Does anyone watch House, M.D. here?

[Guest guest]

Or any TV show that deals with science and faith? For that matter, do any of you encounter material in whatever form that debunks spirituality and favors science? Even go so far as to say that people who are spiritual are loons, sick in some way, or just plain fools, and that there's a totally rational explanation for something that at face value would appear miraculous and divine?

 

If so, how does everyone here deal with this, when it conflicts with their faith? I'm not one to believe in blind faith, but I do want to believe in God, and I try to. I meditate everyday on God, and for at least a little while it's feels nice, but I start doubting again once I come face to face with material that may conflict with my faith.

 

The reason I bring this all up is because I just saw a preview for the show House, M.D. that will be coming next week about a person who believes he talks to God and can "heal" people. Knowing House, M.D.'s modus operandi, I know there will be an illness at the root of it that's causing this "delusion", and I anticipate this will be a very difficult episode to watch.

 

At the same time, I can't help but watch, because I don't think shielding myself from things that conflict with my faith is the right way to go about things, so the idea of averting such shows is not the answer I'm looking for.

 

By the way, I am looking for answers from people who genuinely believe in God and can understand my position.

[Guest guest]

not that it should matter, as this is a general problem common to all faiths.

[Guest guest]

So I take it nobody watches anything around here, or reads anything that may run counter to their faith????

[Guest guest]

Never seen that show and I can tell it would not interest me. I can't stand to listen to all those windbag psychologists, scientists and skeptics, who try to debunk all things supernatural and spiritual. A whole tv series that focuses on that would definitely not be what I call good entertainment.

 

Anyway, I prefer Sci-fi.

[Guest guest]

Meditation is very beneficial for the restless mind. It will still the chaotic, confused mind and bring clarity and states of higher consciousness. And then along with meditation, chanting mantras like Om Namah Shivaya and the Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra will also help clear doubts and establish a connection with the spiritual world.

 

I find reading the Bhagavad Gita and uplifting texts like the Upanishads, when I feel down always bring light into the dark realms of doubt and despair.

 

Know, friend, so many of us also face the same mental battles and you are not alone. Our minds can get so covered by Maya, especially here in the west, where we are surrounded by materialists and exoteric religionists, who are always questioning and denying the metaphysical realites we have come to recognize.. so it's good to be around other like-minded spiritual folk and have Satsang when possible.

[Guest guest]

 

Meditation is very beneficial for the restless mind. It will still the chaotic, confused mind and bring clarity and states of higher consciousness. And then along with meditation, chanting mantras like Om Namah Shivaya and the Hare-Krishna Maha-Mantra will also help clear doubts and establish a connection with the spiritual world.

 

I find reading the Bhagavad Gita and uplifting texts like the Upanishads, when I feel down always bring light into the dark realms of doubt and despair.

 

Know, friend, so many of us also face the same mental battles and you are not alone. Our minds can get so covered by Maya, especially here in the west, where we are surrounded by materialists and exoteric religionists, who are always questioning and denying the metaphysical realites we have come to recognize.. so it's good to be around other like-minded spiritual folk and have Satsang when possible.

 

I meditate, and while it sort of calms me down, it may all be just psychological. At the very least I haven't really noticed much going on with my meditation and I have been doing it for over a year now (well, I had stopped for a little while on occasion as I was very depressed with the lack of progress, but then I would start it again).

 

I have several relatives who have had "experiences" so to speak of higher planes of consciousness, who have been on the receiving end of miracles, and I MIGHT have had one (though I can't be too sure for my case). The problem is, they could all be explained away psychologically, or at least that is my fear.

 

I know of a brahmin who "talks" to God in the form of Amba ma, and he is one who brings at least some measure of hope to me that all this is valid, along with my relatives' experiences, however, this coming episode of House, M.D. really hits close to home for me so to speak, as it seems they're going to take the atheistic stance as usual and assign it as some illness. Of course, I haven't seen this episode yet, and there is the possibility it will surprise me, though I am anticipating this coming episode will depress me a lot. It's a good show, though often exceedingly cynical and depressing, but I also find it intellectually stimulating at the same time.

 

I just don't think it's in my best interest to shy away from such a controversial episode as I think I should be able to cultivate enough faith somehow to encounter such roadblocks in life. I plan on entering into a career of science and medicine and I anticipate this is going to be an issue that I will have to struggle with throughout my life. I wonder how others in my position cope, what they think, how they resolve these conflicts within themselves, how they have so much faith, where they find the strength to encounter roadblocks and take them on and still rise above them (presuming they do, if they don't, I'd still like to hear about that). Also I would like to hear of any experiences they've had that they would deem real beyond a doubt and not of a psychological nature, and why they regard it so.

