Sins before God - meditation and yoga, various spiritual practices and astral projection

[Losus4]

Yoga at its core is a science more than religion, and you could easily seperate the Indian/Hindu cultural baggage from it and not only preserve it, but improve upon it.

The divine doesn't care what label we give it. The ecstasy of St. Teresa of Ávila, the 15th-century Catholic nun, sounds no different from the yogic samadhi or Buddhist nirvana, which themselves sound no different from a DMT trip.

The path to liberation is the same regardless of what cultural baggage we dress it up in. Some religions however carry more baggage than others, which only serve to muddy the truth. A good rule of thumb is that the less a particular belief system is wound up in 'baggage' then the more practical and accessable it will be. Robert Bruce's energy work system is a great example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Work.../dp/157174665X

He basically offers a streamlined energy work system akin to Chi Kung or Pranayama, albeit stripped of the cultural baggage.

[Russian Bear]

Posted by shaberon (here)
My objection is that as Buddhists, we enjoy a favorable relationship with the Tsars from the 1700s.

If we were seen as demons, that could not have happened.

Russian social unity was created by Mongolia and contains the Buddhist republic Buryatia.

Moreover, Orthodoxy is not a centralizing force like the Pope. It can't issue some decree that is auto-applied in every diocese.

Therefor, if there is a minority extremist trend that is obsessed with a Big Devil, it can't exactly stop that either. So, yes, it has had bands of witch hunters and the like, but it cannot become a crusade.

Since there is no way the Temple of Jerusalem was responding to "yoga", nothing about that can be canonical. So it must have been invented by someone at a later time. In this case, much later.


The canonical argument of it is that everyone else who has dipped their fingers in the same scriptures, the Pope and the Protestants, are people who just make their own opinions about the Bible and promote a false representation, which is the Anti-Christ. The primary mission of it is to bring in those seekers who are attracted by these "opinions" to come to their true home. I will freely assist in this, although I refuse to join it.

It's a kind of handshake that says I consider it none of my business what kind of liturgy and service they want to do in private in their free time. I respect that. I just do things differently. It just doesn't consist in scolding them and dwelling upon a sad fate or something like that. The challenge to an Orthodox is you must understand God's love applies equally to every being, and it is not your place to harp on their judgment or state of being, but to offer the source of salvation.

Similarly, I have a lot of stuff that I cannot say represents Buddhism, which I have to specify as a certain trend or teaching within that broader umbrella. I would suggest that the topics posted here be re-packaged as a properly-named philosophy with a definite origin, rather than something canonical.

The Russian Bear answers:

You say:

Posted by shaberon (here)
My objection is that as Buddhists, we enjoy a favorable relationship with the Tsars from the 1700s.

If we were seen as demons, that could not have happened.

And no wonder: for satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light,
2 Corinthians 11:14

The baptism of Rus into the Orthodox faith is the basis of the spiritual unity of the Slavic peoples

Orthodoxy united the Russian princes in several ways:
Creation of a single faith. The common Orthodox faith, which taught love for one's neighbor, became a unifying factor, capable of uniting princes and isolated principalities into a single state.

Strengthening international authority. Thanks to Christianization, Rus' ceased to be considered a barbaric and savage country, and the country's international prestige began to grow.

Development of dynastic, trade, economic, and cultural ties. Rus' entered the circle of Christian states, which opened up broad diplomatic and trade opportunities.

Changing social norms. Christianity brought a new moral model to the country: ideas of mercy, protection of the weak, and the unity of the people before God, which gradually changed social norms.

Support for unification policies. In the 14th and 15th centuries, the Russian Orthodox Church played an important role in uniting the Russian lands around Moscow, supporting the unification policies of the Muscovite rulers and helping them overcome feudal turmoil.

The Role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Unification of Rus'
The Emergence of Outstanding Church Figures, Beacons of Morality and Patriotism in Rus'
The Russian Orthodox Church played a major role in the unification of Russian lands around Moscow and in Rus''s struggle against foreign invaders during this period. This was evident in the fact that church leaders—metropolitans and leaders of major monasteries—provided powerful moral support to the Moscow princes, spared no expense in organizing the Russian army, and inspired Russian princes, military commanders, and ordinary soldiers to defend their native lands.

Acting as Peacemakers. Metropolitans often acted as peacemakers in princely feuds, calling for truces and unification (If it weren't for the Orthodox faith, the Russians of the Tsar would never have united and would have killed each other in wars without uniting the country. We would also have been destroyed by other countries if the Orthodox faith hadn't protected us. Jesus Christ created Russia).


The Russian state united peoples with different faiths, including pagans and Christians.

The state sought to convert peoples who retained pagan beliefs to Christianity. This was done non-violently. Benefits and privileges were introduced for those who voluntarily converted to Orthodoxy. The peoples of Siberia were primarily converted to Christianity: the Mordvins, Chuvash, Khanty, Mansi, and others.

A policy of religious tolerance was pursued for the peoples annexed to Russia who professed Islam. These were primarily the peoples of the Volga region, which was sometimes unstable. Muslims were allowed to build mosques in their communities.

At the same time, the dissemination of any religion other than Orthodoxy was prohibited. Every subject of the Russian Empire had to belong to one religion or another; non-religious affiliation was not tolerated.

Thus, already in the early stages of the existence of Russian civilization, its characteristic feature became multi-confessionalism, the coexistence of various religions.


Nothing has changed for us Russians since then. We have our own opinions. But at the same time, we don't infringe on anyone's rights. We respect everyone. But we will always speak our minds directly, without any tolerance. And we will do so without offending or hurting anyone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there should be no countries "more equal" than all others in the world. "The world must be multipolar, and this means that all participants in international relations must have equal rights," the head of state said.

