Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: October 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

LIFE: Learning

A man is brought into this world, where he knows nothing, but he grows in a Society where he adapts and learns the culture and the norms. He is taught the difference between right and wrong, about the world, about his beliefs, about etiquettes and manners, his conduct.

However, during this process of learning and adaptation, one should not forget one’s own identity. One should not let other people take decisions for him and force their opinions on him. He should learn the way to discern the truth from falsehood and then choose the path for himself on his own. As it says “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5), God wants us to see the facts around us and use our logic to determine the way for us. It is a sign to not let other people coerce us into making decisions not beneficial for us, and if there have to be decisions that go wrong, they should be our mistakes, something we learn from and not repeat again.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

LIFE: Existential concern

The choice to take one’s own life is a very existential concern. It’s a question of one exercising his existential right, to live, or not to live, taking the core issue of one’s life being shaped by their own individual choices, owning up to the responsibility of one’s actions to the extreme; thus, very justifiable by our post modern morality and its emphasis on passionate individual experiences, as essential to reaching truths in this life, as this act pertains only to the Self, and no other.

However, viewing it in a more conventional light, the 6th commandment forbids man from committing murder: in essence, from taking life. That, is solely a privilege of God. By taking one’s own life, we are in complete discord with the teachings of the 6th Commandment. Thus, though the act seems to embody the ultimate existentialist right of man, it is a direct flouting of the teachings of God.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

LIFE: Respect

“Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”. This is a clear statement which applies to all people, regardless of their creed, race, gender. To prosper in this world, they have to do good to be successful in life.

The most desired behavior of conduct of all mankind is to treat another person the way they would want to be treated, in need, in sickness or health, in good times and bad. If you want people to treat you with respect, you have to treat them with respect. If everyone started thinking this way, there would be no crime, no fights, no wars and no loss of life or otherwise.

Monday, October 6, 2014

HEALTH: Think positive

Proverbs 23:7 states that as we think, we are. The thoughts that we think about ourselves are exactly who we are. Who we are today is a product of the thoughts we’ve thought of all the years before today.

How do you see yourself physically? Strong, healthy, vibrant? Sick, tired, and apathetic? Your thoughts and perspective can help you or hurt you. If you struggle with negative thinking patterns, it’s time to change that. It’s time to begin thinking positive thoughts about you and everything about you. I encourage you to envision yourself healthy, strong, happy, and vibrant. No matter what your situation is or how you are feeling, visualize you at optimum level. Also, use positive affirmations such as, “I am strong. I am healthy. I eat healthy. I am confident, successful, and happy. I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me.”

Before long, you will notice that you will change the way you feel and see yourself. You are not your thoughts, but your thoughts greatly influence your perception of yourself.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

LIFE: Keeping an open mind

“Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keeps the law, happy [is] he.” This clearly states the importance of one keeping its mind open to new things and ideas. The person who shuts his mind to the world will remain ignorant and will not be able to live as fully as he would have otherwise.

The person should be able to think and decide for himself, and not be influenced blindly by the opinion and views of other people. The person who lives truthfully and according to the rules of the world, only s/he will be truly happy, the others who pretend to be someone they are not will always be under the complexes which complicate their lives further. Live truthfully, honestly with a clear open mind, in other words-an enriched life.