Loka Sangraha

[Guest guest]

Adiyen Dasanudasan

 

Thanks be to Mohan Sagar and his excellent submission on

loka-sangraha - it is the essence of Sri krsna's teaching

in the Gita - he frequently declares that the true devotee

is "sarva bhuta hite ratah" - engaged in the welfare of all

beings.

 

"Tadiya aradhana" is venerating all that is the Lord's -

which in fact means the entire universe and all sentient

beings which are the modes or expressions of the Divine -

it does not mean offering money and food to Srivaishnavas.

 

According to the epistemology of Visishthadvaita Vedanta

"Valid Knowledge" is that which (a) reveals the true nature

of a thing and (b) is conducive to meaningful action.

If a stated Siddhanta leads to selfishness, divisiveness,

aggression, unfriendliness, discrimination, resentment,

lack of compassion or selective charity then that Siddhanta

is useless knowledge.

 

Theology (Siddhanta) must have a practical outcome (Dharma)

and that Dharma is loka-sangraha - engaging in the welfare

of all sentient beings at every monent in word, deed and

thought. The nature of the Divine Reality cannot be settled

by argument, the validation of theological dogma is less

important than the quality of our actions. Let us see Krishna

in every being and all beings in krishna, let us serve all

beings as if they are Krishna Himself - this is Ramanuja

Siddhanta. He was prepared to go to hell so that all others

could be liberated - this should be our role model and ideal

for service.

 

Jai Srimannarayana

Srirama Ramanuja Acharya

[Guest guest]

Srimathe: Ra:ma:nuja:ya Namaha

 

My sincere thanks to Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya Swamin for his kind

words. And, my compliments to him for furthering this topic with

some thought-provoking insights.

 

In my prayers this morning, I had been meditating upon what Sriman

Ramanuja Acharya has said about loka-sangraha and tadia:ra:dhanam,

and I came up with a few additional ideas that I thought that I would

share.

 

I think that it is important to recognize that loka-sangraha is as

much a spiritual mood as much as it is an intrinsic and tangible

concept within our siddha:ntam. This mood in practical application

is to see that even the smallest of event in our work and personal

life be of some benefit to the Greater Good. How? By performing the

actions involved in each event in a mood of humble service to Sriman

Na:ra:yana and His Devotees as service to all living beings.

 

Consequently, our ara:dhana and sto:thrams that we perform in the

morning should be offered to Him for His Benefit, with the prayer

that He will continue to shower His Loving Glances on the world

forever; our work duties should be performed in an honest and sincere

way, such that it is to the benefit of those whom we serve, our

customers; our relationship with our spouse, family and friends

should be loving and caring and should seek to bring some benefit to

them, as they are His Gifts to us. And most importantly, we must

serve and learn from our Acha:ryas and elders with humble sincerity,

knowing that they are our sole means to realizing His Lotus Feet.

 

adiye:n Ra:ma:nuja da:san

Mohan