Buddhism

Buddhism stresses mindfulness, minding mind, and meditation as a way to calm and train our restless minds. Rather than worrying about sin and guilt, it teaches us how to eliminate suffering in this life and hopefully come to full awareness so that we can help others eliminate their suffering in this world.

Buddhism is about learning objectivity in all things. Clearing our lives of attachment and desire, we can go about our lives in peace and tranquility. Clearing the mind of clutter, we can see clearly what we were meant to do and the path to doing it.

With Buddhism there is no condemnation of others beliefs, no charge from the Sangha to go forth and try and change all of humanity into becoming Buddhists. There is a quiet sanity in Buddhism that seems to be lacking in other major religions.

Yes, Buddhism has undergone some of the schisms that other major religions have but the differing schools still teach minding the mind, compassion for all sentient beings, non-violence and meditation as a tool to focus on enlightenment.

I am of the Mahayana tradition, but I study some of the Theravada school teachings, read the Pali Canon and the Abhidhamma studies and it in no way interferes with my practice. My only desire in this lifetime is that I reach as high a state of awareness as possible and that I might be able to eliminate suffering for a few sentient beings.

By practicing mindfulness, we allow ourselves to accept others’ beliefs, frailties, and attachments knowing that we all suffer when we become mired in the muck of what we call reality. I tell people who ask me what Buddhism is about that it is mostly about compassion for all beings and holding everything with an open hand. (By this I mean not clinging to or desiring anything of this reality.)

I perform marriages for all different religious beliefs but I have very few people who have me perform Buddhist ceremonies for them. I think they prefer to promise that they will be together forever rather than answer “yes” to the following question:

When it comes time to part, do you pledge to look back at your time together with joy--joy that you met and shared what you have--and acceptance that we cannot hold on to anything forever?

Impermanence is the main belief in Buddhism, the teaching that everything comes into existence through cause and effect and ceases to exist the same way. So clinging to anything is futile and will in the end cause suffering in this lifetime and the next.

Karma is an effect of the causes of our ignorance and craving, so as we learn to relinquish our hold on the things that we think are important, we will we reap the rewards of our actions. Right action, right effort, and right speech, these are the ways we can accomplish mindfulness and create a better life now and in the next lifetime.

The quote from Einstein pretty much says it all: "Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural & spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity."

Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Comparative Religion

Final essay Comparative Religion

Rev. Vicki Bennett

I spent many years studying the beliefs of different religions but I found that they wanted my unquestioning belief of their particular Catechism and complete devotion to their particular way of interpreting the bible. It took me nearly 20 years of searching for a place that resonated with my soul before I finally came to Buddhism.

During my studies, I found many similarities in major religions’ basic themes: their prophet or founder was born or conceived in a “special” way and was prophesied by seers. This prophet was endowed with a greater wisdom by having a direct connection to God. They were seen as someone who could intercede on mankind’s behalf and through them, mankind could finally attain “heaven.”

Another major concept I found is the belief that mankind is sinful and needs to be punished. The flood stories from all major religions center around a vengeful, wrathful God who has to constantly reign in His sad little believers. And following that theme is the “judgment” at the time of death and the “final judgment” when Christ will step in and judge them or Muhammad or some other prophet will intercede on their behalf.

Christians all refer to themselves as “God-fearing.” Christ never taught fear, he taught love. So where did the concept of fear come in? Why don’t they consider themselves “God-loving?” Who decided that it would be better if their followers feared God?

This concept of a fearful God, I believe, stems directly from man’s consciousness of living a life of suffering but without the further concept that it is man’s desire for what he does not have and his attachment to his things and beliefs that are the cause of his suffering. So when he cannot attain the material things that he decides that he is entitled to, he blames God for “punishing” him and seeks to eliminate “sin” from his life so that he can have what he wants, never realizing that the things that he wants are the source of his pain.

This leads to hatred and envy of others who he perceives are not being “punished” instead of awakening to the realization that he is causing his own suffering by his desires. Once desire is conquered, then man is free to simply be. And this is the true source of peace and happiness.

Of what we studied, I was most taken with the esoteric off-shoots of Christianity. They are the closest to what I was searching for (“prajna” is the term in Buddhism meaning “wisdom”). This wisdom is the wisdom within us, the Buddha-knowledge that we are born with. [1][1]This is the profound discovery that there is no one and no thing separate from us that can fulfill us. Everything we are looking for, everything we need to live free and peaceful lives is already here within us, at the heart of all beings. And the search for God is not a quest for an external truth, but simply an awakening to the eternal knowledge within us.

