Interfaith Spirit Quest

Healing & Healthcare for the Mind, Body & Spirit

Healing comes in the form of material methods as well as prayer, encouragement through faithful progress and a good attitude. A personal transformation of mind and spirit oftentimes leads to healing because bad habits and unhealthy living practices are exchanged for a healthier lifestyle. The expectation of health is in the mind of strong and positive personalities. Fear and anxiety lead to thoughts that are negative and weak, which may lead to physical illness. Not that we think ourselves well or sick, but that our actions (material effect) are a direct result of our attitude, and our actions are what cause health or disease in many instances. The lazy mind resists the efforts that bring about healing.

Good health, a sound mind, and a happy disposition are the result of integrating truth, beauty and goodness into our human experience. Truth - material, philosophical, or spiritual - resonates with the soul. Beauty brings joy and pleasure to the human senses. Goodness brings stability to our world. An abundance of truth, beauty and goodness can heal our hearts, minds and bodies.

The physical body is not afflicted with disease by God, by by the consequences of material effects. Diseases or accidents of nature or material thing are not in any way pre-ordained or arranged by God or any other spiritual force. You are free to reap the rewards of a healthy lifestyle, just as you are free to reap the negative effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. We are equal in our capacity to receive our reward for our actions. Remember that our choices may also affect the lives of others – including our children and other loved ones.

Selflessness – the opposite of selfishness – creates an abundance of joy, which in turn produces medicine for good health, motivation for the heart, and an energizing effect on the mind. Should illness or accident strike, know that these situations will always work out for the welfare and progress of those involved.

To get through trying times, rely on true spiritual faith:

1. Make progress upward and not toward animalistic tendencies
2. Trust God, even if….
3. Have courage
4. Dig deep, stand strong
5. Be at peace
6. Trust the outcome
7. Believe in God
8. Life goes on – even after death
9. Remain triumphant
10. Remain selfless
11. Seek divine guidance, pray faithfully, listen
12. Continue to praise God

Have an extraordinary attitude toward the material environment and a strong faith in the power of the mind, and of God, to heal.

What about miracles?

What if everyone was healed through miracles? How would that advance our world spiritually? What reason would people have to behave responsibly and what would an irresponsible world look like?

If God chooses to heal or help someone through a miracle, we just need to be thankful and smile back.

Interfaith Prayer for Healing:

O Lord my God! I cry unto Thee,
this prayer of faith, for Thou it is Who cures me.

Free us from suffering and disease,
and Unite us with life eternal.

Thy Name is the best bestower of health.
Thy Name is the healing remedy.

Thy Love is the best bestower of health;
Thy Mercy my healing remedy.

Action: Faithful Prayers

Pray sincerely:

• To heal the sick, and heal ourselves
• To receive guidance to bring about healing
• To receive courage, strength and wisdom
• For God's will to be done – exchange our will for God's will
• For God's comfort, peace and love
• For a word of truth

What you can typically hope for in response to your prayer is information and peace; information from the wisest counsel to ever-exist, information that's true, beautiful and good, peace that passes all understanding, peace that comes from God and upon the realization that you have exhausted all efforts toward separation or healing.

Pray for spiritual strength and wisdom to carry you through and to guide you as you work through the issues or problems at hand. Be truthful, selfless, unafraid and personal.

(Above article was originally published here on InterfaithSpiritQuest.com on 2/28/2009)

Also see: 

Interfaith Spirit Quest article:

Health & Healing - Material vs Spiritual vs Crackpot Methods

American Holistic Health Association (AHHA) Free Booklet: 

Wellness From Within:  The First Step

Health & Healing - Material vs Spiritual vs Crackpot Methods

Have you been sicker than a dog lately?  Maybe we can help. 

Perhaps you've heard this quote before: 

"Physician, heal thyself!" It's from the Bible - Luke 4:23.

Let's paraphrase it:

Healer, heal thyself!
Minister, heal thyself!
Miracle Water Merchant, heal thyself!
Health Nut, heal thyself!
Drug Maker, heal thyself!

Everybody's got a cure - so why isn't everybody healthy?  Are we conditioned to believe we'll get sick and stay sick?  Is it all in our mind?  Here's how we typically handle things when we're sick: 

Material Method:  Take some drugs from a supposed reputable source, and/or go to the Doctor and have them prescribe some drugs, wait and see what happens. 
Does it work?  Sometimes. 

