Id-ul-Azha is the second most important festival of Muslims across the world. Today's celebration comes almost two months after Eid-ul-Fitr, the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. The spirit of Eid- ul-Azha is incorporated in Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. The underlying flavour is the spirit of sacrifice or qurbani, commemorating Abraham's great act of faith many centuries ago.

Eid-ul-Azha, also known as Eid-e-Qurban, is a time for Muslims to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of something living to God.

(See also: Id-ul-Azha, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Id-ul-Azha: Faith And Qurbani - Spirit of Eid  

Onam, the festival of flowers, an annual celebration of the spirit of Mahabali's reign of justice, will continue to inspire us to strive for that Golden Mean - when the entire world will be completely free of conflict and any kind of inequality. It would be peaceful. But we also have to hone our ability to deal with the inner kingdom so that there is no discrepancy in the way we perceive the external and internal world. Otherwise, like Mahabali, we might get carried away by our sense of self-importance.

(See also: Onam, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Onam: Are We Ready for Another Mahabali?  

Kundalini Awakening

When Rob told me my Kundalini had been awakened, I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. The awakening of Kundalini is a spiritual awakening, a major step towards realization of the divine. It is, in fact, a great boon, a great blessing and a magical gift. According to Swami Prajananda,

"The main purpose of its awakening in a seeker is to enable him to attain Godhood" (Muktananda, Kundalini 9).

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Kundalini Awakens

Easter is not the remembrance of an esoteric event whose scope and significance were confined to Jesus of Nazareth. Understood in terms of its spiritual symbolism, Easter is a celebration of hope in respect to the human predicament.

The Bible insists that Jesus was both human and divine. The patterns of his experience are hence relevant to the life of every human being. According to St Paul, Jesus was 'like unto us', except that he was 'sinless'. Jesus came to this world to demonstrate what every human being who is in harmony with the will of God can attain and experience.

(See also: Easter, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Easter: The Spirit of Easter Brings New Hope  

The Brahmakumaris practise Raja Yoga, particularly the trataka form of meditation in order to achieve union with God. It involves keeping your eyes open and fixing your gaze on a tiny red spot with total attention. Raja Yoga gives knowledge of self and enables one to attain peace, purity and harmony.

Dawn is preceded by the darkest hour of the night. The Brahmakumaris consider the present time as the most critical period. This will be followed by a new age - the dawn in the great cycle of time. The agent of transition may be the person possessing knowledge of the true self, of a positive soul. One who reaches the highest stage of this knowledge becomes Brahma. The supreme divine being is Shiva, who is an embodiment of knowledge, peace, purity and harmony.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Darkness Before Dawn In Cycle of Yugas

How is the Mayan Long Count to be explained? Why did this ancient people, that were the most mathematically advanced of their day, choose to use a chronology that consisted of thirteen different periods of 144,000 days each, starting on August 11, 3114, BC and ending on December 21, AD 2012? On a more fundamental level three different types of answers have been given to this question, a materialist, a spiritual and what might be called a pseudo-spiritual, answers that are linked to different world views. In the materialist world view the astronomical, physical cycles are seen as primary to the spiritual whereas in the spiritual world view they are seen as secondary.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: What is driving the evolution of consciousness described by the Mayan Calendar? - I

The Ancient Olympic Games were an athletic and religious celebration held in the Greek town of Olympia from (historically) as early as 776 BC to 393 AD. Ancient Olympic Games - Origin. The historical origins of the Ancient Olympic Games are lost in the fog of time, but several legends and myths survive. One of these involved Pelops, king of Olympia and eponymous hero of the Peloponnesus, to whom offerings were made during the games. The Christian Clement of Alexandria asserted that "[The] Olympian games are ...

Including:

Ancient Olympic Games - Origin Ancient Olympic Games - History Ancient Olympic Games - Events Ancient Olympic Games - Famous athletes

Read more here: » Ancient Olympic Games: Encyclopedia - Ancient Olympic Games

The ultimate solution to all problems - ecological, social and personal - lies within you. However, when you embark on that spiritual journey to go within, you will find that the solution is not sitting there, waiting to be discovered.