All major theistic religions strive to teach compassion, but many fall short I believe because underlying their compassion for one another includes the labeling of others as “different” and “wrong” because they don’t share “our” beliefs. And this labeling leads to fear of others’ beliefs and condemnation of their religion.

While all religions are based on mankind’s need to fulfill a perceived emptiness, a yearning for knowledge and truth, many strive to fill this need with dogma. The need to force members into believing a certain way with the proclamation that you will be “saved” is counterproductive. It is a not-so-subtle way of denying the God within and inducing fear instead of love into their believers.

I believe that fear of death is the main driving force behind man’s craving for some sense of God. Buddhists teach compassion based on the concept that all things fear death and therefore we should not kill even the smallest creature. I think that if man can learn acceptance of death as a natural occurrence and leave his fear behind he can reach enlightenment.

In everything that we do as ministers, I believe that our greatest goal is to teach compassion for others. Patience and tolerance for other’s beliefs is the keystone to bringing mankind together and alleviating fear and the chaos that results from it.

Are there answers to the dilemma of man’s quest for God? Is there a way to bring mankind together and create a peaceful collaboration for all earth’s religions?

Personally I look forward to the day when we embrace all world religions as one…when we finally realize that we all need to find a way to express our own spirituality and no one religion is ever going to serve all mankind. I pray everyday that we can concentrate on our similarities instead of our differences and that I may see the day when we all become ONE.

[2][1] Week 8 Buddhist Morality (Masters in Buddhist Studies, ULC)

Yours in peace and understanding,

Rev. Vicki A Bennett D.D.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

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Comparative Religion

Final Essay Comparative Religion An Excellent Class! Rev. Lucinda Parker

Comparative Religion is a 20- week journey into the belief systems of the world, including everything from their deities to architecture to clothing and symbolism. This course is presented in full color, HTML format, and is nicely illustrated with web resources and further reading at the end of each discourse.

I enjoyed this class immensely!  It is well- written and covered topics we all need to at least be aware of. Author Rev. Kythera Ann did a superb job of presenting information without slanting it. She covered a lot of ground and not once did a discourse bore this reader. In fact, I have purchased a couple of books to further my knowledge as a result of taking this class. At times, I wished the discourses would arrive faster than once a week!

There is little I would change. Now that I have about 225 double-sided pages printed out and filed in my notebook, I do wish that either in the first lesson or the last, there was a Table of Contents for the course. (Each discourse has an excellent TOC at the beginning.) I have already referred to this class for information for other projects and will create a table of contents so I can find things a little faster.

Before taking this class, I had little knowledge of Eastern religions, particularly Jainism. As a result of this class, I better understand the bitterness and wars going on right now in parts of the world that have at least a partial basis in religious intolerance, such as jihad. Comparative Religions, Part 1 definitely covers all of the major religions in a factual, colorful and accurate manner. Many years ago I took a college class in comparative religion and all I remember of it was how boring it was. I wish Rev. Kythera Ann had been my professor then with the wealth of information she has gathered for this class.

If you only take one seminary class to further your studies, THIS IS THE ONE. I am anxiously awaiting the release of Part II to this course.

Rev. Lucinda Parker

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Shamanism Course

I would like to start by saying that this class, Dr. of Shamanism, was everything and more than I thought it would be! Other material I have read on Shamanism covered rituals and entheogens to journey, but stopped there. I knew there had to be more. Many thanks to all who took part in getting this course together!

Since I'm a Reiki Master and practicing Holistic Healer, I can relate to the course from a personal experience level. The only lessons I don't plan on using are the ones on entheogens. I feel it was very interesting and I'm glad it's in the course, but being a school bus driver who is often drug and alcohol tested I would lose my job. I astral travel and bring back messages from spirit with every healing I do. Soul retrieval is a different travel experience. I need to travel to a `level` with my power animal and retrieve a part of my clients past that they have blocked out and left there. I have to rely on my own ability to trust and believe.

One of the things I noticed as I studied the lessons is how they relate to the way I have been teaching healing and energy work. It was a nice feeling of conformation that healers, on a spiritual path, are connected with similar belief systems.

Your "Goals of the Shaman" are the same goals of master healers world wide.

In lesson 10-other methods of being a Shaman I found I already use kinesiology, aromatherapy, biofeedback (with my hands), reflexology, crystal healing, meditation, drumming and music. I also heal with stones, feathers and tuning forks.

Lesson 15-Self Hypnosis was a lesson that was totally new to me. I can see now that when we go into a deep meditation it is a form of self-hypnosis.