Russia proposes creating a single and indivisible security structure in Eurasia, not only for NATO and its allies, but for all countries on the continent — Sergey Lavrov

Let me tell you a little Russian history:





The role of the Venerable Orthodox Saint Sergius of Radonezh in the unification of the Russian lands in the 14th century


Sergei of Radonezh, Saint of All Russia
https://pravoslavie.ru/49093.html

The weakening of Rus' and the emergence of civil strife among the appanage princes began as early as the 11th century, when the great princes of Kyiv divided their possessions among their sons. From the 11th to the 14th centuries, our homeland experienced not only civil wars but also invasions by external Western enemies, as well as enslavement by the Golden Horde.

The weakening of Rus' was also facilitated by the position of the princes, many of whom even profited from it. The princes denounced each other to the Horde and used Mongol power to wage war against each other. Rus' lost a leader it could look up to and follow. The Russian Orthodox Church assumed this leadership. Metropolitans and governors of major monasteries provided spiritual support to the Moscow princes and spared no expense in organizing the Russian army. The clergy inspired Russian princes, military commanders, and ordinary soldiers to defend their native lands.

The person who had the greatest influence on Russian life in the 14th century was St. Sergius of Radonezh (1314-1392). He was the first abbot in Rus' to organize a monastery on a new, communal basis: unlike the previous cell-based monasteries, all monks now lived in a single, communal household and had no personal property. Sergius called upon them to live in brotherhood, love, and service to one another. Through the example of his monastery, the saint showed the entire homeland how to live as a Christian. All of Rus' knew Sergius' name, and his voice was heeded by both the Grand Duke and every peasant. According to one contemporary, St. Sergius could influence even the most hardened and bitter hearts with his "quiet and gentle words," and he often reconciled feuding princes, persuading them to submit to the Grand Prince of Moscow.

Here are a few examples. In 1358, St. Sergius traveled to his hometown of Rostov to persuade Prince Constantine of Rostov never to oppose Moscow or support its enemies. Soon, Constantine handed Rostov over to his nephew Andrei, who became a loyal ally of Moscow, and he himself retired to Ustyug.

In 1364, the peacemaker set out again, to Nizhny Novgorod. The saint attempted to persuade Prince Boris, who had seized Nizhny Novgorod by force, to return this patrimony to his elder brother, Dmitry of Moscow, to whom it rightfully belonged. But Boris replied that he had received the charter for Nizhny Novgorod from the Khan himself, and that he, not the Moscow prince, was now the master of Rus'. Dmitry was forced to send an army and humble Boris's pride. Another enemy of Moscow, Prince Oleg of Ryazan, was about to march against Prince Dmitry of Moscow when he learned that the elder Sergius, whom he respected, had blessed the Moscow army to fight the Horde. And when the saint arrived in Ryazan, having marched hundreds of miles, the formidable Oleg could not resist the elder's gentle words and concluded peace with Dmitry.

Throughout his life, Saint Sergius performed many heroic deeds for the Fatherland. Historian V.O. Klyuchevsky calls him "a gracious educator of the Russian national spirit," for through his life he showed the Russian people that not all goodness within them had yet faded and died out. "He opened their eyes and helped them look into their own inner world."

In 1374, Sergius baptized Yuri, the son of Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow, during a large congress of Russian princes, which decided to join forces against the Golden Horde ruler Mamai.

Before the Battle of Kulikovo, Sergius blessed Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich and the Orthodox army going to fight the Horde.

V.O. Klyuchevsky, in his essay "The Significance of St. Sergius for the Russian People and State," showed that Sergius contributed to the end of princely feuds and the unification of the lands around Moscow.

Battle of Kulikovo
St. Sergius of Radonezh blessed two monks—Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabya—to participate in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. This event is associated with the spiritual authority of Sergius, who blessed Prince Dmitry Ivanovich for the battle and predicted victory.

Saint Sergius
blessed the prince for the battle and predicted "terrible bloodshed, but victory."



He sent two monks to the battlefield, telling them: "Peace be with you, my brothers, fight steadfastly for the faith of Christ and for all Orthodox Christianity."

During the battle, the abbot prayed for the soldiers in his monastery with his disciples.



Monks
Peresvet began the battle with a duel with the Mongol hero Chelubey. Peresvet removed his armor and remained in his monastic schema—so that if his enemy's spear struck him, it would not knock him from his horse, giving him the chance to strike himself. Ultimately, Chelubey was killed immediately by a monk, and Peresvet, mortally wounded, rode back to the line and died alongside his comrades.

Chelubey was considered a strong and experienced warrior in Mamai's temnik army. He was undefeated and had defeated his opponents in spear duels over 300 times.

Chelubey was a Tibetan monk who practiced the ancient martial art of Mag-Tszal and achieved the status of "Immortal." He mastered the combat magic of Bon-po, which granted him incredible abilities, strength, and invulnerability in combat.

Descriptions of the Battle of Kulikovo speak of Chelubey's enormous stature and strength. He possessed sufficient height, weight, and strength to wield a spear as a pitchfork.

However, Chelubey was not technically immortal: he died from a mortal wound received in a duel with Peresvet.
Every Russian knows this Hitory:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=1CFMDwNDa3I

The story is like in the Old Testament: David and Goliath, with the difference being that David survived.

Oslyabya also took part in the battle.

The Tale of the Battle with Mamai states that Sergius gave the monks an incorruptible weapon instead of perishable ones—the Cross of Christ, sewn onto their schemas, and commanded them to wear it instead of their gilded helmets.




Some say Sergius immediately performed the vows over Peresvet and tonsured Oslyabya into the Great Schema, while others say that both were already schema monks by that time, and the abbot merely pointed out the need to rely more on the cross than on armor.

The victory over Chelubey demoralized the entire enemy army; the Russian army won the victory. But it was the Orthodox monks and the Holy Fathers of the Church who rallied and strengthened the princes and the Russian army and led them into battle. The enemy was also assisted by foreign mercenaries. Thus, the enemy had a greater advantage, including superior numbers of soldiers.

