23-03-2011, 02:20 AM
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the MARK on the forehead
i thought this may be of interest
Quote:
BY SUHAIL JALBOUT
Upon studying the major religions of the world, I noticed a very interesting common feature. Most of the religions focus on the forehead. The methods they use differ from one religion to another. Starting from the earliest religion to the most recent reveals the different ways in which the forehead is used.
HINDUISM (2500 B.C.) [1]
The Hindu draws a mark on the forehead known as Tilka or Tilak or Tilakam. The mark on the forehead of men takes the form of a line or lines and on women it takes the form of a dot. [2]
JUDIASM (2000 B.C.) [3]
The Jewish people wear Tefillin during their Morning Prayer. The Tefillin are two small cube leather boxes which contain scrolls of Torah passages. One box in placed on the arm and the other on the forehead. Before prayer, they position the head Tefillin on the forehead just above the hairline. When the prayer is completed, the wearer repositions the Teffilin in the middle of his forehead just below the hairline. [4] In addition, Jews sway their body back and forth during prayer at the Wailing Wall with their forehead pointing downwards. [5]
ZOROASTRIANSIM (1200 B.C.) [6]
The Zoroastrians mark their forehead with cold sandalwood ash. [7]
BUDDHISM (560 B.C.) [8]
The most common characteristic of Buddhist deities is the mark (third eye) in the center of the forehead. [9]
TAOISM – (440 B.C.) [10]
In Taoism, students have “third eye” training. This involves focusing attention, while their eyes are closed, at a central point on the forehead between the two eyebrows. [11]
CHRISTIANITY (0 A.D.) [12]
In Christianity, crossing oneself is a ritual made by many different branches. In the early Church, it is believed that the sign of the cross was made only on the forehead by using one finger. At present, the sign of the cross is made by touching first the forehead with a group of fingers and then the chest and both shoulders. [13] Before Easter, some Christian worshippers use ash paste to mark the sign of the cross on their forehead. [14]
ISLAM (622 A.D.) [15]
During prayer, the Muslims kneel on a prayer carpet and touch the ground with their forehead. Since they pray five times a day, touching the ground leaves a dark spot on their forehead. [16]
Surely each religion has an explanation of its own with regards to the use of the forehead. Non-the-less, one wonders if there is a common denominator which explains their actions. After thorough research, it is quite possible that there are at least two possible explanations; both are based on the pineal gland known as the “third eye”. [17]
The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland located within the precise geometric center of the brain, between the two hemispheres
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