Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all Men

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 9:58 am

Celebrate people, love you all peace

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 10:14 am

It's snowing like crazy now and I can't get the tv forcast because all the lazy weathermen have the day off. The web forcast calls for light rain in my area. There are no plows in sight either. This is what happens when you don't have enough separation of church and state!!! grrrrrr.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Wed Dec 25, 2002 10:18 am

If someone from weather.com is reading this could you please come over to my house and shovel the 3 inches of "light rain" from my sidewalk and driveway. TIA.

Post by **Neil B** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 11:59 am

Oh dear dear me - what have I done?
All I did was to wish people a Merry Christmas and thank you all for your friendship over the year. I didn't intend to stir up a religious discussion on this, the most peaceful and friendly of web sites.
For the record I abhor CommercialMass and the greed that surrounds it. Perhaps abhor isn't even strong enough. I abhor the corruption of the true reason for Christmas even though it should be around September and it's probably 2008 now anyway.
I agree with a lot of you about how wrong Christmas is - the way it is now "celebrated". In all my mails this year I have always thanked everyone for their help at the time. I only felt like wishing you all some time to relax and enjoy yourselves during Partymass, and thanking you once again at a time of year when people get a bit extra gooey!
Let's not dwell on any differences but enjoy the break eh?
For the record I am a committed Christian and have been for about 28 years.
Eliam - I was about to put my lamp back under a bushel, but PTL, you wore your heart on your sleeve so thanks for that.
Well, it is the 26th Dec as I write this, so carry on partying guys and I hope that you all enjoyed yesterday however you spent it and will have a good time right through the party season into the New Year.

I REALLY hope that I haven't put my foot in it and started something negative. I think to much of you all to want that to happen.

Interesting concept though - a female Buddhist synth player

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 1:14 pm

Christmas passed by rather peacefully this year. I'm pretty happy with that. It's very usual in Japan to have an "off" Christmas, since Christmas isn't an official vacation in Japan. So, people gather beforehand, say, on the 20th or something, and just have Christmas dinner anyway. So I had one of those, and on Christmas eve and Christmas, I did nothing. Was kind of sad, but heck.. if they gotta work, they gotta work. Half the people in Japan don't know why they're celebrating Christmas anyway.

eliam · Post by **eliam** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 2:18 pm

Neil, I find this thread positive!

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who believes in God on this forum!

Ken, for the first time in my life, I stayed home for Christmas, because I find that in the family reunion, no one really cares about the real meaning of this celebration. So I stayed home to meditate with Jesus and be relaxed enough to feel the onrushing of Cosmic Love that the Great Masters are sending to the Earth to bless us all and help expand the constructive activities which will permit harmony to conquer mankind and the planet once again.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 2:56 pm

Happy Christmas to you all, Z friends, whatever it means for you!

I prefer to remove my before post not because I believe there is something wrong with it, but to contribute to what John has asked us to do recently, avoiding to talk about religion. I will leave the prayers though, cos they are beautiful.

[ This Message was edited by: nestor on 2003-01-27 01:15 ]

Post by **Neil B** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 3:38 pm

Nestor, I respect your reply very much indeed (and have I become a first officer everywhere on the forum now?)

My fear is that religion and faith (vastly different) has caused endless ill in this world throughout history. My concern was that this topic had arisen on a planet (Z) where everyone coexists in, I think, a wonderful harmony, sharing a common vision - that of producing damn good music for each other and for ourselves.
This forum is so different to many others where forum responses are oftem "RTFM" as an example. This forum breeds fun, friendship and cooperation between its members and a genuine desire to look out for each other and to support each other.
There is rarely a posting on this forum that I would not be prepared to show my wife, friends and family becuase there is rarely foul language (I'm no prude but I don't like it) and no blasphemy such as "Oh My God" which can be heard on every TV program and most people's lips. Again I'm no prude but it does genuinely hurt me when I hear blasphemy.
So what have we got? A very civilised website of adult musicians, engineers, producers and the like who have respect for each other. My concern was that the topic of religion or faith would destabilise many wonderful relationships that exist here. Off-Topic forum or not, I do not feel that we should further this thread for the sake of our genuine love for each other.
I firmly believe that you (we) are a great bunch of genuine loving people from all walks of life, all faiths perhaps, creeds, colour and so on - and it works perfectly. So let's not spoil it because I wished you all a nice time and the subject went in a different direction. For one thing I could not cope with the guilt or blame if that were to happen. This site means too much to me. My heart is on my sleeve now and I will not discuss my faith or religion again on this site. You all have my email address!!!!

I could go on about the emails Chief Scientist Chris Werner and I have shared recently regarding Christmas, the poor, the widowed, the lonely, but I don't need to.
I understand Christmas for what it now is and what it should be - as do we all, faith or not.

This site has the proof that we can all work together and share together in peace - I don't want that to change.
If I could leave it with one more thought - whatever our backgrounds and beliefs -
The easiest way for evil to grow in this world is for the good to do nothing.

You guys, to me, are all good (and we all have failings so don't start glowing like saints)and this planet Z has the means to prove that by our help and support we are being and doing good to our fellow men.
Thank you again for your support since I joined this site and however you are celebrating whatever you are celebrating - enjoy it.