Crackpot Method:  Buy some miracle potion from some website or health expo, (far superior to regular drugs, right?), assume the risk and swallow, wait and see what happens.
Does it work?  Sometimes. 

Spiritual Method:  Pray, have faith, wait and see what happens.
Does it work?  Sometimes.

Since all of these methods have some chance of success, what are we supposed to do? 

Maybe it's as simple as using a little common sense. 

Common Sense Method:  Practice healthy lifestyle habits, take care of yourself and those you are responsible for, eat right, exercise, get enough sleep/rest, give lots of love to whoever needs it, get out more, get regular check-ups, you know the routine.  Receive the spiritual benefit by being thankful for the abundant resources the Creator provides.  Work in tune with nature, not against it. 

Why is this method any better than the others? 

Because you're not sitting around doing nothing, just popping pills, or even just praying.  You are taking an active role in your health care by making sure you're doing everything you should be doing.  You don't have to be a health nut or fanatic - but you should know that your actions play a major role in how you're feeling.   

Our next article will focus on this more in depth, the article is titled 'Sickness & Health' and will be posted on 3/3/10 - please watch for it.

Body, Mind, Spirit & Service – Love, Fear & Attention

Interfaith Spirit Quest – Topics for discussion: Body, Mind, Spirit & Service – Love, Fear & Attention

Prayer for Spiritual Community: God of all creation, First Source, Force and Center of all things and beings; we yield our hearts and minds to you and we seek unity with the Divine Spirit within that is You, O God. May we feel your love, presence and guidance more fully today and every day, evermore. While we are here in human flesh, may we seek to do your will, may we seek to love others as you have demonstrated your love toward us. Thank you for this day, for keeping us safe and warm, and for providing for our sustenance. We ask for your blessing upon this meal and upon our fellowship here today. At this time, if there are any special prayer requests, aloud or in silent prayer, please mention them now for inclusion in this unbroken, connected chain of prayer….

Your prayers…______________________________________________________________________________________

…_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for hearing our prayer. In thanksgiving and in remembrance of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

~*~

Body & Spirit: Love & Fear: (The following section on Love & Fear is from an article written last year called 'What is Love' written by Rev. Sheila Hansen for Interfaith Spirit Quest – it's an excellent conversation starter!)

What is Love? If you could create love in your life simply by choosing right actions, would you? If you knew that your negative actions and reactions were the cause of your pain and misery, would you stop?

You can learn to recognize thoughts that lead to desirable consequences simply by choosing positive, love centered actions over fear or negative actions and reactions, which only create destructive consequences. In addition to creating love in your life, you will also deepen your relationship with God, because God is Love. If you fully understand who is walking beside you in your earth journey, fear would not be possible. You have extraordinary power, power to choose how you will think or act in any given circumstance. Your thoughts and your actions create your world.

Learn to act and react in loving ways by recognizing the emotions and physical sensations you are experiencing. For example, if you feel anger welling up inside you – react with tenderness. Are your relationships cold and distant? Warm them up by being warm and affectionate. Do you have a tendency to react negatively to almost everything that comes along? Try looking for the positive, bright side of things instead. It really works!

Actions and reactions based on love make you feel warm and beautiful inside. Try it, you'll like it! This is easier said than done, mostly because our previous ways of acting and reacting have turned into habits, and habits are hard to break. This is where you must realize the extraordinary power that is yours, this is the time to be selfish and use this power to make yourself a happier, more loving person. Trust me, the rest of the world will love your for it!

Interfaith Spirit Quest

Following is a list of words about Love and Fear. In the Love column are things we are and do because we are acting out of love. In the Fear column are things we do because we are frightened or feel threatened in some way. Learn how to use these emotions and/or actions to create a more loving life.

Love

(Consequences of love and loving)

 

Happy

Peaceful

Affectionate

Warm

Patient

Kind

Caring

Positive

Spiritual

Beautiful (inside)

Handsome (inside)

Giving

Faithful

Friendly

Truthful

Passion

Joyful

Romantic

Persevering

Pleasant

Tender

Protective

Grateful

Masterful

Creative

Free

~*~

 

Fear

(What we do when frightened or threatened)

 

Depressed

Restless

Distant

Cold

Impatient

Mean

Unsympathetic

Negative

Questioning

Ugly (inside)

Self-absorbed (inside)

Selfish

Cheat

Rude

Liar

Lazy

Vengeful

Jealous

Give up

Hateful

Angry

Obsessive

Sense of entitlement

Addictive

Exploitative

Enslaved

Interfaith Spirit Quest

Discussion: Mind

The quality of one's life depends on the quality of attention. Whatever you pay attention to will grow more important in your life.

