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How to Use the Forums

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Memorable Quotations & Inspirational Stories

About anything spiritual, emotional, romantic, or legends

Books of Interest

If there are any (appropriate) books that you found to be interesting and wish to talk about please do in this forum.

 Vita

The Vital Text

Curious into learning more about the Omnexordium and other official Vita texts that you’ve read in the Articles section of the official Vita Enterprise Inc. Main Website? Then look no further, here you’ll have the chance to discuss your own thoughts, ideas, and ask any questions that you might have involving the official Vital texts with the leading foremost expert scholars of the official Vital texts.

The Preludium Vital

The Preludium Vital, found on the main website, is the poetic synopsis of Vita's teachings about the origins of the world, consciousness, and life. Parts of it can be quite difficult. This forum is for Participants who are interested in an in-depth understanding of it.

Philosophy

What is philosophy to you? Is it something you hold very important in your life? Is it something you can do without? Many people hear philosophy and they think about the question "What is the meaning of life?" Well, that question is specifically treated in the branch of philosophy called Existentialism. Philosophy in general means "the love of wisdom." In the old days, science was called "natural philosophy" and all intellectuals were called philosophers.

History of Eastern Philosophy

Eastern philosophy and religion are not always separate things as they are in the West. The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama do not concern themselves with divinities--they are concerned with the direct experience of life and the alteration of consciousness through selective thought and behavior. Schools of philosophy also developed and were sanctioned within the establishment of the Hindu tradition.

History of Western Philosophy

Western Philosophy has its origins in the likes of Thales, Anixamander, and Empedocles, who sought explanations for natural phenomena apart from the gods. The teachings of these Pre-Socratics are remarkably compatible with Daosim, which was coming into its own around the same time. Socrates took philosophy in another direction, and made it an acknowledged field of academic instruction.

Formal Reasoning & Logic

Logic is the glorious study of deductive reasoning. The faculty of Reason is one of the true hallmarks of homo sapiens, for it involves manipulation of thoughts by the brain. Reasoning means to evaluate things by comparing them, and using controlled imagination to find solutions. The vehicle for accomplishing this is Logic. Aristotle gives the first and the best treatment on the subject, and his "Organon" is still the sine qua non of Reason. Unfortunately, he has fallen into disrepute since the Scientific Revolution, which favored the pioneering of inductive, as opposed to deductive, reasoning. Both are indispensible, and one without the other will not take you very far.

Contemporary Philosophy

The existentialism of Kierkegaard and weightiness of Schopenhauer sculpted later-19th century thought. Undoubtedly, of all contemporary philosophers Nietzsche has had the most profound effects on the Western intellectual climate. What is man? Why does he believe and think the things he does? Should he believe and act in certain ways just because it seems customary? And if not, how should he believe and act? These are the sorts of questions wrangled with by the Nietzschean school. The answers are often disturbing and exciting.

Epistemology & Metaphysics

"I think therefore I am"--possibly the most famous line in all philosophy, spoken by Descartes, who also pioneered the coordinate axes of analytical geometry. What is thinking? What can I learn about myself and about the world through thought? Are my senses trustworthy? These are Cartesian questions, and the foundations of modern epistemology, the study of knowledge. If we can't trust our mind and our senses, then it is possible that philosophy just isn't worthwhile. But even if we can trust them, it is possible that the truth is something that we can easily misconstrue. Thus a philosopher should beware mistaking anything for absolute truth, for he may discover evidence to the contrary. Epistemology is a cornerstone of modern science, because both schools are judicious and selective in admitting criteria for thought. Metaphysics is what picks up where physics lets off--in other words, what is not yet subject to the analysis of science.

Philosophical Ethics

Ethics is about behavior--what is the best course of conduct for someone to follow in a certain setting? This question is open to very liberal interpretation, and usually depends on other values held by the philosopher. Sometimes certain actions can be ethical at one time, but not ethical at other times: for instance, making your child wear a coat when he plays outside--that is ethical in the winter, but unethical in the summer. Something doesn't have to be moral or immoral to be either ethical or unethical; it just has to stand in a certain relation to other things.

