"While computers have IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and animals can have EQ (Emotional Quotient), it is essentially SQ (Spiritual Quotient) that sets human beings apart," observe Danah Zoher and Ian Marshal in their book SQ: Connecting with our Spiritual Intelligence.
IQ primarily solves logical, mathematical and linguistic problems. EQ makes us aware of our own and others' emotions, judge the situation we are in and behave appropriately. SQ allows us to ask if we want to be in that situation in the first place through questions like: “Is my job giving me the fulfillment I seek?", "Are my relationships with others mutually satisfying?", "What are my priorities in life?", "What is the purpose of my existence?". The transformative power of SQ distinguishes it from IQ and EQ.
SQ motivates us to create new situations if necessary. Thus it determines our happiness as also our ability to meaningfully utilize IQ and EQ.
SQ has many characteristics, most of which center on perception of the unchanging, nontemporal, divine aspect of life. Intriguingly, theistic SQ has a scientific basis. In the 1990s, research at the University of California led to the identification of a 'Godspot' in the human brain. This area, located among neural connections in the temporal lobes of the brain, lights up during scans with positron emission topography whenever research subjects are exposed to discussion of spiritual topics. The existence of the Godspot indicates that the brain is programmed to ask ultimate questions.
The highly acclaimed Handbook of Religion and Health, published by Oxford University Press, carefully reviewed no fewer than two thousand published experiments that tested the relationship between religion and practically all parameters of physical and mental health. A sample of their findings:
1 . People who attended a spiritual program at least once a week lived average seven years longer than those who didn’t attend at all.
2 . Religious youth showed significantly lower levels of drug and alcohol abuse, premature sexual involvement, criminal delinquency and suicidal tendencies than their nonreligious counterparts.
3. Researcher Harold G. Koenig concluded: "A high SQ faithfulness to God appears to benefit people of all means, educational levels and ages."
Interestingly, the modern concept of SQ parallels the Vedantasutra faculty of brahma jijnasa (spiritual enquiry), as both are unique to human beings. Moreover, like the three intelligences IQ, EQ and SQ discovered by science, Vedic wisdom addresses the three dimensions of our existence body, mind and spirit. To attain lasting happiness, we need to go beyond gratifying our bodies and pacifying our minds to harmonizing our souls with the supreme soul, God, through devotional service. Amazingly the characteristics expected of high SQ people are all found in advanced spiritualists. Most importantly, the Vedic scriptures delineate a practical and potent ABCD formula for dramatically increasing our SQ and happiness.
A Association: Interacting with and learning from high SQ people like devotees of God enables us to see order amidst chaos, plan amidst change.
B Books: Studying spiritual books like the Bhagavadgita answers life's fundamental questions and empowers us with inner direction and motivation.
C Chanting: Regular meditation on the holy names of God like the Hare Krishna mahamantra bestows spiritual tranquility even amidst material adversity.
D Diet: Eating vegetarian food sanctified by offering to God purifies our mind and awakens our soul.
The ShrimadBhagavatam (7.7.21) urges us to become spiritual goldseekers, "An expert geologist can understand where there is gold below the earth and extract it from the gold ore by various processes. Similarly, a wise person can understand the spiritual dimension within the material body, and, by spiritual excavation, attain fulfillment in life." Lest we neglect our spiritual enrichment, modern management guru Stephen Covey reminds us, "We are not human beings on a spiritual journey; we are spiritual beings on a human journey."
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see these links also:
the chinese site for kirtan
a very nice link for hare krishna kirtan
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wonderful with dolphins
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INSIGHTS — BY RNS ONLINE ON JANUARY 20, 2011 AT 3:17 AM
Question to Radhanath Swami: I have been practicing chanting Hare Krishna for a while. Still, so many problems, so many obstacles in spiritual life!
Radhanath Swami: One who has faith in the holy name of Krishna will overcome all obstacles. It’s a major difficulty in a devotee’s life—we just don’t have that faith in chanting Hare Krishna. If we just have that faith, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome. If we have faith in Krishna’s name as being identical to Krishna—all merciful, fully accessible even to you and me—then we can not only overcome the day to day problems, we can actually cross over the ocean of birth and death. That is the power of the name.
Thus the association of devotees is so very, very critical because in that association—hearing from the devotees, speaking with the devotees, and exchanging the 6 loving reciprocation with the devotees—faith awakens. Faith is not something put into you, faith is awakened from within; the soul inherently has complete faith.
We have to long for this faith, we have to beg for this faith, we must pray for this faith and we must do the needful to get this faith. When we are humble, when we are tolerant, when we respect others and don’t expect respect for ourselves, we attract Krishna’s mercy, which awakens that faith and love in our heart.
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