Your guide to gemstones was a fun addition. even though I use almost all you mentioned, I didn't know about puca shells and pearls.

A couple of weeks ago, during a class I was teaching on Sacred Sounds, a student asked what the difference was between a spirit guide and spirit teacher. After having her `hold that thought` till after class, we went to lesson #3 and got her answer. That's when I knew I was going to be using the course for reference and needed to make a `table of contents` for my lesson book.

I would recommend this course to anyone from master healers to those just interested in natural ways of healing with true respect for nature and her energies.

Namaste;

Rev. Millie Zelkowski

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Four Gospels

I was disappointed in this course. It was nice to have a different perspective of the gospels, however, I was hoping for a little more. It took me back to the days of Sunday school class and seemed to have just grazed the surface of the whole Christian faith.

I think this course would be great for someone that doesn’t know that much about Christianity, and would give them a great place to start learning about Jesus and his teachings.

I was hoping this course would have gotten deeper into

the background of the Christian Religion than it did.

I was hoping to get a better understanding of the

history & culture of back then. I believe this is

necessary, to understand what Jesus was really all

about. Why was it important for Jesus to be a son, than a daughter? Why was it that women were seen as property, instead of people? And why did/do women need to depend on a man to take care of them as some denominations still believe today? There is a lot more “why’s” for me not answered.

I’ll give an example of why I would like to have known more of the background than what was provided. Back in the 60’s and 70’s people would sometime say, “Wow he’s a real lady killer”. A hundred years from now some people are going to wonder what that means. Without knowing anymore about the sentence than just that sentence, someone might take the words literally which changes the whole meaning of the sentence. Now that man is believed to be a person that kills women. When you look deeper at the sentence, and get a better understanding of the different sayings that were said during that time period, you can now apply the true meaning of the phrase “lady killer” to understand its meant to mean he was just a really good looking guy.

Unfortunately many Christians take parts of the bible literally. Some denominations go as far as telling

their congregations how to dress or how to wear their hair just because the bible says so. If they would

take the time to understand the reasons those rules were important back in biblical times, they might be

able to see how those reasons / rules do not apply to today. Personally, I really don’t think God cares to

such minuet details as long as our hearts are in the right place. As Jesus said in the bible, it is not what goes into your mouth that defiles you, it is what comes out of our mouths. I think this same principle apples. Jesus is not talking about vomiting, or what you eat. He’s talking about the condition of our spirit and where our heart is at. If your heart, mind, body and soul is in the right place, then you will speak loving and kind words out of your mouth. You’re tongue is like a two bladed sword, beware what you say. Words are a huge influence on people. So many Christians today seem to focus more on their own agenda, as the Pharisees did in Jesus’ time, than the one Jesus had. Jesus wanted to turn people towards God, not away. People get set in their ways and have trouble hearing the truth. Jesus says that people like the darkness better than the light. Better the evil that you know than the possible evil that you don’t.  Change is scary and people avoid change.

Then there is the whole debate actually about Jesus. I personally believe Jesus is the son of God. However,

in what perspective? Are we not all considered sons and daughters of God? Was Jesus the only man that has

ever came close enough to truly living how God intended us to live? Jesus is an excellent example of

how all Christians should live. After all he is the reason or the founding father of Christianity.

However, all of us fall short. Even the holiest of holiest here on earth have some fault and have failed

at one point in time. Should we just give up? No, because Jesus provides us all with hope. In one sense

would that not make Jesus the true son of God, merely the finest example of how we should live our lives?

Everything we do everyday, should be to glorify God, not Jesus, but God. As Jesus did.

And if this is true, then Jesus was Jewish, should we not all be Jewish? After all is that not why he came

to earth to save the Jewish people? Now don’t get mad at me, it’s just a thought.

Or is it more the second sense, Jesus was actually God on earth merely in the form of man. Keeping to the

trinity, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Separate, but the same.

If Jesus came to save us from our sins, and to be the door between God and a person, then why is it the Catholic faith still believes you must go through their priests to seek forgiveness? Just another question. Not intended to be offensive.  These are just a few questions that have come up since reading the book provided for this course.

Then there is the whole debate of religious symbols.  The cross being one of those examples. I could be wrong, but the whole reason for the Cross being so important is because Jesus was crucified on a cross. The Cross back then was a form of Capitol Punishment.

However, taken in today's scenario, Capitol Punishment is either lethal injections, or the electric chair. If Jesus were here with us today instead of being with the disciples and was set to be crucified using today’s Capitol Punishment, would the electric chair or the syringes used become a religious symbol, thus people wearing a miniature syringes or a miniature electric chair around their neck? This is not intended to be disrespectful of the cross and how many Christian’s feel about the Cross. Just a question if they would apply that same feeling towards the objects used for Capitol Punishment today if Jesus was crucified by one of those means.

