Some of the recent discussions : part 2

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B.EXCERPTS FROM PROF. SHARMA'S BOOK

 

" A man(Woman ) has , besides a body , a conscious mind

with its three main aspects of will, emotion and reason, and

behind it a vast subconscious or

unconscious mind in which are stored away the innumerable

experiences of the individual" and his(her ) heritage .And, over

and above all these, is the super-conscious, eternal and

Universal spirit , which is the fundamental self of ALL beings and

by virtue of which, in fact, they live and function.

 

So every established religion , which ministers to the whole being of man

is bound to possess elements in it , which will improve all aspects

of that being.

 

To begin with , there must be something in it which sublimates and purifies the

unconscious mind, something which goes to the very roots of

a man's being and exerts asubtle ,but most lasting influence on

his habits, tastes, impulses and the unreflective ways of his life.

 

That part of the religion , which performs this vital function is

its RITUAL . The Ritual has also another function.It represents the

traditional elements in Religion and ensures the continuity of its form

from generation to generation.

 

Then, as our WILL is immediately at the back of all of our conscious

activities, there must be something in religion , which trains the

will ,so that we may voluntarily go along the path of virtue and reach

the infinite holiness of God.

 

Every established religion is therefore bound to possess its scales

of moral values and its system of moral discipline .There can

be no religion withiut its own system of ethics.

 

Agin, as our emotions largely determine our Will , there

must be something in religion that operates directly on

the emotions and leads them along the sacred channel of love

to the infinite beauty of God. No great religion can ever exist

without its pattern prayer and meditation by means of which

it directs the feelings and aspirations of the faithful .

 

And, finally, as aman not only feels and wills, but also

understands and reasons, there must be something in

religion, which satisfies his intellect and makes him understand

his position in the universe and his relation to the

ultimate reality , which we call God.

 

Thus, every religion is bound to possess a philosophy

of its own , a body of doctrine arising out of secular

knowledge , but going far beyond it and including in its

scope not only the viisble world outside man, but also

the invisible world inside him.

 

Thus, we arrive at the ewell known divisions of religion , namely

ITS RITUALS, ITS ETHICS , ITS FORMS OF WORSHIP

AND ITS PHILOSOPHY. It is only when all these four elements

--- traditional, moral, emotional and rational -- receive due emphasis

that we have awell-balanced religion. And Hinduism is a truly

well-balanced religion.

 

The rituals appeal to the unconscious mind of man, the ethics

to his will , the forms of worship to his emotions and its

philosophy to his intellect. "

 

V.Sdaagopan

 

P.S; Much of the discussions of the past weeks and during

future would be to seek ways to acheive one's own balance betwen these

four elements referrred to above. We have in our group

brilliant logicians , learned scholars of our sampradhayams,

deeply pious people and a lot of others wanting to learn

from each other . There is an understandable tension

between emotion and intellect in seeking and accepting solutions that

are fully satisfactory. During this dialog, we do not want to lose any one.

Let me appeal to be tolerant of each other's views, while

not giving up one inch of what one deeply believes in . Thanks.