Self-Realization must be based on experience
In yoga, self-realization (atma jnana) means knowledge of the self or atma. The reason the term "realization" is used instead of "knowledge" is that jnana refers to knowledge of self based on experience, not mere intellectual knowledge.
"So within us lies that Power and that Power is anxious to give you your second birth. That Power lies as shown, lies in the triangular bone of sacrum and you can see with your naked eyes the rising of this Power. It has nothing to do with what nationality you have come from, what sort of clothes you are wearing, what sort of hair dress you have — it has nothing to do with this but it has to do something with your inner being. And while in your inner being there are certain problems which you have created out of your ignorance, and this Power being your Mother — your sweet loving Mother who has been born again and again with you — knows your problems and She knows how to correct it." Shri Mataji
Guided by the different prophets and religions through the ages, the human being has always looked for self-fulfillment and sought a way to get closer to the ‘Self’. The ultimate stage in this search and the evolution of the human being is to get back to and fully integrate the primordial energy which is at the origin of our creation.
All the religions and philosophies tell us of Union with the Divine, but are unable to make this experience a reality. This knowledge is only accessible in sayings and remains fixed at the mental level, keeping us far from the pure knowledge, which springs from the source inside human beings.
The Self-realization technique of Shri Mataji is based on a living experience, the origin of which resides within us. It allows us to gain access to a state of consciousness which is beyond thinking or emotion. This state of thoughtless awareness, which is achieved by practising Sahaja Yoga, allows us to discover and to become the real "Self."
Sahaja Yoga is the spontaneous union with the Self. Sahaj means "with," ja means "born." Yoga represents the union with the all-pervading power of God Almighty. This spontaneous experience constitutes our second birth, liberated from the influence of the mind and the emotions.
This awakening happens inside us when a subtle energy called the Kundalini ascends, thus establishing our Yoga (or union) with the primordial energy.
The Kundalini is to be found in the triangular sacrum bone at the base of the spine. This extraordinary energy rises up the length of the spinal column inside the backbone. Once awakened, it passes through all the chakras of the subtle system to emerge, finally, through the last centre at the top of our head, the Sahasrara. We then get the yoga or union with the spirit which is within us.
While the Spirit is the reflection of Almighty God, the Kundalini is the mirror of His power, of His desire within us. It is the Primordial Mother, the Adi Shakti in the Indian tradition, or the Holy Spirit according to the Christian tradition. By passing through the fontanel on the top of the head, the Kundalini brings about our Self-Realisation, second birth or baptism. When this happens, one feels a cool breeze on the palms of one’s hands and on top of the head. This is the Holy Spirit, the same cool breeze as that perceived by Christ’s disciples at Pentecost.
The Greeks identified this energy under the name of pneuma, Muslims speak of Ruh, Christ called it the Holy Spirit. Jewish mystics talk of the Shekkina and, well before that, the Sumerians worshipped Inanna, the goddess who gives spiritual birth and the sacred breath. Several thousands of years ago, Indians already spoke of Chaitanya and of the Self, which Sahaja Yoga translates as "divine vibrations". Knowledge of the existence of these vibrations is not new, but that knowledge has been lost or distorted over the centuries.
Sahaja Yoga is a unique method of meditation based on an experience called Self Realization (Kundalini awakening) that can occur within each human being. Through this process an inner transformation takes place by which one becomes moral, united, integrated and balanced.
One can actually feel the all pervading divine power as a cool breeze, as described in all religions and spiritual traditions of the world.
This is the actualization of such transformation, which is taking place now, worldwide, and has been proved and experienced by hundreds of thousands in over 90 countries.
