|
 |
| |
| October 2005 |
|
|
 |
Radical Author Issues Invitation to Religious Leaders
Albuquerque, NM (Nov. 17, 2005)—At his recent 70th birthday celebration, the Dalai Lama said all religions were “more or less the same,” with their fundamental compassion holding the key to world peace. In the same week, conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson warned citizens of a Pennsylvania town who voted against “intelligent design” that they had rejected God and could expect disaster to strike.
At first glance, the two attitudes seem very different. But radical thinker Sankara Saranam, author of the award-winning book God Without Religion, claims both leaders are misguided. “Robertson is obviously a deeply disturbed individual, and it’s unfortunate, though not entirely surprising, that a major religious sect has such a person at its helm. But the Dalai Lama, who is positioned to be a spiritual role model, ought to know better than to mouth platitudes about religious compassion as the solution to world conflict.”
“If compassion is so fundamental to organized religions, then why have religious beliefs caused so much war and violence?” Saranam asks. “Leaders who represent religious authority—which by definition fosters exclusivity, a false sense of superiority, and a narrow sense of identity in both ecclesiasts and followers—are incapable of promoting peace.”
In God Without Religion, Saranam uncovers the hypocrisy underlying all religions and calls for an end to organized worship. Religions, Saranam says, represent centralized authority that removes power from its rightful place in individuals in ways even more insidious than governments and corporations do. “Organized religions have never represented loving others as ourselves,” he says. “Rather, they embody the perversion of universal virtues that would otherwise be naturally expressed by an expansive human heart.”
Saranam suggests that the way to find peace is not through more reliance on organized religion, but through freeing ourselves from religious identification altogether and expanding our sense of self to unconditionally include the rest of humanity. “Simplistically touting any single virtue as the solution to conflict from within one of the very institutions that causes division is like trying to save a burning house with a water hose in one hand and a flamethrower in the other. Only when we give up identifying with institutions that foster a narrow sense of self and instead devote ourselves to the entire human family will we cease to interpret virtues in self-serving ways.”
Saranam challenges today’s spiritual leaders to symbolically cast off the outer accoutrements of organized religion and exemplify genuin inclusiveness. “If the world’s religious leaders took my criticism to heart and truly embraced a universal spirituality, they could greatly advance the cause of peace—an initiative that, as history abundantly proves, cannot be achieved from within the confines of a prescribed faith,” he counsels. “To end the wars caused by narrow identification with a religion, spiritual leaders need to march side by side as human beings—brothers and sisters free of the artificial boundaries and insignias of authority that foster divisiveness and violence.”
Jeff Jawer and Rick Levine Release New Book:
"Your Astrology Guide 2006"
Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer look closely at what 2006 holds in store for each of the 12 signs to help you gain a true perspective on your world—and a deeper knowledge of yourself and your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. They provide the tools that make it easy for you to keep track of what will be happening during the year. The Book will be available in November at Barnes & Noble
Tarot Turns Terrifying
Local Author Releases Novel Set in Upstate New York
Herkimer NY 8/29/2005 - Upstate NY author, Gigi Miner, has released a new novel entitled “Card Shark” ISBN 1-4116-4280-5. The backdrop for this stirring mystery is the Mohawk Valley. Miner is a local Adult Education Instructor at the Herkimer BOCES and writes a monthly column entitled, “Moment by Moment” for the online magazine, The Meta Arts (http://www.themetaarts.com/).
“Card Shark” describes the endeavors of a young widow, struggling to regain her life. In order to survive, she reads tarot cards for clients. Soon, this endeavor becomes a nightmare as one psychopath uses the cards to choose his victims. Will she be able to head-off this vicious killer, or will she be his next target?
For more information, contact:
Gigi Miner
315.717.5811
gigiminer@gmail.com
or visit
www.geocities.com/gigi_miner
www.lulu.com/ladyfogg
Caroline Sutherland Announces release of New Book, "The Body Knows Diet – cracking the weight loss code”
Caroline Sutherland, author of “The Body Knows Diet – cracking the weight loss code”, brings a vast clinical background as an allergy-testing technician in environmental medicine where her intuitive gift developed. She was raised in a medical family – her mother was a dietician and both her father and grandfather were medical doctors. As a child the “blueprint” of her family lineage created important seeds for her future career as a leader in the field of complementary medicine and health education.
Caroline Sutherland is an internationally recognized lecturer, workshop leader and author of numerous books, videos and audio programs on health, personal development, and self-esteem. She is the founder of Sutherland Communications Inc., which offers weight loss programs, consultation services and related products for adults and children. For the past 20 years, she has positively assisted the lives of over 85,000 people.
She is also a Hay House author. Her first book “The Body “Knows” – how to tune in to your body and improve your health, is now in its sixth printing.
Caroline Sutherland is a popular guest on national radio and television. Visit Caroline’s website at:
www.thebodyknowsdiet.com
Donna Cunningham Announces New ebook "Astrological Analysis: Selected topics in Chart Interpretation"
In her latest ebook, legendary Donna Cunningham shares insights and observations gathered from 35 years of astrological practice.