Thank you for the opportunity to take this course. It has been an enjoyable experience.

Rev. Dawn Egler

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Shamanism

Doctor of Shamanism Course Essay

By: Reverend Cynthia Ewing

When I signed up for this course I was very excited. I had taken shamanism classes in the past and thought it would help build up my knowledge and experience on the subject. My memory was refreshed when I read the history of Shamanism. I know that it is the oldest form of religion in the world and has various forms which I will always resonate with.

A major part of this course was talking about the different substances that Shamans use to reach their heightened state of awareness. I did learn a lot about the different substances and how they work as well as how long the effects last. I do think the author went into this aspect way too much. It is my personal belief that a person does not need to take substances to obtain an altered state. There is trance dancing, drumming, hypnosis etc. just to name a few different ways to achieve this state. He talked very little about these other states. I did however like reading about the government’s role in the control of religious substances. It is almost impossible to get these substances for religious purposes.

I liked the third lesson when the author gave us a vocabulary list. The one that stood out for me was the spirit wife/husband/spouse/lover. I actually have one of my own who I would never give up for anything. He has helped me through a very difficult period of loneliness and longing. He is so full of love. I would recommend this to anyone! I never knew it was part of shamanism. Also on this vocabulary list was talking about psychopomp, soul loss and shapeshifting. These are all major roles of a shaman. I was performing psychopomp before I even knew what it was. I would have liked to have gone more in depth into what each of the definitions truly meant.

My interest was definitely taken in when I read about how controlled substances were used in the Bible. It called out for certain incense and anointing oil to be made by Moses. It called out for Cannabis to be used in this mixture as well as myrrh and cinnamon. He then explains that cannabis has had many uses including healing properties and its ability to be used as clothing and paper. The government in his opinion seems to have caused this herb to be banned because of its universal uses that would cause other companies to go out of business since its uses are so varied.

Another subject the author talks about is ethics. He raises the question of a shaman’s true ability. A shaman uses magic and tricks at times to prove what he can truly do to help heal a person. Sometimes a shaman has to not only talk to spirits, but may have to be sly and trick them or even steal from them to get pieces of the person’s soul returned to them. The person needing the healing has to be able to trust the shaman can perform all of these tasks. If not how can that shaman help that person.

Rites of passage was another lesson that was covered. I would have liked to have gone more in-depth here as well. The author spoke of the way a person is called to the shamanic path by illness or birth into the shamanic line. I was called into shamanic service, but not in the ways described in the lesson. Also some of the rituals were not talked about like the dismemberment journey. Here is where the totems initiate the shaman by removing body parts and replacing them with new better ones. He did mention a shaman being reduced down to one bone and having to rebuild himself. This could be a dismemberment ceremony as well, but he could have shown that it does not have to be so gruesome and arduous. These are extreme cases today.

I agreed with his ethics of who is a shaman and what you may call yourself. A shaman never calls himself/herself and shaman. That is left to the people that this person helps. The shaman today calls him or herself a shamanistic practitioner. This is to show humbleness during the process of the great spiritual work the shaman is performing and not to upset the spirits who are helping him or her.

Overall I did like the course. The history of shamanism was helpful as well. I learned a lot about the different substances used during ceremonies and the governments control over them. The vocabulary was wonderful although I would have liked it to have been expanded upon. This was a great learning experience.

Rev. Cynthia Ewing

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Shamanism

Re: Completion of Doctor of Shamanism

Rev. Laury Burris

Required Essay

First I would like to thank the ULC for offering this course, I would also like to thank the author of the lessons. I have read a lot of books about Shamanism, but these lessons kept me thinking and working even harder at understanding the psychology, philosophy and ethics of Shamanism.

Being a woman and becoming a Shamanic Practitioner is not an easy task and should never be taken lightly, or done on a whim. For you are asking the spirits, whether it be animal, plant or ancestor to help guide and teach you on your walk down a path that can be very lonely at times and yet be so full of life’s experiences. It is a path that walks the fence between two worlds, a path with the spirits and a path in this world where the land you walk will supply you with what you need to help yourself and others.

With this knowledge I have learned that the answers one seeks are within oneself, if one is willing to look deep enough to find them. To be able to understand the messages from the Spirits and work with them to first heal myself and find those answers to grow into someone who can help others to learn to appreciate all things in this world from the biggest tree to the smallest grain to sand. To learn to see things from this world and the Spirit World, to keep balance between the two worlds and to keep balance in the world around us. The power for this comes from within all of us.