— Deepak Chopra in Ageless Body, Timeless Mind

Mind - Attention: The following tips are gleaned from the following sources.

• Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School - by John Medina.
• Spirituality & Practice: Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy — practices that are common in the world's religions.

Brain Rule #4 - Attention: We don't pay attention to boring things, but sometimes we give our attention to things that are non-productive. Multi-tasking is a myth. While we think we can do several things simultaneously, we are really working sequentially – doing one thing at a time. If you really want to get a lot done – eliminate as many interruptions as possible. Turn off the TV, Radio, Email, Cellphones, etc. for a predetermined period of time so you can focus on the most important task of the day.

Everyone has A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder). Generally, we can really only focus intensely for about 10 minutes at a time. So to enhance our focus ability, we need to give ourselves a break – every 10 minutes. Or at least vary your tasks every 10 minutes, even if ever so slightly. Are you preparing a speech? Break it down into 10 minute segments to maintain the attention of your audience.

Our attention is influenced by our memory, what we already know or have learned. We react to new situations from our learned perspective. We can control some of our reactions by getting more information from other sources – other sources besides our own memory. So, in situations where you have a little time to think something through, it pays to give new information some of your attention. We also tend to give our attention to things that we are emotionally connected to, so if you want to improve your memory, create an emotional connection to the things you most want to remember.

Spirituality & Practice: Attention is also known as mindfulness, awareness, concentration, recollection. It is a primary practice, and not just alphabetically. We must stay alert or we risk missing critical elements of the spiritual life — moments of grace, opportunities for gratitude, evidence of our connections to others, signs of the presence of Spirit. The good news is that attention can be practiced anywhere, anytime, in the daily rounds of our lives.

-Effort is its own reward-

Ben Hei Hei – in Wisdom of the Jewish Sages by Rabbi Rami M Shapiro

 

We are here to do,

and through doing to learn;

and through learning to know;

and through knowing to experience wonder;

and through wonder to attain wisdom;

and through wisdom to find simplicity;

and through simplicity to givn attention;

and through attention

to see what needs to be done…

Body, Mind, Spirit: Healthy Dinner Ideas – Rewiring the Brain

A Prayer for Spiritual Community: Creator and Sustainer, in this spiritual community, in this time and place, may we feel your presence ever stronger, ever deeper. As we gather in a spirit of fellowship, may your love, strength and Spirit of Truth bless us all in every way. Thank you for our daily sustenance, food and strength, we ask for your blessings upon this meal. May each one present here tonight receive a special blessing of insight, may we go on to encourage, love and support each other as you would have us do. At this time, if there are any special prayer requests, aloud or in silent prayer, please mention them now for inclusion in this unbroken, connected chain of prayer….

Your prayers…______________________________________________________________________________________

…_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for hearing our prayer. In thanksgiving and in remembrance of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Body – Healthy Dinner/Supper Foods: Some of you may prefer a light dinner (supper) and heavier lunch, others may prefer to have their bigger meal in the evening – either way – we just need to pay attention to our bodies and do whatever works best. Parts 1 and 2 of this 3 part series may be found online at www.InterfaithSpiritQuest.com.

Healthy Dinner/Supper Ideas – Control your own portions and remember - everything in moderation.

• Soup or Chili, Hearty Bread/Crackers/Pita, Pickles/Olives/Veggies
• Big Salad Bowl, Loaded with Veggies, Light on Meat/Cheese/Egg/Beans, Hearty Bread/Crackers/Pita
• Grilled/Baked/Roasted/Boiled Lean Meat, Side of Stir-Fried or Fresh Veggies, Tossed Salad, Hearty Bread/Crackers/Pita
• Baked/Boiled/Grilled/Roasted Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes/Veggies, Fruit Salad/Fresh Fruit, Hearty Bread/Crackers/Pita, Pickles/Olives/
• Stir Fry Veggie Bowl, Lean Meat/Fish or Beans/Tofu, Brown Rice, Sliced Oranges or Fruit Salad
• Baked Fish, Boiled Cabbage/Carrots/Potatoes, Rye Bread

Interfaith Spirit Quest

Mind & Spirit - Brain Rule #3- Wiring: Every brain is wired differently. See Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School - by John Medina.

