Polygamy and Spiritualism

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

I had happened to read a very inspiring book by Swami Rama (Living

with Himalayan Masters) and it's noted there that for spiritual

upliftment the following has to be done:

a) See Godliness in all

b) Consider objects as the means and not the end

c) Do not covet for wealth, fame and women.

 

My understanding is that these are the concepts that are taken from

Vedic Literature as these yogis are followers of jnana and raja

yogas.

 

If this hypothesis is correct, why is it that we happen to hear

polygamous marriages in the olden days (King Dasaratha, King

Vichitravirya etc) King Dasaratha is supposed to be a spiritually

enlightened person(Ashtavakra Gita etc) but why this contradiction

with regard to marriages here?

 

Thanks & Regards,

--Murahari

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna

Dear Murahariv,

It is my understanding that for each class of men

there are(were) different standards, regulations for

each.

Kings and such were allowed to have multiple wives .

For one, because they were able to adequately provide

for them.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, many kings, also took

vanaprastha and went to the forest to practice

spiritual penance and austerities, and prepared for

leaving their bodies.

There is a nice story about the different ashrams in

life, in Srimad Bhagavatam see the one on King Yayati.

Also King Rahugana,Prataparudra(sp?),and many more.

Best wishes

Lakshmi

 

--- murahariv <murahariv wrote:

 

> Namaste,

>

> I had happened to read a very inspiring book by

> Swami Rama (Living

> with Himalayan Masters) and it's noted there that

> for spiritual

> upliftment the following has to be done:

> a) See Godliness in all

> b) Consider objects as the means and not the end

> c) Do not covet for wealth, fame and women.

>

> My understanding is that these are the concepts that

> are taken from

> Vedic Literature as these yogis are followers of

> jnana and raja

> yogas.

>

> If this hypothesis is correct, why is it that we

> happen to hear

> polygamous marriages in the olden days (King

> Dasaratha, King

> Vichitravirya etc) King Dasaratha is supposed to be

> a spiritually

> enlightened person(Ashtavakra Gita etc) but why this

> contradiction

> with regard to marriages here?

>

> Thanks & Regards,

> --Murahari

>

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Yes, running after wealth, fame and women (or men if you are a woman) is not

a good thing and blocks one's progress.

 

However, one's internal spirit and attitude cannot be always judged

correctly based on external indications. Having abundant wealth does not

mean that one is running after wealth (though most wealthy persons are

addicted to wealth). A famous man may not be addicted to fame (though many

are). A man with ten wives may not be addicted to sex (thought many are).

 

Renunciation that frees one is at the mental level and not necessarily at

the physical level. Physical renunciation of things promotes mental

renunciation, but does not guarantee it. On the other hand, mental

renunciation is possible without physical renunciation. One may renounce the

material world and live under a tree in a forest alone for the entire life

and yet not overcome the instinctual attraction to money, fame and sex.

Another person may live in the middle of wealth, fame and glamor, yet remain

detached from all of it it and surrender at the feet of god despite being

very active in many ways. It is all in the mind.

 

One needs to interact with the world and world objects in order to pay back

one's rinas. The karmas taken on by Swami Vivekananda when he voluntarily

chose to come back to earth required him to become famous and spread the

message of sanatana dharma to varrious corners of the world. He *had* to

become famous for fulfilling his dharma. It does not mean he craved for

fame. He did not. In fact, his guru moulded him and released him into the

world only after he was strong and detached enough to be unaffected by fame.

 

Similarly, a king like Dasaratha (or a queen like Draupadi!) may marry

several people in order to pay back the rinas that had to be paid back in

that life.

 

Remember one fundamental point: We exist on earth in order to fulfil our

dharma. We must do it without incurring new karmas and becoming attached. So

what we do should be based on our personal dharma (as decided by our

instincts, intelligence and gurus). But what is important is *how* we do it.

*That* is what decides the new karmas incurred for future. If we can do

whatever we do with a spirit of detachment and with a sense of surrender to

the Lord, we minimize our chances of incurring new troublesome karmas.

 

Best regards,

Narasimha

 

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Spirituality:

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

 

 

-

" murahariv " <murahariv

 

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 12:48 AM

Polygamy and Spiritualism

 

 

> Namaste,

>

> I had happened to read a very inspiring book by Swami Rama (Living

> with Himalayan Masters) and it's noted there that for spiritual

> upliftment the following has to be done:

> a) See Godliness in all

> b) Consider objects as the means and not the end

> c) Do not covet for wealth, fame and women.

>

> My understanding is that these are the concepts that are taken from

> Vedic Literature as these yogis are followers of jnana and raja

> yogas.

>

> If this hypothesis is correct, why is it that we happen to hear

> polygamous marriages in the olden days (King Dasaratha, King

> Vichitravirya etc) King Dasaratha is supposed to be a spiritually

> enlightened person(Ashtavakra Gita etc) but why this contradiction

> with regard to marriages here?

>

> Thanks & Regards,

> --Murahari