Spirituality Course

Master of Spirituality

Final Essay

by

Mary McGar

This was an enjoyable, informative and thought provoking course.  The idea that magic still exists in the form of scientific miracles and that the difference is related to the minds and efforts of many people versus the mind and work of an individual was an eye-opener to me.  This course explained the method in which psychic  ability and/or healing are possible by using one's mind to work with the universal energy.  As a Reiki Master I constantly interact with the universal energy as, mainly, a channel but just never thought of the healing results as another form of magic.  While I ask the Goddess/God for assistance in utilizing the energy before beginning a Reiki session I now realize that the Superior Life Force might be both the Godhead and the energy with which I work. 

I found the information regarding the unconscious realm to be a collaborative of all unconscious minds quite fascinating.  I also enjoyed the lesson concerning reasoning, logic and intuition.  Intuition has always played a large role in my life and, sometimes, is more accurate than my reasoning and logic even when it seems that the intuition is unlikely to be true.

Having a brief refresher course on many great thinkers, especially Aristotle and Plato, led me to understand the difference in their philosophies and how those different ways of looking at things determine whether someone is a more spiritual-minded person or a more scientific-minded person.  It was helpful to review as many philosophers as the course discussed and what effects their philosophies had and still have on everyone's thinking.

I spent much of my life knowing that my religious reality was not right for me but not being able to admit that, even to myself at times.  During the past few years I have been able find some of what is true for me and am far more at peace with myself and the world and happier.  This course enabled me to know more of the reasons for this where, before, I thought the change was solely from being honest with myself.  Another cause of my happiness has been an increase in my social life.  Realizing how much this face-to-face interaction with others in various organizations and activities has benefited me I better understand the importance of encouraging that in others as this course recommended. 

When I complete the Chaplaincy program I am looking forward to being there for those most in need of someone to listen to them and connect with them on a personal level.  This course was very helpful in presenting ideas as to how I can best do that.

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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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Buddhism Course

Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who lived about 26 centuries ago in what is now Nepal and northeastern India. He came to be called "the Buddha," which means "awakened one," after he experienced a profound realization of the nature of life, death and existence. In English, the Buddha was said to be enlightened, although in Sanskrit it is bodhi, "awakened."

In the remaining years of his life, the Buddha traveled and taught. However, he didn't teach people what he had realized when he became enlightened. Instead, he taught people how to realize enlightenment for themselves. He taught that awakening comes through one's own direct experience, not through beliefs and dogmas.

In the centuries following the Buddha's life, Buddhism spread throughout Asia to become one of the dominant religions of the continent. Estimates of the number of Buddhists in the world today vary widely, in part because many Asians observe more than one religion, and in part because it is hard to know how many people are practicing Buddhism in Communist nations like China. The most common estimate is 350 million, which makes Buddhism the fourth largest of the world's religions.

ginners to Buddhism are handed lists of doctrines -- the Four Noble Truths, the Five Skandhas, the Eightfold Path. One is told to understand the teachings and practice them. However, “believing in” doctrines about Buddhism are not the point of Buddhism.

What the historical Buddha taught was a method for understanding oneself and the world in a different way. The many lists of doctrines are not meant to be accepted on blind faith. The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen master, says "Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth."

The absolute truth of which Thich Nhat Hanh speaks cannot be contained in words and concepts. Thus, merely believing in words and concepts is not the Buddhist path. There is no point in believing in reincarnation/rebirth, for example. Rather, one practices Buddhism in order to realize a self not subject to birth and death.

Many Boats, One River

To say that doctrines and teachings shouldn't be accepted on blind faith doesn't mean they aren't important. The myriad teachings of Buddhism are like maps to follow on a spiritual journey, or a boat to carry you across a river. Daily meditation or chanting may seem pointless, but when practiced with sincerity they have a real impact on your life and outlook.

And to say that Buddhism is not about believing things doesn't mean there are no Buddhist beliefs. Over the centuries Buddhism has developed diverse schools with distinctive, and sometimes contradictory, doctrines. Often you might read that "Buddhists believe" such and such a thing, when in fact that doctrine belongs only to one school and not to all of Buddhism.

To compound confusion further, throughout Asia one can find a kind of folk Buddhism in which the Buddha and other iconic characters from Buddhist literature are believed to be divine beings who can hear prayers and grant wishes. Clearly, there are Buddhists with beliefs. Focusing on those beliefs will teach you little about Buddhism, however.

And remember the Zen saying -- The hand pointing to the moon is not the moon.

Enrique Sanz Bascuñana

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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