Yoga.

One of the first steps of Yoga is the Yamas and Niyamas -  the restraints and observances:

"Vows of restraint comprise abstinence from violence, falsehood, theft, sexual excess, and acquisitiveness."*

"Purity, contentment, austerity, self-study, and self-surrender constitute observances."*

At first we wonder why?

But theses steps help to prepare us for the presence of God.

For God is transcendent, sublime, and wholly good.

It is consistent with the Biblical witness:

"Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined."  Daniel 12:10 (NRSV)

(*Yoga Sutras - Patanjali.)

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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The Beast and the Human.

The Beast is violent, cruel, dominating, boastful, and blasphemous.

He rules by fear and he punishes any dissent.

But his time is limited and his dominion will be taken away.

It will be given to the man - the one who is like a human being*.

This means he is humane, gentle, honest, truthful, generous, and loving.

He rules in peace and conciliation.

This is God's Son.

He is non-violent, wise, faithful, pure, and just.

He does not raise a hand or use weapons**.

He relies on the words of his mouth.

And he defeats the Beast.

(*Daniel 7:11-13)

(** 2 Esdras 13:9)

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Heart to Heart.

When we begin to live from the heart we can discern what others' hearts are experiencing.

Mostly we will find that their hearts are burred deep within a fortress of fears.

But if we relate to them through our hearts we find that they respond, not in kind, but that they relax and open up a little. 

And they will mostly react in a positive way.

So let down your defenses and relate heart to heart.

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Killing in the Name of God.

Despite the fact that "Thou shall not kill" is one of the 10 Commandments God's prophets had a record of killing in God's name.

Both Moses and Elijah killed mauy people who were unfaithful to Yahweh,

Moses killed 3000 Israelites who worshiped the Golden Calf.

And Elijah killed the priests of Baal.

Christians and Muslims are not exempt from this.

The Crusades and the Inquisition killed thousands.

And the Koran has been interpreted as instructing Muslims to kill the Infidel.

So killing in the Name of God is nothing new.

But we thought humanity had grown past that.

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Betrayed!

The Hippies and Baby-Boomers were betrayed by their rock stars into lives of drug addiction and decadence.

And so peace and love became sex and drugs and rock and roll.

This was done quite deliberately by rock stars who had sold their souls to the devil for fame and fortune.

But peace and love are at the heart of Jesus' teachings. 

And so a return to youthful idealism without the corrupting influence of rock music will cleanse us in body, mind, and spirit.

For love purifies and peace is found in God.

Then the search is over.

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Reconstructed.

Generation X and the corporate plutocrats, with the help of conservative Christians, won the battle of ideas by force, violence (psychic and spiritual), and evil*.

And the Hippies and Baby-Boomers were reconstructed.

And so peace and love became money and possessions, pragmatism and consumerism.

This was done by claiming to be right about everything and then forcing everyone to submit.

But "If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."  1 Corinthians 13:2 (NRSV)

And so they fall at the last hurdle.

For God is Love.

And without love we are nothing.

(*This is the Black Beast.)

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Life After Death.

So what happens when we die?

I believe that God knows what caused us to make the decisions we made in life.

And some of those decisions were bad.

And so when we die God takes us back to the moment we made those decisions and absolves us.

Because those decisions were made according to the information that was available at the time and many were the consequence of erroneous teachings or pracices.

They may have been the result of abuse or hypocrisy or exploitation or prejudice.

But ultimately they were  decisions made in fear.

So they are always forgivable.

And so our sins, and I know that they are many, are forgiven.

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