It is hidden away, made almost inaccessible, under the many-layered maya or illusion, that keeps you mired in ignorance. The spirit, obscured by this many-layered veil, is unable to reflect and know the nature of its true self.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Getting In Touch With Yourself

The study of morphogenic fields is an attempt to scientifically document and describe how the human consciousness is shared. The Morphogenic fields also plays the main role in the idea that humanity at one point in time will go thru a dramatic collective shift in consciousness. It will happen when the critical mass for a shift is reached, or in other words, when a certain number of spiritually awakened individuals are reached.

The story �The Hundredth Monkey� gives an easily understood background to the theory.

Read more here: » Morphogenic Fields: The Morphogenic fields explained by �The Hundredth Monkey�

A significant aspect of Indian Islam is the importance of shrines attached to the memory of great Sufi saints. Sufism is a mystical path (tarika) as distinct from the legalistic path of the sharia. A Sufi attains a direct vision of oneness with God, often on the edges of orthodox behavior, and can thus become a Pir (living saint) who may take on disciples ([murid]s) and set up a spiritual lineage that can last for generations. Orders of Sufis became important in India during the thirteenth century following the ministry of Moinuddin Chishti ...

See also:

Islam in India, Islam in India - Famous Indian Muslims, Islam in India - Population Statistics, Islam in India - Illegal Immigrants from Bangladesh, Islam in India - The History of Islam in India, Islam in India - Islamic Traditions in South Asia, Islam in India - Post - Independence, Islam in India - Literature

Read more here: » Islam in India: Encyclopedia II - Islam in India - Islamic Traditions in South Asia

All of us need to believe that we are loved and are lovable. We begin life secure in our mother's love, swaddled in our innocence. Love was never in question, but over time, we become increasingly unsure...

In The Path to Love , Deepak Chopra says that by bringing spirituality back into our relationships, we can discover a world of depth and meaning. He says: "You were created to be completely loved and to be completely lovable for your whole life".

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Love and Happiness: Unconditional Love Brings Joy to All

Pongal is also known as Tamizhar Thirunal or The Festival of Tamils among the Tamil people. The Tamil language saying Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (தை பிறந்தால் வழி பிறக்கும்) -- literally meaning, the birth of the month of Thai will pave way for new opportunities -- is often quoted with reference to the Pongal festival. Usually the festival falls in the middle of the month of January in the Western calendar. The festival is celebrated for four days from the la ...

See also:

Pongal, Pongal - Celebration, Pongal - Astronomical significance

Read more here: » Pongal: Encyclopedia II - Pongal - Celebration

It does not matter to a man of awareness whether he is successful or unsuccessful, well-known or absolutely unknown, powerful or just a nobody. To a man of awareness, these dualities don't matter at all, because awareness is the greatest treasure. When you have it, you don't want anything else. You don't want to become the president or prime minister of a country.

Those who pursue power suffer even in success - they live in the eternal fear that they might lose it. At first they suffered because they were not successful; now after being successful, too, they are suffering because of a feeling of insecurity.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: The Truth Beyond Success and Failure

Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca (Witchcraft)

The roots of the religion called Wicca, or Witchcraft, are very old, coming down to us through a variety of channels worldwide. Although any general statement about our practices will have exceptions, the following will attempt to present a basic foundation for understanding.

Some of the old practices were lost when indigenous religions encountered militant Christianity and were forced to go underground for survival. The ancient mystery religions were lost when the practice of the rites were stopped and the old verbal traditions were no longer available.

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca

When a Jewish child reaches the age of maturity (12 or 13 years for girls, 13 years for boys) that child becomes responsible for him/herself under Jewish law. At this point a boy is said to become Bar Mitzvah (בר מצוה, "son of the commandment"); a girl is said to become Bat Mitzvah (בת מצוה, "daughter of the commandment"). In Biblical Hebrew, the word "ben" or "bat" could also mean "subject to," e.g., a particular tax, penalty, or obligation; therefore a more accurate translation of the term may actually be "subject ...

Including:

B'nai Mitzvah - Jewish boys B'nai Mitzvah - Jewish girls B'nai Mitzvah - Jewish adult responsibilities B'nai Mitzvah - Humanist Judaism's procedures B'nai Mitzvah - B'nai Mitzvah gifts

Read more here: » B'nai Mitzvah: Encyclopedia - B'nai Mitzvah

Stuyvesant High School is named after Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of New Netherland before the ownership of the colony was transferred to England in 1664. The school was established in 1904 as a manual training school for boys, hosting 155 students and 12 faculty. In 1907, it moved from its original location at 225 East 23rd Street to 345 East 15th Street, where it remained for the following 85 years. Its reputation for excellence in math and science continued to grow, and the school had to be put on a double session in ...

