truth_seeker

Fateh whould you consider a marriage for a visa or to exchange citizenship? Not talking about money, just helping each other.

How about taking the UK over?

I`Tony too.

Wherever you live, go out in the evening-time as the light begins to fade, before night falls. Look at the setting Sun and the rising Moon. See the beauty of their colours. Wait for the stars to come out. Know that the whole of Creation is the sign of God's presence among us. The Sun that gives hope in the light of day. The Moon that gives hope in the dark of night. And all the starways are but the pathways of the angels and the saints, a mighty host in number, praying for you. You live by a lake? Listen to the tiny waves lapping on the shore. You are listening to the gentle touch of God, Who envelops your soul with His mercy. You live by the sea? Listen to the ocean breakers crashing on the shore. You are listening to the strength of God, Whose laws govern the whole universe. The Spirit is on the waters. By the Will of the Almighty, know that the waves have broken on these shores for thousands of years before you. And if God grants it, long after you have left this world, the waves will still be breaking on the countless grains of sand and listened to by generations unborn. It is raining? Each raindrop contains within itself a rainbow. It is snowing? Each snowdrop is a miracle which cannot be imitated. Rain or snow, know that God is purifying His world. You live in a great city? Go out into the avenues lined with trees, the squares, the parks and the gardens. Listen to the rustling whisper of the leaves in the breeze. The breeze is the breath of God, giving life. The leaves speak of the wisdom of the Creator. Look at the blades of grass, almost infinite in number, but never as many as God's mercies. Look at the faces of the flowers, each grown by miracle from a tiny seed, all different, as the faces of humanity looking up to God. However clever man may grow, however many his workshops and laboratories, he will never be able to create a single leaf, or a single blade of grass, or a single blossom. The forests and the fields, the mountains and the streams, the hills and the lakes, the oceans and the seas, the whole of Creation is but a mirror of the power and beauty of God. In the freshness of the spring green, in the stillness of the summer heat, in the suddenness of the autumn gale, in the coldness of the winter ice, know that God is here, with you. You are lonely? Why? You are never alone, for wherever you go, the hosts of the Creator go with you. You are depressed? Why? Whatever manmade pain now afflicts you, your soul will soon go beyond time and space into the warmth of Godmade Love. Chase away your sorrow! God is with you, in all the beauty that He has made for you.

Thank you for this link. Great to give as a present

Thats the one, too bad they did not reply, but thanks for the others as well got more than I expected, very usefull

Anyone any clue on the college? I remember seeing their site, but its gone..

some thoughts... the islamic creed states ..and mohammad is his prophet, meaning no other person can bring you closer to God. If you reject mohammad ,you reject God. Allah is´nt a name, its the arabic for God, in the bible God is called Allah as well. This shahada seems more like a response to somethin, as it starts with a negation.

Good one, but I think its important to keep balance, do a good job, not because of the money alone, but because it will help others. Thats not greed, greed is wanting things way beyond your needs. Enjoy what is there,but remember not to become attached. Its ok to be happy when you achieve something, but dont look down on others because of it. Lust is not love, its pure desire without care and respect.

