The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls
In 1947 on the western shores of the Dead Sea a young Bedouin boy known as Muhammed the Wolf was tending to his herd of goats. He was part of a band of hearty adventurers who were smuggling goats from Transjordan into Palestine. This required that they take the long way around to avoid the Jordan Bridge and the customs officers who guarded it.
The route they chose took them through a barren ravine known to the Arabs as Qumran to the spring waters of the oasis at Ain Feshkha. Being a good shepherd Muhammed chased after one of his goats that had strayed up a cliff and got lost. When he found the goat he noticed the opening of a cave in the cliff wall. Curious, but wary of the snakes that would often hide from the heat of the sun in such caves, Muhammed simply threw a stone into the dark cave opening. He was intrigued when he heard the stone make a sharp crack but decided to tell his friends before he went into the cave.
Muhammed returned a while later with a friend of his and the two Bedouin boys found they could not resist exploring the cave, snakes or no snakes. What they discovered inside was collection of several large clay jars and the fragments of several others. Muhammed and his friend were fascinated and could only guess at what treasures might be hidden inside the mysterious jars. With visions of a Princes gold and jewels in their eyes the two boys lifted the lid off one of the great jars and with eager anticipation looked inside.
What they found inside was certainly a treasure but not the hoard of silver and gold they had dreamed of. Instead, the jars contained thin scrolls wrapped in linen that had been coated with pitch and wax. Remarkably, the scrolls were still legible, but the boys could not read the strange manuscripts as they were not written in Arabic. Muhammed and his friend decided their unusual find might still be worth something at the bazaar in Bethlehem.
As the story goes the Bedouins sold a few samples of the scrolls to a merchant in Bethlahem for a mere 20 Pounds, though some say it was 50. Oddly, the next several years saw the samples of the scrolls pass through many hands yet there was little interest in them. Finally, the scrolls were recognized for their incredible historical significance and most of them now reside in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem.
What are now known as the Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of about 900 scrolls including many from several other caves in the same area. Notably among them are the only know Biblical texts dated before 100 AD as well as the Isaiah scroll, The Manual of Discipline, The Copper Scroll and a commentary on the Book Habakkuk. Most of the texts are written in Hebrew, some are written in Aramaic and a few are written in Koine Greek.
The significance of The Dead Sea Scrolls is difficult to estimate as their are still some questions about their exact date of origin. There is also some debate about the way access to the scrolls has been restricted. But there can be no doubt about their effect on our interpretation of the ancient manuscripts.
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Gemstones, Superstitions and Mystical Power
Since the beginning of recorded history, precious stones and gems have been held in great regard. Ancient peoples have been putting jewels on monuments, jewelry, caskets, and many other places. Today, as in ancient times, people have been putting more than just monetary value on gemstones.
The magi, the wise men, the seers, and the astrologers of the ages have found importance in gemstones besides personal adornment. It was thought that all the evil in the world could be kept at bay by wearing certain gemstones.
In medieval times, the influence of gems and stones continued. It was not until the Renaissance period that an effort was made to find reason for these traditional beliefs. In earlier times, there was little doubt that beliefs existed, and were taken granted. It was not until later that people attempted find plausible explanations as to how these gems were given their strange and mystic powers, and how they affected the health, character, or fortunes of the gems owner.
When the existence of a miracle is noted, there will always be a tendency for people to regard every strange and mystifying happening as a miracle. A miracle is often described as something that happens outside of, or in spite of the laws of nature. The combination of visual impression and imagination are powerful forces. An adult entering a dimly lit room may see pile of laundry not think much of it. A young child entering the same room may imagine that the indistinct outline is that of a monster.
Miracles are often investigated, and there is usually a way to explain the event scientifically. Even with the marvelous secrets that have been revealed to us by science, we may be foolish to think that not all of the old beliefs of gems powers are without some basis in fact.
If you think of all of the new ways that information is transmitted, none is more powerful than word of mouth. Ever since humans have used language as means of communication, words have held great power. So powerful is language that entire civilizations have been influenced by the words of a few.