 

Admittedly, this is a loaded discussion, but it's one that I think I should be having with others of like mind (very hard to find around myself, at least ones who are willing to discuss it).

 

By the way, those who have responded, thanks a lot, I would really appreciate further discussion about all of this.

[Guest guest]

 

I meditate, and while it sort of calms me down, it may all be just psychological. At the very least I haven't really noticed much going on with my meditation and I have been doing it for over a year now (well, I had stopped for a little while on occasion as I was very depressed with the lack of progress, but then I would start it again).

 

I have several relatives who have had "experiences" so to speak of higher planes of consciousness, who have been on the receiving end of miracles, and I MIGHT have had one (though I can't be too sure for my case). The problem is, they could all be explained away psychologically, or at least that is my fear.

 

I know of a brahmin who "talks" to God in the form of Amba ma, and he is one who brings at least some measure of hope to me that all this is valid, along with my relatives' experiences, however, this coming episode of House, M.D. really hits close to home for me so to speak, as it seems they're going to take the atheistic stance as usual and assign it as some illness. Of course, I haven't seen this episode yet, and there is the possibility it will surprise me, though I am anticipating this coming episode will depress me a lot. It's a good show, though often exceedingly cynical and depressing, but I also find it intellectually stimulating at the same time.

 

I just don't think it's in my best interest to shy away from such a controversial episode as I think I should be able to cultivate enough faith somehow to encounter such roadblocks in life. I plan on entering into a career of science and medicine and I anticipate this is going to be an issue that I will have to struggle with throughout my life. I wonder how others in my position cope, what they think, how they resolve these conflicts within themselves, how they have so much faith, where they find the strength to encounter roadblocks and take them on and still rise above them (presuming they do, if they don't, I'd still like to hear about that). Also I would like to hear of any experiences they've had that they would deem real beyond a doubt and not of a psychological nature, and why they regard it so.

 

Admittedly, this is a loaded discussion, but it's one that I think I should be having with others of like mind (very hard to find around myself, at least ones who are willing to discuss it).

 

By the way, those who have responded, thanks a lot, I would really appreciate further discussion about all of this.

Hi.. well I understand your doubts. Altho my doubts have never been so much in thinking that the spiritual realm was unreal, but rather what is the Absolute Truth?

 

I have had paranormal experiences, where I found myself in my astral body floating around the house. So I have no doubt that there is a metaphysical world that is real. But what I sometimes do struggle with, however, is in knowing which is the purest spiritual path, and who God is.. and just what the afterlife entails, etc.. there are just so many different beliefs and rhetoric out there, it can be hard making sense of it all.

 

I can say, I have found the most answers in the teachings of Sanatana Dharma. But it's been a long and emotional ride that has brought me to the understanding I have today.

 

I was raised as a Christian, and their worldview was very indoctrinated into me. It is nothing like the Hindu perspective; nothing whatsoever. It is taught among born again Christians that hinduism is an evil pagan religion, and things like meditation and the like, are tools of satan meant to lead your soul to hell. It is also taught that we only have one lifetime to find a personal relationship with God thru Jesus Christ, or we will be damned for all eternity. No matter how good or sincere we are in seeking for spiritual answers.

 

Anyway, to make a long story short, I eventually, went thru a faith crisis and left the Christian religion. I could no longer believe in their teachings on eternal damnation. I could not understand how God only gave us one life and then everyone who was not of the right religion, or was not "truly saved", even if they thought they were a Christian, would then be damned for all eternity. This belief system caused me untold grief in my life. I use to have nightmares about God torturing me in hell, and I'd wake up in cold-sweats. Eventually, I saw that this can't be correct. God could not be such a monster!

 

In truth, I still sometimes struggle with anxieties and fears about burning in hell for all eternity, for leaving the Christian religion, but I can say, my fears are being eliminated with true spiritual knowledge, about our eternal souls (which existed well before this lifetime), and our eternal relationship with the Divine Father/Mother.

 

So while I honestly can't relate to your atheistic struggles, I can relate to struggles of faith in general. And I know how hard they can be. I wish you all the best... I pray you have some paranormal/spiritual experiences that will help clear up your doubts about the spiritual world.

 

This is a truly a dark world, where there is so much suffering and spiritual confusion. Yet those of us the spiritual path, genuinely seeking to know and understand, have the best chance to find relief and answers, if we do not lose our determination to find those answers.

 

I believe Lord Krishna promises in the Bhagavad Gita that transcendental knowledge will eliminate all our spiritual-confusion.. so keep seeking that transcendental knowledge and direct experience of God and your Soul, with yoga practices, meditation (or whatever else might work), etc. Don't believe anything on blind faith... experience it and know--then their will be no more doubts. A qualified Guru can give you more personal, direct advice, I'm sure.