Every brain is wired differently and each brain can be re-wired to think differently – at will! Do you believe this?

In the book Brain Rules by John Medina, it talks about a Michael Jordan quitting Basketball to focus on a new challenge – Baseball. Michael Jordan failed miserably at Baseball, not even rising to the level of a minor league farm team! But this is Wisconsin and we love football, so today, we're going to talk about Brett Favre – our favorite NFL Quarterback and his 2009/10 NFL Football season with the Minnesota Vikings! J As you all know by now, the Vikings lost the NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints on January 23, 2010. Had they won, Favre would be playing in his third Super Bowl this year, his first two being with his beloved Green Bay Packers way back in the last century. J Favre threw an interception near the end of regulation time in the 4^th quarter, which sent the game into overtime, never to regain possession of the ball in overtime themselves, the Vikings promptly lost. The Saints make it to the Super Bowl. Go Indianapolis Colts! While I do not blame the loss on Favre, many people have picked up on the fact that Favre has been in this situation on two other occasions as a Green Bay Packer; once against the Philadelphia Eagles and once against the New York Giants. In both of those games, Favre also threw and interception that ended their hopes of heading to another Super Bowl.

So, what does this have to do with re-wiring the brain? What I'm trying to show here is that Favre actually had his best year ever as a Quarterback in the NFL! All of his stats were way up, his interception ratio was at the lowest number ever, throwing only 7 interceptions all year versus his previous average of 13 at minimum. Many years were much higher; Favre threw 20 interceptions during several years. Anyway, moving on….getting to the point now….

The question is: 1) How did he do it? How did Brett Favre, a 40 year old Quarterback, have his best year ever? How did he get his interception rate down to 7 from his previous average of 13? …and question 2) How or why did he throw that final, crushing interception?

The answer to question #1 is that he effectively re-wired his brain; he managed to eliminate all obstacles to his success by focusing on his biggest problem – interceptions. He changed the way he does business. He proved that he could do it through controlling his mind, thus controlling his actions.

The answer to question #2: So why did he thrown that last interception? First off, nobody is perfect, I believe that Favre did everything he could to lead the Vikings to victory but could have used a little help from the defense that day. Then of course there's the Referees stating publicly, after the game of course, that they messed up on a couple of calls that went against the Vikings. Anyway, so the answer is – perhaps re-wiring the brain is an extremely difficult thing to do and it requires intense, continuous desire and focus without let-up on the part of the individual to change. But Brett Favre did in fact prove that it could be done. He is to be forgiven for his momentary lapses, and this will only lead him to improve his performance should he choose to come back for another year – which I think he will do.

Every time you learn a new task, you are wiring your brain. To solve and old problem, we need to turn it into a new task. Do not think of things as problems, think of things as goals or targets. Do not think of problems, think of ways to reach your destination. Focus only on what will work, not on obstacles. While the author of Brain Rules, John Medina, talks a lot about the physical reasons for the wiring of our brains, and we certainly cannot do everything we think we can, the really cool thing that I have discovered is that our spirit personality is unquestionably capable of willing the physical body and mind to do the impossible!

Interfaith Spirit Quest

Interfaith Spirit Quest - Tips to help you re-wire your brain:

• Pray, meditate, contemplate – focus on your task/goal/target
• Be a reminder to yourself – leave notes, journal, repeat motions toward task/goal/target
• Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well, get some sunshine
• Evaluate your life – do you need to work on your love life, family life, play life and work life?
• Be honest with yourself, seek to understand why you don't make the right choices or changes
• Align your habits with your task/goal/target – that means create new habits and destroy bad habits
• Choose your life, map out your destiny; but accept who you are and soar where you know you can
• Have the experience. A few wise sayings:
  • "What you hear you forget, what you see you remember, what you do, you understand",
  • "Practice makes perfect".
  • "Just do it!"
• The Creator & Sustainer of the Universe wants you to enjoy an abundant, successful and fruitful life!
• Celebrate your abundance and enjoy the fruits of your success!