Above are two photographs (click to enlarge) taken by Horacio Albertolli of Switzerland capturing images of the invisible Mother Kundalini, an aspect of the feminine Shakti/Holy Spirit which gives spiritual rebirth, flowing from the Mooladhara Chakra out through the Brahmarandhra (Sahasrara Chakra) of three Sahaja Yogis on June 20, 1999 during the Shri Adi Shakti Puja at Canajoharie, NY, USA. {The author of this website was present when these photos were taken and knew photographer too. Please note that the Mother Kundalini is invisible but the photographic film can detect realities invisible to the human eye.}
Some readers suspect that the above two images are that of fireworks. This is definitely not the case for the following reasons:
1) Please check photo below of a Gerb fireworks. A gerb is a type of firework which produces a jet of sparks, usually from 30 to 120 seconds. It is a thick-walled tube filled with pyrotechnic composition and possessing a choke, which is a narrowing in the tube. Gerbs are often referred to as 'fountains'.
A Gerb fireworks
Note the smoke issuing forth and compare with photos above. There is a complete absence of smoke in the two photographs above because they show the kundalini flowing out.
2) If fireworks were lit inside enclosure the smoke inhalation would have caused panic. Just try lighting them in a packed public enclosure and see what happens.
3) The webmaster of this www.adishakti.org site was standing near Horacio Albertolli as he was taking the photographs. No one saw anyone lighting fireworks.
4) The SYs are inside a large enclosure with a layer of straw strewn on the floor for parents and children to sit. Surely no one in the right frame of mind will allow anyone to light fireworks in such surroundings. (See recent May 2005 photo of same structure that has now carpets laid.)
Please note that cameras capture images that are invisible to human eyes. No one actually saw the kundalinis flowing out of the Sahasraras on that day, not even Horacio Albertolli. We are just giving photographic evidence of probably the only image of the kundalini flowing out of the Brahmarandhra. This kundalini is related to the Ruach (Cool Breeze) that is daily experienced by many taking part in the Last Judgment and Resurrection.
In order to carry out this self-discovered, self-contained and self-sustaining experiment of being "born of the water and Spirit" successfully please follow the instructions below. Unless desired, there is absolutely no need to join any Sahaja Yoga organization whatsoever to sustain spiritual growth as it is an individual journey within,:
1. Sit comfortably on a chair.
2. Take off your shoes so as to have a better contact with the earth.
3. Please familiarize with instructions 1-9 on where the right hand is to be placed on various parts of the body. The intensity of experience depends on your sincerity and pure desire. For those who want audio/video Self-realization instructions from Shri Mataji please click on link below (the video is recommended):
Online Self-Realization/Second Birth
Otherwise the procedure below is sufficient.
Areas where to place right hand during Self-realization. You may also use the term "Divine Mother", "Holy Spirit" (Christians), "Adi Shakti"(Hindus), "Ruh" (Muslims), "Shekinah" (Jews), "Prajnaparamita" (Buddhists), "Aykaa Mayee" (Sikhs), "Tao"
(Taoists), "Thian" (Confucian), or just "God Almighty" in any language you are comfortable with.
1
1. Put your right hand on your heart and silently in your heart ask the following question 3 times:
"Mother, am I the spirit?"
2
2. Putting your right hand on the upper part of your abdomen on the left-hand side of your body, silently ask the following question 3 times:
Mother, am I my own master?
3
3. Put your right hand on the lower part of your abdomen, on the left-hand side of your body, and ask the following question 6 times:
Mother, please give me pure Divine Knowledge.
4
4. Put your right hand again on the upper part of your abdomen on the left-hand side of your body, and silently affirm the following phrase 10 times:
Mother, I am my own master!
5
5. Putting your right hand again on your heart on the left-hand side of your body, silently affirm the following phrase 12 times with confidence:
Mother, I am the pure spirit!
6
6. Now place your right hand on the left-hand side of your neck, where it joins the shoulder, and turn to your right. In order to free this centre, it is necessary to get rid of all feelings of guilt. Repeat the following phrase 16 times with conviction:
Mother, I am not guilty!
7
7. Put your right hand on your forehead and lightly press the temples. Here it is necessary to forgive in order to liberate this chakra from whatever may be blocking it. Silently, and with sincerity, say the following phrase several times:
Mother, I forgive everyone in general!