Poland took Moscow



Also read my article about how Poland took Moscow and nearly destroyed us as a state, and again, the Orthodox faith united all of Holy Rus' and the Russian people. We were outnumbered, but we won. No one spared their lives for the Orthodox faith and their homeland, standing to the death!

74) 😡Why does Poland dislike Russia? The history of Poland and Russia
https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1680620




Another example: Alexander Nevsky refused to accept aid from Pope Innocent IV against the Tatars in exchange for recognition of the papal primacy (the Church Union).

Although we were on the brink of annihilation, we refused aid. It is better for us to die than to betray our true Orthodox and holy faith given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Alexander Nevsky replied to the Pope: "We understand everything, but we will not accept your teachings!"
We were outnumbered, and the enemies were in the majority, but thanks to the Lord, we won again!

And there are countless examples of how the Orthodox faith saved us!

Are you prepared to die for your faith and not betray it?

Or do you want to say that you know the history of my Motherland better than me, based on European sources?


THE BAPTISM OF RUSSIA. Episodes 1 -- 4. English Subtitles. Russian History.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=58YXMW5sP5s

The film tells in detail what events accompanied the decision of Prince Vladimir, shows the history of this man, which has become the history of an entire nation. The most important task for us was to create a cognitive, educational, spectacular picture for a wide audience, reliably conveying historical reality

Type: historical reenactment
Genre: docudrama
Number of episodes: 4
Year of production: 2017
Directed by: Dmitry Ushakov
Written by: Maksim Bespalyi, Marina Bandilenko, Maksim Kalsin
Production designer: Maksim Bespalyi
Director of photography: Aleksandr Byrkov

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Losus4 (here)
Yoga at its core is a science more than religion, and you could easily seperate the Indian/Hindu cultural baggage from it and not only preserve it, but improve upon it.

The divine doesn't care what label we give it. The ecstasy of St. Teresa of Ávila, the 15th-century Catholic nun, sounds no different from the yogic samadhi or Buddhist nirvana, which themselves sound no different from a DMT trip.

The path to liberation is the same regardless of what cultural baggage we dress it up in. Some religions however carry more baggage than others, which only serve to muddy the truth. A good rule of thumb is that the less a particular belief system is wound up in 'baggage' then the more practical and accessable it will be. Robert Bruce's energy work system is a great example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Work.../dp/157174665X

He basically offers a streamlined energy work system akin to Chi Kung or Pranayama, albeit stripped of the cultural baggage.

The Orthodox Church recognizes neither Catholics nor its saints after the Great Schism of 1054, including Teresa's mystical experience and its interpretations. For Orthodox Christians, Catholics are heretics. You can open any Orthodox source and read why the Russian Orthodox Church has maintained this position from 1054 to the present. Or at least start reading my article https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1664881 Here I mentioned history - the division of Christianity and how Catholics and Orthodox appeared.

Again, I speak from the perspective of the Orthodox Church. So please do not accuse me of intolerance towards Catholics.

Furthermore, the Orthodox Church's position on meditation and other occult practices is considered demonic and sinful by Christians. I described this above.

To further explore this topic, I recommend reading the books of the Orthodox Church Fathers whom I also mentioned in the article, for example, Seraphim Rose, who, by the way, is a true American of his country and a Russian in spirit.

If you disagree with the above, that is your personal, free choice, which I respect. Each person is responsible for the salvation of their soul before God.

And as user Matthew said, https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1687002 is an anti-Christian forum, so I don't expect a different reaction here. Which is a shame.

As I said before, I like the community on this forum. You don't choose your comrades; you are my comrades from abroad. I am grateful to the administration for allowing me freedom of speech on this forum so I can share my history, culture, and thoughts with you. I also read political news on this forum and the opinions of other users and try to comment, participating in their discussions. I am not insulted or harassed with Russophobic comments here. There are some here, but they don't openly insult me. I respect even those who harbor Russophobic feelings toward me, and I understand the context in which they live.

My letter went off-topic, but I wanted to speak out so that I could be better understood.

[arjunaloka_official]

Posted by Russian Bear (here)
Another question: Would you consider it accidental that there is a similarity in the words in Hinduism and Christianity? Some examples:

Hinduism:
- Krishna
- Atman (Sanskrit, meaning: soul/self/essence) and Jiva (Sanskrit, meaning: life), represented by two birds sitting in a tree
- Brahma and his wife, Sarasvati

Christianity:
- Christ
- Adam and Eve, eating from a tree
- Abraham and his wife, Sarah

Would you rule out that there was a connection from Hinduism to Judaism to Christianity, in which the human understanding of the Lord has developed?

The Russian Bear answers:
NO. Buddhism was greatly influenced by the preaching of Christianity in the East at the very dawn of the Christian era. In the 19th century, Buddhism was viewed as a preparatory stage for conversion to Orthodoxy.

The devil can't invent anything of his own; he only takes something from God and distorts it, like a spider, to destroy more souls and deceive. He takes Truth and lies and mixes them into one. And people, seeing part of the truth, also believe the lies.

Hello, okay, but didn't the Christian era begin in the year 0? Buddha, however, lived around 500 BC – so isn't it the other way around, with Buddhism influencing Christianity? Krishna, Brahma/Sarasvati, Atman/Jiva aren't Buddhist terms either, but rather come from Hinduism, even though Hinduism is even older than Buddhism, around 1000-2000 BC? How could Christianity have influenced Hinduism?

[Russian Bear]

I'm in the wrong thread; I have a lot of tabs open on my computer. But since I published this post, I'll link to my article.

Perhaps no document in the history of human civilization has posed such a threat of enslaving, in this case electronic, dependence on the state and supranational corporations as the biometric passports and other chip-based media now being introduced.

