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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 27, 2004, at 17:15:23
I went on the internet trying to find out all the names of God.
Well I found one site that said there were 72 and that the Kabbala is connected to the Bible. The Kabbala is the key to unlock the codes encrypted in the Bible.
Then there was a delightful story about a Lama who was engaging the help of a computer to print out all the names of God...he said there were 9 billion.
It was an interesting quest.
But I still have no idea how many names there are for God/Goddess/the Divine on this planet.Anyone out there have that number?
Posted by nicolas on August 27, 2004, at 21:21:23
In reply to Names of God....., posted by Jai Narayan on August 27, 2004, at 17:15:23
Hello, I am a Christian but have been studying Islam and find the mystical interior of this misunderstood religion beautiful. In Islam there are said to be ninety-nine divine names of God, but this could be understood metaphorically as meaning that the names are countless but God is the unified source of all being.
'In Qur'anic tradition, there are ninety-nine principle Divine Names, which were revealed by God through His Arabic Qur'an and which attest to the mysterious diversity of attributes within the one Essence. The Arabic form and sound of these names bear the sacremental power of Divine Presence -- healing, protecting, and illuminating the person who invokes them. But names of God have been revealed through other prophetic dispensations that are equally to be respected.'
- Lex Hixon
Posted by Jai Narayan on August 28, 2004, at 7:01:01
In reply to Re: Names of God....., posted by nicolas on August 27, 2004, at 21:21:23
99 Gods, I am noticing a theme of the numbers of God's Names, they are all 9's.
Thank you for sharing about studying Islam.Have you studied other religions?
Are you taking a class?
I am listening to a CD right now that is quiet and very sacred.
It is called
"108 Sacred Names of Mother Divine"
by Craig Pruss and Ananda.
The "Lalitha Ashtotram" is a sacred Sanskrit text of the one hundred and eight names of Mother Divine. These words of praise were composed thousands of years ago.
Divine Mother is recognised for her qualities of unconditional love, protection and guidance. Just by listening to these sacred verses, patience, love and compassion can be awakened.
Jai Narayan
Posted by verne on August 31, 2004, at 23:36:51
In reply to Names of God....., posted by Jai Narayan on August 27, 2004, at 17:15:23
Jai,
One of my favorite books that helped me turn the "spiritual corner" is "The Constant Companion" or "The Thousand Names of the Lord" by Eknath Easwaran.
A complete atheist, I got involved in TM (transcendental meditation) in the mid 80's and went to live on the Mahrishi International University campus, although I was always on the periphery of the movement.
During the early 90's, I went through a divorce and the heartache of being a weekend dad. In spite of my atheism, I checked out 4 books by Eknath Easwaran in a small coastal village in Oregon where I hoped to get some space and time out.
I think those books, which included the "Constant Companion" caused a crack to develop that began to let the light in. A few years later I was touched by something (god?) and even experienced healing. We are talking, a hard-core philosophical skeptic getting zapped. No doubt. I knew then, there was more to life than what we "can see".
I went through the usual church-hopping and burnout. I'm sick to death of bible thumpers and christians who want to change everybody else but haven't done the one needful thing - die to self and simply abide in the vine. They like the "Great Commission" which gets the proud self involved.
Anyway, this book turned me around. Somehow I have no problem with reconciling buddhism, hinduism, native american spirituality, ancient cave drawings, or anything done in Spirit. God was around just as much back then as now.
After all that, I don't believe in "God" in my head. I was touched, my heart was changed, and I can't put a name or a religion on it.
verne
Posted by rayww on September 1, 2004, at 0:31:30
In reply to Re: Names of God..... » Jai Narayan, posted by verne on August 31, 2004, at 23:36:51
Would you say your faith in God increased?
I enjoyed reading your story. What you describe is so real, even though it can't be seen.
Posted by rayww on September 1, 2004, at 0:36:17
In reply to Names of God....., posted by Jai Narayan on August 27, 2004, at 17:15:23
http://scriptures.lds.org/mark/8/27#27
Even Jesus wondered
Posted by rayww on September 1, 2004, at 0:54:37
In reply to Re: Names of God....., posted by nicolas on August 27, 2004, at 21:21:23
I have heard it said that the reason there are so many names is because the name, "god" is to be reverenced. The world has sure abused that one. We refer to "diety" with reverence and respect. The divine, holy name of God should not be over or needlessly used unless in prayer.
For example, the priesthood of God was called after the name of Melchezedek to avoid the too frequent use of the name of God.
http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=Melchizedek&search.x=31&search.y=10
(Bible references appear first)
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 1, 2004, at 2:19:26
In reply to Re: Names of God..... » Jai Narayan, posted by verne on August 31, 2004, at 23:36:51
> One of my favorite books that helped me turn the "spiritual corner" is "The Constant Companion" or "The Thousand Names of the Lord" by Eknath Easwaran...