Enigmas, Paradoxes, & Puzzles

"THIS SENTENCE IS FALSE." If you believe that the foregoing sentence is false, then what it says is truthful. However, if you believe that it is true, then you are contradicted by the content of the sentence. This is a good example of the Paradox, a philosophical conundrum that vexes the mind for a rational answer.

Philosophy of Language

The German language is very gruff, abrupt, and mechanical-sounding; the world's best engineering has always come from Germany. The English language is heavily hybridized from French, Latin, Old English, and occasional oddballs that have at various times found their way into speech; English writers basically invented the novel in the 19th century. The connection between language and the philosophical framework of its speakers is self-evident.

Shamanism and Prehistoric Religion

Primitive hunter-gatherer belief systems are the root from which all mankind's religions have sprung. These systems favor the preeminence of the shaman, a spiritual poet-warrior who was at the heart of the hunter-gatherer community. The moon and its phases were of more importance than the sun, and a direct experience of Nature was the preferred avenue of religious expression.

Occidental Paganism

The major Western polytheistic pantheons derive from a common Indo-European root-religion, which evolved in different directions parallel with the evolution of languages. These pagan systems by and large feature one or a few supreme celestial patriarch deities (Zeus, Enlil, Indra, Marduk, Odin) who thwart their predecessor or rival to assume the cosmic throne. The Sky-Father usually rules an elite echelon of deities, most often a group of 12, whose members are variously colorful, obnoxious, irascible, and contentious (Olympians, Nefilim, Aesir, Neteru). Greek divinities have more human and comedic aspects, whereas Egyptian divinities have more of praeterhuman and benevolent feel.

The Decline and Fall of Classical Paganism

The Roman Empire was remarkably tolerant of the myriad faiths under the Imperial yoke. This was largely the result of cultural syncretism--the Greek equated his Zeus and Hermes with the Egyptian Amon and Thoth, and vice versa. There was enough spiritual insight on all sides to see the essential harmonies across many belief systems. Unfortunately, tolerance and enlightenment began to wane as the Empire became less and less efficient. Faith in the traditional Greco-Roman gods was shaken when Rome could no longer rule her lands with an iron fist, and this new lack of faith filtered down from the ruling classes. The environment was ripe for the proliferation of the Mystery Cults, which offered alternatives to traditional religious systems. The Mystery Cults had a long-running underground following, but they did not take on a mass appeal until well into the progress of Western civilization. These cults eventually won out over the old religions.

Dharmic Religions

These Dharmic Religions have their roots of origin in the country or in one or more of the major religions or schools of thought of India. The Dharmic Religions forum entails all Denominations and Religious Movements relating to the major schools of Hinduism, the contemporary Hindu movements, the Ajivika faith, Jainism, the Panth movements, Sikhism, and Ayyavazhi are all to be discussed here.

Abrahamic Religions

In comparative understanding of the Abrahamic Religions, most Abrahamic Religions hold monotheistic views in their core teachings. All of these religions hold that their origins derive from one single patriarch, who was known as Avraham (the standard Hebrew translation) or Abraham (his original name in the earlier half of his life was “Abram”) The Abrahamic Religions forum entails all Denominations and Religious Movements relating to Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, Islam, Babism, and Baha’i are all to be discussed here.

Mahayana School of Thought

Mahayana (in Sanskrit meaning “Great Vehicle”) Buddhism is one of the three Yana (Vehicle’s) of Buddhism and is one of only the two major schools of Buddhist doctrine. It is chiefly and predominantly found in areas such as China, Japan, and Tibet. Discuss all things pertaining to Mahayana Buddhism here in this section.

Nikaya School of Thought

Nikaya (or better known in the West as Hinayana; in Sanskrit meaning “Low Vehicle”) Buddhism is one of the three Yana (Vehicle’s) of Buddhism and one of only the two major schools of Buddhist doctrine. It is chiefly and predominantly found in areas such as Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and Thailand. Discuss all things pertaining to Nikaya Buddhism here in this section.