Even in the face of science and reason, closely held beliefs have been reinforced by tales of enchantment and magical influence. If the subconscious of one individual can affect the thoughts and feelings of another over a great distance without mechanical means, could this be due to some yet to be discovered power? Should we be dismissive of a magician and his spells, or the predictions or a seer?
The theory of autosuggestion may explain how the powerful beliefs in gems have proliferated over the ages. A person in possession of a ruby may have an experience that cannot be explained through reason and logic. In the absence of a logical explanation, the person may very well be apt to assign some power to the stone.
If the supernatural powers of certain gems or anything for that matter cannot be fathomed by people, than how is it that people can believe in the supernatural power of a god.
Paracelsus was a bright and talented thinker during the sixteenth century AD. Paracelsus was thought to possess extraordinary mental powers and believed he had mystic powers over supernatural agencies.
He was the owner of a talismanic jewel, which Paracelsus claimed was the dwelling of a spirit named Azoth. Old portraits of the philosopher have been found with him wearing the jewel. Few people thought that Paracelsus believed that his jewel was home to a spirit, but rather that he sported the paraphernalia in order to gain influence over nonbelievers.
It was once thought that long concentration of vision on an object tended to produce a partial paralysis of certain functions of the brain. The effect was noted in a bird gazing into the eyes of a hungry serpent, or the obedience of a lion when made to look into the eyes of an intent trainer. Staring without interruption on a glass ball, opal or moonstone was thought to cause the gazer to become partially hypnotized or even fall into a profound sleep. Whether these phenomenons are the imaginative workings of the brain, semi trance, or hypnotism, it is believed to give insight to the future.
The hypnotic effect of these stones may be from some gleam or point of light in the stone, fixing the beholders gaze. In the early part of the 1800s, extensive tests were designed to test the effects produced upon a sensitive subject by the touch of the precious stones and minerals. Test subjects claimed to feel certain effects from certain stones.
With precious stones as hypnotizing agents, the mental impression is widely different, for here the physical impression is heightened by the consciousness of the value and rarity of the material.
This help may help to explain the fascination that a fine set of jewels has on the mind of a woman, who sees the glory and radiance upon another womans neck or wrist. This is not only due to the beauty of the spectacle, but is also owed to the consciousness that they are rare and valuable objects, and perhaps eloquent witnesses of the power of love.
Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular jewelry site: http://www.jewelrysalesandservice.com. He provides informative advice on buying gold, jewelry, watches, and gemstones.
www.jewelrysalesandservice.com
The Secret to Understanding Zen Meditation
The key to understanding Zen Buddhism is to understand the phrase “I don’t know.” In this phrase is hidden the secrets of Zen and Zen Meditation. At first glance this may seem counter intuitive or just a play on words, but I assure you that is not the case. This is really the essence of Zen and once you grasp what is being implied here, all the Zen teachings will start to make sense.
The problem, according to Zen is not “not-knowing”, it is in fact knowing too much. What needs to be qualified here is the type of knowledge that is being referred to. There is knowledge that is factual, such as the distance to the moon or the elemental makeup of water, but the knowledge that is being indicated here, is the knowledge having to do with our security and happiness. In other words, all that we know about what we ought to be doing to get out of life maximum happiness, is the knowledge that we need to purge ourselves of.
For ease of communication I will call this knowledge “Emotional Knowledge”, as it relates to how we need to go about increasing pleasure/happiness and decreasing pain/sorrow. This Emotional Knowledge, Zen is saying, is what drives us to endlessly seek and endlessly be restless. In other words, having accepted innumerable theories on how we need our life to be in order to be happy, we are caught in a cycle of endless desire chasing these goals. Zen says, drop Emotional Knowledge or at least don’t emphasize it and instead just be open to the moment and meet the challenge of life which is right under your nose.
It is very hard to really say “I Don’t Know.” All kinds of theories, beliefs, ideologies, philosophies have been forced into us since we were impressionable children, which now dominate our mind and lives. We feel we need to do this or that in order to get this or that, which at the end will make us happy. Unfortunately, this approach has failed. Human beings always get used to what they have and then inevitably start to demand more. It just does not matter what it is or how much you have. You will eventually get used to having it and then will want more. The only way out of this endless cycle of desire is to surrender to the sate of “I Don’t Know.”
