Yoga Master Andres Josephs guided a group of baby boomers in several yoga poses during a Happiness Yoga session at Kiwanis Recreation Center on Saturday morning.

The simple yoga movements help revitalize one's life and increase energy, Josephs told the group.

Yoga unites the body, mind and soul, he said, and the program makes people aware of the things that bring about an unbalance.

"We show them how to restore the balance so that they can have health and wellness," Josephs said. "Happiness comes when you find equal balance in body, mind and spirit."

For the past three years, Sid Gautam, a former Methodist University professor, has offered the Happiness Yoga program. The goal, he said, is to help people tap into happiness. The free program is sponsored by the Society to Educate People.

"The whole program is about exploring the happiness within you," said Gautam. "It is so easy, and it is all around you."

Gautam enlists the help of local physicians and experts to educate the community about various health issues, such as overeating, developing healthy habits, sinus functions and longevity. Dr. Sanjay Garg, a local rheumatologist, shared information about osteoarthritis during this month's session.

Saturday's session also focused on the "sound of silence," or setting aside two minutes each day for silence and meditation.

"Remember, we are living in a digitally distracting world," Gautam said.

Gautam encouraged the group to follow three simple steps - find a quiet spot; set aside two minutes at the same time each day; and stick to it. During those two minutes, the mind must be blank, he said.

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Residents learn relaxation, health tips at 'Happiness Yoga'

As far as Im concerned, the most interesting question about religion isnt whether God exists but why so many people are religious. There are around 10,000 different religions, each of which is convinced that theres only one Truth and that they alone possess it. Hating people with a different faith seems to be part of belief. Around the year 1500, the church reformer Martin Luther described Jews as a brood of vipers. Over the centuries the Christian hatred of the Jews led to pogroms and ultimately made the Holocaust possible. In 1947, over a million people were slaughtered when British India was partitioned into India for the Hindus and Pakistan for the Muslims. Nor has interfaith hatred diminished since then. Since the year 2000, 43 percent of civil wars have been of a religious nature.

Almost 64 percent of the worlds population is Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or Hindu. And faith is extremely tenacious. For many years, Communism was the only permitted belief in China and religion was banned, being regarded, in the tradition of Karl Marx, as the opium of the masses. But in 2007, one-third of Chinese people over the age of 16 said that they were religious. Since that figure comes from a state-controlled newspaper, the China Daily, the true number of believers is likely at least that high. Around 95 percent of Americans say that they believe in God, 90 percent pray, 82 percent believe that God can perform miracles, and over 70 percent believe in life after death. Its striking that only 50 percent believe in hell, which shows a certain lack of consistency. In the Netherlands, a much more secular country, the percentages are lower. A study carried out in April 2007 showed that in the space of 40 years, secularization had increased from 33 to 61 percent. Over half of the Dutch people doubt the existence of a higher power and are either agnostic or believe in an unspecified something. Only 14 percent are atheists, the same percentage as Protestants. There are slightly more Catholics (16 percent).

In 2006, during a symposium in Istanbul, Herman van Praag, a professor of biological psychiatry, taking his lead from the 95 percent of believers in the United States, tried to convince me that atheism was an anomaly. That depends on who you compare yourself to, I replied. In 1996 a poll of American scientists revealed that only 39 percent were believers, a much smaller percentage than the national average. Only 7 percent of the countrys top scientists (defined for this poll as the members of the National Academy of Sciences) professed a belief in God, while almost no Nobel laureates are religious. A mere 3 percent of the eminent scientists who are members of Britains Royal Society are religious. Moreover, meta-analysis has shown a correlation among atheism, education, and IQ. So there are striking differences within populations, and its clear that degree of atheism is linked to intelligence, education, academic achievement, and a positive interest in natural science. Scientists also differ per discipline: Biologists are less prone to believe in God and the hereafter than physicists. So it isnt surprising that the vast majority (78 percent) of eminent evolutionary biologists polled called themselves materialists (meaning that they believe physical matter to be the only reality). Almost three quarters (72 percent) of them regarded religion as a social phenomenon that had evolved along with Homo sapiens. They saw it as part of evolution, rather than conflicting with it.

It does indeed seem that religion must have afforded an evolutionary advantage. Receptiveness to religion is determined by spirituality, which is 50 percent genetically determined, as twin studies have shown. Spirituality is a characteristic that everyone has to a degree, even if they dont belong to a church. Religion is the local shape given to our spiritual feelings. The decision to be religious or not certainly isnt free. The surroundings in which we grow up cause the parental religion to be imprinted in our brain circuitries during early development, in a similar way to our native language. Chemical messengers like serotonin affect the extent to which we are spiritual: The number of serotonin receptors in the brain corresponds to scores for spirituality. And substances that affect serotonin, like LSD, mescaline (from the peyote cactus), and psilocybin (from magic mushrooms) can generate mystical and spiritual experiences. Spiritual experiences can also be induced with substances that affect the brains opiate system.

Dean Hamer believes that he has identified the gene that predisposes our level of spirituality, as he describes in The God Gene (2004). But since it will probably prove to be simply one of the many genes involved, hed have done better to call his book A God Gene. The gene in question codes for VMAT2 (vesicular monoamine transporter 2), a protein that wraps chemical messengers (monoamines) in vesicles for transport through the nerve fibers and is crucial to many brain functions.

The religious programming of a childs brain starts after birth. The British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is rightly incensed when reference is made to Christian, Muslim, or Jewish children, because young children dont have any kind of faith of their own; faith is imprinted in them at a very impressionable stage by their Christian, Muslim, or Jewish parents. Dawkins rightly points out that society wouldnt tolerate the notion of atheist, humanist, or agnostic four-year-olds and that you shouldnt teach children what to think but how to think. Dawkins sees programmed belief as a byproduct of evolution. Children accept warnings and instructions issued by their parents and other authorities instantly and without argument, which protects them from danger. As a result, young children are credulous and therefore easy to indoctrinate. This might explain the universal tendency to retain the parental faith. Copying, the foundation of social learning, is an extremely efficient mechanism. We even have a separate system of mirror neurons for it. In this way, religious ideas like the belief that theres life after death, that if you die as a martyr you go to paradise and are given 72 virgins as a reward, that unbelievers should be persecuted, and that nothing is more important than belief in God are also passed on from generation to generation and imprinted in our brain circuitry. We all know from those around us how hard it is to shed ideas that have been instilled in early development.

The Evolutionary Advantage of Religion

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Napoleon Bonaparte

The evolution of modern man has given rise to five behavioral characteristics common to all cultures: language, toolmaking, music, art, and religion. Precursors of all these characteristics, with the exception of religion, can be found in the animal kingdom. However, the evolutionary advantage of religion to humankind is clear.

(1) First, religion binds groups. Jews have been kept together as a group by their faith, in spite of the Diaspora, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust. For leaders, belief is an excellent instrument. As Seneca said, Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful. Religions use various mechanisms to keep the group together:

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This is your brain on religion: Uncovering the science of belief

Ronald Reagan often spoke of Americas divine purpose and of a mysterious plan behind the nations founding. You can call it mysticism if you want to, he told the Conservative Political Action Conference in 1974, but I have always believed that there was some divine plan that placed this great continent between two oceans to be sought out by those who were possessed of an abiding love of freedom and a special kind of courage. These were remarks to which Reagan often returned. He repeated them almost verbatim as president before a television audience of millions for the Statue of Liberty centenary on July 4, 1986.

When touching on such themes, Reagan echoed the work, and sometimes the phrasing, of occult scholar Manly P. Hall.

From the dawn of Halls career in the early 1920s until his death in 1990, the Los Angeles teacher wrote about Americas secret destiny. The United States, in Halls view, was a society that had been planned and founded by secret esoteric orders to spread enlightenment and liberty to the world.

In 1928, Hall attained underground fame when, at the remarkably young age of twenty-seven, he published The Secret Teachings of All Ages, a massive codex to the mystical and esoteric philosophies of antiquity. Exploring subjects from Native American mythology to Pythagorean mathematics to the geometry of ancient Egypt, this encyclopedia arcana remains the unparalleled guidebook to ancient symbols and esoteric thought. The Secret Teachings won the admiration of figures ranging from General John Pershing to Elvis Presley. Novelist Dan Brown cites it as a key source.

After publishing his Great Book, Hall spent the rest of his life lecturing and writing within the walls of his Egypto-art deco campus, the Philosophical Research Society, in L.A.s Griffith Park neighborhood. Hall called the place a mystery school in the mold of Pythagorass ancient academy.

It was there in 1944 that the occult thinker produced a short work, one little known beyond his immediate circle. This book, The Secret Destiny of America,evidently caught the eye of Reagan, then a middling movie actor gravitating toward politics.

Halls concise volume described how America was the product of a Great Plan for religious liberty and self-governance, launched by a hidden order of ancient philosophers and secret societies. In one chapter, Hall described a rousing speech delivered by a mysterious unknown speaker before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The strange man, wrote Hall, invisibly entered and exited the locked doors of the statehouse in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, delivering an oration that bolstered the wavering spirits of the delegates. God has given America to be free! commanded the mysterious speaker, urging the men to overcome their fears of being hanged or beheaded, and to seal destiny by signing the great document. Newly emboldened, the delegates rushed forward to add their names. They looked to thank the stranger only to discover that he had vanished from the locked room. Was this, Hall wondered, one of the agents of the secret Order, guarding and directing the destiny of America?

At a 1957 commencement address at his alma mater Eureka College, Reagan, then a corporate spokesman for General Electric, sought to inspire students with this leaf from occult history. This is a land of destiny, Reagan said, and our forefathers found their way here by some Divine system of selective service gathered here to fulfill a mission to advance man a further step in his climb from the swamps. Reagan then retold (without naming a source) the tale of Halls unknown speaker. When they turned to thank the speaker for his timely words, Reagan concluded, he couldnt be found and to this day no one knows who he was or how he entered or left the guarded room. Reagan revived the story in 1981, when Parade magazine asked the president for a personal essay on what July 4 meant to him. Presidential aide Michael Deaver delivered the piece with a note saying, This Fourth of July message is the presidents own words and written initially in the presidents hand, on a yellow pad at Camp David. Reagan retold the legend of the unknownspeakerthis time using language very close to Halls own: When they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he was not to be found, nor could any be found who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors.

Where did Hall uncover the tale that inspired a president? The episode originated as The Speech of the Unknown in a collection of folkloric stories about Americas founding, published in 1847 under the title Washington and His Generals,or Legends of the Revolutionby American social reformer and muckraker George Lippard. Lippard, a friend of Edgar Allan Poe, had a strong taste for the gothiche cloaked his mystery man in a dark robe. He also tacitly acknowledged inventing the story: The name of the Orator . . . is not definitely known. In this speech, it is my wish to compress some portion of the fiery eloquence of the time.

For his part, Hall seemed to know almost nothing about the storys point of origin. He had been given a copy of the Speech of the Unknown by a since-deceased secretary of the occult Theosophical Society, but with no bibliographical information other than its being from a rare old volume of early American political speeches. The speech appeared in 1938 in the Societys journal, The Theosophist, with the sole note that it was published in a rare volume of addresses, and known probably to only one in a million, even of American citizens.

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Ronald Reagan and the occultist: The amazing story of the thinker behind his sunny optimism

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Eckhart Tolle New Earth is coming!

By: TheMajk79

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Eckhart Tolle New Earth is coming! - Video

ISBN-10: 1847998933

ISBN-13: 9781847998934

The Science of Spirituality is a ground-breaking book that integrates the individual systems of science, psychology, philosophy, spirituality and religion into a unified system that describes the multi-dimensional nature of man and the universe. It provides a more comprehensive description of reality than conventional science can offer and fully explains the mechanisms behind an array of paranormal phenomena that mainstream science chooses to ignore. It explains the science behind religious, spiritual and new-age belief systems, and sheds light on some common misconceptions.

Einstein said: "Religion without science is blind, science without religion is lame", because they are two sides of the same coin. Recent scientific discoveries have unknowingly provided evidence that supports the multi-dimensional nature of reality that Hindus, Buddhists, Gnostics and Kabbalists have known about for thousands of years. By combining modern scientific facts with ancient spiritual knowledge we can begin to uncover the whole truth and bring unity out of the existing duality. There can be only one true reality, but we will never know the whole truth if we only look from one perspective and hold on to our preconceived ideas.

Originally posted here:
The Science of Spirituality - The Book of Esoteric Knowledge

Many people call many experiences humbling, but Bob Clausen says theres simply no other way to describe meeting the Pope.

Long-time Marco Islander Clausen had the honor during a recent trip to Italy with his brother Bill, a lifelong Rockford, Ill. priest who invited him along to a health care conference at the Vatican in Rome.

I had never been to Italy before, said Clausen, who indeed lived all over Central America and the Caribbean selling Marco Island for the Deltona Company in the early days of the islands development. So rather than only a conference, it was also a pilgrimage.

On top of that, the journey was bittersweet for Clausen because his brother suffers from Alzheimers, and needs help getting around in his wheelchair.

It was the closest Ive been to my brother for any time in 40 years, said Clausen, a family man with two adult children, Ian and Catherine, and a Scottish-born wife, Rosina.

He was good to work with. The disease is so debilitating. But, we had a lot of laughs together. Hes still got his good humor.

The healthcare conference was less scientific than spiritual, Clausen said, and fitted with his brothers ongoing calling of helping people with addictions back home. Hes so far attended two dozen of the conferences.

The brothers spent three days in Florence before heading for Rome and the Vatican. Coincidentally, Clausen said, the conference was on neuro degenerative diseases.

Bill knew everybody, Clausen said. In the past, he had been a presenter and a participant. One year, Mother Theresa was in the audience, and she came up to him afterward to tell him how much she enjoyed his talk.

The meeting with the Pope came on the last day of the conference.

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Papal audience

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Celebrate Life: Bible Life Coaching with Sheri Rose Shepherd
Original digital video content created by Sheri Rose Shepherd. Copyright 2013, Sheri Rose Shepherd. Used by permission of His Princess Ministries. All rights...

By: BibleGatewayVideos

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Celebrate Life: Bible Life Coaching with Sheri Rose Shepherd - Video

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Karen Presley | Life Coaching Tip 16 | Crossroads | 2014 Prophetic Declaration
This word from the Lord dropped in my spirit - This 2014 Prophetic Declaration will shift you into divine alignment -- Log on and get your FREE Gift Offer: h...

By: Pastor Karen Presley

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Karen Presley | Life Coaching Tip 16 | Crossroads | 2014 Prophetic Declaration - Video

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Rehoboth Beach Fitness Training
With the new year quickly approaching, many people will be starting out "fresh" on their fitness goals. Rehoboth Beach Delaware, as the "nation #39;s summer cap...

By: Jim Green

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Rehoboth Beach Fitness Training - Video

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Age Retirement Video

By: jennwebb04

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Age Retirement Video - Video