For me to grow further now will be to one put the knowledge I have learned through this course to practical use, not only in my personal life, as I already do, but in the community in which I live. To also further my knowledge, experiences, and journeys with my Spirit Guides. To learn the way to find answers to help me further on this path I walk to higher enlightenment, and to learn that one can accomplish whatever one wants to, no matter what kind of blocks are put in one’s way. To share this knowledge with others who seek to find the answers. To learn that life’s ups and downs are meant to help one learn and become stronger when things are hard. To help heal others not only physically with herbs and prayers to the spirits, but also heal them spiritually by helping them find balance and inner peace for themselves in both worlds.

To have the help and guidance of the Spirits to teach the children how to live in harmony with nature, not to take Mother Earth for granted and have reverence for all things in both the physical world and the Spiritual World. To hopefully one day bring us all together in peace and balance for the good of all mankind.

With Respect and In Service-

Blessed Be-

Ms. Laury Burris

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Buddhism

Final essay on Buddhism

Rev. Rita Lamptey

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying the course, it has been informative and an excellent learning curve. I have been a practicing Buddhist for the past 19 years and through studying the course I have enjoyed learning about the other forms of Buddhism in depth and have deepened my own knowledge and understanding.

Theravada Buddhism has 100 million followers, mainly in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and parts of Vietnam. It started in Sri Lanka when Buddhist missionaries arrived from India. They promoted the Vibhajjavada School. By the 15th century, this form of the religion reached almost its present extent.

Buddhism contains many distinct schools: T'ein-t'ai, Hua-yen, Pure Land teachings, and the Meditation school. Buddhism has perhaps 10 million adherents in parts of China, Mongolia, Russia and Tibet.

SGI Buddhism is a religion that dates back almost three thousand years, yet its practical philosophy means that it is even more applicable in today's difficult times. The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin, as spread through the SGI movement, teaches individual empowerment and inner transformation which at the same time contributes to global peace, enabling people to develop themselves and take responsibility for their lives, no matter what their circumstances or background.

Shakyamuni`s key message is contained in his highest teaching, the Lotus Sutra. This states that Buddhahood, a condition of absolute happiness and freedom from all fear and illusions, is inherent in all life, and is eternal. This means that 'the Buddha' is nothing other than an ordinary person who is aware of this state in his or her life. `The Buddha` is not a special or divine being. The development of this inner life state can enable all people to overcome their problems and live a fulfilled and active life, engaging fully with others and with society.

Shakymuni taught many teachings on the way to teaching the Lotus Sutra. After he died Buddhism took different forms as it spread. It spread in two main forms, the Theravada (or Hinayana - 'lesser vehicle') and the Mahayana ('greater vehicle'), and traveled into China along the commercial Silk Route. The sutras were translated into different languages and the teachings were adopted and merged into different cultures in Asia. This is the origin of the great variety and diversity of the Buddhist teachings that currently exist across Asia today.

Nichiren Daishonin was born in Japan on 16th February 1222 in a country that was rife with conflicts and calamities that took a heavy toll on the ordinary people. He entered the priesthood as a boy, and it is said that while he was studying at Seicho-ji Temple he prayed to become the wisest person in all Japan, so that he could make sense of the Buddhist teachings, and lead his parents, and indeed all people, to enlightenment.

For 14 years he traveled around the main temples of Japan to conduct his research and became convinced that the key to transforming people's suffering and enabling society to flourish lay in the Lotus Sutra, and particularly its title, Myoho-Renge-Kyo. On 28th April 1253 he declared that the correct Buddhist practice in this age is to chant the phrase Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which enables everyone to attain enlightenment and true happiness throughout their lives, manifesting inherent Buddhahood and gaining the strength and wisdom to challenge any adverse circumstances.

Nichiren Daishonin challenged the established schools of Buddhism that served the interests of the powerful and encouraged passivity in the suffering masses. After this a series of persecutions began, which served to confirm that the Daishonin was acting in accordance with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, which include a warning of the difficulty of spreading its teaching of fundamental respect in future ages. In 1260 he submitted his treatise 'On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land,' to the most powerful figure in the government, urging the government to take responsibility for the suffering of the people, and to use his philosophy to remedy the situation.

Nichiren Daishonin inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon on 12th October 1279 so that all people could have the means to reveal their inherent Buddha nature. He died surrounded by his closest disciples on 13th October 1282.

Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism was passed from generation to generation, in Japan, for some 700 years until a lay society that became known as the Soka Gakkai (Value Creating Society) started to spread its teachings in 1930. Soka Gakkai was founded by the educators Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda, who found parallels in the Daishonin's teaching with their philosophy of education.

The key message of Buddhism is that it provides a path of individual transformation which teaches us to look within ourselves for the inner peace and happiness.

Buddhist philosophy teaches that by deepening our wisdom and compassion, we can improve the quality of our life and gain great power to help others.

nmrk

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Shamanism

This is to serve as my essay on the shamanistic practice and the principles obtained from the course.

Let me begin by indicating that the elements of this course have been very helpful in providing insight into other forms of religious practice. The teachings of this course have provided the elements of the practice and I have found many valuable tools that can assist me personally in my everyday life. I am sure that anyone who wants to learn can derive many important facets of spirituality from this course.

What I found interesting was the basic matter that the shamanistic practice is renown world wide and is utilized by many peoples to enrich their lives and the lives of others. Although not considered main stream, the basis for this practices utilizes principles that will enhance anyone who is open to spirituality and help them to further within themselves, the personal ability to transcend traditional organized beliefs and realize that this practice does not oppose such systems, but actually enhances the ability to feel. It provides one with the insight to open their mind to the thoughts and wonder of nature and makes one more attuned to their individual surroundings.

The concepts of the shamanistic program and the teachings allow one to experience the mental journeys that many take without realizing it. The tools to relax and open one's thoughts beyond that of the normal every day responses are truly beneficial to the student. I practice the elements of trying to hook into the natural elements around me. I observe the birds and the sounds they make and the behavior of the

animals I see. I watch as the clouds go by and the winds blow the leaves on trees and hear the gentle breeze which soothes the inner soul.

No, I have not yet been able to release to obtain the animal spirits to guide me and to help me, but I am close and can visualize the faces of various animals as the run through my thoughts. These are influenced by the time of day in which I go into the meditative state and try to open myself to that of the great spirit that guides us all. I receive input from that of mother nature and I open myself to receive the spirits. Although this recognition is difficult to obtain, it is obvious that is there waiting for me to release my inhibitions to it. I cannot give up control enough to let the spirits flow, but I continue my daily ritual of attempting to do so and I feel the presence of the forces around me in a positive manner. This is cathartic and healing in its content.

I am not a user of substances, thus I find it is very difficult to allow such opening as I would obtain through the use of ethogenic materials. And yet, I think one can obtain such a state by mediation and allowing the soul to be opened as if it is a door to life beyond that of which opens normally and is exposed to us in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The teaching have allowed me to be open and to communicate about the spirit and soul and to understand the needs of myself and others to have some form of intervention when it is needed to help get beyond that point. Actually, I am a tobacco user and I use such as a means to enhance my feelings of self realization while using relaxation and thus I am able to cross into a state of a minimal alteration of my psyche.

I enjoy the knowledge that I have gained through the course because it has assisted me in my ability to relax and enjoy my life and to also discuss such elements with others. I have been able to guide through the teachings by being a listener and a teacher also. I had some background in teaching to begin with and the course has made me see that it is also something that can be transmitted to others to provide them with some words that will encourage and provide strength in time of need.

I found that the last several sessions also did much to make me see that when one attempts to assist and provide guidance it must be done with total reverence toward those seeking such help. Will I be able to "heal" and assist those in need in the manner prescribed through the courses, is of course a question yet to be totally answered. But, am I equipped or better equipped to do so, I can say yes to that. I am able to understand the principles of empathy and of the forces of nature that effect us all. I am able to seek guidance from the higher powers around me to find direction to live effectively and move forward. I have always looked for the meaning of things and the way that fate tend to come into play and it is no longer a asking of why such things happen so much, as it is a means to use the direction that fate takes one on their journeys through life. I submit that one has to want to see enrichment and be open to it, before one can obtain it to move forward.

Illness and bad feelings or that concepts of such are a truth, it is how one is able to deal with such issues and how one is guided should they seek such; that this practice provides one tools to help others who have decided to take this road and approach. No one is directed to this practice, it is a desire from those who wish to lend their hand to it to receive the spirit that it available to assist us to move beyond our present state to another state which provides strength and peace. It seems to me that what is gained through the study of this practice is the extent to which it may apply, which is universal, and to the desire to fulfill one's own soul with goodness and to transmit such goodness to others in a manner that gains their confidence and brings them too to the state of fulfillment and peace and the lessening of fear of the unknown and the future. I would think that that is the overall value of this practice, to reiterate, is to make peace within, no matter what

the issues.

