A tonic to The Mind

Monday, November 16, 2015

Rites of Passage

For human beings, whatever their religion, there are certain key events in life, such as birth, marriage and death. Rituals or ceremonies such as christening (baby-naming ceremony) wedding and funerals mark the significance of these events, and connect a person to society and tradition. These ceremonies are called ‘rites of passage’ because they mark a person’s passing from one state of life to another.

A tonic to The Mind

Truth , fairness , generosity and self-restraint are taught by all religions. Any person who wished individual and collective welfare cannot ignore these values. Even a septic with a rational mind or a man with scientific temperament cannot brush the aforesaid values away. These values aim at individual as well as collective well-being. They help not only an individual to live happily but inspire him to see that others too remain happy

When others hurt us through their harsh words and deeds we feel pain and agony. The same words and deeds hurt others too. Non-violence is a positive attitude of mind where one constantly strives for the welfare of others through word and deed. So also the practice of others virtues like truth, non-stealing, continence, and on-covetousness fosters individual as well as collective well-being

Truth and honesty have been highly praised in Indian Scriptures. Non-violence has its roots in truth. Without the foundation of truth, real progress is not possible. The wonderful discoveries of scientists have been based on the pursuit of truths, on their persistent efforts and one pointed concentration to unravel it. Truth alone triumphs and no untruth, the veracity of the great teaching can be understood by all. “Truth was God”. A man of truth sits on the lap of God, said Sri RamaKrishna.

But there are exceptions to it. Sometimes we cannot state an unpleasant or a painful truth if it hurts others. The second form of truth is to fulfill one’s promises. Devotion to work is its third from. Truthful persons may undergo many hardships in doing good to others. Yet they do not deviate from their path. They adhere to their honesty and promises. Through the practice of truth one can realize God who is the embodiment of truth. Therefore, it should permeate our personal and collective lives and our social behaviouir. It should touch the hearts of our students in schools and colleges. This is the only way to bring about the well being of society. Courtesy wisdom

A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for

How much easier it is to be critical then to be correct.

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

In the Vedas, there is no mention of hell. But our Puranas, the later books of our scriptures, thought that no religion could be complete unless hells were attached to it, and so they invented all sorts of hells. In some of these, men are sawed in half, and continually tortured, but do no die. They are continually feeling intense pain, but the books are merciful enough to say it is only for a period. Bad Karma worked out in that state and then they come back on earth, and get another chance. so this human form is the great chance . it is called the Karma-body, in which we decide our fate. We are running in huge circle, and this is the point in the circle which determines the future. So this is considered the most important form that there is . Man is greater than the gods.

So far with dualism, pure and simple . Next comes the higher Vedantic philosophy which sys, that its cannot be . God is both the material and the efficient cause of this universe, If you say there is a god who is an infinite Being, and a soul which is also infinite , and a nature which is also infinite, you can go on multiplying infinite, without limit which is simply absurd; you smash all logic. So god is both the material and the efficient cause of the universe; He project this universe out of Himself. Then how is it that God has become these walls and this table, that God has become the pig, and the murderer, and al the evil things in the world? We say that God is pure. How can He become all these degenerated things? Our answer is just as I am a soul and have a body and in a sense, this body is not different from me, yet I, the real I , in fact, am on the body. For instance, I say, I am child, a young man, or an old man, but my soul has not changed. It remains the same soul. Similarly , the whole universe , comprising all nature and an infinite number of souls , is, as if were, the infinite body of God. He is interpenetrating the whole of it. He alone is unchangeable, but nature changes, and soul changes. He is unaffected by changes in nature and soul. In what way does nature change? In its forms, it takes fresh forms. But the soul cannot change that way. The soul contracts and expands in knowledge. It contracts by evil deeds. Those deeds which contract the real natural knowledge and purity of the soul are called evil deeds. Those deeds, again which bring out the natural glory of the soul are called good deeds. All these souls were pure, but they have become contracted ; through the mercy of God, and by doing god deeds, they will expand and recover their natural purity. Everything has the same chance, and in the long run, must get out. But this universe will not cease, because it is eternal. This is the second theory. The first is called dualism. The second holds that there are God, should, and nature and soul and nature from the body of God, and, therefore these three form one unit. It represents a higher stage of religious development and goes by the name of qualified monism, in dualism; the universe is conceived as a large machine set going by God while in qualified monism. It is conceived as an organism, interpenetrated by the Divine self. Courtesy thoughts on Vedanta

But, if He exists? 

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.

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