The most hidden aspect of the issue is the process of capturing biometric data, which will be done using specialized equipment. A standard photograph is no longer suitable for such documents.

Passport lobbyists claim that next-generation American equipment has already been delivered to many countries. Experts fear that laser marking of the forehead, invisible to the human eye, will be carried out under the guise of 3D facial scanning. That this marking method has already been tested can be verified on the official website of US patented inventions.

After applying the barcode, a person is recognized by the computer as a commodity, as easily as a pack of margarine. An extremely expensive project that places the people of all countries in the position of yet another European national guinea pig, controlled from outside using specialized Western super-equipment.

The raw data comes from satellites. And each person can be tracked in real time.

11) ✅📰Apocalypse, The Seal of the Antichrist, 666, Documents, сhips and barcode



https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1663919

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Russian Bear (here)
Hello, okay, but didn't the Christian era begin in the year 0? Buddha, however, lived around 500 BC – so isn't it the other way around, with Buddhism influencing Christianity? Krishna, Brahma/Sarasvati, Atman/Jiva aren't Buddhist terms either, but rather come from Hinduism, even though Hinduism is even older than Buddhism, around 1000-2000 BC? How could Christianity have influenced Hinduism?

Let me clarify my answer. Christianity is based not only on the New Testament but also on the Old Testament, which begins with the creation of the world. Of course, both the Old and New Testaments have had a huge influence on the world.

Orthodox Christianity is founded on the Old and New Testaments. Look at all our churches, priests and monks, sacred vestments, liturgies, sacraments, icons—all of this is fundamentally built on the Old Testament.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Commentary on Matthew 5:17

[Sirus]

Has the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ told you this about yoga, or have you just adopted someone else's opinion?

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Sirus (here)
Has the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ told you this about yoga, or have you just adopted someone else's opinion?

Yoga is a conditional religious philosophy that officially does not recognize the existence of God; it suggests a connection with dark spirits. Practicing yoga is a sin related to the first and second commandments, that is, a sin against the Lord God (being like God, like Buddha, is a Stanian sin).

"I am the Lord your God... You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3) is the first commandment of Christianity.

The essence of this commandment is the recognition of one God, who must be worshiped. It points one to God as the Source of all blessings and the guide of all actions.

By following this commandment, one must strive to know God and direct one's actions toward the glory of His name.

"You shall not make for yourself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them" (Exodus 20:4-6) is the second commandment of Christianity.

The meaning of this commandment is the prohibition against creating idols, whether physical or imaginary, serving them, bowing down to them, or paying any kind of honor to them.

This commandment was given at a time when idolatry was a widespread human affliction: people deified various elements of nature, heavenly bodies, and images of people.

For modern people, the literal worship of idols may be difficult to understand, but the spirit of the commandment forbids bowing down to anything other than the one God.

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:27

The other pagan gods are demons.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Commentary on Psalm 96:5

I advise you to read all the dialogues in this article from beginning to end.

My opinion is based on Holy Scripture, but for a proper understanding of biblical texts, there are interpretations of the Holy Fathers of the Church, which we take into account, and therefore we have no disagreements. We have the works of the Holy Fathers and their Lives to which we refer, and Jesus Christ taught us all of this.

Everything comes from the Bible; as you can see, each person understands the verses of the Bible in their own way. We Orthodox rely on the teachings of the Holy Fathers, and therefore we understand the Bible as the Lord teaches us, and we have no disagreements on this matter. Protestants are confused in their understanding; theirs is a human interpretation, and it is erroneous. Catholics also distort the dogmas of faith; they have always fallen into sin. If you read the history of the Church, you will see that they are only interested in power, starting with the Crusades and indulgences.

For us Orthodox, the foundation is the Bible and the traditions of the Holy Fathers, their teachings, which all come down to a single source.
The Bible is the source of this existence.
The Holy Fathers are a program that helps people correctly understand the Bible. All of this is one Church. So, you understand who the Holy Fathers were—they were not just people. They had special gifts from God, which they received through their righteousness and holy lives of service to God and helping people.. The grace of the Holy Spirit worked through them.

Take a Greek Orthodox Christian, a Russian, or a Serb—they all understand the Bible the same way. We simply open the commentaries of the Church Fathers. All of them, regardless of the century or country they lived in, say the same thing, as do the prophets. And there is no disagreement on this.
We humans can make mistakes, for we are frail creatures and prone to sin. But God never makes mistakes and will always give us the strength to overcome sin.

Yes, my opinion is based on the Bible and the teachings of the Orthodox Church.
Thank you for your comment.

[Jaak]

What are your thoughts and opinions about celebrating christmas ?
Seems to me it has been a pagan holiday before christianity even came to be .
Is it ok from orthodox perspective ? Santa Claus or ¨Ded Moroz¨ , how christian are those figures for orthodox ?
Is there anything in the orthodox bible that mentions winter solstice/christmas and how people should conduct themselves during it ?

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Jaak (here)
What are your thoughts and opinions about celebrating christmas ?
Seems to me it has been a pagan holiday before christianity even came to be .
Is it ok from orthodox perspective ? Santa Claus or ¨Ded Moroz¨ , how christian are those figures for orthodox ?
Is there anything in the orthodox bible that mentions winter solstice/christmas and how people should conduct themselves during it ?

You've asked some very interesting questions, and I'll be sure to answer them. It's nighttime in Russia now, so I need to go to bed. Good night. I'll get back to your questions when I have time.

[Casey Claar]

Posted by Russian Bear (here)

Posted by Sirus (here)
Has the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ told you this about yoga, or have you just adopted someone else's opinion?

Yoga is a conditional religious philosophy that officially does not recognize the existence of God; it suggests a connection with dark spirits. Practicing yoga is a sin related to the first and second commandments, that is, a sin against the Lord God (being like God, like Buddha, is a Stanian sin).

This is just simply not true.