In this sense, I think I have obtained much knowledge and ability to feel the freedom to speak of such things. It is thus, important to be one who has the confidence to be able to say to the spirit of the soul that we are at one and we are one together, each of us interwoven. It is such that some may not come to know what is available to them to be free, but yet it is inherent in all if they allow it to be visited.

So, in summarizing my feelings, I have the more accepted credentials of "Reverend" and I also have gained powerful insight into other means of communicating without having to in essence, announce such, yet I am greatly assisted in empathy and compassion to include these ever so important elements into my religious practices and can do so with or without the knowledge of others, in a way that opens me up to share the state of peace and to communicate such as I incorporate this use of these lessons into my life and into my practice that I offer to others.

I hope this meets the requirements of the documentation for this degree and I also have found wonderful lessons, teachings and values from this field of practice. I highly recommend it to others who may want to explore more traditional manners of spirituality then they may have given this credit for. In fact, it can only help, solely my opinion here, to show one a wider perspective of that which is needed to learn and then communicate for spiritual purposes.

I wish to thank the Church for making this course available and I think anyone who wants to experience another form of soulful spirituality should strongly consider taking this course to enhance what already may exist within them, and to open them to a broader vision of life.

Sincerely,

Reverend Adam Rocke

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

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Defining Spiritualism

Final Essay – Defining Spiritualism by Rev. Lucinda Parker

Perhaps the most important quote in the entire course is “…but we must remember that we are not ministering to ourselves, we are ministering to people who are searching for meaning. It is important therefore that we learn to minister to all people.”

As a trained and practicing environmental scientist who is also deeply spiritual, I found Defining Spiritualism an interesting read. It is really a history of scientific thought, and a discussion of the thinkers who have tried to explain our existence and purpose in this life. I have long believed that science is a religion but not spiritual. This course furthered those opinions. One drawback is that course is written based upon the assumption that scientifically minded, “prove it to me” type folks have no spiritual belief at all. No where does the author acknowledge that a great many scientists and scientifically based people are agnostics. This weakened the course.

The lessons on Marx, Darwin, Hegel and Freud were extremely well written. These two lessons made me sit down and think about the human condition and our thinking about it over the last fifty years. All too often we relegate philosophy to some unknown time a long time ago in some unknown, un-experienced place. These two lessons brilliantly demonstrated that philosophy and spiritualism are constantly evolving. These lessons also showed what happens when one person or group tries to convince any other person or group that “THIS is the ultimate answer you are seeking”. There is no ONE definition or right thought. I would have liked to see more on Einstein, Steven Hawkins and other recent great thinkers.

The worst lesson was the last lesson, although there were parts of the other lessons that drifted away from the topic too far. The author assumes everyone taking this course is Christian or will “end up” being a Christian. That assumption although never specifically stated, comes through loud and clear. As a non-Christian, I tired of the author’s proselytizing. He broke his own rule, as I quoted at the beginning of this essay “…but we must remember that we are not ministering to ourselves, we are ministering to people who are searching for meaning. It is important therefore that we learn to minister to all people.” His personal experience and belief detracted from the course. The last lesson should have been omitted for this very reason. In fact, the editor saved part of the day by adding a comment on a view of sin in non-Christian beliefs as distance from God. Rarely did the author mention any spiritual ideas other than monotheism.

If you are a Christian and have never studied the history of intellectual thought, this course is a good start.

Rev. Lucinda Parker

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers hand-fasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

A course in Miracles

A Course In Miracles

THE METAPHYSICS OF BECOMING YOUR OWN MIRACLE WORKER

An Online Course By: Reverend Loretta M. Siani, Ph.D.

Carol A. Birdwell, student of ULC Seminary

Love is all there is. Only Love is Real. All else is Illusion. The opposite of Love is Fear.

Hate is caused by Fear. Fear kills. Fear blinds. Fear lies. Fear literally “makes me sick.”

Love is of God. We are made of Love, God’s Perfect Love. Perfect Love casts out Fear.

God is Love. As the Beatles song says, “All You Need is Love.”

In Love we have great Power, all the power of God, all the Power there is anywhere, as the Sons of God. We are co-creators with God. We are part of God.

It is my lifelong job to choose between Fear and Love. I have seen, and lived in, the world of Illusion. This I was taught by almost all of the world around me, and by my parents, from infancy. It is all illusion.

Now I must “choose again”, every day, every moment, for the rest of my life. I must choose Love and thereby be set Free, to live in Perfect Peace.

