Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Amitab, Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to imply....! as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not enhance it or cause it. and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too many walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the fore runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show just brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any cost no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard work can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality today in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a girl friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them JUST FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well same year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. can the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, as stooping to conquer is our way of life. Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such a twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got crippled by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and spurned all her advances. what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it is surely valid there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has Best wishes Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes a sin if guilt is associated with it. Regards, Amitabh Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: Member, as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or spiritual paths. nor what u want to convey I can summerise this in a few lines starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not classify any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly Christian audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to date. that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the latest we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs to be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power to win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the other rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego points lost all they had won through boons all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. Mind over matter. Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over obstacles astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from a point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology is not responsible for it. please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we are close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. Best wishes theblisswithin <theblisswithin wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been done. Go ahead! You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being whom you can never possibly fear. ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will not succeed. ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. In everybody I reside. ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see it; they like darkness better. Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of the spirit by the spirit. Don't be flakey. Get Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning to continue this thread meanlessly----- I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching the Bold and the Beautiful I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of crisis and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, hate.......... I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in an article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... Peace, Love, and Light to All, elaine On 23 Mar 2007 02:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Amitab, > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > imply....! > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > enhance it or cause it. > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too many > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the fore > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show just > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any cost > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard work > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality today > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a girl > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them JUST > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well same > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. can > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such a > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got crippled > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > spurned all her advances. > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it is > surely valid > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > Best wishes > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes a > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > Regards, > Amitabh > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > Member, > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or spiritual > paths. > nor what u want to convey > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not classify > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly Christian > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to date. > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the latest > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs to > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power to > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the other > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > points lost all they had won through boons > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > Mind over matter. > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > obstacles > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from a > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology is > not responsible for it. > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we are > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > Best wishes > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40>> > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > done. Go ahead! > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > whom you can never possibly fear. > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > not succeed. > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > In everybody I reside. > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > it; they like darkness better. > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > the spirit by the spirit. > > > Don't be flakey. Get Mail for Mobile and > always stay connected to friends. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Elaine, No i dont watch any program with adds surely soap operas r the worst in it, I pref sports, news, discovery, NG, spend more time onBBC, CNN, CNBC if i have time forTV but Bold and beautiful synopsis was given to me while i was in Bangalore on a visit by my aunt said shee this character... and that and the gist that far. I know u did not mean to but sure many others may think likewise even partially is dreadful, i an not for any soaps, the 2 greatest WMD's of our times are movies and TV soaps.I wish George Bush does something here. these w WMD's have destroyed civilisations, civility, space within family, friends, society well does ur rest of the post suggest that ur daughter is a model in spite of ur shutting off some immoral doors...! and for academic reasons u cud send urs and ur daughters birth details can just see what I/we can make of it withanydates, events ucan connect either to my ID or group. Best wishes Elaine Gardner <pspmomster wrote: PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning to continue this thread meanlessly----- I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching the Bold and the Beautiful I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of crisis and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, hate.......... I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in an article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... Peace, Love, and Light to All, elaine On 23 Mar 2007 02:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Amitab, > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > imply....! > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > enhance it or cause it. > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too many > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the fore > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show just > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any cost > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard work > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality today > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a girl > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them JUST > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well same > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. can > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such a > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got crippled > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > spurned all her advances. > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it is > surely valid > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > Best wishes > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes a > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > Regards, > Amitabh > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > Member, > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or spiritual > paths. > nor what u want to convey > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not classify > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly Christian > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to date. > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the latest > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs to > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power to > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the other > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > points lost all they had won through boons > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > Mind over matter. > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > obstacles > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from a > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology is > not responsible for it. > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we are > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > Best wishes > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40>> > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > done. Go ahead! > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > whom you can never possibly fear. > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > not succeed. > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > In everybody I reside. > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > it; they like darkness better. > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > the spirit by the spirit. > > > Don't be flakey. Get Mail for Mobile and > always stay connected to friends. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Namaste Prashantji, I completely agree with you about Television---I ONLY watch CNN (when something important is going on) or our Public Broadcasting Service--mostly Nature, history, geography and stories on the arts. Growing up NONE of my children were allowed to watch regular TV...they were pretty much brought up on books and the occasional PBS children's show or Disney Video. We also lived waaay out in the country and I was the co-founder and co-chair of a wildlife organization where I cared for MANY injured and orphaned wild animals until they could be released back into nature---so my children received QUITE an education there. Also, when it was discovered that my daughter had the " voice of an angel " , she was involved with several children's groups, the opera department at Florida State University and her Father, who is active in his church, got her involved in choir and now she primarily sings gospel and jazz. My second daughter also has an incredible voice but doesn't have the personality Christina Leigh has and won't sing in public. My son? He's another story--- HE ALSO has a wonderful voice and although just 17 is QUITE the ham with both his singing and his theatrical skills (He was Prof. Higgins in his schools rendition of MY favorite, My Fair Lady My children have been through a LOT in their young lives, but they all seem to be doing wonderfully despite it all---and one of the main things I attribute this to was their restrictions to media when they were younger. I feel that the media--(TV, movies, magazines, and unfortunately the abuse of the internet) is to blame for most if not all of our social ills, family breakdowns, etc. I am an EXTREMELY strong advocate of restricting children's exposure to media images and content drastically during childhood. I even got into a fight with the school board when the middle schools were *requiring* my daughters to watch violent TV shows and attend movies in off school hours that I objected to. I Won! Blessings to you and yours sir!! elaine On 23 Mar 2007 03:29:16 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Elaine, > > No i dont watch any program with adds surely soap operas r the worst in > it, I pref sports, news, discovery, NG, spend more time onBBC, CNN, CNBC if > i have time forTV but Bold and beautiful synopsis was given to me while i > was in Bangalore o n a visit by my aunt said shee this character... and > that and the gist that far. > > I know u did not mean to but sure many others may think likewise even > partially is dreadful, i an not for any soaps, the 2 greatest WMD's of our > times are movies and TV soaps.I wish George Bush does something here. > these w WMD's have destroyed civilisations, civility, space within family, > friends, society > > well does ur rest of the post suggest that ur daughter is a model in spite > of ur shutting off some immoral doors...! > > and for academic reasons u cud send urs and ur daughters birth details can > just see what I/we can make of it withanydates, events ucan connect either > to my ID or group. > > Best wishes > > Elaine Gardner <pspmomster <pspmomster%40gmail.com>> wrote: > PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning > > to continue this thread meanlessly----- > I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching > the Bold and the Beautiful > > I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child > (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of > crisis > and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: > SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, > several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, > corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic > Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, > hate.......... > I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the > world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! > My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in > an > article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now > a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and > possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... > > Peace, Love, and Light to All, > elaine > > On 23 Mar 2007 02 <javascript:void(0)>:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B < > gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> > wrote: > > > > Amitab, > > > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > > imply....! > > > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > > enhance it or cause it. > > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too > many > > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the > fore > > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show > just > > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any > cost > > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard > work > > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality > today > > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a > girl > > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them > JUST > > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well > same > > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. > can > > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such > a > > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got > crippled > > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > > spurned all her advances. > > > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it > is > > surely valid > > > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > > > Best wishes > > > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk> > <amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes > a > > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > > > Regards, > > Amitabh > > > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40><gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > > Member, > > > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or > spiritual > > paths. > > nor what u want to convey > > > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not > classify > > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly > Christian > > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to > date. > > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the > latest > > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs > to > > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power > to > > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the > other > > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > > points lost all they had won through boons > > > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > > Mind over matter. > > > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > > obstacles > > > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from > a > > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology > is > > not responsible for it. > > > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we > are > > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > > > Best wishes > > > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40><theblisswithin% > 40>> > > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > > done. Go ahead! > > > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > > whom you can never possibly fear. > > > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > > not succeed. > > > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > > In everybody I reside. > > > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > > it; they like darkness better. > > > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > > the spirit by the spirit. > > > > > > Don't be flakey. Get Mail for Mobile and > > always stay connected to friends. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Elaine. good to hear this I know a few Americans who share such a view and also some NRI who even if citizenship is acquired also still have kept growing children away from media as u said. I wish India does its too, sadly most new age parents if they have to choose between a movie star and god [if he really comes will prefer seeing the film stars. this is become a Neoreligion here when many film stars are even worshiped, temples built and prayers held for them or on them. the worst aspect is they hardly contribute to society as Hollywood does at least. here and appear on all festival days with special events with no significance for the religious day, just focus on their life, new releases. though they keep claiming TV AND MEDIA The remote control is in ur hand to watch or not, it is a temptation which parents themselves don't resist how can young minds stay away. unless education is backed by some social activities be it wild life, care of the elders, orphans, sick etc and free time spent with them society soon will go back to wild apes days having evolved/reformed through the ages we are heading back in reverse gear.. best wishes Elaine Gardner <pspmomster wrote: Namaste Prashantji, I completely agree with you about Television---I ONLY watch CNN (when something important is going on) or our Public Broadcasting Service--mostly Nature, history, geography and stories on the arts. Growing up NONE of my children were allowed to watch regular TV...they were pretty much brought up on books and the occasional PBS children's show or Disney Video. We also lived waaay