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You are here: Home / Archives for religion

Looking Through Pin Holes

June 28, 2017 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Jimmy was lying on a knoll in the middle of a meadow on a warm spring day staring up at the puffy white clouds as they rolled by, leading him to consider the big questions we all face:

What is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? Is there intelligence beyond the stars? What is the nature of God?

“God? Are you really there?” Jimmy said out loud.

To his astonishment a voice came from the clouds. “Yes, Jimmy? What can I do for you?”

Startled by the response but unwilling to let such an opportunity pass, Jimmy asked, “God. You exist in all places and across time. What is a million years like to you?”

Knowing that Jimmy could not understand the concept of infinity, God responded in a manner to which Jimmy could relate. “A million years to me, Jimmy, is like a minute to you.”

“Oh,” said Jimmy, considering the thought for a moment. “Well, then, what’s a million dollars like to you?”

God replied again, “A million dollars to me, Jimmy, is like a penny.”

“Wow!” remarked Jimmy, getting an idea. “God, you’re so generous, can I have one of your pennies?”

God answered, “Sure thing, Jimmy! Just give me a minute.”

~ Author unknown

The concepts of infinite and forever are simply too immense for us to wrap our brains around — at any age.

As a child, first beginning to grasp the expansiveness of the Universe, the image that came to my young mind was somewhere “out there” would be a boarded-up wall, much like one would see on an abandoned building, which marked the end of Space. That lead to the next question, “What’s on the other side?” All I could imaging was another wall, and another, and another…

Decades have passed and the perception of infinite is still beyond my comprehension.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Current Events, Happiness, Newspaper Column Tagged With: religion, Rules of the Universe, society, spirit, spiritual fitness, spirituality

Loads of Holidays in December

December 14, 2016 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

holidays

Because many people know me as the “weight loss guy,” they think I’m monitoring what they eat or how they act.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, should we bump into each other at a restaurant or grocery store, I’m not watching what you eat or put in your grocery cart – and I would appreciate you returning the favor. (After all, it’s just plain weird to monitor someone else’s food anyway.)

This time of year also brings out from people “true confessions.” I bump into someone who used to go to one of my meetings or that I coached and they feel the immediate need to justify their absence. The conversation will go something like this:

“Oh, hi Scott. Nice to see you, how have you been?”

“Doing great – but I’ll get better.” (A line I “stole” from a radio talk show host I like.) “How are you?”

“Well, I’ve been having some trouble with my diet. I’m definitely coming back to the meetings, but I just wanted to wait until the holidays are over.”

Firstly, there’s no need to justify to me whether or not you’re on a diet or going to meetings. We each lead our own lives. We each have our own priorities. I won’t try to run your life if you won’t run mine.

Having said that, I’ve always found it curious when one says he or she will “wait until the holidays are over” as they’ve been going on for a couple thousand years.

I don’t think they’re ending anytime soon. The reality of that raised my curiosity level and prompted me to take a look at the holidays this time of year. There are more holidays in December than chocolate Santas at the office holiday party. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Beliefs, Holidays, Newspaper Column, Traditions Tagged With: christmas, hanukkah, holidays, kwanzaa, religion, spirituality, winter solstice

Fun Video: Passover Seder Rube Goldberg Machine

April 3, 2015 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

This is just fun to watch!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Holidays, Misc, Video Tagged With: fun, inventions, passover, pesach, religion

Honor All Cultures

December 17, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Honor every culture and every religion. Accept yours proudly.

Image ©2009 Scott “Q” Marcus

Give room for others for to do the same with theirs.

We are all going in the same direction. However, we might take different paths.

Especially during this time of year, take time to understand other cultures and beliefs. It will enrich your own life and give you greater understanding.

Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Ramadan Mubarak. Happy Kwanzaa. Peace.

In whichever way you celebrate, may you find this season – and all others – to be full of joy and good health.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Beliefs, Motivational Products, Traditions Tagged With: christmas, hanukkah, holiday season, holidays, kwanzaa, merry christmas, peace, ramadan, ramadan mubarak, religion

Six Steps to Loving-Kindness

June 1, 2012 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

“Loving-kindness” (an endearingly awkward word, if you ask me) is a translation for the Pali word mettā, a Buddhist concept, though that English translation comes by way of a 16th-century Christian text whose author was originally trying to find an equivalent for the Greek Biblical term agape. In other words, loving-kindness transcends culture and religion and is a priceless attribute for any of us to cultivate.

Now how do we do that?

Well, get yourself into a seated meditation position, comfortable but alert, preferably somewhere quiet. It never hurts to gently concentrate on your posture and breathing, though that’s not really the main point here.

Below are the six steps traditionally recommended for loving-kindness meditation:

1. You must begin by extending loving-kindness to yourself. Sounds like the easy part, right? Well, in a way it is…but be honest. How often do you reflexively think harsh, counterproductive, even cruel thoughts about yourself? We all do it, no matter how proud or well-adjusted we may seem. Think about the worst moments of self-hatred you’ve had lately. Did you deserve that, really? Would you put up with an external voice talking to you like that? Would you be so judgmental of a friend?

2. Speaking of a friend, that’s our next stop. Think of someone you love dearly. It’s traditionally advised that this not be someone for whom you have any sexual or otherwise complicated feelings. Also don’t make this someone who’s passed on; though that can be a healthy exercise separately, we’re focusing our attention on the present, everyday world of existence. So envision your friend,

3. Next, a neutral person. Someone in your life tangentially, but toward whom you have no particular feelings for good or ill. Maybe the old guy down the block, or the clerk at the grocery store (as long as the line wasn’t too slow; that’d fit better for the next step). Project a positive feeling of love for them. Just feel it, for no particular reason. Why not?

4. Here’s where it gets hard. But this is perhaps the most rewarding step as well. Think about someone you can’t stand. Now try make yourself feel empathy for them. Envision them in a positive or sympathetic light. Imagine the best-case scenario, where they may be coming from. Then, even if you can’t excuse, just forgive. Remember Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” The strange sense of peace you get is yours to keep, if you can, and more importantly, the world will be better for your gentle attitude.

5. All of the above. Hold all four in your mind at once: yourself, the good friend, the random neutral person, and your nemesis. Let yourself feel equal love and compassion for all members of this imagined gathering, this tiny band of stragglers on the tossing, turning raft of life.

6. Because of course, those four figures are just a few representatives of a vast, teeming world of hearts and minds. You’ve given your compassion a good work-out, now stretch it. Visualize it extending to everyone, everywhere, for all their pain and imperfection. Sure, a thought can’t save the world. But it’s a start.

That’s it. Hope you feel like making it a part of your routine. May loving-kindness reach you from others, and may you experience its great joy in your own life.

About the Author: This guest post was written by Amelia Wood,  a blogger who specializes in articles on medical billing and coding schools. Feel free to reach her at amelia1612@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Gratitude, Guest Author, Happiness, Power of Attitude Tagged With: buddhist, existence, feelings, loving kindness meditation, pali word, quality of life, relationships, religion, self acceptance, self hatred, thankfulness

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