Yoga is a word that describes a fundamental, pre-existing and unbreakable Oneness/Union between the Supreme and personal.
It is also a practice by which a person may come to experience this for themselves.

Yoga. -translation -Oneness/Union. (true)
Yoga is. -translation -Oneness/Union is. (true)
Yoga is conditional. -translation -Oneness/Union is conditional. (false)
Yoga is a conditional religious philosophy. -translation -Oneness/Union is a conditional religious philosophy. (false)
Yoga does not recognize the existence of God. -translation -Oneness/Union does not recognize the existence of God. (false)

Within the very word YOGA is the presence of the Supreme and the suggestion for the personal expression of this (ie: you, me, etc) to "yoke" ourself with This.

Yoga is not Hinduism -it is not any religion.

It is more accurately what I have stated.

[Raskolnikov]

You’ve opened a whole can of worms here Russian Bear. Your topic states to be “Sins before God” but all I keep hearing is Orthodox Christianity contains the only truth and everything else is a lie. That’s a bold supposition my friend. How long have you been Orthodox Christian? Have you always thought this way or is it a recent acquisition? Are you proclaiming that people from any faith other than Orthodox Christianity are going to hell and cannot be helped (saved)? What are your views on the Nag Hammadi texts and Dead Sea scrolls, are they forgeries because the church doesn’t approve? What were Jesus’ own words as to why he came here? Was it to be worshipped? In short, was he born God or did he have to achieve this union through his own efforts? Some say he practiced in the east to master himself before returning to the west to share the good news, the Old Testament's over and God is love and found within. Do you folks in Russia have an accounting of his missing years, if so, could you please share as I’ve always been curious why so much of his life has been left out of the canonical scriptures. Is it possible that the books selected for modern Christianity (there are approximately 45,000 different Christian denominations worldwide) and those specifically rejected in Nicea were selected for a purpose? It blows my mind that Jesus himself warned his followers not to worship him, a form of idolatry mind you, and yet the mass of Christianity continues to do so. And do you really think the sacrifices, incest, and murder could ever be ordered by the true God, the Source from which we all originate? And what of reincarnation? Your faith doesn’t view it kindly I’m assuming. So what of the countless children who have proven reincarnation to be true? Scientifically proven. I can’t be bothered looking them all up right now but will if you need me to. That is a glaring omission and oversight in your chosen faith.

Please keep in mind, I respect your views and your right to express and share your chosen faith, but the major shortcoming of Orthodox Christianity is the complete intolerance of all other faiths and the inability to extend that same respect.

[Irminsül]

Thank you, Russian Bear, for this thread. In it you’re touching on a very delicate subject, one that I have weighed internally more than once. I’ll now speak from my own experience.

I have heard more than once that yoga is associated with Lemuria, with a past stage of humanity that still circulates here and now. We carry in our baggage many harmful things in the sense of spiritual practices. The period of Atlantis also gave us room to continue developing evil in different ways.

As strange as it may sound, I have heard several cases of people who, through practicing Reiki, ended up suffering demonic attacks or even possession. With yoga it MAY be more subtle.

Let’s begin by analyzing the basic principles of yoga. Yoga means union. But with what? The ultimate goal of yoga is for the serpent coiled at the base of the coccyx to uncoil toward the Sahasrara chakra and thus reach Samadhi. From the outset, that already sounds strange and dark.

And if we look at the practice of yoga, it is rather somewhat selfish. It’s about focusing on the self, on my own self-liberation; it doesn’t place emphasis on others. In Christianity, the focus is on the other.

Now I’ll go on to share my experiences with yoga. For an entire year I was preparing to become a monk at the ashram in Encinitas, California, at the Self-Realization Fellowship center founded by Paramahansa Yogananda. At that time, as a requirement, I had to meditate every day. And so I did. I practiced during the day, because they say it’s the best time to do it. Precisely at night the energies of darkness—beings from the lower astral and other entities—come out to do their work.

Even so, let me tell you the following: during that year (and it was the only period in my life when something like this happened) I dreamed many times—about ten, more or less—that the devil came near me. There was nothing in particular about it. I was simply asleep and would encounter this being in my dreams. It was horrifying, not because of his form—which was generally that of a man with black hair—but because I knew it was him, and it produced in me a dreadful terror that ended with me waking up screaming.

Once again, I repeat, never in my life has this happened again in my present existence. I never meditated again. What I have done and continue to do for some years now is a kind of meditation/prayer that is very different. I pray to God for more than half an hour, repeating a phrase with devotion. And in this way, I have never had horrible dreams or anything like that. Since I’ve been doing what I’m describing, I constantly feel an energy at my crown chakra.

With all this that I’m sharing, I don’t want to, nor am I in a position to, assert that yoga is satanic or anti-Christian. But it seems to me that this might be the case…

[Casey Claar]

Posted by Irminsül (here)
Thank you, Russian Bear, for this thread. In it you’re touching on a very delicate subject, one that I have weighed internally more than once. I’ll now speak from my own experience.

I have heard more than once that yoga is associated with Lemuria, with a past stage of humanity that still circulates here and now. We carry in our baggage many harmful things in the sense of spiritual practices. The period of Atlantis also gave us room to continue developing evil in different ways.

As strange as it may sound, I have heard several cases of people who, through practicing Reiki, ended up suffering demonic attacks or even possession. With yoga it MAY be more subtle.

Let’s begin by analyzing the basic principles of yoga. Yoga means union. But with what? The ultimate goal of yoga is for the serpent coiled at the base of the coccyx to uncoil toward the Sahasrara chakra and thus reach Samadhi. From the outset, that already sounds strange and dark.

And if we look at the practice of yoga, it is rather somewhat selfish. It’s about focusing on the self, on my own self-liberation; it doesn’t place emphasis on others. In Christianity, the focus is on the other.

