“Through watering the ground of affectionate love with cherishing love, And then sowing the seeds of wishing love and compassion, the medicinal tree of Bodhichitta will grow.” LoveFeelingsWishGrowsReligiousCompassionGrowingTreeEmpathyEnlightenmentSeedsBuddhistCherishSympathyLove And CompassionAffectionateSowing Author:Je Tsongkhapa
“The world of enlightenment, and that which creates enlightenment, is much different than what most people would think. Most people have Hallmark Card descriptions of what creates enlightenment. And if their descriptions were correct, then everyone who is in religious practice would be enlightened.” PeopleIfsThinkingWorldDifferentWould BeReligiousPracticeEnlightenmentCardsDescriptionEnlightenedHallmarkReligious PracticesHallmark Card Author:Frederick Lenz
“Kirshna says its better to be a winner than a loser. It runs counter to what a lot of people whould think, because they have watered down, quasi-religious ideas about that which creates in enlightenment.” PeopleThinkingIdeasRunningReligiousEnlightenmentYogaKarmaWinnerLoserKarma Yoga Author:Frederick Lenz
“Religions have always stressed that compassion is not only central to religious life, it is the key to enlightenment and it the true test of spirituality. But there have always have been those who'd rather put easier goals, like doctrine conformity, in place.” Has BeensSpiritualityGoalReligiousCompassionKeysEasierEnlightenmentTestsDoctrineConformitySetting GoalsStressedReligious Life Author:Karen Armstrong
“Who wants to be stuck in being religious and being spiritual either? That's not freedom. You've just exchanged handcuffs for leg irons - which doesn't mean that you should avoid enlightenment.” WantShouldMeanSpiritualReligiousEnlightenmentLegsStuckIronMysticismHandcuffs Author:Frederick Lenz
“Two hundred years ago the forces of freedom challenged this idea. The children of the new enlightenment rose up to defy the tyranny of arrogant clergy and the censorship of pious bureaucrats. They boldly proclaimed that the state must be free from religious coercion and that religion must be free from state control. All individuals have the right to pursue the dictates of their own conscience. All citizens even have the right not to be religious at all.” YearsChildrenTwoIdeasStatesIndividualForceReligiousAtheismCitizensEnlightenmentHundredConscienceYears AgoRoseTyrannyPursueCensorshipArrogantCoercionPiousBureaucratsClergy Author:Sherwin Wine
“There are two visions of America. One precedes our founding fathers and finds its roots in the harshness of our Puritan past. It is very suspicious of freedom, uncomfortable with diversity hostile to science, unfriendly to reason, contemptuous of personal autonomy. It sees America as a religious nation. It views patriotism as allegiance to God. It secretly adores coercion and conformity. Despite our constitution, despite the legacy of the Enlightenment, it appeals to millions of Americans and threatens our freedom.” TwoReasonAmericaPastFatherNationsReligiousViewsVisionMillionsAtheismDiversityEnlightenmentRootsConstitutionDespiteAppealsLegacyUncomfortableConformityAdoreFoundingHostileAutonomySuspiciousCoercionAllegianceOur Founding FathersPuritanHarshnessUnfriendlyContemptuous Author:Sherwin Wine
“All countries must be governed by the modern people; they must be governed by the progressive people; they must be governed by those who believe in the reason and science; they must be governed by the compassionate and just, by the ethical and honest, by the nonviolent and peaceful people; they must be governed by the libertarians; they must be governed by the people who believe in the enlightenment and who refuse to shape the society based on some childish religious stories!” PeopleBelieveCountryReasonStoriesScienceReligiousModernHonestShapesEnlightenmentRefuseLibertarianPeacefulProgressiveEthicalCompassionate Author:Mehmet Murat Ildan