believer is altogether light in the Lord. If there be a division within the individual Christian, there is certain to be a division without. So soon as the Lord gives to any man light, he proceeds to separate himself from the darkness around; he secedes from a merely worldly religion of outward ceremonial, for nothing short of the gospel of Christ will now satisfy him, and he withdraws himself from worldly society and frivolous amusements, and seeks the company of the saints, for “We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” The light gathers to itself, and the darkness to itself. What God has divided, let us never try to unite, but as Christ went without the camp, bearing his reproach, so let us come out from the ungodly, and be a peculiar people. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners; and, as he was, so we are to be nonconformists to the world, dissenting from all sin, and distinguished from the rest of mankind by our likeness to our Master.

Daily Bible and Devotional for Women - http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=daily.bible.for.woman

#God #Jesus #christianity #faith #nonconformity #do not conform to the world #be in the world not of it #forsake worldliness #deny flesh #earthly pleasures #abstain from worldliness #do not love this life #you don't have a life. you have a purpose #forsake worldly things #do not pursue happiness. pursue God #flesh desires #spiritual warfare #devotional #bible verse

[pnthra]

abt : lunar security.

after their fall from grace from the ruling pantheon, [REDACTED], during the growing evolution of mankind, the caelestis clan and its off-branching clans suffered a major split. those devastated by their loss of divine acknowledgement as divine beings themselves chose to forsake their powers, becoming what were commonly known as big cats on earth--jaguars and leopards who seem to have a glint of knowing more, but unable to quite reach it.

the others reconvened and concluded that to reclaim their status of worth, they would aid the beings they had scorned. in its infant stages, thus was a more archaic version of lunar security born.

the caelestis clan and its serving clans would become known as guardians globally, and as time passed on, they would evolve with the era. they would serve as royal bodyguards, ghostly guardians of villages, mercenaries who would refuse any payment and vanish without a trace. they kept their true divinity secret, as man could not know of the magic surrounding them, and learned to transform themselves from star-chasing beasts into puny humans to better blend with society.

in the late 1800s, the caelestis clan's protections evolved into lunar security. they created a name and headquarters from which humans could summon and hire their protection, and as mankind rapidly evolved technologically, they matched.

today, they are a global producer of security cameras, alarm systems, surveillance devices, and more.

they have their fingers everywhere, absorbing smaller companies and operating under their names in locations where small town businesses are taken to far more kindly. they have bodyguards for hire, provide security details for large functions, partake in remote monitoring, and have advanced to cybersurveillance.

the purpose and goal of lunar security is to hear and see all.

while they do have human staff, their agents are from one of the clans that swore fealty to the caelestis clan. they monitor and investigate potential threats to mankind, from demons, to aliens, to humanity itself, and eliminate those threats. they do not interfere with the progression of mankind--its wars, its famine, its political storms--but worldly threats that could endanger the earth itself or mass populations, such as a demon-spread virus.

their agents are known to be relentless and brutal, unforgiving in their methods of elimination, and prey has a slim to none chance of escape. no matter how far one may run, they will always be behind, tirelessly chasing.

#canon : caelestis clan *

[wisdomfish]

Non-Christian sources confirm the validity of New Testament

The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus (A.D. 37-100), is the first non-Christian author to mention Jesus. In the Antiquities, Josephus writes:

There was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities 18:3:3).

Tacitus (A.D. 56-120), the Roman historian confirms that the crucifixion of Jesus actually took place. Writing in his Annals, he records:

 Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.

Pliny the Younger (A.D. 62-113), Roman governor in Asia Minor, established that early Christians worshiped Jesus as a god:

They (Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food, but of an ordinary and innocent kind (Epistles 10.96).

Suetonius (120 AD) was a Roman historian and court official.  When recounting the history of the emperor Claudius some years before him, he said,

“Because the Jews at Rome caused constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christ], he [Claudius] expelled them from the city [Rome]” (Life of Claudius, 25:4).

Lucian, born (c. AD 125 – 180), the pagan author Samosata, while ridiculing Christians, accepted that Jesus actually existed:

The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. … You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains their contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property. (Lucian, The Passing of Peregrinus)

Celsus (2nd century), the Greek philosopher, while arguing against Christianity, also accepted that Jesus existed:

O light and truth! He distinctly declares, with his own voice, as ye yourselves have recorded, that there will come to you even others, employing miracles of a similar kind, who are wicked men, and sorcerers; and Satan. So that Jesus himself does not deny that these works at least are not at all divine, but are the acts of wicked men; and being compelled by the force of truth, he at the same time not only laid open the doings of others, but convicted himself of the same acts. Is it not, then, a miserable inference, to conclude from the same works that the one is God and the other sorcerers? Why ought the others, because of these acts, to be accounted wicked rather than this man, seeing they have him as their witness against himself? For he has himself acknowledged that these are not the works of a divine nature, but the inventions of certain deceivers, and of thoroughly wicked men.