Now I’ll go on to share my experiences with yoga. For an entire year I was preparing to become a monk at the ashram in Encinitas, California, at the Self-Realization Fellowship center founded by Paramahansa Yogananda. At that time, as a requirement, I had to meditate every day. And so I did. I practiced during the day, because they say it’s the best time to do it. Precisely at night the energies of darkness—beings from the lower astral and other entities—come out to do their work.

Even so, let me tell you the following: during that year (and it was the only period in my life when something like this happened) I dreamed many times—about ten, more or less—that the devil came near me. There was nothing in particular about it. I was simply asleep and would encounter this being in my dreams. It was horrifying, not because of his form—which was generally that of a man with black hair—but because I knew it was him, and it produced in me a dreadful terror that ended with me waking up screaming.

Once again, I repeat, never in my life has this happened again in my present existence. I never meditated again. What I have done and continue to do for some years now is a kind of meditation/prayer that is very different. I pray to God for more than half an hour, repeating a phrase with devotion. And in this way, I have never had horrible dreams or anything like that. Since I’ve been doing what I’m describing, I constantly feel an energy at my crown chakra.

With all this that I’m sharing, I don’t want to, nor am I in a position to, assert that yoga is satanic or anti-Christian. But it seems to me that this might be the case…

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Dear Irminsul,

Thank you for speaking from your direct experience.

It is late, I wish there were time as I sit here now to give what you've said the attention it deserves. I do understand -(all but your closing sentiment -and in a way even this).

There is a yoga for every disposition.

The four main paths of Yoga are:
(these break down further but these are the main branches) >>

Raja Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Karma Yoga

The vast majority of people on our planet at present are what yoga itself would call karma yogis. An example most of us would know of a karma yogi is Mother Theresa, it is the path of good works, selfless service. Jnana and Bhakti yoga are contrasts of one another, Jnana being more centric within the mind, and Bhakti the heart; Love and Wisdom. Raja yoga is the eight-fold path I laid out in my first post here in this thread, it is essentially synonymous with meditation -which, again, is the stilling of the mind, the focusing of attention, the entering of a deeper order of reality (ie: consciousness, self, "you" ).

There truly is only being here and this is the Supreme Being <--all else is a FRACTAL of This. The One is what/who is being everyone and everything; It plays all roles.

In order to enter a true state of meditation (which as you've stated in not for everyone - not everyone is yet ready) you have to move through what it is you confronted on your way in. I will tell you genuinely, it is none other than yourself. There is NO OTHER between you and the Supreme. But there are a great many incorrect thoughts, judgements, tendencies and behaviors. What is illuminated on our way in toward Stillness, in toward a pure state of attention is ourself. This is what most are not yet ready to confront. And, I would be in absolute agreement with you, in that if a person is not yet ready to face themself, to let what has been pushed down into the shadows rise into the light (where completion with this can begin) -without casting it first out onto an other ( a devil, a demon, etc ) who it is now their lot to fight -- then meditation is not the correct practice.

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Casey Claar (here)

Posted by Russian Bear (here)

Posted by Sirus (here)
Has the Holy Spirit or Jesus Christ told you this about yoga, or have you just adopted someone else's opinion?

Yoga is a conditional religious philosophy that officially does not recognize the existence of God; it suggests a connection with dark spirits. Practicing yoga is a sin related to the first and second commandments, that is, a sin against the Lord God (being like God, like Buddha, is a Stanian sin).

This is just simply not true.

Yoga is a word that describes a fundamental, pre-existing and unbreakable Oneness/Union between the Supreme and personal.
It is also a practice by which a person may come to experience this for themselves.

Yoga. -translation -Oneness/Union. (true)
Yoga is. -translation -Oneness/Union is. (true)
Yoga is conditional. -translation -Oneness/Union is conditional. (false)
Yoga is a conditional religious philosophy. -translation -Oneness/Union is a conditional religious philosophy. (false)
Yoga does not recognize the existence of God. -translation -Oneness/Union does not recognize the existence of God. (false)

Within the very word YOGA is the presence of the Supreme and the suggestion for the personal expression of this (ie: you, me, etc) to "yoke" ourself with This.

Yoga is not Hinduism -it is not any religion.

It is more accurately what I have stated.

Yoga doesn't contain Jesus Christ, the true God, or divine salvation. All the unities and unions you mentioned are demonic in nature. I'll be frank. Because words can be interpreted in different ways. I'm not a priest and didn't graduate from a theological seminary, so my answer may be incomplete. I'm communicating through a translator, and I don't speak English. Besides, priests explain things better than I do. And I'm an ordinary peasant.

But I didn't lie to you.

I'll put it differently then.

"If something decreases somewhere, it means that something has increased somewhere else"—that's the law of conservation of matter, formulated by Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov on July 16, 1748, in a letter to the mathematician Leonhard Euler.

This law implies the transfer of energy—not only mechanical movement, but also thermal movement.

- "Not every spirit is from God" (1 John 4:1).

So, if God's grace is absent somewhere, that space is occupied by a demonic force. And also, if a person displaces God's grace from their soul and makes room for it, that space is occupied by an evil, demonic nature.

If you pick up Seraphim Rose's book and read it, you'll understand everything better.

Seraphim Rose was so ardent in his search for truth that to master Chinese philosophy, he easily learned even ancient Chinese, among many other languages ​​he knew. When he studied something, he studied it 150%; it wasn't enough for him to be delententiously reading and commenting on it. He believed that if you want to become a Buddhist and study Buddhism, it's not enough to study some sources about it in English; you need the original source, which is ancient Chinese. And he read the original sources on Buddhism in ancient Chinese. I say this as an example. That's how he approached everything.