I am worried though because I am developing some Christian meditational (spacey) music for our church house study groups - perhaps I won't dare to upload them now. Perhaps I'll change their names. Nah - why not - "Cathedral of the Horsehead Nebula" sounds much better than "A nice relaxing Track"

Bye for now

Neil B

eliam · Post by **eliam** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 4:56 pm

Please, Neil, do yourself and PZ a favor and BE AT PEACE! This thread IS constructive, and these meaningful reflexions could never be exchanged in any other forum that I know. Guilt is not the Divine Plan, so please, just let things unfold, for if you wouldn't have started this thread, these issues would probably have come up anyway, here or elsewhere...

Nestor, if I follow your thoughts, you affirm that one who believes that there is a Cosmic Intelligence believes the same thing as one who thinks there is no such Supreme Creative Principle?

Personally, I'm not into convincing people, but rather helping them as much as I can through radiating kindness and love.

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 5:56 pm

maybe nestor says that who believes and who doesn't believe often share the same mental behaviour of asserting without knowing....

but how could we define the skeptical mentality?
for me the problem is to accept the "truth" as something absolute, or accepting as absolute anything that is the product of mental activity....maybe i could accept as absolute something related with the biological needs that we all share, including the need to be safe i.e. "loved"...

but what humanity produces to achieve the satisfaction of these needs, are strategies,
and they are "related" to centuries, places,histories, and they are so much different, that saying that one is "true" and the others are "false" sounds too violent and blind for me.

so if we really need the "truth" (i'm not crazy for it), it could be searched (found it's too much)in what is true for all of us on earth, included the atheists, the papuas and the baptists, leaving to the relativity of history all the things that are different in different cultures and in different ages...how can be the "truth" something that is not owned by all? otherwise someone is better than all the others...and you know where this insane idea brings...

love to you all!

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Thu Dec 26, 2002 7:44 pm

I hope it wasn't any of my comments about Christians and Christmas that upset our believer friends ? My only aim was to reinforce the historical fact that celebrations around the winter solstice pre-date Christianity and were hijacked by the early church.

That is certainly *NOT* to criticise anyone's fundamental beliefs or to deny or argue about their validity.

NeilB I do hope you don't rename your tracks - no need for any censorship amongst your friends !

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 1:23 am

okay peeps, let's just leave it at that. don't elaborate.

Post by **Neil B** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:20 am

Hello Spirit
No offence taken from anyone's comments at all. I agree with Ken - lets leave it at that before someone is offended.
When I eventually get back from deep space I don't want to send the lads around to anyone

Thinking about the old pagan rituals that were hijacked such as the winter solstice - I'll bet we could have an interesting thread on Spring and the relevance of maypoles

Neil B - happily installing some Akai samples that someone named Santa sent to me

[ This Message was edited by: Neil B on 2002-12-27 03:04 ]

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:06 am

God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:18 am

Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy;

Grant that I might not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying to oneself that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:30 am

Sura Fatiha, The Islamic Lord's Prayer

Praise be to Allah
The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds
Most Gracious , Most Merciful
Master of the day of judgement

Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek
Show us the straight way;
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace
Those whose (portion) is not wrath
And who go not astray.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:33 am

This is an Navajo Indian Prayer

O you who dwell In the house made of the dawn,

In the house made of the evening twilight . . .
Where the dark mist curtains the doorway,
The path to which is on the rainbow . . .
I have made your sacrifice.
I have prepared a smoke for you.

My feet restore for me.
My limbs restore for me.
My body restore for me.
My mind restore for me.
My voice restore for me.

Today, take away your spell from me.
Away from me you have taken it.
Far Off from me you have taken it.

Happily I recover.
Happily my interior becomes cool.
Happily my eyes regain their power.
Happily my head becomes cool.
Happily my limbs regain their power.
Happily I hear again.
Happily for me the spell is taken Off.

Happily I walk.
Impervious to pain, I walk.
Feeling light within, I walk . . .
In beauty I walk.
With beauty before me, I walk.
With beauty behind me, I walk.
With beauty below me, I walk.
With beauty all around me, I walk.

It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty

_________________
Music is the most Powerful Language in the world! *INDEED*

[ This Message was edited by: nestor on 2002-12-27 11:57 ]

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:35 am

A lovely Thanksgiving Prayer – American Indian

Great and Eternal Mystery of Life, Creator of All Things, I give thanks for the beauty You put in every single one of Your creations.

I am grateful that You did not fail in making every stone, plant, creature, and human being a perfect and whole part of the Sacred Hoop.

I am grateful that You have allowed me to see the strength and beauty of All My Relations.

My humble request is that all of the Children of Earth will learn to see the same perfection in themselves.

May none of Your human children doubt or question Your wisdom, grace, and sense of wholeness in giving all of Creation a right to be living extensions of Your perfect love.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:37 am

Buddhist Morning Prayer
from the Sukhavativyuha Sutra

Full of equanimity,

of benevolent thought,
of tender thought,
of affectionate thought,
of useful thought,
of serene thought,
of firm thought,
of unbiased thought,
of undisturbed thought,
of unagitated thought,
of thought (fixed on) the practice of discipline and transcendent wisdom,
having entered on knowledge which is a firm support to all thoughts,
equal to the ocean in wisdom,
equal to the mountain Meru in knowledge,
rich in many good qualities....
they attain perfect wisdom.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:39 am

This is the Jewish Bedtime Prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who causes the bonds of sleep to fall on my eyes, and slumber on my eyelids.

May it be acceptable in your presence, O Lord my God, and God of my fathers, to cause me to lie down in peace, and to raise me up again in peace; and suffer me not to be troubled with evil dreams, or evil reflections; but grant me a calm and uninterrupted repose in your presence; and enlighten my eyes again, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

Blessed are you, O Lord, who gives light to the whole universe in your glory.