When you can really say “I Don’t Know”, then there is little for the mind to chase and pursue. Then you just look at life and do what is necessary and as you continue on in this way of living in the moment, desire starts to lose its grip on you. In Zen this is called mindful living. Real freedom then makes its welcome appearance as awareness, free now from outward seeking, moves inward and reveals the secrets hidden deep within us.
To work towards this state of “I Don’t Know”, you need to question all your desires. Too often, in this atmosphere of commercialism, we have been seduced by clever advertisement and social propaganda. Corporations and those in power need you to buy into the happy, pleasurable future they are promising, else they will either lose their sale or your vote. So you need to see if you can remain untouched by this atmosphere of endless consumption. Once you buy in, then you are in the rat race, because now you think you know what you need to get to be happy and so you are off and running, if you don’t buy in you stand apart and are free.
So next time someone asks you, What is it that you want in life? Look at them and just smile. Welcome to the wonderful world of Zen.
Anmol Mehta is a Yoga & Zen expert. For Free Meditation Techniques visit http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2007/11/18/free-online-guided-meditation-techniques-e-book hosted on http://www.anmolmehta.com. For more insights & discussions on Meditation, Yoga & Zen visit http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog.
Christmas – It’s The Most Fabulous Time Of The Year
I am not the first person to notice that the world turns slightly mad at this time of year. A select few grown men put on fake beards and dress up in funny red costumes and proceed to march into schools and department stores with bags full of presents and leave behind an enormous sense of excitement. People start being noticeably nicer to one another. Children go slightly crazy with anticipation as they compile their Christmas lists and young mothers embark on the perennial panic of preparing for the biggest family occasion of the year.
The whole world is touched upon with a general sense of happiness that is wonderful yet for this cynical observer is slightly unnerving. I have taken a look at the recent news reports on Christmas. Some of them are truly absurd and remind us how bizarre life can be in the modern world…
Father Christmas’ in Australia have been banned from using the word ‘ho’ in case it causes offense to women. The word ‘ho’ at least in hip hop culture and many urban dialects are used as slang to refer to ‘whore’ or ‘prostitute’. Officials in Australia have taken notice of this trend and have subsequently asked their Santa’ to avoid using the word ‘ho’ as it could potentially cause offence to women. I don’t know about you but I feel more offended by the lengths these moralising people in power go to patronise the public’s ability to make their own judgement.
The Post Office announced that next they will be introducing a scheme that will help people save for Christmas. They will be able to make deposits of between 5 pounds and 500 pounds up to a yearly total of 1000 pounds.
People saving their money in this way will not be given access to the money they deposit until after November. I’m split on this one. Anything that helps people save their money and improve their Christmas is surely a good thing but on the other hand what is wrong with us? Can we not keep any money in our pocket without needing an artificial scheme to help us? Do we really have no self discipline?
Every year there is an outcry from a group of small minded imbeciles that mistakenly believe they are looking out for the best interests of everyone by trying to take Christian iconography out of Christmas because they fear it could ostracise non-Christians. This year it was the turn of American town Fort Collins (only in America!). Town officials have decided to use less religious decorations in an attempt to make Christmas less exclusive to Christians. Seriously!? It’s Christmas!
The undeniable evidence that the season turns people crazy is the annual success of Cliff Richard. Every year he launches a horrendous single that smashes records to reach the top spot in the charts…every year. Don’t we know any better? We all know he was pickled in 1990. We know that he was subsequently stuffed and fitted with an automated metallic frame that is controlled by a music industry bigwig.
We know that it is a phenomenally successful scam developed to rip off old grannies and we know how hard these grannies scrimp and save money from their state pensions to feed the Cliff Richard fund. Instead of making a stand and uniting with collective disgust we embrace the leather-faced geriatric. What is wrong with us?
When he is not making Christmas Chocolates Shaun Parker looks into the bizzare effect Christmas has on us all. Devoted father to four young children he knows how exciting this time of year can be. To find out more please visit http://www.chouchoute.co.uk/page/christmas-gifts.html