Since you're interested in the East, you need to become familiar with Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a Russian friend once told him, and he brought him to an Orthodox Church in San Francisco, where it was a revelation for Rose, and he converted to Orthodoxy. So, Seraphim Rose came from a Protestant background, studied Catholicism and other religions, as well as Eastern practices, Buddhism, and practiced yoga and other practices... And he found the truth he sought with all his heart. He is an example of how to seek God. I recommend reading his works.

His life is told in the film I posted at the beginning of this article with English subtitles.

He is your compatriot, he is also an American.

[Russian Bear]

Posted by Jaak (here)
What are your thoughts and opinions about celebrating christmas ?

Christmas is one of the most important and revered holidays in the Orthodox tradition. It is dedicated to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

For Orthodox Christians, Christmas symbolizes the incarnation of God, who came into the world as the Infant Jesus Christ, bringing the light of truth and hope for salvation.

This holiday embodies the infinite love and mercy of the Almighty for humanity and marks the beginning of a new era of grace and reconciliation. Everyone, regardless of their situation and sins, can find the path to God through repentance and love.

Christmas is a time of spiritual preparation, so believers prepare for the holiday with 40 days of strict fasting and prayer, cleansing their souls and hearts. Meat, dairy products, and seafood (fish, squid, etc.) are prohibited. Only vegetables and fruits, cereals, and bread are allowed.

In Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7, following the Julian calendar.

The Nativity of Christ is celebrated on December 25, as established in ancient times. However, the Church observes the Julian calendar, adhering to a tradition dating back to the Savior's coming to earth and the beginning of Christianity. Secular life follows the Gregorian calendar, so December 25 falls on January 7.

Posted by Jaak (here)
Seems to me it has been a pagan holiday before christianity even came to be .
Is it ok from orthodox perspective ?

No, although it's true that pagans celebrated December 25th long before Christians. This is the day of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, and winter, terrifying for ancient people who lived off the land and in hunger, begins to recede.

Christians began celebrating Christmas on this day for a different reason. Biblical prophecy speaks of the Lord Jesus as the Sun of Righteousness: "But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2). Therefore, it's natural to celebrate Christmas on the day of the winter solstice.

So it was simply a coincidence. But it's also symbolic: a false pagan holiday was replaced by Christians with a true holiday, which takes on meaning.

Posted by Jaak (here)
Santa Claus or ¨Ded Moroz¨ , how christian are those figures for orthodox ?

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Santa Claus has Christian origins; his image is based on a real person, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (an icon of this saint is found in every church in Russia), who lived in the 4th century. This saint was renowned for his kindness and help to those in need, often leaving gifts secretly. The distortion of the real saint into Santa Claus was deliberately done to avoid any hint of Christianity, creating a secular character. The result is a semblance of Ded Moroz (Father Frost) in Russia. Incidentally, I've always wondered how the enemy disguised himself. If you rearrange the letters in Santa Claus, you get this: santa = satan

Ded Moroz, unlike Santa Claus, is not associated with Christianity; he is a fairytale character from ancient Russian folk tales, created for entertainment.

At the same time, the Church does not prohibit the images of Santa Claus and Ded Moroz, as long as they don't obscure the essence of Christmas.

I'll share with you a joke from the Russians, it's called Santa Claus in Russia, it was funny, I watched it with my comrades and we laughed:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=9GBCVTXQk-g

The Russian government congratulated all Russians on the New Year! The point of this video is that we don't need anything Western or American. We have everything of our own, including culture and traditions. And did you notice that Santa Claus has NATO and American missiles on the back?

Posted by Jaak (here)
Is there anything in the orthodox bible that mentions winter solstice/christmas and how people should conduct themselves during it ?

No, Christmas is not a pagan holiday; it is a purely Christian holiday in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ. I already answered that above.

First, all Orthodox Christians attend services on Saturday evenings and the Liturgy on Sunday mornings. Every week, we must confess our sins before God and partake of the real body and blood of God.

We pray every day; we even have prayer books. We fast every week according to the Orthodox calendar. The service, taking Saturday and Sunday together, lasts 5-6 hours. If you don't have time, you must attend services on Sunday. Missing services without a valid excuse is considered a sin of laziness.

On Christmas, as on other major holidays, you attend services all night in church and celebrate the Nativity by praising the Lord and praying for your living and deceased family and friends.

And before that, you fast for 40 days of strict fasting, preparing spiritually for the holiday.



Comrade Raskolnikov (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1687145), your questions are being processed. You've asked me so many that I need time to prepare them. I'm working on it when I have time, so I'll definitely write to you once I've answered all your questions.

One time, no one wants to talk to me. The next, they ask me so many questions that they overwhelm me. It's funny.

[arjunaloka_official]

Posted by Russian Bear (here)

Posted by Russian Bear (here)
Hello, okay, but didn't the Christian era begin in the year 0? Buddha, however, lived around 500 BC – so isn't it the other way around, with Buddhism influencing Christianity? Krishna, Brahma/Sarasvati, Atman/Jiva aren't Buddhist terms either, but rather come from Hinduism, even though Hinduism is even older than Buddhism, around 1000-2000 BC? How could Christianity have influenced Hinduism?

Let me clarify my answer. Christianity is based not only on the New Testament but also on the Old Testament, which begins with the creation of the world. Of course, both the Old and New Testaments have had a huge influence on the world.

Orthodox Christianity is founded on the Old and New Testaments. Look at all our churches, priests and monks, sacred vestments, liturgies, sacraments, icons—all of this is fundamentally built on the Old Testament.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Commentary on Matthew 5:17

Well, the Old Testament describes the creation of the world, but when was it written? Most scholars seem to date it around 1500 BC, which seems similar to early Hindu texts like the Rigveda. Interestingly, both contain a very similar flood myth (in the Bible the hero´s name is Noah), however a similar flood myth is also part of the epic of Gilgamesh and the epic of Atra-Hasis, which both seem to be a bit older (2100-1800 BC) than the Old Testament and Hindu texts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_myth

So do we really now if the Old Testament is the oldest one?

