Surrender @ his lotus feet
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Idol Worship - the need for it
A question was asked about Hindus and Hindu idol worship by Priyanka: "One of my classmates raised this issue. She was a Hindu before her family converted to Christianity. And she said: God says, do not worship me in the forms of idols (in the bible). Is this true? I personally feel I cannot worship an unknown force and for this we view God in the 108 forms that we have. Is that wrong? I am a practising hindu..but believe in all religions. So I'm slightly confused about this. Please clarify this for me"
Swamiji very calmly replied to the question as follows:
"AS YOU NEED A FAN, TO EXPERIENCE ALL PERVASIVE AIR, AS YOU NEED A TELEVISION SET TO SEE THE ALL PERVASIVE FIGURES AND SOUNDS, AS WE NEED A BULB OR SOME SUCH DEVICE TO EXPERIENCE THE ELECTRICITY THAT IS SPREAD ALL THROUGH THE WIRE, SO ALSO ONE NEEDS AN IDOL OR SUCH A PLACE, THROUGH WHICH ONE CAN FEEL GOD. EVEN CHRISTIANS HAVE A CHURCH AND A STATUE TO PRAY. DON'T YOU THINK THAT ITSELF IS IDOL WORSHIP? THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. HE IS THERE IN EVERY FORM, SO ALSO IN CHRIST. WE HAVE A SLOGAN, IN OUR GITHA JYOTHI "WORSHIP YOUR OWN ....RESPECT ALL". ANY PERSON BELONG TO ANY RELIGION SHOULD PRAY AND WORSHIP THAT. AT THE SAME THEY SHOULD LEARN TO RESPECT OTHER FAITHS ALSO. CRITISIZING OTHERS IS ALWAYS A MEAN HABIT. WE PEOPLE FOLLOW VEDAS, NEVER CRITICIZE ANY WORLD RELIGION, MAY IT BE ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY OR EVEN ETHEISM. WE SHOULD KNOW TO RESPECT THEM. AT THE SAME TIME THEY SHOULD KNOW TO RESPECT US TOO. OTHERWISE, IT BECOMES ONESIDED AND HURTING FACTOR TO SOME. IN FACT, THEIR OWN COMMANDMENTS SAY 'LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOUR AS YOU LOVE THYSELF'.IF THEY UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT ITSELF IS PLENTY." ¶ 9:44 PM 0 comments
Swamiji very calmly replied to the question as follows:
"AS YOU NEED A FAN, TO EXPERIENCE ALL PERVASIVE AIR, AS YOU NEED A TELEVISION SET TO SEE THE ALL PERVASIVE FIGURES AND SOUNDS, AS WE NEED A BULB OR SOME SUCH DEVICE TO EXPERIENCE THE ELECTRICITY THAT IS SPREAD ALL THROUGH THE WIRE, SO ALSO ONE NEEDS AN IDOL OR SUCH A PLACE, THROUGH WHICH ONE CAN FEEL GOD. EVEN CHRISTIANS HAVE A CHURCH AND A STATUE TO PRAY. DON'T YOU THINK THAT ITSELF IS IDOL WORSHIP? THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. HE IS THERE IN EVERY FORM, SO ALSO IN CHRIST. WE HAVE A SLOGAN, IN OUR GITHA JYOTHI "WORSHIP YOUR OWN ....RESPECT ALL". ANY PERSON BELONG TO ANY RELIGION SHOULD PRAY AND WORSHIP THAT. AT THE SAME THEY SHOULD LEARN TO RESPECT OTHER FAITHS ALSO. CRITISIZING OTHERS IS ALWAYS A MEAN HABIT. WE PEOPLE FOLLOW VEDAS, NEVER CRITICIZE ANY WORLD RELIGION, MAY IT BE ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY OR EVEN ETHEISM. WE SHOULD KNOW TO RESPECT THEM. AT THE SAME TIME THEY SHOULD KNOW TO RESPECT US TOO. OTHERWISE, IT BECOMES ONESIDED AND HURTING FACTOR TO SOME. IN FACT, THEIR OWN COMMANDMENTS SAY 'LOVE THEIR NEIGHBOUR AS YOU LOVE THYSELF'.IF THEY UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT ITSELF IS PLENTY." ¶ 9:44 PM 0 comments
Saint Wilgefortis
An interesting article on Saint Wilgefortis on the group:
"Heard of saints? Here's one you would not have heard of. In medieval England, a mysterious cult of Saint Uncumber was reported for a brief time. This was a bearded female saint who, according to a legend, had been crucified. It was reported that she was worshipped specially by women who were weary of their husbands, for one reason or the other. They would offer her oats and it was believed that this would help bring horses which would carry their husbands away and leave them in peace. This cult flourished in France, Bohemia, Spain, Germany and Belgium, too."