Interfaith Spirit Quest Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think it's possible for you, or Favre for next year, to be completely successful re-wiring the brain? _________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is keeping or preventing you from changing something about yourself that concerns you? _________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How can we support each other? How can we help and support ourselves? _________________________________________________________________________________________

Brett Favre began his career as an Atlanta Falcon in 1991 throwing 4 passes as a Falcon, 2 of them interceptions, 2 of them incomplete.

He was traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1992 and played there for 16 seasons. His interception ratio averaged 13-20 per season. He led the Packers to 2 Super Bowls, winning one and losing one.

 

 

 

In 2008 he asked to be traded to the Vikings, but Packers Management refused and traded him instead to the New York Jets where he had 22 interceptions and an all around bad year.

 

 

 

Ah, finally, the Favre's wish to become a Minnesota Viking is fulfilled. He takes the Vikings on a whirlwind romance and almost makes it to the Super Bowl. His interception rate during the regular season is pared down to 7. Brain effectively re-wired. There's always next year – one can only imagine what the Favre will do next.

Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness

Tips for cultivating a spirit of thankfulness:

• Start your day with a prayer.  It could be as simple as reciting The Lord's Prayer (insert your favorite sacred prayer here), or it could be a long list of what's on your mind.  Either way, God is listening.  
• Say a Prayer of Thanksgiving at other points throughout the day.
• Participate fully, willingly, joyfully and courageously in your life.
• Follow the Diamond Rule:  Love others as God loves us.  Be friendly and kind to others.  Perform miracles if you can, but point the way when you know they can.
• Compassion is the real fruit of the Golden Rule.  Treat others as you (or they) would like to be treated.  To be involved in easing the pain of another person is truly an honor and so satisfying.  Sincere and loving service will uplift humanity and will multiply the fruits of your spirit. 

Make up your own prayers on the spot, or print out these two traditional prayers and keep them in your wallet or pocketbook as a reminder and reference to keep you on track throughout the day.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen

A psalm of thanksgiving. (Psalm 100)

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Amen

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How to have a Happy Thanksgiving anyway

Thanksgiving is really the most wonderful holiday of the year, we just need to arrive hungry and thankful and we get to leave with a full belly; but for some of us it is more like the beginning of a month long season of holiday purgatory that thankfully ends around January 2nd of the new year! 

Thanksgiving, mmmmmmm, here in the Midwest it might be turkey and stuffing (you say dressing - we say stuffing), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, Lefse if your Norwegian - buns if you're not, pumpkin pie, relatives and all that.  Thanksgiving is about food, family and friends, love and being thankful to God for what we have. 

The first thing many people think about when they think of Thanksgiving is food, since we all love food, this turns out to be the primary motivational factor for our making an appearance at the annual event.  The second thing people often think about is family; the response to this thought is either one of joy and thankfulness, or one of dread. 

So, since this an article about 'How to have a Happy Thanksgiving anyway', here are a few tips for doing just that.

• Respect:  Allow people to be who they are; even when they don't do life right, or they don't extend the same courtesy back.
• The Golden Rule:  Treat others as we would like to be treated.  Be kind, even if they're not.  Harmony and peace begins in our own minds.  Be amicable, warm-hearted and friendly towards others, ask what they've been up to lately, people love to talk about themselves.  Resist the temptation to offer advice unless it's asked for.
• Thankfulness:  Implement the practice of going around the table asking each person to name something they are thankful for.  Each person starts by saying 'I am thankful for....'.  Let the kids chime in too, even if they're only thankful for staying up late, for pie, or for a new toy.  This practice helps us all remember why we're celebrating and in a way it's a prayer of thanksgiving to God.  It's also a good substitute if family members are uncomfortable with formal prayers.  End with a formal prayer of your choosing or just say something like "I'm thankful for all of you too, and now let the feast begin!"
• Releasing Anger and Resentment:  It's important to let go of any anger or resentment you may be harboring toward someone; do not allow anyone to have this much power over you.  Your thoughts really do create your world - as we think in our hearts, so we are.  If we think negative thoughts, we will probably have a negative experience.  If we know we're in the wrong on something, we will need to make some corrections.  Sometimes we don't self-correct because we're consciously or sub-consciously seeking revenge toward someone who has wronged us in the past.  We need to ask ourselves - who is really suffering here?  Let it go.
• Fun & Participation:  Participate in the activities of the day:  Food preparation, table setting, playing with the kids, walking the dog, get into the game, do the dishes, help clean up.  Food preparation is an important part of the family bonding process and when we see how much planning and effort goes into a holiday meal, we naturally become more grateful toward others.
• Thankful Habits:  Enter into every thought, word and action with a spirit of thankfulness.