8
8. Put your right hand on the back of your head and this time ask for forgiveness for all the mistakes that you have ever committed, but without feeling guilty. Repeat the following phrase several times:
O Divine Power, if I have done anything wrong knowingly or unknowingly, please forgive me!
9
9. Now close your eyes and put your right palm on top of your head, spread out your fingers and press hard with the palm of the hand. Gently massage the scalp in a clockwise movement and, with humility, ask 7 times:
Shri Mataji (Divine Mother/Holy Spirit), please give me my Self-Realization (Second Birth).
Put your hand down, meditate and remain in silence for a few minutes, with your attention still on His Spirit/Shakti within.
Instructions on how to meditate daily on His Spirit/Shakti
Before beginning daily meditation on His Spirit/Shakti within you have to do the following as shown in the diagrams below:
1) Place the left hand in front of your lower abdomen, palm facing the body.
2) Raise the left hand up vertically, until it reaches a position above your head. While the left hand is ascending, the right hand rotates around it clockwise, until both hands are above the head.
3) Use both hands to tie a knot. Repeat three times and the third time tie the knot three times.
4) Then hold the left hand out on your lap, palm upwards.
5) Place your right hand over your left hand and slowly raise your right hand over your head and down the right side of your body.
6) Then raise the right hand up the right side, back over your head and down the left side. Repeat seven times.
Now place both hands with palms open on lap/knee and meditate between 15-30 minutes.
Repeat the same procedure after finishing meditation.
Please do not be concerned or feel guilty that you are not following proper procedure or making 'mistakes' as all human rules, shortcomings, and conditioning become useless rituals as the thoughtless state attunes to the Cosmic Silence. Maintaining the Silence is the most important objective.
After Self-realization meditate twice daily on the Shakti (Holy Spirit/Ruh/Tao/Shekinah/Divine Mother/Eykaa Mayee) within yourself and begin purifying your mind, body and soul. There is no need to join any Sahaja Yoga organization or attend collective meditations, unless you want to. That is all it takes to participate in the Last Judgment and Resurrection, the promised evolution of physical humans into the eternal spirit and everlasting life as promised by each and every religion, holy scripture and messenger of God Almighty. Over a sustained period of daily meditation the cool breeze (Ruach) will begin to flow daily from the palm of your hands and top of the head, especially during meditation. Eventually it may even flow on a 24/7 basis after a year or two of daily meditation. This cool breeze (Ruach) is the sure sign that you are indeed taking part in the Last Judgment and Resurrection preordained for all humanity — you will self-certify this truth.
The coming eschatological salvation
According to Aaron-Golan in The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, "The coming eschatological salvation is envisaged in transcendent and universal terms.... in the form of both bodily resurrection and of spiritual immortality."
Professor T. Hiebert states that “Both of the major Hebrew and English dictionaries in use today include this definition, or one that goes very far towards it, among those appropriate for rûah. Gesenius’s lexicon edited by Brown, Driver, and Briggs lists this as the fourth meaning of rûah: "spirit of the living, breathing being, dwelling in the flesh of men and animals." Under this entry, references are cited which more properly ought to be listed under this lexicon’s first meaning of rûah, "breath," including many that have been cited above: Isa 42:5; Zech 12:1; Ps 104:29-30; Job 12:10, 27:3, 34:14-15; Qh 11:5, 12:7.(5) In their lexicon, Koehler and Baumgartner list this understanding as the sixth meaning of rûah: "(breath, element of life, natural) spirit of man."
Please note that the person bending down to hand or talk with someone has the cool breeze (Ruach) still suspended at its original position i.e., when he was still standing straight. The rest is trailing off their bodies as they move forward. All who are taking part in the Last Judgment and Resurrection are being purified by this Ruach. (click image to enlarge)
This Divine Wind (rûah) is proof that you are now taking part in the Last Judgment and Resurrection, the promised eschatological salvation which promises both bodily resurrection (kundalini awakening) and spiritual immortality (moksa).