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by verne on September 1, 2004, at 3:41:24
In reply to Re: Names of God..... » nicolas, posted by rayww on September 1, 2004, at 0:54:37
the problem with the name of God is that man, to say it, must make God an object.
That's why I've always been uncomfortable with such a free and easy discussion of "God" - meaning what? - an object in man's mind?
So much of what I see in religion is human reasoning. Let's get back to the well (as in John4) Spirit and Truth. The letter kills.
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 20:42:17
In reply to Re: Names of God..... » Jai Narayan, posted by verne on August 31, 2004, at 23:36:51
> Jai,
>
> One of my favorite books that helped me turn the "spiritual corner" is "The Constant Companion" or "The Thousand Names of the Lord" by Eknath Easwaran.**sounds interesting I will look it up. thanks
>
> A complete atheist, I got involved in TM (transcendental meditation) in the mid 80's and went to live on the Mahrishi International University campus, although I was always on the periphery of the movement.
>
**what I find amazing is that I went to that school when it was Parsons College in the late 1960's.
I always thought it was a good touch that the school failed and this group took over. I liked the raising of the energy. Parsons was so decadent.
> During the early 90's, I went through a divorce and the heartache of being a weekend dad. In spite of my atheism, I checked out 4 books by Eknath Easwaran in a small coastal village in Oregon where I hoped to get some space and time out.
>
**What village in Oregon? I lived in Portland for 8 years.
I knew then, there was more to life than what we "can see".
>
*yup!
> Anyway, this book turned me around. Somehow I have no problem with reconciling buddhism, hinduism, native american spirituality, ancient cave drawings, or anything done in Spirit. God was around just as much back then as now.
>
> After all that, I don't believe in "God" in my head. I was touched, my heart was changed, and I can't put a name or a religion on it.
>
**your story is so wonderful. Being touched by the Divine (whatever form it takes) is so sweet.
Thanks for communicating. You sound like you have found something special.
Posted by verne on September 1, 2004, at 23:53:41
In reply to Re: Names of God....., posted by Jai Narayan on September 1, 2004, at 20:42:17
I'm still in Fairfield Iowa but hope to escape in a few years. I was born in Portland, Oregon.
The coastal village was Arch Cape, although I wintered in Cannon Beach and Gearhart a few times. I rented beach homes during the off season.
I lived in Seaside a couple years but that place has turned into a mini Atlantic City.
I'm sort of stuck in Fairfield but my plan is to reach escape velocity in 2-3 years and find a beach. Water, mountains, trees - anything but Iowa.
Fairfield is such a spiritual pressure cooker. I can feel it during "dome times". I no longer even do tm (sometimes, I guess) and am experimenting with other forms of meditation.
One of my friends here in Fairfield(I have so few) is a dyed-in-the-wool southern baptist preacher turned zen master. It's been a real trip seeing him transform.
I have so many psych issues that my spiritual walk is clouded. But perhaps that's only from my worldly view.
Parsons used to be known as "Party U". I arrived in Fairfield in 1986. My daughter was one years old, now she's 19. There's something deeply wrong with Fairfield. Perhaps it's the rift between town and college. The hostility in this town is palpable.
I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.
Verne
Posted by Jai Narayan on September 2, 2004, at 9:15:36
In reply to Re: Names of God..... » Jai Narayan, posted by verne on September 1, 2004, at 23:53:41
The town and Party U was an uneasy fit. I got pregnant at the school and had a child that I gave up for adoption. So my child, now adult, with children was a by product of the school.
A Parsons baby.In meditation have you ever done the lifting off? I always thought that was so awesome.
I lived in Portland in the 1980's and went to the art school.
I visited the coast.
Seaside was such a nice place back in 1973.
I loved the coast so much and had hoped to return. I went to one of the first Florence Fair. I can't remember the name of that fair....
renaissance fair maybe? It was the most exotic fair I have ever seen. There was a group there with a huge teepee. They called themselves the family?Now I am living in Vermont and loving it. I will never leave here unless something devastating happens.
As far as spirituality goes I like using the Sikh chants for meditation mixed with buddhist thinking. I have not settled on anything ridgid or committed. I am free to smell all the spiritual flowers.
Nice post.
Posted by NikkiT2 on September 13, 2004, at 17:24:19
In reply to Re: Names of God....., posted by Jai Narayan on September 2, 2004, at 9:15:36
This was a really interesting discussion to come and read.
jai, I always look for your posts.. I like the way you think very much.. you have a very sexy mind ;)
And verne.. your outlook is intriguing to me.. your reconciliation of your different faiths.Nikki x
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