Vajrayana School of Thought

Vajrayana (in Sanskrit meaning “Diamond Vehicle”) Buddhism is one of the three Yana (Vehicle’s) of Buddhism and is the leased practiced of the three Yana by the mainstream Buddhist Community. Although some scholars and students of Buddhism may not acknowledge in identifying Vajrayana as a “true” Yana unto itself and instead state that it is only a extension of Mahayana Buddhism, the mainstream Buddhist Community acknowledges it as a Yana, because of so many differences between it and Mahayana Buddhism. It is chiefly and predominantly found in areas such as India, Japan, and Tibet. Discuss all things pertaining to Vajrayana Buddhism here in this section.

Tao jia (Philosophical Taoism)

This form of Taoism has its schools of thought being primarily based on the early teachings from the texts of the Tao Te Ching, the Sun tzu, and the Zhuangzi. Discuss all things pertaining to Tao jia here in this section.

Tao jiao (Religious Taoism)

This form of Taoism can trace its origins back to the most well-know patriarchal figure of Taoism, Taishang Laojun (better known in the West by his more common honorary title as Lao Tzu and some Taoist scholars believe his real full-name was Li Er, although this has never been proven, do to the fact that his true name was never truly revealed in any known texts) in the era of the late Han Dynasty. Discuss all things pertaining to Tao jiao here in this section.

The Origins of Judeo-Christian Doctrines

Some individuals may say that Christianity is in many ways a "Judaism Part II," and thus only a product of Judaism. In other views, individuals believe it is an eclectic synthesis of non-Jewish systems hybridized, re-packaged, and grafted onto a Jewish foundation. It is because of these conflicting views of thought that it could be worthwhile to some to look into Christianity from all angles and get the facts straight. The only thing that we know that researchers can agree on with certainty is that Christianity emerged from a Hellenistic culture and was propagated by people literate in the Greek language. The Christian Gospels were written first in Greek--not in Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin, or any other ancient language.

The Heterogeneity of Christian Theology

Why is there so much schism and internal strife within Christianity? This is an age-old question, so the apostles and disciples of the Christian scriptures are the best go-to source for answers. Surprisingly, there is very little factual information and literature to shed light on this matter. Roman authors say nothing whatsoever about the key persons in the fledgling religion, which did not really come into its own until the early 4th century with Constantine. Luckily, we are able to make some reasonable assumptions and conjectures about the earliest species of Christianity.

Who Were the First Christians?

Find out who, what, where, when, and why!

Meditation

Forum relating to Meditation news, ideals and discussion.

Practices

What works for you?

Problems

Where are you getting stuck and needing help?

Jnana Yoga

Meaning the “path of knowledge”, jnana yoga is studied by an transcendentalist in means of better understanding the relationship roles that both the kshetra (field of activity, the body) and the kshetra-jna (knower of the body, the spirit) hold with one another and seperate roles they have from one another. Jnana yoga is found in the Bhagavad Gita (translates as “Song of the Gods”), a Hindu sarced Sanskrit text, which comes from the Bhishma Parva in the Mahabharata epic.

Raja Yoga

Known in English as “royal yoga” or more simply as classical yoga, Raja Yoga was first introduce by Swami Swatmarama (15th〜16th century yogic sage) in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (the oldest known surviving text manual on the Hatha Yoga and is one of only three classical texts of the Hatha Yoga as well) to India in the 15th century. Raja Yoga focuses on concerning itself more importantly with the mind of the practitioner and enables them to delve further into the mental aspects of yoga.

Japa Yoga

Deriving from the Sanskrit root “jap-”, meaning “recite internally or to utter quietly”, the word Japa by some scholars fully translates out to as “to reflect upon creation with use of sound”. This is thought do to the last letter “a” in Japa, do to the fact that the letter “a” in the most Hindu philosophies represents the idea for creation. Japa Yoga involves the usage of a variety of mantra, which include syllable(s), poetic phrase(s) or sentence(s) intended at times to be recited in repetition, thereby enabling the practitioner to achieve a specific state of consciousness depending on the mantra in use.