A more conservative take would be to regard the different religions as different sides of the same one pyramid or mountain, i.e. different aspects of the one Divine mystery, which happens to be hard to describe, and where each religion or perspective has its strengths and weaknesses?

[Russian Bear]

Posted by arjunaloka_official (here)

Posted by Russian Bear (here)

Posted by Russian Bear (here)
Hello, okay, but didn't the Christian era begin in the year 0? Buddha, however, lived around 500 BC – so isn't it the other way around, with Buddhism influencing Christianity? Krishna, Brahma/Sarasvati, Atman/Jiva aren't Buddhist terms either, but rather come from Hinduism, even though Hinduism is even older than Buddhism, around 1000-2000 BC? How could Christianity have influenced Hinduism?

Let me clarify my answer. Christianity is based not only on the New Testament but also on the Old Testament, which begins with the creation of the world. Of course, both the Old and New Testaments have had a huge influence on the world.

Orthodox Christianity is founded on the Old and New Testaments. Look at all our churches, priests and monks, sacred vestments, liturgies, sacraments, icons—all of this is fundamentally built on the Old Testament.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Commentary on Matthew 5:17

Well, the Old Testament describes the creation of the world, but when was it written? Most scholars seem to date it around 1500 BC, which seems similar to early Hindu texts like the Rigveda. Interestingly, both contain a very similar flood myth (in the Bible the hero´s name is Noah), however a similar flood myth is also part of the epic of Gilgamesh and the epic of Atra-Hasis, which both seem to be a bit older (2100-1800 BC) than the Old Testament and Hindu texts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_myth

So do we really now if the Old Testament is the oldest one?

A more conservative take would be to regard the different religions as different sides of the same one pyramid or mountain, i.e. different aspects of the one Divine mystery, which happens to be hard to describe, and where each religion or perspective has its strengths and weaknesses?

Everything described in the Old Testament is based on real events.

Other peoples simply witnessed this history and preserved the global description of these events, introducing their own distortions and understandings, calling them by their own names.

What is the Bible? It is a tradition passed down from generation to generation. This is why the first humans (Adam and Eve) lived for 1,000 years, because God ensured that the tradition was preserved from the original sources, so to speak.

The words from Genesis 6:3 read: "And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is but flesh: his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.'" After this, people could no longer live to be 1,000 years old. If you've read the Old Testament, it indicates how long people lived (for example, after the Flood, Noah lived another 350 years and died at the age of 950 (Genesis 9:29)).

Of course, all pagan peoples observed these phenomena. After all, all descended from Adam and Eve, only they deviated from God's true ways. From the moment Cain killed Abel.

And when the Great Flood destroyed these peoples, their library remained. Their books and scrolls serve as a monument. Some other pagan peoples found them, and it influenced them too. They discovered history before the Great Flood. Then, they continued their observations based on them. Everything fell into place when the Bible appeared. (They (Pagans) continued the story based on the historical pagan scrolls they found)

According to the Greek translation, divided into the III-II centuries before the Birth of Christ by 70 Jewish "interpreters" (it is also the basis of the Slavic Bible), the time of the birth of the forefather falls on 1662, therefore, the global catastrophe falls on 2262.

But the tradition itself, passed down from generation to generation, was later compiled into a book by God's holy people under the influence of God's spirit. They wrote the book in its pure and true form. That is, they wrote it later (meaning the people of God were the guardians of the tradition and the original source, whose prophets later compiled the entire story into a book). Other peoples merely confirm the reality of the biblical events as eyewitnesses.

Only the pagans recorded it in their own way, since they were far from the truth and the true God. They described it with their own distorted understanding, according to their culture and their language.

The Old Testament, the first part of the Bible, was presumably written between the 15th and 4th centuries BCE.
The oldest books of the Old Testament, such as the Book of Job and the Psalms, were written around 1500–1200 BCE.

To help you understand, the Orthodox Church uses a different chronology based on the Bible and the Holy Tradition that supplements it.

Church tradition holds that approximately 7,500 years have passed since the creation of the world. This age is based on biblical chronology, beginning with Adam.
Today, September 30, 2025, according to the Orthodox Church calendar, is the year 7534 from the creation of the world.

That's why scientists are still finding dinosaur bones, and even bones containing dinosaur flesh. If 1,000,000 years had passed, their bones would have long since turned to dust.

The methods used to determine the age of a rock or artifact are incorrect.
It is believed that the results of radiocarbon dating are not infallible. The dating method has errors that depend on various factors. Therefore, the earth is not 1,000,000 years old.

Also, many pagan religions simply borrowed heavily from the Old Testament and the New Testament later. There's another point.

Of course, in this comment I was responding to you from the church's perspective, and some of my comments were based on my personal analysis. I'm not a priest. It's just that a priest would have given a better and more accurate answer than I did.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=IoTkguzRaCU

The Bible is confirmed by historical facts
https://projectavalon.net/forum4/sho...=1#post1664906

The Lord always protected His chosen people from pagans, even performing internal purges so that they would not perish from the plague called sin. From this pure source, the Messiah—Christ—was later born.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by arjunaloka_official (here)

Well, the Old Testament describes the creation of the world, but when was it written? Most scholars seem to date it around 1500 BC, which seems similar to early Hindu texts like the Rigveda. Interestingly, both contain a very similar flood myth (in the Bible the hero´s name is Noah), however a similar flood myth is also part of the epic of Gilgamesh and the epic of Atra-Hasis, which both seem to be a bit older (2100-1800 BC) than the Old Testament and Hindu texts:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_myth

For reference, here's the Avalon thread about this:

• An Ark pre-dating the story of Noah

[arjunaloka_official]

Russian Bear, your faith is strong, which I like! I think it is a good thing to follow Christ. I am not so sure about some institutions though.

What´s your take on the concept of transubstantiation?