There is a Wiki on this at the following location:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Wilgefortis ¶ 9:10 PM 0 comments
An interesting article on Saint Wilgefortis on the group:
"Heard of saints? Here's one you would not have heard of. In medieval England, a mysterious cult of Saint Uncumber was reported for a brief time. This was a bearded female saint who, according to a legend, had been crucified. It was reported that she was worshipped specially by women who were weary of their husbands, for one reason or the other. They would offer her oats and it was believed that this would help bring horses which would carry their husbands away and leave them in peace. This cult flourished in France, Bohemia, Spain, Germany and Belgium, too."
There is a Wiki on this at the following location:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Wilgefortis ¶ 9:10 PM 0 comments
Friday, May 27, 2005
Meditation and Concentration
Chi. Manjula Derangula asked "While doing meditation, if some body speaks to me, I feel very disturbed and angry. Hence I'm afraid of meditation and I stopped it. I think My mind is losing conciousness by doing this meditation. Please tell me something about my concerns. Should I continue the meditation?"
Swamiji replied as:
"CHI MANJULAJI! JAI SRIMANNARAYANA! YOU ARE THINKING THAT YOU ARE MEDITATING. NO DOUBT, YOU ARE FEELING SOME JOY IN THAT STATE. SO, IF SOMEBODY IS DISTURBING YOU BY TALKING TO YOU OR MAKING SOME NOICE ETC., YOU STARTED FEELING THAT YOUR JOY IS LOST, AND HENCE YOU FELT ANGRY OR DISAPPOINTED ETC, RIGHT? THAT IS OK.
MEDITATION, ALWAYS, WILL BE LIKE A CREEPER. A CREEPER ALWAYS NEEDS A SUPPORT, OTHERWISE, IT WILL NOT GROW WELL NOR YEILDS GOOD FLOWERS OR FRUITS. SO ALSO WITH THE MEDITATION, IT NEEDS SOME FORM OR NAMAM, TO GROW WELL. IF THAT SUPPORT IS SOMETHING MUNDANE, YOUR MEDITATION IS MUNDANE. IF THAT IS DIVINE, YOUR MEDITATION WILL BECOME DIVINE. THE MOMENT YOU TAKE THE SUPPORT OF THAT SOMETHING, YOUR ATTENTION WILL BE FOCUSED ON THAT.
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES. A MOTHER TO HER CHILD, A HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE, A BUSINESSMAN TO HIS CUSTOMER OR PRODUCT SO ON. IN THE SAME WAY A DEVOTEE, TOWARDS HIS GOD. THAT FOCUS, IF BLENDED WITH LOVE TOWARDS GOD, YOU CALL IT MEDITATION. IT ALWAYS SEARCHES FOR GOOD QUALITIES IN THE LOVED ONE. THAT IS THE REASON, A BUSINESSMAN ALWAYS TRIES TO SPEAK ALOUD ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF HIS OWN PRODUCT. THE HUSBAND WILL CONSTANTLY TRIES TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF HIS WIFE BY SEVERAL MEANS, BY THINKING HER BEAUTY ETC. SO ALSO, A DEVOTEE IF LOVES GOD, THINKS ABOUT THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THAT GOD ONLY OR FEELS THAT EVERY QUALITY IS A GOOD QUALITY ONLY.
NOW, WORLDLY THINGS ARE VERYMUCH LIMITED WITH SPACE AND TIME ETC., IF THEY ARE IN ONE PLACE,THEN THEY CANNOT BE IN OTHER PLACES. IF SOME ITEM IS IN ONE TIME, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM MAY NOT BE THERE BEFORE THAT TIME. AND IT MAY NOT EXIST AFTER SOMETIME.
SO, LOVING OR MEDITATING UPON SUCH MUNDANE THINGS OR BEING, WILL BE LOST, WHEN THEY GO AWAY OR LOST THEIR FORM. BUT GOD IS NOT SUCH A LIMITED BEING WITH TIME AND SPACE. HE IS ALL-PERVASIVE. SO MEDITATING UPON HIM WILL NOT BE LOST, IF WE UNDERSTAND HIM AND START DOING SOMETHING WITH HIM. AS WE KNOW THAT HE IS NOT LIMITED TO IDOL ONLY, HE IS THERE IN EVERY OBJECT AND EVERY PERSON WE LOOK AROUND, THEN, NO MATTER, WHO IS SPEAKING WITH YOU, IT IS GOD ONLY IN THAT FORM IS DOING SOMETHING WITH YOU. YOU DO NOT WANT TO SHOW ANGER ON GOD, RIGHT! NOW, WHERE IS THE QUESTION OF DISAPPOINTMENT OR DISTURBANCE? IN EVERY SOUND YOU HEAR, THERE IS GOD, IN EVERY WORD YOU HEAR THERE IS GOD AND IN EVERY PERSON THERE IS GOD.