Richly illustrated and containing 22 essays, the book includes topics such as iaspect patterns, elemental balance, identifying chart themes, finding the strongest planets in a chart, singletons, stelliums, transits, the second Saturn return, relocation, and more.
See the table of contents and some brief excerpts at the link provided below.
Also available at the link below is a free booklet, The Astrological Wit and Wisdom of Donna Cunningham. It contains a sampler of observations and chart interpretation tips from her various ebooks, now six in number.
Donna invites you to feel free to download it and pass it along to students, astrology lovers, and others who might be interested.
Donna Cunningham, MSW is the author of 17 books on metaphysical topics and thousands of articles and columns.
See her new ebooks at:
http://www.moonmavenpublications.com
|
|
The Meta Arts Magazine Adding More Topics, Features & Writers for 2006
In our ongoing commitment to the Metaphysical, Spiritual, and Alternative Health & Healing Communities, we will be adding more features and topic sections during 2006.
If you have any news that would be of interest, send it to:
themetaarts1@aol.com
Submissions are to be sent in the body of the email only. Please do not send attachments. Emails with attachments will be not be opened. Please see Editorial Submissions & Specifications for information.
Current and Recent Worldwide Earthquake Data Available Online:
IRIS Seismic Monitor
Updated every 20 minutes, and displaying earthquake geographic location, magnitude, dates and times, on a graphic world map, this educational site features precise data.
For those Astrologers and Psychics who study earthquakes and other geological events, this monitor provides precise times and locations, as they are generated from the various stations' seismographs and sensors, worldwide.
http://www.iris.edu/seismon/
Rav Laitman Releases 2 New Books
•The Kabbalah Experience
Never has the language of Kabbalah been as clear and accessible as it is here, in this compelling, informative collection. The depth of wisdom revealed in the questions and answers of this book will inspire reflection and contemplation. Readers will also begin to experience a growing sense of enlightenment while simply absorbing the words on every page. The Kabbalah Experience is a guide from the past to the future, revealing situations that all students of Kabbalah will experience at some point on their journeys. For those who cherish every moment in life, the author offers unparalleled insights into the timeless wisdom of Kabbalah.
•The Path of Kabbalah
“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any manner of likeness” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment from the Bible is the basis of the Kabbalistic wisdom, for Kabbalists know that the only true reality is that of His Essence, the Upper Force. When we accept this concept, we can become truly open to the prospect of freedom for every person, for every nation, and for the entire world. While the structure of reality and how we perceive it are at the surface of this book, it is the underlying story of the human soul that truly captivates us: this is about you and me, and all of us. It is about the way we were, the way we are, and the way we will be.
For more information on obtaining these books and others, visit:
http://www.kabbalah
books.info/default.php
Another First by Bnei Baruch of North America!!!
A Free, 6 week interactive course on
the Fundamentals of Kabbalah
When: Starting Sunday evening, September 11, 2005 at 8 PM, EDT ( 7PM Central, 6PM Mountain, 5 PM Pacific) , for 6 consecutive Sundays.
Where: On the web, broadcast from the USA and Canada.
Each lesson will run approximately 1.5 hours and will give the beginner a fundamental base that will allow you to pursue the study of Kabalah more effectively. As with all Bnei Baruch courses and study materials, it is free.
For more information go to:
http://www.kabbalahgroup.
info/~nabroadcast/
Kami McBride's New Book Gaining More Kudos!
105 Ways to Celebrate Menstruation by Kami McBride is recommended by Christiane Northrup, MD in her extraordinary new book, Mother-Daughter Wisdom: Creating a Legacy of Physical and Emotional Health.
What Christiane Northrup, MD says about 105 Ways to Celebrate Menstruation:
“I just adore 105 Ways to Celebrate Menstruation. It’s light, fun and empowering. Every woman and girl should read this!”
Sankara Saranam's "GOD WITHOUT RELIGION" Wins "Best Books 2005" Award
SANTA FE, NM, October 3, 2005--The groundbreaking book God Without Religion: Questioning Centuries of Accepted Truths by Sankara Saranam,with a foreword by Arun Gandhi, has been named winner of the USABookNews.com Best Books 2005 Spirituality award
Heading a selection of finalists composed of such distinguished titles as Jewish with Feeling: AGuide to Meaningful Jewish Practice by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, God Without Religion advocates an inner approach to expansive spirituality.
God Without Religion offers a much-needed bridge from dogmatic belief
systems to progressive spirituality, offering seventeen techniques to help readers develop a direct understanding of God.
"It is time for new teachers, and author Sankara Saranam's message will bring much peace and understanding into a world so desperately in need of it," says Jeffery Bowen, president and publisher of USABookNews.com. "It is with great honor that the editors of USABookNews.com award God Without Religion the coveted 'Best Spirituality Book of 2005' award."
www.godwithoutreligion.com or www.pranayama.org.
 |
