Dharma Journal - November 1st, 2007

[Guest guest]

Dharma Journal

Authentic Dharma for Today's World

by Dr. Frank Morales

 

The Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita

 

Arjuna asked: If You consider that acquiring transcendental knowledge

is better than working, then why do You want me to engage in this

horrible war, O Krishna? You seem to confuse my mind by apparently

conflicting words. Tell me, decisively, one thing by which I may

attain the Supreme. (3.01-02)

 

Lord Krishna said: In this world I have stated a twofold path of

spiritual discipline in the past. The path of Self-knowledge for the

contemplative ones, and the path of unselfish work (Seva, Karma-yoga)

for all others. (3.03)

 

One does not attain freedom from the bondage of Karma by merely

abstaining from work. No one attains perfection by merely giving up

work, because no one can remain actionless even for a moment.

Everyone is driven to action, helplessly indeed, by the forces of

Nature. (3.04-05)

 

Anyone, who restrains the senses but mentally dwells upon the sense

objects, is called a pretender. (3.06)

 

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The Rishi Phenomenon

 

" When we look at the examples of the many great Rishis and sages of

the Dharma tradition, we witness an occurrence that I term the " Rishi

Phenomenon " . When a truly great sage finally achieves liberation

from the illusion of separation from God, he or she does not merely

stop their activity there, content to merely live a life of isolated

bliss in self-realization. But, rather, they eventually look around

themselves and see that others are not similarly experiencing that

divine state of liberated bliss. They see that all beings are

suffering due to lack of spiritual insight. What then naturally

arises within the heart of the rishi as a result of his or her own

Brahmic experience is a deep compassion for all beings, and a

yearning to help them. The rishi then takes on the task of teaching

others the way of Dharma with the hope of elevating all sentient

beings to a similar experience of the Divine. We too are meant to

manifest the Rishi Phenomenon in our own lives and, with compassion

for all suffering beings, help others to experience their own

spiritual self-unfolding. To not want to share spiritual truth with

all beings is to not fully understand the loving and compassionate

nature of spiritual truth. We are each called upon to share the

liberating truth of Dharma with all. "

 

- Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya

 

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© 2007, Dharma Journal. Volume 9, issue 11