HISTORY Our story begins on the Steppes of Central Asia with the advent ot the Prophet Zarathustra (or Zoroaster, as he was called in the Greek literature). Scholars place Zarathustra at 1768 BC i.e. the time he revealed his divine message. The faith flourished through the rise and fall of many civilizations. For a thousand years (558 B.C. to 652 A.D.) it was the court religion of three Persian Empires, those of the Achaemenians, the Parthians and the Sassanians, and stretched across Asia from Greece in the west to the Hindu Kush in the east, up into Southern Russia, and down into Egypt. Its followers numbered in the millions. One of Zarathustra's first disciples was King Vistashpa, ruler of Bactria. The religion then spread through Persia, and became the State religion of the Achaemenian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 558 BC It suffered a setback during the reign of Darius II, when Alexander conquered Persia in 330 BC. At this time the seat of the Empire at Persepolis was destroyed. After a revival during the Parthian (256 BC to 226 AD) and Sassanian (226 AD to 652 AD) periods, it reeled once again with the Muslim invasion of Persia in 652 AD. At this time, a large number accepted Islam but others remained with theirs old faith going through a lot of troubles. Meanwhile a few shiploads of devotees fled and landed on the western shores of India where the native Hindu ruler gave them refuge. Their descendants, the Parsees, still keep their faith alive, in India. THE ZOROASTRIAN ETHIC Zarathustra preached the monotheistic religion of the One Supreme God, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) His message is a positive, life-affirming, active principled one, which demands not so much belief, as reason and action on the part of every individual. His was not a prescriptive ethic based on obedience, fear or love, but rather, an ethic of personal responsibility. A Zoroastrian is taught to lead an industrious, honest and, above all, charitable life. There is no place for asceticism. The generation of wealth is part of the ethos, as long as it is achieved honestly, and used for charitable purposes. Zarathustra asked his listeners to attend to his teachings, and with care and clear mind, choose a life of intelligent reflection and active benevolence. The quintessence of Zoroaster's teachings are embodied in the triad: HUMATA-Good Thoughts HUKHTA-Good Words HVARSHTA-Good Deeds The loftiest ideal for man is to emulate the Amesha Spentas or attributes of Ahura Mazda, which are The Primal Principle of Life. Vohu Manah is the Good Mind, Good Thinking. It stands for the discerning wisdom and thorough thinking required for leading a useful life. It is the generator of Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds. Zarathustra declared that man must think for himself before he can believe. He is given the freedom to choose between good and evil, and the responsibility to reap the consequences. Asha is the Divine Law - it embodies Righteousness, Truth, order, Justice and Progress. It is the universal law of righteous precision. Every Zoroastrian strives to follow the Path of Asha in its highest and deepest spiritual sense. Khshathra denotes the "power" to settle in peace. Used with the adjective of vohu, good, or vairya, to be chosen, it stands for benevolent power, good rule, and the chosen order. It is chosen by free and wise people as their ideal order in spirit and matter. It is the divine dominion. It is democracy in mind and body, in thought, words and deeds in every social activity. Armaity, means "tranquility, stability and serenity". It is peace and prosperity. When used with the adjective spenta, it means the "ever-increasing serene peace" achieved by adhering to the Primal Principle of Life. Haurvatat wholeness and completion. It is the perfecting process and final completion of our material and spiritual evolution. Ameratat means "deathlessness" and "Immortally". Together with Haurvatat, it is the ultimate goal and represents the completion of our evolutionary development and the final achievement of our life on earth. ZOROASTRIAN VIEW OF THE WORLD Zarathustra presents a view of the world in which Ahura Mazda originally creates an ideal existence in accordance with the Law of Asha. As the world progresses, there is Conflict between the opposing forces of Good (Spenta Mainyu) and Evil (Angra Mainyu). In this ethical drama, Ahura Mazda gives man not only the freedom to Choose between Good and Evil, but also the responsibility to actively promote Good, vanquish evil, and move not only himself, but the whole world towards frashokereti, the final resurrection, When all will be in a state of perfection and everlasting bliss. This commitment to a life of bringing about a happy, harmonious, morally perfect social order, is what the Prophet offered as the Zoroastrian faith. RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Veneration of the elements of nature (Fire, the Sun, the Earth and the Waters) and promoting a mutually beneficial existence with these elements, is central to Zoroastrian thought, placing this ancient religion well ahead of its time. SACRED TEXTS The scriptures of Zarathustra are contained in the ancient texts, The Avesta, written in the Avestan lanquage. Of these, the divine hymns, the Gathas, are the words of Prophet Zaratustra himself. THE ETERNAL FLAME Zoroastrian rituals and prayers are solemnized in the presence of an eternal flame, which is scrupulously tended with sandalwood and frankincense and kept burning in a silver urn in the inner sanctum of every Zoroastrian temple. Fire is revered as a visible symbol of the Inner Light, the inner flame that burns within each person. It is a physical representation of the Illumined Mind, Light and Truth, all highly regarded in the Zoroastrian doctrine. Despite its pre-historic origins, Zoroastrianism has vehemently denounced idolatry in any shape or form. CEREMONIES Sedreh-pushi (Initiation) Ceremony Every Zoroastrian child is officially initiated into the faith with the sedreh-pushi (navjote) ceremony, at which time he or she is invested with the sacred Sedreh and Koshti, accompanied with recitation from the Avesta. The Sedreh is an undershirt of pure white muslin with a small symbolic pocket in front reminding the wearer to fill it every day with Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds. The Koshti, a woolen cord, signifies that the wearer has girded him- or herself to practice the teachings of Zarathustra. Wedding Ceremony The wedding ceremony is a time of rejoicing. A happily married man and woman with progeny are God's best soldiers on this earth, and held in the highest regard. The wedding is performed by priests who recite passages from the Avesta and bless the couple, showering them with rice and rose petals. The ceremony is followed by a banquet for family and friends. Funeral Ceremony The Zoroastrian regards the soul of the dead more important than the physical remains and extensive prayers for the dead are an integral part of Zoroastrian rituals. In India the body, after due reverence, is placed in the "Towers of Silence", located on hilltops open to the sky and given free access to birds of prey. The bones are bleached and crumble to dust over time. No monument is erected for it is hoped that the departed will live on in the hearts and prayers of their loved ones. In other parts of the world, burial or cremation is the norm. http://www.webzc.com/ http://www.zoroastrianism.cc/

:shock: Ehh , both are not races, just because both aint going around trying to convert, does not mean you cant join

You're like a dragon. Dragons where the terrible creatures that lived in large caves and often swooped down out of the sky and stole sheep, cows, and even people from the countryside to eat.

create a library with all texts, arts, sounds, images, etc related to sikhi. educate people so that they cherish their heritage and protect it. educate also non sikhs, show them the great value of sikh culture. learn old trade skills and offer your time to preserve and restore historic sites.

fastest growing is not the same as largest numbers. mormons are gaining fast. islam does too, theres is general movement, people in western regions tend to move towards "eastern" religions, but christianity is growing in korea and japan

I dont see a connection between OBL/ qaeda and saddam, I mean OBL is radical salafi islam, while saddam was more or less secular.