 

All you need is love - all they need is love. Peace and goodwill toward you and toward all.

For more tips on life, religion and spirituality - join me on Twitter

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family

and here's to the beginning of a more meaningful and joyful holiday season!

Counteract Negative Thoughts by Developing Positive Characteristics

The way we think impacts the way we perceive the world, thereby affecting our actions, our daily living and even our health.  How does your brain work? 

Consider the following personality characteristics expounded upon in this Live Science article: 7 Thoughts That Are Bad For You - and then ask yourself if your perception of the world, viewed through your _________ (fill in the blank) personality is impacting your actions, your daily living, or your health: 

7 Thoughts That Are Bad For You:

1. Stress out easily, prolonged state of stress
2. Gloomy, distressed or inhibited
3. Jittery, highly frazzled 
4. Disorganized or lack of self control
5. Fretting, constantly worried or anxious
6. Lack of meaning or sense of purpose
7. Cynicism, suspicious or mistrustful of others

What if we counteract these negative thoughts by developing more positive characteristics?  You might be surprised at what positive thinking or positive psychology can do for your life:  

1. Relax, meditate, take a walk on the beach and feel the sand between your toes.  Don't take everything so seriously, give up control and take care of yourself instead.
2. Let go once in a while, develop a hobby you enjoy, find something to do so you're not always into everyone's business.
3. Why so nervous?  Be mellow.  Relax, listen to calming, soothing music.  Re-wire yourself to be this way
4. Learn to discipline yourself through repetition, in other words, repeatedly perform the positive characteristic you want to develop in yourself, until you have re-wired your circuits.
5. Use worry constructively - if by worrying you think of something you can do to change the situation - then change it, but stop thinking about it then.  You might not be able to change the whole world, but you can learn to cope with it better.
6.   The purpose of life is to develop a well-balanced and majestic personality.  This means we should be actively pursuing and developing the higher, better, and supreme qualities of ourselves. 
7. Let loose a little, determine in advance whether something is physically or mentally harmful and if it is, stay away, if it's just someone's opinion of a thing, have an open mind and listen - they'll love you for it and who knows, you might even learn something.  The world isn't as scary as we make it out to be. 
   

Life is meant to be lived and experienced - enjoy the journey. 

Reinventing the Body - Your Body is on the Cutting Edge of Evolution

Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You

New Book Release by Deepak Chopra

Book Review:  In "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You" a newly released book by famed spiritual author and guru, Deepak Chopra, he writes about Ten Simple Steps to Wholeness.  We learn that the day we were born, where we think physical evolution stops and death begins, a door has actually been left open; a door that opens the way to imagined possibilities, a door that allows your brain to adapt according to your thoughts and desires, a door that allows us to see the miracle of the mind-body connection. You are not yet hard-wired, your brain is fluid and flexible, ready to take on the world.  Even when you are older and have apparently developed hard-wired habits, you can still develop new connections, new circuits, you can remove limitations and boundaries placed on you by societal expectations.  Your body is on the cutting edge of evolution.

Table of Contents:

  Reinventing Your Body

1. Your Physical Body is a Fiction
2. Your Real Body is Energy
3. Awareness Has Magic
4. You Can Improve Your Genes
5. Time Isn't Your Enemy

Resurrecting Your Soul

1. There's an Easier Way to Live
2. Love Awakens the Soul
3. Be as Boundless as Your Soul
4. The Fruit of Surrender is Grace
5. The Universe Evolves Through You

Ten Steps to Wholeness

Conclusion:  "Who Made Me?"

Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You - by Deepak Chopra.  Released October 13, 2009 - Hardcover - 304  pages.  Buy it now here.

Publishers Weekly, starred review:  "Alternative medicine guru Chopra, author of more than 50 books, argues that the bond between body and soul has been severed; it's his hope that humankind is about to embark on a restoration project that will give the soul the attention it deserves. Chopra presents five 'breakthroughs' that address the body and five that address the soul. He also walks readers through a fascinating discussion of how energy affects spiritual and physical health, and includes a scored personal energy efficiency quiz. According to Chopra, when 'subtle energy' becomes blocked, awareness can act like an invisible force that turns unhealthy energy around (he also explains how the expression of genes can be altered by lifestyle changes). Chopra encourages readers to follow their inner guidance, to embrace a journey to higher consciousness, to expand awareness through meditation and other methods, to ask for guidance and then wait for it to appear, and to trust their instincts. By accepting the over-arching power of the 'invisible' or non-physical world, Chopra maintains that we can begin to nourish a state of wholeness in which there is no longer a disconnect between body, mind, and soul. Though Chopra offers 10 'simple steps' to wholeness (including focusing on relationships instead of consumption), this is a multilayered text to savor and study; readers will continue to contemplate the author's message long after the final page is turned." 