"The Kundalini rises through a very thin line of Brahmanadi. In the beginning
only a hair like thing rises, it pierces through; in some people ,of
course, in a big way it rises also. And then it pierces this fontanel
bone area which is a real baptism, real. Today only people felt the cool
breeze coming out of their heads. Can you do that by jumping, or by
paying money? They felt the cool breeze in the hand. It's written in
the Bible, even in the Bible very clearly, that it's the
cool breeze, cool breeze is the sign of the Holy Ghost. You start feeling
the cool breeze in your hands and you start feeling the cool breeze on
your head. This is the actualization.
Of course, you people don't read other books which are very good, like Adi Shankaracharya, People don't
even like the mention of his name who has really and clearly said that it
is the cool breeze; the chaitanya is to be felt like cool breeze in the
hands. They do not want that you should know the truth. And this is the
truth that when you get your realization, you have to feel the cool breeze
in your hands yourself. You have to judge yourself. I'm not going to
tell you. It is you who has to see, it is you who has to feel, and then
you have to grow and you have to know all and everything; all the secrets
of Divine Science. You become the master then, you are the guru.
You are the Spirit, and you should get it. It's your own which is given to you. I
have nothing to do about it. I'm just a catalyst."
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
Maccabean Hall, Australia on March 22, 1981
"A Self Realization experience that is 100% verifiable."
M.M., Washington, 10/1/1994
"Well put. I have been practicing Sahaja Yoga for the last two years
and have most definitely gained knowledge through direct experience.
However, it is the only yoga I know that actually provides union
(yoga) with the Divine from the very first day. And via a Self
Realization experience that is 100% verifiable.
In years past, a true Master of Yoga (of which there have been very
few) would work on his disciple(s) chakras (energy centers) until
they were cleansed and balanced. He would then give him his
Realization by raising the Kundalini. The Kundalini is the residual
life force left over from our creation and resides in the sacrum
bone which is located at the base of the spine. This Kundalini
energy is a reflection of the Primordial Mother which is the Power
of God that does all the living work and creation. She is like your
own individual Mother and when awakened, will heal and enlighten
your chakras, your brain and fully awaken your spirit, which resides
in the heart, and is a reflection of God Almighty.
In Christianity, Kundalini is known as the Holy Ghost (yes, the
trinity is actually the Father, the Son and the Mother). The Father
is the source of all, but is the witness. The Mother is the creative
aspect of God, while the Son is the object of the creation. Hence we
are all children of God.
I realize I'm digressing from the point of this newsgroup, knowledge
through experience, but I would like to say just a couple of things
about Sahaja Yoga before I share my own experiences, which I'm sure
many of you will find hard to believe - and yet they happened!
First of all, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi,
has devised a method whereby seekers of truth can get their Self
Realization en masse, spontaneously; meaning you don't have to do
anything for it, e.g. penances, pay money, study scriptures to no
end, etc. I think the following quote of Shri Mataji sums it up
best:
"You cannot understand the meaning of your life until you connect
with the power that created you. It's my job to help human beings
make that connection - then they will do the rest."
And once you have established the Self Realization (a.k.a. second
birth, resurrection) through daily meditation and cleansing of the
chakras, you can give the Realization to others - like one candle
lighting another.
And now for my own experiences.
It all started by a very earnest prayer to God for a change in my
life. I had been seeking and studying religion, philosophy and
metaphysics, but nothing seemed to "stick" and really make a
noticeable change in lifestyle or behavior.
The very next day I saw a posting on the Internet that Shri Mataji
was coming to Seattle to talk about Self Realization and meditation.
I guess seeing this posting the very next day was the first of
many "coincidences" that I would experience over the next few
months.
Shri Mataji gave Self Realization that night in a process that took
about 10 minutes. As usually only a few strands of the Kundalini
actually make it through all the (usually clogged) chakras, the
experience for most people is somewhat subtle or maybe even non-
existant. For those that do experience Kundalini awakening, you can
feel a cool breeze on top of the head just above the fontanale bone
or on the hands. Sometimes it is hot, especially if the chakras are
damaged. The chakras (means wheels in sanskrit) start to spin off
negativity once they have been pierced by the Kundalini. This
feeling of the cool breeze is what Christ meant when he said first
you must be born of the water (womb) and then of the wind (Self
Realization).
