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Newsletter Nr. 604
Amsterdam, Febrary 18th, 2015

THE LIFE OF MAHAVIRA - Jainism and the Path of Ahimsa - ANDREA DIEM-LANE

Mahavira: The Prince of Peace written by the global environmentalist Ranchor Prime and beautifully illustrated by B.G. Sharma is a magnificent pictorial biography of this Jain Tirthankara. Though not academic in the traditional sense it is such a delight to read. Through both poetic words and enchanting images of the life stages and teachings of this great saint, the reader is transported into a mythical world, where the gods descend to intervene on his behalf and negative forces try to test his forbearance.
Mahavira time and time again rises to the occasion and shows us what a noble character is all about. The writer's intention may not have been to historically document the life of Mahavira but it seems he was trying to invoke a sense of awe for what Mahavira represents. This wealthy prince who turned ascetic and gave everything away exemplifies grace, compassion, tolerance and a gentle disposition. Unlike most texts which catalogs the history and hagiography of Mahavira, this one taps more into the childlike imagination of the reader where anything is possible.

Read more:
http://www.integralworld.net/diem-lane17.html


TRUE MEDITATION - Evolution's Tool for Ego-Transcendence - BRAD REYNOLDS

Meditation, imported from the East but now popular in the West, has several phases and stages of unfolding as a person explores the higher transpersonal spheres of consciousness development. It involves the interior evolution of consciousness or conscious awareness until we realize the truth of God or our Divine Condition. Meditation, in other words, doesn't just quiet the mind; it awakens the heart. Meditation can be used by anyone at any stage of life—even children can perform simple meditation—but generally, for most people, it begins as a regular practice as they enter the Fourth Stage of Life. Only after the egoic self has grown and emerged (in the First Three Stages of Life) does someone sense the possibility of further self-transcendence that can lead to accessing the spiritual tools (or techniques) to realize their innate enlightened condition. Meditation, therefore, becomes the real means for advancing in the Fourth Stage of Life until final Enlightenment.

Read more:
http://www.integralworld.net/reynolds4.html