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The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage, love this stage!

Subhamoy's Hinduism Blog

By Subhamoy Das, About.com Guide to Hinduism

The Four Stages of Life
Saturday April 3, 2010

Have you tried dividing the years of your life into phases and categories? If you have, you'll be struck by a certain dominant theme that runs through these stages in life. Many a time you may have felt like being at the crossroads, looking for a guide that will tell you what to do next. And you might have wondered, what's the right thing to do at these stages in life, and what's the next step to take. Fortunately, Hinduism has a set of answers to these questions. While Shakespeare divided life into "seven ages", in Hinduism, human life is believed to comprise four stages or "ashramas":

* The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage
* The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage
* The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage
* The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage

This system of ashramas is believed to be prevalent since the 5th century BCE in Hindu society. However, clearly these stages of life have always been viewed more as 'ideals' than as common practice. Which of the four stages of life would you reject completely?

Poetry Giveaway, National Poetry Month 2010

I have made a request to participate in this wonderful event. I will give away one copy of my book, "Chasing Wind Mills. Why Not." (LuLu.com, 2008) and one book by a Beat poet. I am on the road as Jack K wrote about and Willie sings about, so will have the actual nae of the second book after the 14th of April. Have a wonderful National Poetry Month, if your in East Central Wisconsin, USA, North America on Wednesdays after the 14th for three weeks from 2-4pm the poets in and around the Princeton Library are going ot meet and write poetry. A Reading will be the first Wed in May, 5:30pm pot luck (we eat a lot in Wisconsin) and reading by Bruce Dethlefsen a nationally known but very local poet and the rest of us, what fun! Peace ko shin, Bob Hanson koshin@centurytel.net

trails of smoke

falling into my village
not the trails of angels but of violence
against my family, my neighbors even those I do not get along with
why?
why?
trails of smoke in the sky
run for cover
pray for peace, yes, peace
and maybe quiet…
Poem accepted with slight edit by Word Salad Magazine has been accepted there Feb 8, 2009, by ko shin

British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine, prepared by the British Mandate for UN prior to proposing the 1947 partition plan

British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine, prepared by the British Mandate for UN prior to proposing the 1947 partition plan

"Who do Buddha pray?"

Question:
R. F.:
"when buddha prays, does he pray to jesus? or muhammad? or which saint does he ask for more energy from???when he give thanks about his gratitude, who does he giving thanks to?? WHOS GOD? WHERE IS HE GETTING HIS HIGHER POWER FROM?? ANSWER PLEASE ANYONE??"

Answer:
Dear R.,

let me write to you down my personal beliefs. And I am not a buddha, not a guru..
I know that buddhist prayer is a form of meditation; it is a practice of inner reconditioning - have that in mind while reading. And I think that prayer should be part of our spiritual journey, transforming confusion into clarity and suffering into joy.

"Buddhism teaches that suffering and happiness are states of mind and that our experience of life is highly subjective. Trough meditation, one develop awareness, self-observation, the inner witness, and most importantly, patience and compassion towards oneself."

You just have to remember who you are.. You will when you get to that certain point of awareness - though meditation. That should be your path. I can just show you some basics..

For Buddhists, prayer expresses an aspiration to pull something into one's life, like some new energy or purifying influence and share it with all beings. Likewise, prayer inspires our hearts towards wisdom and compassion for others and ourselves. It allows us to turn our hearts and minds to the beneficial, rousing our thoughts and actions towards Awakening. If we believe in something enough, it will take hold of us. In other words, believing in it, we will become what we believe. Our ability to be touched like this is evidence of the working of Great Compassion within us.

What's more, it can a function as a form of self-talking or self-therapy in which one mentally talks through a problem, or talks through it aloud, in the hope that some new insight will come or a better decision can be made. Prayer therefore frequently has the function of being part of a decision-making process.

Remember that prayer replaces the negative with virtue and points to the blessings of Life. It allows us to turn our hearts and minds to the beneficial, inspiring our thoughts and actions. And purpose of praying, meditation is to become Awaken...

Hope I cleared your thoughts... but remember that I am not a buddha..
We could disccus and meditate about it "for ever".. and I believe that should be your own personal meditation.

Check this site - I think it will be useful for you
http://clarkescott.org/the-meaning-and-purpose-behind-buddhist-prayer-and-chanting/

Sincere Blessings for your Path, L.LoVe

Four Changes by Gary Snyder Part of "Turtle Island: Pulitzer Prize for Poetry 1975,A MUST READ FOR OUR FUTURE!

Four Changes

Women of Tibet Stand for peace and Justice

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=202872&id=506841006