In my case, I felt intermittent cool breeze and hot. Shri Mataji
also said our shoulders may hurt if we are feeling guilty (a catch
of the Vishudhi, or throat chakra). Well, as I left the hall, my
shoulders were really aching but the soreness left after about 20
minutes. This is a typical clear out of the chakra.
I continued to meditate every day, twice a day for about 15-20
minutes as recommended. However, I wasn't really sure if I was
feeling anything until about 4-5 weeks later. It is really difficult
to describe, but during the meditation that night, I felt like a
tornado of energy circulating on top of my head! I was overcome with
a feeling of joy, satisfaction and bliss like I never knew existed.
The seven chakras are also mapped via our hands, e.g. the five
fingers, palm and heel of the hand. Once you start the cleansing
techniques, the chakra "catches" manifest themselves as tingling on
the fingertips which are then decoded so you know which chakra needs
to be attended to. The causes of these catches as well as the
techniques for cleansing and clearing them are taught through the
Sahaja Yoga centers.
In the Koran, Mohammed Sahib said at the resurrection time (right
now) the lips will be sealed and the hands will speak. It is all
built in. We will judge ourselves. We will not go before God like a
magistrate and plead our case.
The beautiful thing about Sahaja Yoga is it happens spontaneously,
it is all built in each and every one of us, it costs absolutely
nothing to do it, and other than the initial Self Realization
experience, you are dependent on no one to ascend spiritually.
However, I'd like to add that as you become aware of being part of
the collective consciousness, you realize that the spiritual ascent
is happening collectively, you just aren't dependent on what human
beings do "externally" to yourself to achieve spiritual growth.
I've had some pretty amazing experiences on a physical level as
well, but they are a byproduct of being connected. The
first "experiment" I tried was when I had a sore throat. I circled
the throat chakra seven times and held my right had there, with my
left hand towards Shri Mataji's photograph. I felt a cool breeze on
my left hand and heat coming from my right. After about 5 or 10
minutes, my sore throat was completely gone.
I've had a severe hay fever allergy, which I've had for 24 years
clear up instantaneously using Sahaj cleansing techniques. I've had
two sinus infections cleared using the cleansing techniques. In the
past I had only been able to get rid of sinus infections using
antibiotics. I must emphasize that Sahaja Yoga is not a health
clinic, but your health improves as a byproduct of meditation and
cleansing.
On a mental level, I have a clarity of thinking like never before.
My performance at work is at another level. Sounds somewhat arrogant
I know, but I have received so much recognition from those I work
with it is almost embarrassing.
Emotionally, I am practically stress free. I feel a level of joy and
satisfaction like I never new existed. I am so very fortunate to
have a profound spiritual experience, everyday - twice! At least.
Once you start to bring down your ego and let go your conditionings,
you start to experience absolute Truth. It is our ego and our
conditionings that blind us from Truth. The ego and superego
(conditionings) are what medical science calls as the left and right
side of the brain. We bring down the ego by forgiving others
absolutely.
When Christ said, through the narrow gate you must pass to enter the
kingdom of God, he was talking about the channel between our over-
inflated ego and superego. Christ is the deity that looks over the
agnya charka (at the optic chiasma) and by his dying on the cross
for our sins or karmas, he opened the cosmic agnya chakra, and he
collapses the ego and superego so the Kundalini passes up to and
beyond the sahasrara chakra (limbic nerve area of the brain) so we
can have our yoga with the Divine All Pervading Power.
While I have talked a little about Christ and Mohammed, the
teachings in Sahaja Yoga include and respect ALL the holy
scriptures. Truth is truth, nobody owns it, there is only one source
of it (God), so why fight over whose truth is best?
One important thing to note, and I cannot emphasize this enough:
Spiritual awakening and subsequent growth is NOT a mental process.