TRY AND TRY AGAIN, WHICH IS CALLED "SA:DHANA". YOU CAN, FOR SURE, OVERCOME THE PROBLEM YOU ARE FACING." ¶ 9:32 PM 0 comments
Swamiji replied as:
"CHI MANJULAJI! JAI SRIMANNARAYANA! YOU ARE THINKING THAT YOU ARE MEDITATING. NO DOUBT, YOU ARE FEELING SOME JOY IN THAT STATE. SO, IF SOMEBODY IS DISTURBING YOU BY TALKING TO YOU OR MAKING SOME NOICE ETC., YOU STARTED FEELING THAT YOUR JOY IS LOST, AND HENCE YOU FELT ANGRY OR DISAPPOINTED ETC, RIGHT? THAT IS OK.MEDITATION, ALWAYS, WILL BE LIKE A CREEPER. A CREEPER ALWAYS NEEDS A SUPPORT, OTHERWISE, IT WILL NOT GROW WELL NOR YEILDS GOOD FLOWERS OR FRUITS. SO ALSO WITH THE MEDITATION, IT NEEDS SOME FORM OR NAMAM, TO GROW WELL. IF THAT SUPPORT IS SOMETHING MUNDANE, YOUR MEDITATION IS MUNDANE. IF THAT IS DIVINE, YOUR MEDITATION WILL BECOME DIVINE. THE MOMENT YOU TAKE THE SUPPORT OF THAT SOMETHING, YOUR ATTENTION WILL BE FOCUSED ON THAT.
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES. A MOTHER TO HER CHILD, A HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE, A BUSINESSMAN TO HIS CUSTOMER OR PRODUCT SO ON. IN THE SAME WAY A DEVOTEE, TOWARDS HIS GOD. THAT FOCUS, IF BLENDED WITH LOVE TOWARDS GOD, YOU CALL IT MEDITATION. IT ALWAYS SEARCHES FOR GOOD QUALITIES IN THE LOVED ONE. THAT IS THE REASON, A BUSINESSMAN ALWAYS TRIES TO SPEAK ALOUD ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF HIS OWN PRODUCT. THE HUSBAND WILL CONSTANTLY TRIES TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF HIS WIFE BY SEVERAL MEANS, BY THINKING HER BEAUTY ETC. SO ALSO, A DEVOTEE IF LOVES GOD, THINKS ABOUT THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THAT GOD ONLY OR FEELS THAT EVERY QUALITY IS A GOOD QUALITY ONLY.
NOW, WORLDLY THINGS ARE VERYMUCH LIMITED WITH SPACE AND TIME ETC., IF THEY ARE IN ONE PLACE,THEN THEY CANNOT BE IN OTHER PLACES. IF SOME ITEM IS IN ONE TIME, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM MAY NOT BE THERE BEFORE THAT TIME. AND IT MAY NOT EXIST AFTER SOMETIME.
SO, LOVING OR MEDITATING UPON SUCH MUNDANE THINGS OR BEING, WILL BE LOST, WHEN THEY GO AWAY OR LOST THEIR FORM. BUT GOD IS NOT SUCH A LIMITED BEING WITH TIME AND SPACE. HE IS ALL-PERVASIVE. SO MEDITATING UPON HIM WILL NOT BE LOST, IF WE UNDERSTAND HIM AND START DOING SOMETHING WITH HIM. AS WE KNOW THAT HE IS NOT LIMITED TO IDOL ONLY, HE IS THERE IN EVERY OBJECT AND EVERY PERSON WE LOOK AROUND, THEN, NO MATTER, WHO IS SPEAKING WITH YOU, IT IS GOD ONLY IN THAT FORM IS DOING SOMETHING WITH YOU. YOU DO NOT WANT TO SHOW ANGER ON GOD, RIGHT! NOW, WHERE IS THE QUESTION OF DISAPPOINTMENT OR DISTURBANCE? IN EVERY SOUND YOU HEAR, THERE IS GOD, IN EVERY WORD YOU HEAR THERE IS GOD AND IN EVERY PERSON THERE IS GOD.
TRY AND TRY AGAIN, WHICH IS CALLED "SA:DHANA". YOU CAN, FOR SURE, OVERCOME THE PROBLEM YOU ARE FACING." ¶ 9:32 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Lord Rama appears at the wrong place
Yet another despicable act from our fellow Earthlings - this time it was from the French. A designer has started to market shoes with our Lord Rama printed on them. I cannot understand why these western folks try to insult the Hindu crowd by doing all this. I guess they get a kick out of it - something different, of course they cannot put Jesus there, so they chose Lord Rama, a Hindu God to do that. Funny people though - funny enough to make a joke of themselves and what's even funnier is - they think they are making fun of us Hindus. This is not very uncommon for us, people from India, who have been invaded by foreign plunderers and looters for the past 300 years. It is only about 59 years back we got our independence, so I believe it will take more time to get independence from such people, so that the world is a much more peaceful place to stay where people don't hurt each other's religion and culture. Again remember HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji's message - "Worship your own, RESPECT ALL" These people don't even know what their Bible teaches. Their Bible tells the same thing - "Love thy neighbor as you love thyself".
Read the entire article on the Times Of India site ¶ 10:25 PM 3 comments
Read the entire article on the Times Of India site ¶ 10:25 PM 3 comments
