Saturday, January 9, 2010

[ZESTCaste] USA: Can positive affirmations change anything?

http://www.edmondsun.com/features/local_story_007192225.html

Published: January 07, 2010 06:21 pm

Can positive affirmations change anything?

Voices of Faith
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

'As we think, so we become'

Lama Chuck Stanford, Rime Buddhist Center & Monastery: From the
Buddhist perspective, all we can work on is our own mind. So, a
positive attitude will definitely help us deal with the world in more
effective and compassionate ways. The Buddha said 2,500 years ago,
"The thought manifests as the word; the word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into habit; and habit hardens into character. So
watch the thought and its ways with care; let it spring from love.
Born out of concern for all beings .... The shadow follows the body
and never leaves it. In the same way, as we think, so we become."

If we examine our mind, we can see that all of our actions, by body,
speech and mind, begin first as a thought. And where do thoughts come
from? They don't arise from nothing. Thoughts manifest as a result of
past causes and conditions. Therefore, in Buddhism we often recite
supplications or aspirations to remind us of the positive or virtuous
mind states that we hope to actualize.

As part of our daily practice, we recite a type of positive
affirmation known as the Four Immeasurables, which are, "May all
beings be endowed with happiness; may all beings be free from
suffering; may all beings never be separated from happiness; may all
beings abide in equanimity, undisturbed by the eight worldly
concerns." So, positive affirmations are powerful ways of reminding
ourselves of how we want to live our lives.

Affirmative truth can halt unjust practice

Pastor Raymond Davis Jr., Greater Corinthian Church of the Christ:
There are positive assertions made that resulted in notable change.

Affirmations of truth have been made down through the ages that have
impacted individuals, social, political and religious circumstances
resulting in change.

But of particular interest are assertions about religions. Religious
affirmations, statements, assertions and declarations should be in
respect of boundaries that have been in existence biblically and
theologically from the time of "In the beginning." There is this side
circumstance in every religious assertion made that falls under
side-bar scrutiny. This side-bar circumstance upholds whatever
statements are made. For example, "Jesus is the Christ" of God (1st
John 5:1). This affirmation is set in history as foundational based on
the Gospel of Salvation.

"All Men are Created Equal" is a perpetual thread of affirmative truth
based on the biblical discourse of Genesis 1:26, 27. The Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960s and the affirmative action programs are an
outgrowth of this doctrine. The purpose of such programs is to effect
change, to bring about the demise of unjust practices that are yet
beholden to the past.

In particular, the more basis of foundation for religious assertions,
the more they are able to effect change. These statements, given a
biblical history, are established in the affirmative and produce
change.


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