I'm not saying don't read and study scriptures, but you will never
acheive your intended purpose for being here at this auspicious time
in human evolution, which is quite simply to become The Spirit, by
doing anything on a physical or mental level. You can only perceive
the Spirit, your true eternal Self, in a state of thoughtless
awareness after the thoughts drop out and the physical sensory
inputs are ignored."
M.M., Washington, 10/1/1994
QUOTES OF SHRI MATAJI
"The Self is the Spirit. This Spirit resides in the heart of every human being and is in a witness-like state. The Spirit is the projection of God Almighty, while the Kundalini is the projection of the power of God, of His desire which is the Primordial Mother, or you can call it Adi Shakti, Holy Ghost or Athena.
So the Kundalini is the projection of the Holy Ghost, while the Spirit is the projection of God Almighty. The All-pervading Power of love is the power of the Primordial Mother, which creates and evolves, and does all the living work."
Shri Prajnana Ghana-rupini Devi
(Prajnana Ghana-rupini (574th): Solidified form of supreme wisdom. The state of consciousness where nothing else is experienced except Self.)
""Saha" means "with", "Ja" means "born." "Yoga" means "union with the All-pervading Power of Divine Love." This is a very subtle subject, absolutely valid and can be proved of our ascent into our higher awareness. At the very outset one has to be a seeker of truth and with a scientific attitude one should approach the subject. It should be treated espectfully like a hypothesis and if found by experiments as truth should be accepted by honest people in the spirit of honesty. Because this is for one's total benevolence and for the benevolence of all the world.
This knowledge is of very ancient times and mostly comes from India. Of course, every religion has talked about our second birth and also about the tree of life. As the knowledge of science comes from the West, but is accepted by the East, why should such a knowledge of reality be denied? Why not at least heed to it seriously, when it is the knowledge of the roots of all our civilisation and evolution?
The nations have to think why the modern civilisation is killing all human values. What we need is a careful introspection as to where we have gone wrong. Where did we miss out on our path of progress? How has this decadence crawled into our society ? Why are most of us s ick with frustration and insecurity.? Why are some of the people of the progressive countries succumbing to physical and mental deterioration.? Science has no answer, so let us take to spirituality. Why not ask a question? Is there any other power that controls the universe? As described in all the scriptures there is an All-pervading Power of God's love (Paramachaitanya). It is a subtle power which does all living work and which cannot be felt at the level of human awareness.
Sahaja Yoga means that a seeker of truth (Sadhaka) has a birth-right to get his Self-realisation (Atma Sakshatkar) spontaneously . Self-realisation or Self-knowledge is the destination of human evolution and also of all the religions. This is the last breakthrough a human being has to achieve, for which there is a complete living machinery placed in the human spinal cord and in the brain. This machinery is being established step by step during our evolution . This living machinery works out through its power manifesting the parasympathetic and both sympathetic nervous systems. Whatever we achieve in evolution is expressed by our conscious mind through the central nervous system.
To connect us to this subtle energy which permeates into every atom and molecule, there is also a power of pure desire which is placed in the sacrum bone of human beings, which is called as Kundalini. "Kundal" means coils . It exists . in three and a half coils. There is a Divine mathematical coefficient about three and a half coils. This triangular bone is called "sacrum", that means that the people in Greece in the ancient times knew about this divine sacred power of Kundalini; that is why they called this bone sacred. This sacrum bone is placed at the base of the spinal cord and it is triangular in shape.
The Kundalini is like a connecting cord as in every piece of electrical machinery, which connects the machinery to the main source of electricity. In the same way, when this energy of Kundalini is awakened, threads (some of them) rise and ultimately connect the human being to the All-pervading Power (paramachaitanya).
It is a spontaneous happening, it is a living process. The whole evolutionary process has been a living process, and now a stage has come for human beings to have the last state of Spiritual existence through Self-realisation. Human being can be compared to a seed which is not active spiritually, and has not started its living process of growth in spirituality, but when it is embedded in the Mother Earth, the Mother Earth has the power, to sprout the seed.
