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Anwar Hussain wrote:
>
> > Balasubramaniam santhanam (santhan@ee.gatech.edu) wrote:
> >
> > The various gods are "powers" of the Supreme source. Aspects.
> > Through various rituals, one can come into contact with these powers,
> > converse with them, use them. They are conscious and independent
> > and yet attached to the Supreme. Don't ask me to explain how.
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Why can't you explain??? Is it be'cuz you do not know the answer or you are
> afraid that you might confuse yourself and as result you will deter your
> faith in your religion???
Gee, do you suppose he can't explain because this area is one of the
most difficult to comprehend, sort of like when Christians try to
explain the Trinity, or about how Jesus could be both man and God, or
about how it was possible for Muhammed (peace be upon him) to receive
the Qur'an? There was a wise Muslim mystic, a sufi, who once said that
as soon as we describe God or His works it canot be true, because the
Divine, in all Its splendour and fulness is beyond any description.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in the Jap Ji Sahib, explains eloquently how
impossible it is to describe the glories of God. So when
Balasubramaniam says he can't explain it, he's giving you an honest and
sensible response.
I could talk a little about the role of metaphor in religion, how we use
words to help us understand what is beyond words, and of the dangers of
getting so caught up in finding literal explanations and dogmas with
which to feel comfortable that we end up losing the essence of spiritual
life.
>Didn't hinduism gave enough explanations to its
> own followers to comprehend itself??? please wake up...
Hinduism has given many explanations, and some of them are helpful. But
the most helpful thing of all is to take the teachings, to live them.
That's what life is all about, to wake up. The Buddha is the awakened
one; those who have achieved mukti in the Hindu tradition are also
awakened ones, as are some of the great saints of Islam.
> And you should know by now that hinduism is only believed by people who
> have little knowledge of other religions. Don't you realize that you are
> shutting yourself out of the Truth, and thinking that what you believe now
> is the Truth?
It's interesting that when I was in school I was taught many things
about Hinduism -- most of them untrue, so I can say there is at least
one religion my teachers had little knowledge of. Through three decades
of my life, I have made learned the teachings of various traditions and,
by God's grace, been able to see and celebrate the hands of the Divine
hard at work in each of them.
About 10 years ago, my faith journey took a solid turn toward Hinduism.
I became a Hindu -- not because I made a conscious choice, or went
through some conversion ceremony, or made a decision for Krishna.
Rather, the teachings of Hinduism, and the spiritual experiences through
the Hindu tradition provided me with certainty that, at last, I had
found my spiritual home, that all I was searching for could be found
under the umbrella of Sanathana Dharma.
So I am proof, if indeed proof was needed for such a silly statement,
that Hinduism is not "only believed by people who have little knowledge
of other religions."
Any Hindu who is actively engaged in sadhana, or spiritual practice, is
not shutting herself or himself off from the Truth, but rather, is
progressing toward a greater and greater realization of it using the
time-proven, well-documented means that lakhs and lakhs (hundreds of
thousands), if not millions, of our Hindu sisters and brothers have
through thousands of years.
The Truth by the way, bas a precise definition in the Hindu and Buddhist
traditions. The Truth is that which is eternal, which never changes.
Therefore, the Truth is....
I believe firmly that within any of the great traditions an individual
can realize the Truth, the Divine, God. Therefore, we ought to honour
and respect each tradition. That's why I deny nothing of my previous
faith journey prior to finding my Hindu home. I am grateful to God for
what I have learned in each, and thankful the Divine has given
people-kind so many wonderful and varied ways to come home to the
Creator of all.
Daly
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