From the Introduction to this course we have this:

“What is a miracle? A miracle is an event fueled by supernatural power. For the purposes of this course, a miracle occurs whenever you breakthrough any barrier that has prevented you from realizing your full spiritual potential.

In this regard, a miracle occurs when you experience something you previously believed was impossible for you, such as overcoming an incapacitating fear, obsession or addiction; finally finding the work that is right for you; reconciling or attracting a loving relationship; transcending the effects of a debilitating disease or overcoming any inner obstacle that prevents you from being who you really are.

By the end of our journey (the course) … manifesting everyday miracles. Along the way we will discover over and over again that it is false, fear-based thinking that prevents us from accessing miracles. Seeing life through the lens of fear … separates us from our true source of power. …shift from fear-based thinking to love-based thinking and reconnect yourself to your true power source.

The second shift of thinking you must make is from assuming that you are in any way unworthy of partaking of all of the promises of life, into accepting your inherent and complete worthiness and your core magnificence. Littleness cannot come from greatness. And, you have come from greatness. You are indisputably worthy of all of the promises of life.”

I like all that this above says. I want to remember that I come from GREATNESS, and that I am indisputably worthy of all of the promises of life. I do not want to live in fear any more, but to rather live in Love and Purity with God, as part of the Oneness of God and my brothers.

In psychology we learn that the development of an ego is essential for the child, to realize the difference between “me” and “not me”. We cannot develop as healthy people with out this differentiation. The problem enters when we have over-inflated egos or under-inflated egos as opposed to the healthy balanced ego that can remain in Oneness with God and not “buy into The Separation”.

In meditation we learn that we are part of God, still, in the Oneness. That any other besides Oneness is, again, an Illusion. God, my brothers, and I, myself, are all One. There is, in Reality, no Separation. “The Separation” is Illusion.

Whatever I choose to give my attention to grows. If I choose to pay attention to being a victim, I shall be even more of a victim. If I pay attention to Forgiveness, Beauty, and Love, these, too, will grow in my life. Attention is a great power and it is my choice. Again I am free to choose. When I dwell in the Past and problems of the Past, I shall get more problems in the present and the future, just like those of the Past.

What are my Intentions? They, too, hold great power in creating my today and my tomorrow. As I intend, so is it. As I pay attention to, so I get more of. What are my Desires? These all, I must watch and be aware of if I shall choose Freedom, if I choose Miracles.

Another great gift we have been given is that of visualization. ”Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” was said by W. Clement Stone. Another similar quote is by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” There are many other quotes throughout history that speak of the power of visualization. Many athletes and people in various sports and other fields use the power of visualization to become winners in their particular areas.

As Marianne Williamson said in her book, A Return To Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.”

Yet how many of us choose to “let our Light shine” in this world of Illusion, in the world where we may be hated for shining? Not many of us. We must learn and choose the new ways, and let our Lights shine, not only for ourselves, but for all of our brothers and all of the world, for them to see that it is not only OK to shine, but that it is, indeed, what we were put on this planet to do!

Love and Forgiveness are always the answer, to all problems generated by guilt. I must love and forgive all people, for everything, including myself. We all “do the best we can at any given moment in time”, and “When we know better, we do better.”

I am never a victim. If I feel like I am a victim, then I am not choosing correctly. As a Child of God, I cannot be victimized. It is not possible. I am not limited. As a Child of God, I am unlimited. God cannot be limited. I am part of God. All I must do is see aright, and claim my inheritance.

Acceptance and gratitude are other wonderful gifts for us to use to create a better life for ourselves.

“There is no order of difficulty in Miracles.” states The Course. A Miracle is a Miracle is a Miracle. All Miracles heal. Sickness is not an accident. It is a defense against the Truth. Sickness is caused by guilt and fear. It is a choice. Perfect Health is mine when I am ready to claim it. Perfect health is Peace of Mind; my Inner Peace becomes my Outer Peace in the healing of my body.

“In a Holy Union couples have joint interests. They focus on giving instead of getting.” Most people have unholy unions. Few of us have Holy Unions. It is the Holy Union we want, where we give to each other and live in the present, not in the past. We find Love and Acceptance in each other and offer the best of ourselves.

Whatever my work may be, it is my job to spread Love. Love is why I am on this planet. Love is what I am to do in all things I do.

This essay is already too long, as I have gone on and on with it, so I shall pull it together now to a close. These above are some things I learned in this course. Some of it I already knew, but this course gave me verification and review. I hate to see this wonderful course come to a close as I have greatly enjoyed looking forward to it each of the 20 weeks, and reading the materials for reinforcement.

Thank you.

Carol A. Birdwell

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar