John Roger Barrie
We know all too well from reading the daily headlines that there’s plenty of negative news to go around. There are six or so current wars, there have been around 700 mass shootings in the United States this year alone, and there is an alarming grassroots movement to topple democracy as we know it in this country in favor of Read More »
Each autumn, I reflect, reminiscence, and recall in vivid detail a spiritual experience that occurred some 49 years ago, which changed my life. I recount the main details of this Christ-centered experience in my spiritual novel, Dialogues With the Lord of Time. But no written words can fully do justice to what I underwent in the autumn of 1974, which Read More »
This concludes our examination of what are known in Hinduism as the eight fetters, which are: shame, hatred, fear, pride of class, pride of upbringing, pride of good character, grief, and doubt. We will conclude by reviewing the latter four fetters. Pride of Upbringing: We come from a lineage of “important” persons. We were educated at a fine university. We Read More »
In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, the great Hindu saint Ramakrishna (1836-1886) frequently mentions the “eight fetters.” The eight fetters, or aṣtapaśas, are as follows: shame, hatred, fear, pride of class, pride of upbringing, pride of good character, grief, and doubt. We will examine each of the eight fetters in this and my next posting. I should note that Buddhism Read More »
One of the topmost potential perils when walking the spiritual path is when one feels called to teach spirituality to others. I’m not referring to religious ministers who are sanctioned by their church, or to scholars who impart knowledge about religion in a classroom setting. In the context of Christianity, St. Paul readily acknowledges that certain individuals take on such Read More »
When first embarking on the spiritual path, many aspirants are filled with exuberance and enthusiasm in their newfound pursuit. And no wonder – it’s often like opening a door into an entirely new world. Unquestionably, spiritual aspirants should dive into their practices with passion and wholehearted eagerness when unfolding the deeper spiritual truths within themselves and radiating these inner treasures Read More »
In India’s great scripture, the Bhagavad Gita, Prince Arjuna complains to the celebrated incarnation of God, Sri Krishna: “O Krishna, the mind is restless, turbulent, domineering, and obstinate. I consider it as difficult to control as the wind” (6:34). Krishna replies: “Without doubt, the mind is restless and difficult to control, O Arjuna. But, by repeated practice and by nonattachment, Read More »
Many are familiar with St. Teresa of Ávila’s (d. 1582, Spain) well-known “Bookmark Prayer”: Let nothing disturb you,Let nothing cause you fear.Everything passes away;God alone never changes.Patience obtains all things.Whoever has God lacks nothing;God alone suffices. St. Francis de Sales (d. 1622, France) had a similar saying: Never be in a hurry;Do everything quietlyAnd in a calm spirit.Do not lose Read More »