In the same way the Kundalini can be awakened spontaneously by the power of Sahaja Yoga. When this Kundalini rises, a new life process starts in the human awareness, resulting in the growth of spirituality. This spiritual life growth is a new state into which a human being starts growing in his innate Divinity. This nourishes and enlightens his physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.
This living process is very clearly described in Indian scriptures since ancient times. There are 108 Upanishadas in the Sanskrit language which have exposed the knowledge about Kundalini awakening and the spiritual ascent. Also it is indicated in other scriptures of other countries. In the Bible it is called the tree of life and it is quoted that, "I will appear before you like tongues of flames." When the Kundalini rises, She passes through various centres which look like tongues of flames when enlightened.
The cool breeze of the Holy Ghost of Pentecost is this power that you can feel in Sahaja Yoga. In the Gospel of St. Thomas, very clearly describes the Sahaja experience as the ultimate of our religious life. Also it says we must look after our centres. This Kundalini has to ascend and pierce through six subtle centres which are placed in the spinal cord and in the brain. The last breakthrough is the actualisation of the baptism as one feels the cool breeze of the Holy Ghost emitting out of one's fontanel bone area."
Sri Jnanagamya Devi
(Jnanagamya [980th]: To be reached by Knowledge alone. The Ultimate is to be attained by Knowledge alone as it is of the nature of consciousness. Anantamamrtam Param Jnane Naikena Tallabhyam — the Infinite, the Indestructible, the Ultimate can be reached only by Knowledge. (Skanda-Purana.)
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
"We will now take a look at how the third person in the Trinity took its place in the Godhead. The word "spirit" as it is used by the Christians, had it's origin in the Hebrew word ruah which means "sigh" or "breath". The fact that Judaism is still today a strictly monotheistic religion, unlike the disguised polytheism of Christianity, shows that the word ruah does not designate a person distinct from God. The word is used to mean a divine influence or inspiration, a sign of God's presence.
Paul translated the Hebrew ruah to the Greek pneuma which means "breeze", "wind" "air" or "breath". Paul's understanding of the word pneuma does not extend to a distinct person of the Godhead. But he did stretch the meaning of original Hebrew concept to encompass a kind of divine atmosphere that fills the entire existence of Christians. Paul was also fond of adding the adjective "holy" (Greek: hagion) to spirit. Hence the Christian term "Holy Spirit". [1] It is important to note that nowhere in the Bible is the Holy Spirit defined a God."
www.geocities.com
The meaning of "spirit" in the Old Testament
"The many meanings of the Hebrew term ruah, used in the Bible to designate the Spirit, seem to give rise to some confusion. Indeed. in a given text, it is often not possible to determine the exact meaning of the word. One might waver between wind and breath, between breath and spirit, or between created spirit and the divine Spirit.
This multiplicity, however. has a certain wealth, for it establishes a fruitful communication between so many realities. In this regard it is better to give up in part the pretences of neat reasoning in order to embrace broader perspectives. When we think of the Holy Spirit, it is useful to remember that his biblica1 name means "breath", and that it is related to the powerful blowing of the wind and to our own intimate breathing. Rather than clinging to an over-intellectual and arid concept, we will find it helpful to take in this wealth of images and facts. Translations, unfortunately are unable to convey them to us completely, for they are often obliged to choose other terms. To render the Hebrew word ruah, the Greek translation of the Septuagint uses twenty-four different terms and so does not permit one to see all the connections between the texts of the Hebrew Bible.
To end this terminological analysis of the Old Testament texts concerning ruah, we can say that the breath of God appears in them as the power that gives life to creatures. It appears as a profound reality of God which works deep within man. It appears as a manifestation of God's dynamism which is communicated to creatures.
