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Post by rdlb on Sept 12, 2015 14:01:07 GMT -6
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Post by lowell on Sept 12, 2015 15:43:00 GMT -6
Buddhism has a concept of devils and demons. The legend has it that the Buddha defeated Mara (the leader of the devils and demons) before he preached his first Sutra. When the Buddha predicted enlightenment in the Lotus Sutra for some of his disciples he predicted that in the worlds where they would be the Buddha, the Devil and his demons would be present but they would aid the Buddha, and for some other disciples he predicted that the devil and his demons would be absent from those worlds where they would be the Buddha.
He says about his disciple Mahakashyapa - "His realm will be majestically adorned, free of defilement or evil, shards or rubble, thorns or briers, or the unclean refuse of latrines. The land will be level and smooth, without high places or sags, pits or knolls. The ground will be of lapis lazuli, with rows of jeweled trees and ropes of gold to mark the boundaries of the roads. Jeweled flowers will be scattered around, and everywhere will be pure and clean. The bodhisattvas of that realm will number countless thousands of millions, and the multitude of voice-hearers will likewise be innumerable. There will be no workings of the devil, and although the devil and the devil's people will be there, they will protect the Law of the Buddha."
For his disciple Subhuti he says - "When he has finished offering alms to all the Buddhas, he will fulfill the way of the bodhisattva and will become a Buddha with the title Jambunada Gold Light Thus Come One, worthy of offerings, of right and universal knowledge perfect clarity and conduct, well gone, understanding the world, unexcelled worthy trainer of people, teacher of heavenly and human beings, Buddha, World-Honored One.
"His land will be level and smooth, the ground made of crystal, adorned with jeweled trees, with ropes of gold to mark the boundaries of the roads. Wonderful flowers will cover the ground, everywhere will be pure and clean, and all who see it will rejoice. The four evil paths of existence, hell and the realms of hungry spirits, beasts and asuras, will not exist there. There will be many heavenly and human beings, and multitudes of voice-hearers and bodhisattvas in innumerable tens of thousands of millions will adorn the land. That Buddha's life span will be twelve small kalpas, his Correct Law will endure in the world for twenty small kalpas, and his Counterfeit Law will endure in the world for twenty small kalpas."
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Post by matador on Sept 15, 2015 21:25:18 GMT -6
I spent some time reading this and even downloaded the PDF version. I have a degree in psychology and this was interesting but, there is always a but isn't there! But Swedenborg (1688-1772) was someone that we learned in the 'History of Psychology'. This essay is one that was not in the class as well as the author, Vandusen. This is old, not sure when it was published, and the references go back 70 to 100 years. To maintain my license I have to take continuing classes and I took several Theology classes that deal with Psychology and this was part of one class I took, but (again another but) it was dealing with exorcism which is rarely if even done today. Take this essay with a grain of salt since a lot of people hallucinate and it is rare to be due to madness, most of those are due to drugs. One reason I took those classes was that I do some counseling work at the Church pro-bono, plus it helped me when I have to deal with some at the local MHMR clinic. And by the way the term 'madness' is subjective and really should not be used when dealing with someone with a mental disease or disability.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2015 5:35:24 GMT -6
In the New Testament it appears that people with serious mental conditions were thought to be possessed by demons. That is rare anymore for people to even bring that up.
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Post by matador on Sept 16, 2015 11:27:12 GMT -6
In the New Testament it appears that people with serious mental conditions were thought to be possessed by demons. That is rare anymore for people to even bring that up. It is rare and falls in line with some of the horrendous treatments not in use anymore in Psychology and Psychiatry.
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Post by rdlb on Sept 16, 2015 20:50:33 GMT -6
Wilson Van Dusen instituteoftheology.org/PDF/vandeusen.pdfAt the bottom of the article's link www.theisticpsychology.org/books/w.vandusen/presence_spirits.htmwas the following link [ Source pages] [Authors: Leon James & Diane Nahl] [Webmaster: I.J. Thompson] What drew me to the article was personal experiences with demonic activities and other spirit activities around homes, lands and individuals. Whether or not one believes in those sort of things is quite immaterial to me. As a skeptic myself I found out otherwise, as there is more than what our five senses indicate as reality.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2015 6:49:25 GMT -6
I agree that there is more than what our five senses indicate. Years ago when I first got into the Pentecostal Movement That was taught but now it's seldom mentioned.
I belong to a Non Denominational Church now and I can't remember the last time anyone spoke about demons.
I occasionally preach. At one time I could have had that pastoral position, at the time I was interested.
Demons, yeah I believe they're alive and well.
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Post by rdlb on Sept 19, 2015 12:15:50 GMT -6
I agree that there is more than what our five senses indicate. Years ago when I first got into the Pentecostal Movement That was taught but now it's seldom mentioned. I belong to a Non Denominational Church now and I can't remember the last time anyone spoke about demons. I occasionally preach. At one time I could have had that pastoral position, at the time I was interested. Demons, yeah I believe they're alive and well. In our ministry we have been asked to clear homes, properties and even individuals. Since we have opened ourselves up to these spiritual encounters, we have observed certain energies have followed us home from being downtown on our personal business. Some energies are good and some not. In the precess we have learned to pray before and after going and leaving certain establishments. (WalMart, Sam's Club and restaurants, etc.,) A relative had purchased a home to rent and in the process of cleaning and repairing the home, a number of accidents had occurred. They flew us out to clear the home. Quite a few people had died in that house, old age, disease and such. Some energies did not want to leave until we arrived and cleansed the home. They were able to continue to finish getting the house ready to rent without further incidents and the renters are quite happy in the home.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2015 12:45:14 GMT -6
When I was in the assemblies of God things like that were almost common. I still believe that there are demons and some cause sickness as well as other things. The only difference now is I believe that demon possession and sickness caused by demons is more infrequent than I did then.
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Post by rdlb on Sept 19, 2015 18:17:06 GMT -6
We left the Assemblies over 40 years ago and yet remain in contact with those who still accept what has been termed, "Full Gospel". For the most part however we have no term for what our ministry is or does at the present. Eph 4:11 is about as close to it at the moment in its description. We have learned to remove spirit energies, good and bad, through love. It is not something that should be done without the Spirit of God and His leading, period.
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Post by carpathianpeasant on Sept 20, 2015 17:06:34 GMT -6
I wouldn't deny that negative auras exist, but I don't think I would call them anything like demons or even spirits.
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Post by rdlb on Sept 26, 2015 10:53:44 GMT -6
I wouldn't deny that negative auras exist, but I don't think I would call them anything like demons or even spirits. I agree with the idea of negative auras, yet I do not know if that moves objects. We have experienced the movement of objects allowing us to know of a spirit presence.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2015 5:04:22 GMT -6
I believe that spirits can influence people but can not make people do anything.
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Post by rdlb on Dec 26, 2015 13:35:54 GMT -6
I believe that spirits can influence people but can not make people do anything. I agree as it would have to be already within that individual's inclinations for the influence to be effective.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 4:28:30 GMT -6
I think we all have with in us good as well as bad thoughts. It's up to us to say which one we act upon. Naturally spirits (demons) would try to encourage us to act upon the bad things.
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