~ Samples, Kenneth Richard. ‘Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions

#celsus #lucian #pliny the yournger #tacitus #josephus

[urdubooks24]

The Profound Wisdom of Sahjo Bai: Exploring Her Dohe

Sahjo Bai, an eminent saint-poetess, adorned the tapestry of Indian literature with her profound insights and spiritual wisdom. Born amidst the mystic aura of the medieval period, Sahjo Bai's dohe encapsulate the essence of devotion, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. In this exploration, we delve into the timeless teachings embedded in her verses, unraveling the depth of her poetic genius.

Sahjo Bai's Spiritual Journey

Sahjo Bai embarked on a spiritual journey guided by the light of divine wisdom. Her dohe reflect her deep-seated reverence for the Guru and her unwavering faith in the path of devotion. Through her verses, she invites us to tread the path of righteousness and seek solace in the divine presence.

1. Sab Parvat Syāhī Karūñ Gholūñ

In this doha, Sahjo Bai metaphorically portrays the vastness of spiritual endeavor. Just as one mixes ink to make the ocean black, she compares the act of spiritual practice to a monumental task. The seeker endeavors to delve into the depths of knowledge and immerse oneself in the vast expanse of divine consciousness, symbolized by the ocean. Sahjo Bai emphasizes the transformative power of spiritual discipline, where the seeker strives to merge with the infinite, akin to the vastness of the ocean.

2. Dhartī Kā Kāgad Karūñ

Sahjo Bai ingeniously employs the imagery of writing on the earth's surface to convey the futility of praising the Guru. She suggests that the earth itself serves as the paper upon which the praises of the Guru are written, indicating the omnipresence and omnipotence of the divine. No matter how much one praises the Guru, it cannot encompass the entirety of their greatness, for the Guru's glory transcends earthly limitations. Through this doha, Sahjo Bai emphasizes the boundless nature of the Guru's virtues, which elude the grasp of human comprehension.

3. Guru Mag DrḌh Pag Rākhiye

In this doha, Sahjo Bai underscores the significance of unwavering devotion to the Guru. She advises the seeker to firmly place their feet on the path shown by the Guru, without wavering in their commitment. Just as the sunflower turns its face towards the sun, the devotee should orient themselves towards the Guru's guidance with steadfast devotion. Sahjo Bai reminds us that true enlightenment comes from surrendering to the Guru's wisdom and following their teachings with unwavering faith.

4. Sikh Kā Maanā Satgurū Guru

This doha emphasizes the reverence and respect one should accord to the Guru. Sahjo Bai asserts that acknowledging the Guru's authority is akin to beholding the divine presence. Even if one were to bow a hundred thousand times before the Guru, it would not suffice to express the depth of their reverence. Sahjo Bai implores the seeker to never forsake the door of the Guru, for it is through unwavering devotion that one can attain spiritual enlightenment.

Conclusion

Sahjo Bai's dohe serve as guiding beacons illuminating the path of spiritual enlightenment and devotion. Through her profound insights and poetic mastery, she imparts timeless wisdom that resonates with seekers across generations. As we reflect upon her verses, we are reminded of the eternal truths that lie beyond the realm of worldly existence. Sahjo Bai's legacy continues to inspire and uplift, beckoning us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and divine realization.

#Sahjo Bai #Sahjo Bai dohe #Sahjo Bai poetry

[paragonrobits]

i will be blunt, i REALLY REALLY don’t like Zutara at all but this is entirely do to fandom behavior, and on its own merit, i would probably be indifferent to it at worst otherwise, and i would find the general shipping trends SLIGHTLY more respectable if instead of Katara abandoning her homeland and culture in favor of living in the Fire Nation, it was Zuko who willingly left behind power and privilege to live as part of her tribe

you never see this happening, though, and the fact that you don’t is probably a good rationale for many analyses into the psychology of the fandom that excessively values the pecieved power and glamour of Fire Nation royalty while declining to consider that maybe Katara would not exactly be jazzed at the prospect of spending the rest of her life in an uncomfortable climate in the nation that decimated her people and nearly extinguished her culture, surrounded by people who are going to be super racist

and its a lot more uncomfortable when you consider how the Fire Lady Katara artwork invariably depicts her as dressing in Fire Nation style, wearing her hair in Fire Nation style, without a sign of her Water Tribe heritage as if she has completely abandoned it. At this point I would not be surprised if a new development in Fire Lady Katara headcanons is her abandoning her Water Tribe name for a Fire Nation one; they pretty much depict her as completely severed from her people as is.

in contrast, Zuko doing much the same has much fewer connotations of an unsavory sort, as given the events of the series, the Fire Lord abdicating his position and choosing to live out his life as (from a FN perspective) a humbler life among the Water Tribe, forsaking the luxury and power that his family has gained from over a hundred years of conquest, imperialism, subjugation and colonialism. It is a POLITICAL statement, as much as anything else might be. (This also has connotations of freedom by abandoning the attachments to empty worldly things such as wealth and power, which has symbolic ties to Air, and doing it on behalf of close friends and ties has a Water symbolism, which also nicely fits his character development in diverging from the corrupting Fire philosophy of hatred, rage and dominance.)

While Zuko abandoning his culture has similar potentially iffy elements as Katara doing it, it has SIGNIFICANTLY LESS, and more so, due to the imperialistic notions at play, her doing it is far more loaded than the reverse.

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Wakeel— The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs, The Guardian— on 14 occasions in the Quran. Al-Wakeel is the only One who takes charge of the affairs of those under His care, managing all matters as He pleases. He is the One to be relied on, for all power belongs to Him!

The Disposer of Affairs, The One to be Relied Upon

Wakeel comes from the root waaw-kaaf-laam, which points to three main meanings. The first meaning is to appoint or entrust for the care or management of something. The second main meaning is to be a guardian of one’s interests, and the third is to rely upon.

This root appears 70 times in the Quran in four derived forms. Examples of these forms include tawakkaltu (“I put my trust”) and al-mutawakkileen (“the ones who put trust”).

Linguistically the wakeel of someone else is the person who efficiently represents him or does what he is incapable of doing on his behalf. Al-Wakeel is the ultimate Trustee, guardian and administrator of all things and we can trust in the fact that Al-Wakeel will provide the perfect resolution for every matter!

Al-Wakeel Himself says: . . . But it increased them in faith, and they said, “Sufficient for us is Allah , and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs [Quran, 3:173] . . . To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs [Quran, 4:171] and The Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs [Quran, 73:]

Al-Wakeel and Other Names

In the ayaat in which the name Al-Wakeel is mentioned, Allah gives a reference to His power and authority. The name Al-Wakeel is related in meaning to Al-Haseeb (The Reckoner, The Sufficer) and to Al-Qadeer (The All-Powerful); we entrust our affairs to Allah because only He has control over all things and only He is sufficient for us as provider and reckoner.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Have trust and work hard.

Reliance on Allah (tawakkul) means you entrust your affairs to Him, take every worldly precaution, and submit to Al-Wakeel for the result. An example is the hijrah for which the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and Abu Bakr radiyyallahu ‘anhu planned according to their means. However, they were overtaken by the Quraysh. This is when the prophet calmed Abu Bakr with a beautiful statement of tawakkul, saying What do you think is the destiny of two people who have Allah for their Companion?

2. Pray istakharah.

One of the most beautiful examples of trusting in Al-Wakeel’s choice is the istakharah prayer. Ask Allah that if the matter is good for you to make it easy for you and if not, to take it away and then be content with the decree of Al-Wakeel. Make it a habit to practice this sunnah in your daily life, for big and small matters, as the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught the companions to make istakharah in all things, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Quran!

3. Don’t be anxious about the future.

Many people are depressed or worried about their or their children’s future. Don’t fear the power of the enemy, never go for unlawful earnings, and know that you can trust Al-Wakeel because He will manage your affairs in the way best for you! Be inspired by what Ibraheem ‘alayhi sallam said when he was thrown in the fire: Allah suffices me, for He is the best disposer of affairs (hasbunallaahu wa ni’mal wakeel)!* Take the example of those who entrusted their souls to Al-Wakeel, like Haajar, when she was left in the desert with Ismaeel ‘alayhi sallam who said with true belief: Did your Lord order you to do so, then He shall not forsake us.

4. Be someone others can trust and rely on. Be someone others can turn to when they need help, and when you have to act on someone’s behalf fear Al-Wakeel and fulfill your duty as good as you can. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. [Muslim]

5. Train yourself to trust Al-Wakeel.

The first time Musa ‘alayhi sallam saw the stick becoming a snake, he ran away in fear. The second time he did not run but felt fright within himself upon being confronted by the magicians, and the third time, the most difficult of these situations, when the army of the Pharaoh was behind them and the sea in front of them, he had no fear; he said what can be translated as, Not at all. Surely my Lord is with me; He will soon guide me. [Quran, 26: 62] [paraphrased from the series In Thy Name we live by Dr. A. Khaled]

6. Do dhikr with this name.

Every morning and evening say: حَسْبِ اللهُ لا إله إلا هو، عليه توكلت و هو ربَ العرش العظيم

Allah is sufficient for me. There is no God but He. I have placed my trust in Him, He is Lord of the Majestic Throne. Whoever says this seven times in the morning after fajr, and seven times after Asr, Allah will take care of whatever worries him of the matter of this world and the hereafter. [Abu Dawood, Muslim]

The Prophet said: Whoever says(when he leaves his house) – Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ‘alaa Allaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah – In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah and there is no power and no strength except with Allah- , it will be said to him: You are taken care of and you are protected and guided, and the devils will move away from him, and one devil says: What can you do with a man who has been guided, taken care of and protected? [Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi]

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

O Allah, Al-Wakeel, we know that You take care of all matters. Make us of the mutawakkileen, those who gracefully rely on You and guide us to work in this world to the best of our ability. Make us of those others can trust in, protect us against our enemies and ourselves, guard over us and make us entrust our souls to you in times of ease and hardship, ameen!

#allah #islam #revert help team #asma al husna #revert help #muslim #ayat #daily #allah’s name #dua #pray #prayer #salah #muslimah #hijab #religion #reminder #mohammed #new muslim #new revert #new convert #how to convert islam #become a muslim #welcome to islam #daily ayat #prophet #god #revert