See also:

Stuyvesant High School, Stuyvesant High School - Enrollment, Stuyvesant High School - History, Stuyvesant High School - School facilities, Stuyvesant High School - Centennial celebration, Stuyvesant High School - Academics, Stuyvesant High School - Extracurricular activities, Stuyvesant High School - Student body, Stuyvesant High School - September 11 and Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant High School - Notable alumni, Stuyvesant High School - Feeder patterns and admissions, Stuyvesant High School - Faculty scholarship, Stuyvesant High School - In pop culture

Read more here: » Stuyvesant High School: Encyclopedia II - Stuyvesant High School - History

The Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa) refers to the depiction of the final hours (or Passion) of Jesus, and the Catholic devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition also exists liturgically in confessional Lutheranism but is only done on Good Friday. The Stations themselves are usually a series of 14 pictures or sculptures depicting the following scenes: Christ is condemned to death The cross is laid upon him His fir ...

Including:

Stations of the Cross - External link

Read more here: » Stations of the Cross: Encyclopedia - Stations of the Cross

The Foreword to the book: Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our Time - THE MAYAN CALENDAR

Carl Johan Calleman has a Ph.D. in Physical Biology from the University of Stockholm (1984) and has served as a Senior Researcher of Environmental Health at the University of Washington in Seattle and as an expert on cancer for the World Health Organization. He is recognized as one of the world's foremost experts on the Mayan calendar based on the books Maya-hypotesen (in Swedish, 1994), The Mayan Calendar (Garev, 2001) and Enlightenment (Bear and Co, 2004).

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Foreword to the book Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our Time - THE MAYAN CALENDAR

Menudo - Beginning. Started in 1977 by Edgardo Diaz, it initially included two sets of brothers: Diaz's cousins Ricky Melendez, Carlos Melendez and Oscar Melendez, and Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry. In the next few years, Menudo toured Puerto Rico from shopping mall to shopping mall, from fiesta patronal (a citywide yearly celebration) to fiesta patronal. During this time, they scored a hit with "Los Fantasmas" and they were able to get a regular TV show on Telemundo canal 2 every Saturday night.

Menudo, Menudo - History, Menudo - Beginning, Menudo - 1980s, Menudo - 1990s, Menudo - 2000s, Menudo - Discography

Read more here: » Menudo: Encyclopedia II - Menudo - History

There are a variety of genres that writers, producers and directors can employ in theatre to suit a variety of tastes: Musical theatre: A theatrical genre in which the primary means of performance is through singing and music. Rock opera: Same style as opera, except that the musical form is rock music. Comedy: Comes from the Greek word komos which means celebration, revel or merrymaking. It does not necessarily mean funny, but more focuses on a problem that leads to some form of cat ...

See also:

Theatre, Theatre - Overview of theatre, Theatre - Styles of theatre, Theatre - Theatre or Theater?, Theatre - Theatre venues and styles, Theatre - Awards in theatre, Theatre - Theatre Conventions

Read more here: » Theatre: Encyclopedia II - Theatre - Styles of theatre

Krishna asserts that action cannot be avoided, and should be performed without consideration of the "fruit of action". Progression on the ladder of karma was associated with good action: one who did good things in life moved up the ladder.

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Life and Death: Discover The Truth, Set Yourself Free

California Baptist University - 1950s. Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College in El Monte, California, the new college enrolled 120 students during its first year under the leadership of the first president P. Boyd Smith. In 1953, the college moved under the wing of the Southern Baptist Convention, the same year that the first edition of the Angeleos, the college yearbook, was published. In 1954, the college earned its charter from the state of California. Soon, though the college outgrew its facilities and in 19 ...

See also:

California Baptist University, California Baptist University - Mission statement, California Baptist University - History, California Baptist University - 1950s, California Baptist University - 1960s and 1970s, California Baptist University - 1980s and 1990s, California Baptist University - 2000s, California Baptist University - School Architecture, California Baptist University - Traditions, California Baptist University - Schools, California Baptist University - Degrees, California Baptist University - Bachelors, California Baptist University - Graduate Programs, California Baptist University - Teacher credential programs, California Baptist University - Sports, California Baptist University - Notable alumni

Read more here: » California Baptist University: Encyclopedia II - California Baptist University - History