Though not yet understood as a distinct Person in the context of the divine being, the "breath" or "Spirit" of God is distinguishable in some way from the God who sends it to operate in creatures. Thus, even from the literary point of view the human mind is gradually prepared to receive the revelation of the Person of the Holy Spirit who will appear as the expression of God's intimate life and omnipotence."
www.miraclerosarymission.org
"The basic idea of ruah (Gr. pneuma) is air in motion," from air which cannot come between a crocodile's scales (Job 41:16 (H 8]) to the blast of a storm (Isa 25:4; Hab 1: 11 ASV, RSV). The "four winds," ruhot, describe the four quarters or four directions of the world (Jer 49:36; Ezk 37:9). In living beings the ruah is their breath, whether of animals (Gen 7:15; Ps 104:25, 29), men (Isa 42:5; Ezk 37:5), or both (Gen 7:22-23); whether inhaled (Jer 2:24) or on the lips (Isa 11:4; cf. Job 9:18; contrast dead idols, Jer 10:14; 51:17). God creates it: "The ruah "spirit" [s] of God (from God) is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3)." ... "Ruah comes finally to denote the entire immaterial consciousness of man: "With my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly" (Isa 26:9);'a wise man "rules his spirit" (Prov 16:32; cf. Dan 5:20), and "in his spirit there is no guile" (Ps 32:2). While the OT generally treats man as a whole (see nepesh -soul," often rendered simply as "self"), it also recognizes his essential dualism (A. B. Davidson, The Theology of the OT, P. 202). Flesh and spirit combine to form the "self," so that while man may be said to have a Ruah he is a nepesh (yet he is sometimes said to possess a nepesh, which departs from his body at death). The Ruah is contained with its bodily nidneh 'sheath' (Dan 7:15, Aramaic; cf. Zech 12; 1). At death the body returns to dust, but the immortal spirit returns to God who gave it (Gen 3:19; Eccl 12:7). In this regard ruah and nepesh, here meaning distinctly "soul," tend to overlap (Job 7:11 Isa 26:9; cf. Ex 6:9 with Num 21:4; RTWB, P. 234). This differs from liberal theology, which tends to limit ruah to an impersonal vital power that becomes individualized only in the nepesh. Thus it claims that the soul cannot exist independently of the body, i.e. that when the ruah or ,-Power" departs (Eccl 12:7), the person ceases. to exist (L. Kdhler, Old Testament Theology, p. 145, opposed by Davidson, op. cit., pp. 200-201). Yet both nepesh and ruah may leave the body at death and exist in a state separate from it'(Gen 35:K Ps 86:13; cf. I Kgs 17:22 on the rare case of a soul's return to its body). On a higher plane, ruah may then designate a supernatural, angelic being, "a spirit from God" (I Sam 16:23, NASB). The function may be revelatory (Job 4:16[?]; cf. Zech 1:9, 19 [H 1:9; 2:21, mal'ak, q.v). Or, appropriately, God might have his angels serve as ruhot "winds" (Ps 104:4, not "spirits"; Heb 1:7) or fire (cf. I Kgs 19:11-12). Satan is -the great, accusing spirit" (I Kgs 22:2 1). Other evil spirits could fall upon men, as decreed by God (I Sam 16:14 18: 10; 19:9). The preeminent example of spiritual personality is God (Isa 31:3). Ruah can exhibit a range of meaning. The "breath" of God may be a strong wind (Isa 40:7; 59:19; cf. Num 11:31). His "spirit" may indicate no more than active power or mood Isa 40:13, "Who hath directed the spirit [intention] of the Lord?" or, "who has known the mind [intention] of the Lord," SO Lxx and I Cor 2:16). At most points, however, context approves and the analogy of the NT strongly suggests that the ruah YHWH is the Holy Spirit, "in the fullest Christian sense" (Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, R. Laird Harris, Vol 2, page 836-7)"
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NOTES
1. What Is Truth? (www.impact-ministry.com)
2. Ray C. Stedman, Born Of The Spirit, (www.pbc.org)
3. www.hc.adventist.org
4. Allon Maxwell, Water Baptism - For Remission Of Sins And For Salvation, Bible Digest - Number 24, February 1993
SELF-REALIZATION MUST BE BASED ON EXPERIENCE
