Guest User 1/26/18 Guest User 1/26/18

Nirvana

My first introduction to Nirvana was in 1991. Kurt Cobain was singing melodic tunes in a gym filled with tranced-out teenagers. I have to admit that hook was catchy. My second introduction was in ministers training class when we studied the twelve major religions of the world. I often compared my idea of heaven with a Buddhist's version of Nirvana. Not the same. Nirvana is a state of desirelessness whereas heaven is a state of having one's most fundamental desire fulfilled. Similarly, they are both places where one is oblivious to pain, worry, or fear. Nirvana is the most common term used to describe the goal of the Buddhist path. The literal meaning is "blowing out" or "quenching." It's hard to imagine a place with no wants, no needs, and no desires. It's definitely not on Earth. Interesting enough, almost every major religion has their version of this place for some it is a mindset, and for others, it's another plane of existence. Whatever you believe or don't believe, Nirvana, Heaven, the afterlife sounds like a better place. It sounds like a place I definitely would want to go, as long as it doesn't smell like teen spirit. Pun intended.

"What we think, we become."- Buddha

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny." -Mahatma Gandhi

Guest User 12/6/17 Guest User 12/6/17

Charity

1 Corinthians 13: 13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

First Corinthians 13 is a very popular book of the Bible that references love. Verses 4-8 specifically references the characteristics of love. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. Does our love have the same characteristics? Do we have the same expectation of love? Is it long-suffering or short-tempered? Is our love jealous? Does our love have an ego? If love never fails, why are divorce rates climbing? Maybe what we call love is not love at all. Maybe what define as love doesn't meet God's standards. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate our charity.