Karma is a widely known concept but seldom understood. The concept originates out of ancient India and is an essential part of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Tao religions. Literally meaning action, work and deed, karma is the concept of cause and effect. The cause is a person’s intent and actions while the effect is the influence these actions will have on the person’s future.
“The truth of existence: It is impossible to change or undo what is already existing” – Louis Koster
Quite literally, existence is to be in a state of living or to have an objective reality. When it comes to the philosophical or spiritual side of things, existence becomes a more complicated concept. When you begin to look at your existence from a spiritual standpoint, you will start to realize a variety of things.
Dharma is one of the central concepts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. The original Sanskrit noun may be loosely translated to ‘the way things are’, ‘one’s duty to keep and maintain’, or ‘the inherent value of something’. However, the concept of dharma is somewhat more complex in nature. It may be summarized as the natural order of things, or those actions that maintain the natural order of the universe through the cultivation of moral principles that improve an individual and uplifts society in general.
The term ‘exorcism’ refers to the eviction of a spiritual entity (typically ‘evil’ or ‘unclean’ in nature) from the body of a human being or a location that is has possessed. It may be practiced in a formal setting such as a Catholic exorcism performed by a priest with the approval of the Vatican or informally as a simple prayer.
The recorded event of learning a supposed truth about the universe directly from a divine being is treated as a revelation in every religion. Almost every scripture that is viewed as holy by a community of believers can be called a revelation, as most of them are said to be comprised of alleged quotes of the gods they refer to.
Do not be confused by the role of a guru, they are not to be confused with gods or deities. A guru is more like a teacher or mentor. The term ‘guru’ comes from Sanskrit origin to mean a teacher with a very specialized knowledge, which provides more than simply teaching but includes mentorship, counseling, inspiration and an exemplary of life. Gurus are usually those who have, in a sense, traveled a spiritual journey to the point where they may lead other in their journey to self-awakening and spirituality. It can be said that what makes a guru, is someone who has realized his or her identity with a divine spirit.
We all know that prophecy is a statement of what should happen in the future. It is the prediction of the future, addressed to individuals or groups of people. Who is the prophet? The people call them in different ways, such as fortune-tellers, soothsayers, or predictors. Often the prophets, really, foretold the future, immediate or distant, that prompted to understand by the word “prophet” a person capable of predicting.
To have an epiphany means to have a sudden or striking realization of a concept or feeling. The idea of an epiphany generally relates to a manifestation in the fields of science, religion or philosophy. An epiphany comes at a time when you require enlightenment with regards to a problematic situation you may be experiencing.
Consciousness may be defined as a state of being in which you are aware and responsive to your surroundings. This definition may be further expanded into conscious thought, in which we are not only aware and responsive but also have feelings and perceptions of our surroundings based on our own personal experience of our surroundings. Consciousness is a central concept in debates relating to the human experience as it has historically been used to differentiate us from other forms of life.
Humanity’s attempts at explaining the creation of everything we’ve come to know often revolve around mythical beings of boundless power, also known as gods. Believing in one or many gods is what makes one religious. Religion in itself, however, is far more than just that. It is a set of rules, rituals, and behaviors that one is supposed to implement into their lifestyle, which, when it comes to most religions, implies moral actions and good deeds. This means that those who truly believe will uphold a certain level of kindness and overall life discipline, depending on their exact religion.