Critics suggest there is nothing new in this book, but any book that can tweak our thinking about our bodies, our souls, our spirit, is useful - while it may not speak to Chopra's critics, it might speak to you.

Brain Rules, by John Medina - Re-Wire Your Brain

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

Interfaith Spirit Quest Book Recommendation:  Brain Rules is a fascinating look at how our brains work and basically tries to teach us how to re-wire our brains.  Most of our actions have been hard-wired into our system through repetition.   Whether playing Beethoven on the Piano, or eating every last Hershey's Kiss in the package; practicing or repeating these actions ends up hard-wiring our brains to do it faster, better, more efficiently, practically without even thinking about it.   The author, John Medina, explains how our brains function so we can transform the way we think, feel and act.

From the back of the book: 

• Exercise improves cognition
• Every brain is wired differently
• We are designed never to stop learning and exploring
• Memories are volatile and susceptible to corruption
• Sleep is powerfully linked with the ability to learn
• Vision trumps all of the other senses
• Stress changes the way we learn

From BrainRules.net - Contents: 

EXERCISE | Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.

Will you age like Jim or like Frank? ~ Our brains love motion ~ The incredible test-score booster ~ How oxygen builds roads for the brain

SURVIVAL | Rule #2: The human brain evolved, too.

Tour the amazing brain! ~ What’s uniquely human about us? ~ Goldilocks and the Swedish sauna ~ A brilliant survival strategy ~ How we conquered the world

WIRING | Rule #3: Every brain is wired differently.

Neurons slide, slither, and split ~ Experience makes the difference ~ Furious brain development not once, but twice ~ The Jennifer Aniston neuron.

Buy the book or see the rest of the contents here.

 

Empowering People Through Interfaith Spirit Quest

 
The purpose of ministry is to empower people to change their lives, their communities and their world.  Restating our purpose today, our purpose here at Interfaith Spirit Quest is to assist individuals in their efforts to become majestic and well-balanced personalities. 

Interfaith Spirit Quest provides opportunities for:

Connecting with God
Connecting with one another
Experiencing Truth, Beauty & Goodness
Discovering new ideas
Finding new meanings
Intellectual challenge
Spiritual growth and development
Studying difficult concepts
Experiencing a variety of viewpoints
Practicing our ability to adapt
Empowering yourself
Attaining Goals
Love and acceptance
Listening and sharing
Ministering to others
Experiencing Freedom
Freedom of self-expression
Enthusiasm and Joy
Critical thinking
Meeting new people

Live by the Diamond Rule:  Love others as God loves us.

Our strength is renewed by God and oftentimes by caring individuals.  Jesus is God's revelation of Love.  Jesus did not need to die in order for God's purposes to be fulfilled.  The grave did not hold Jesus and it won't hold you.  No one is going to any hell other than the one they create for themselves here on earth.  God is a Universalist.  The Spirit of God dwells within each heart.  God is just waiting for the unaware individual to emerge and open the door of their hearts to awaken to God's Spirit within.  We love the God in you - the God within us and within you.  God is always with us.  God loves you even more than the highest sort of love imaginable.  If you are too weak to accept this, then just act as if it's true, it's the one assumption in this life you can make without any repercussions.

We empower ourselves when we take iniative, when we act, when we develop confidence in our own capacities and abilities.  We find value and new meanings in our spiritual pursuits when we study deeper, when we try to personally experience the spiritual.  We practice freedom of expression when we allow others the freedom of speaking from their heart.  True freedom comes from having no spiritual boundaries, boundaries keep you from experiencing God.  We experience truth when we develop a deeper, closer connection with God and each other.  We experience beauty when we give and receive kindness, mercy and grace.  We experience goodness when we minister in loving service to humanity and creation.   We can do all this because of God, because this is part of his purpose and plan for our lives.