Bhakti Yoga

The Sanskrit term “bhakti” signifies in denoting the fostering of devoted-ness in love towards the aspect of personal relation in one’s appeal that one has to God. Bhakti Yoga is seen specifically as a spiritual development practice and is considered general to be the least strenuous of the four paths (other paths included Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga) toward Moksha (Sanskrit for liberation).

Hatha Yoga

Sometimes known as Hatha Vidya, the system of Hatha Yoga was first brought to the attention to the India people in the 15 century by a sage known as Yogi Swatmarama. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is considered to be one of the most comprehensively constructed text for Hatha Yoga written by Yogi Swatmarama. Hatha Yoga included a variety of asanas (postures) and pranayama (breath control) in its physical exercises and ethical disciplines, this contributes to why so many hold it in view as a holistic yogic path.

Karma Yoga

Meaning the “discipline of action”, Karma Yoga is sometimes known a Buddhi Yoga as well. Karma Yoga bases its teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, which is a whole chapter from the greater work known as Mahabharata dedicated to the summary of the processes of Karma Yoga through the dialogue between Krishna, Prince Arjuna, his friend, and chariot driver. Karma Yoga concerns itself with the intent on unwavering adherence towards the Dharma (Sanskrit for duty), while at the same time still maintaining detachment without consideration for personal desires of the rewards for certain actions taken while following one’s Dharma.

Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Medicine

Being a Sanskrit tatpurusha compound, the word Ayurveda derives from the word “ayus”, referring to “life principle” and the word “veda”, meaning a “system of knowledge”; together these words form Ayurveda and thus basically translate out to mean “knowledge of the life principle”. Ayurveda is used as a preventive and rehabilitating measure rooted in holistic approaches based upon Vedic culture and philosophies. Native to a large section of the Indian subcontinent apart of the Asian continent, Ayuveda is still commonly seen and practiced in present day India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka by millions individuals.

Katsugen undo

Translated into English as “regenerating movement exercise”, Katsugen undo or Katsugen as it is usually called, is type of Seitai exercise, which has the practitioner undergo a series of two specific preparatory movements enabling the individual to safely consciously induce katsugen undo, were the practitioner will then processed to relieve their conscious control over their physical body in allowing their physical body to begin a self healing process. The Katsugen undo was developed by Haruchika Noguchi (1911〜1976), the founder of Seitai in Japan.

Nishi-shiki

Founded by Katsuzo Nishi (1884〜1959), who was an avid aikidoka (aikido practitioner), aikido teacher, and engineer in 1927, Nishi-shiki has many of its exercises incorporated into aikido. Nishi-shiki is commonly referred to by many in the west as the Nishi Health System. The purpose of Nishi-shiki is to maintain personal care of self-welfare through a practice which consists of certain health oriented exercises directed in relation to specific functionalities of how the body may better regulate itself.

Modern Art

Forum relating to Modern art news, ideals and discussion.

 Music

Classical Music

Forum relating to Classical Music and its ideals and expression.

Liu He Ba Fa Chuan or Liuhebafa

Although originally known as “Water Boxing”, Liuhebafa in English translates out to as the “Six Harmonies Eight Methods”. Credited with development of Liuhebafa was a Taoist sage known by the sage name Chen Hsi I (given name was Chen Tuan). Chen Hsi I (871〜989) is associated with numerous achievements, most notable known for Taiji ruler, a Qi (better known as Chi) cultivation method.

Aiki

The Japanese word means “joining spirit, combining energy, or harmonious energy”. Aiki is seen in use in such Japanese martial arts as Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu (widely known in the beginning of the early 20th century, founded by Takeda Sokaku (1859〜1943)) and Aikido (established during the late 1920’s and developed on through the 1930’s, it was created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883〜1969)).

Ki

The Great Outdoors

Biking, boating, fishing, hunting, travel, and recreation

The Comfortable Indoors

Foods, home improvements, recipes, kitchen ideas and fiascoes

Vegetarian & Vegan

Discussion for the best restaurants, foods, news and more

Red Carpet Flims

Inform us on the new or upcoming movies and DVDs that are planned to arrive or are already in theaters or on shelves now or are going to be in the upcoming months.

Tunes

Discuss CDs
 
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