out in the country and I was the co-founder and co-chair of a wildlife organization where I cared for MANY injured and orphaned wild animals until they could be released back into nature---so my children received QUITE an education there. Also, when it was discovered that my daughter had the " voice of an angel " , she was involved with several children's groups, the opera department at Florida State University and her Father, who is active in his church, got her involved in choir and now she primarily sings gospel and jazz. My second daughter also has an incredible voice but doesn't have the personality Christina Leigh has and won't sing in public. My son? He's another story--- HE ALSO has a wonderful voice and although just 17 is QUITE the ham with both his singing and his theatrical skills (He was Prof. Higgins in his schools rendition of MY favorite, My Fair Lady My children have been through a LOT in their young lives, but they all seem to be doing wonderfully despite it all---and one of the main things I attribute this to was their restrictions to media when they were younger. I feel that the media--(TV, movies, magazines, and unfortunately the abuse of the internet) is to blame for most if not all of our social ills, family breakdowns, etc. I am an EXTREMELY strong advocate of restricting children's exposure to media images and content drastically during childhood. I even got into a fight with the school board when the middle schools were *requiring* my daughters to watch violent TV shows and attend movies in off school hours that I objected to. I Won! Blessings to you and yours sir!! elaine On 23 Mar 2007 03:29:16 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Elaine, > > No i dont watch any program with adds surely soap operas r the worst in > it, I pref sports, news, discovery, NG, spend more time onBBC, CNN, CNBC if > i have time forTV but Bold and beautiful synopsis was given to me while i > was in Bangalore o n a visit by my aunt said shee this character... and > that and the gist that far. > > I know u did not mean to but sure many others may think likewise even > partially is dreadful, i an not for any soaps, the 2 greatest WMD's of our > times are movies and TV soaps.I wish George Bush does something here. > these w WMD's have destroyed civilisations, civility, space within family, > friends, society > > well does ur rest of the post suggest that ur daughter is a model in spite > of ur shutting off some immoral doors...! > > and for academic reasons u cud send urs and ur daughters birth details can > just see what I/we can make of it withanydates, events ucan connect either > to my ID or group. > > Best wishes > > Elaine Gardner <pspmomster <pspmomster%40gmail.com>> wrote: > PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning > > to continue this thread meanlessly----- > I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching > the Bold and the Beautiful > > I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child > (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of > crisis > and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: > SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, > several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, > corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic > Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, > hate.......... > I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the > world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! > My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in > an > article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now > a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and > possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... > > Peace, Love, and Light to All, > elaine > > On 23 Mar 2007 02 <javascript:void(0)>:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B < > gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> > wrote: > > > > Amitab, > > > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > > imply....! > > > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > > enhance it or cause it. > > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too > many > > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the > fore > > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show > just > > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any > cost > > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard > work > > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality > today > > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a > girl > > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them > JUST > > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well > same > > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. > can > > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such > a > > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got > crippled > > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > > spurned all her advances. > > > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it > is > > surely valid > > > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > > > Best wishes > > > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk> > <amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes > a > > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > > > Regards, > > Amitabh > > > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40><gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > > Member, > > > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or > spiritual > > paths. > > nor what u want to convey > > > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not > classify > > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly > Christian > > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to > date. > > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the > latest > > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs > to > > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power > to > > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the > other > > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > > points lost all they had won through boons > > > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > > Mind over matter. > > > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > > obstacles > > > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from > a > > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology > is > > not responsible for it. > > > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we > are > > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > > > Best wishes > > > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40><theblisswithin% > 40>> > > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > > done. Go ahead! > > > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > > whom you can never possibly fear. > > > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > > not succeed. > > > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > > In everybody I reside. > > > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > > it; they like darkness better. > > > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > > the spirit by the spirit. > ********************************************** > Elaine M Gardner > 570-253-7812 Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 Dear Prashant, Quite a few mails have been exchanged during the intervening period. However, at this stage, I feel it would be prudent to clarify. It was not with any " vedantic " or " non vedantic " thought that I had made the statement. After all when one is performing an action, he is not thinking of vedanta or otherwise. The concept of right or wrong differs with persons, families, societies, nations and cultures - one can keep on creating divisions and as many visions of right and wrong would emerge. Some would be similar; others not so. Convergence and divergence are but two views of the same idea due to variance in perception. If this were not there, change, the only constant of nature would have been non existent and so would we. Coming back to the performance of an action, till guilt is not associated, it remains an action, good or bad; but does not become a sin. Valmiki continued to be a highway robber till Sage Narad took the initiative of putting some sense to him. Even his family claimed not to be sharing his evil karmas! I have no disrespect for Swami Vivekananda. As a matter of fact, he deserves all praise for all his writings and explanations. One has to simply go through his works to understand the most complex subjects in the simplest of language - due to the anticipated comprehension level of his audience; rightly brought out by you... As for the difference of sin in our country and in the West, few important facts need elaboration. West draws a distinction between religion and day to day living. There religion means attending church every Sunday, listening to sermons and having one God with Christ as the Saviour. The Church, has over the centuries, expounded the " sin " theory so deep that everyone associates sin with their daily actions; believing themselves to be a sinner at all times! Materialism and economic powers have added a dimension to this as well. If it were so simple to disassociate from karma dues, life would have had altogether a different meaning. In our country, Vedas, at no stage have attempted to force belief in God. Our sages who compiled the Vedas, along with other scriptures, Vedanta included, have provided explanations and processes for every concept and then left it to the individual to experience spirituality the way he understands best. Our sages did not want people to have blind faith in HIM without experience. Experience has varied understanding with different people in different ways and is explained in as many ways. This brings to the fore that, there is, in fact, no religion such as Hinduism!!! In our case religion has altogether a different connotation. This is one of the main reasons for multitude of so called Gods and Goddesses - a concept difficult to be understood. However, our priests and so called religious saviours have, over the ages corrupted this lesser known facet quite badly to suit their advantage. A word about Vedanta. Vedantas owe their existence to the Vedas; as mentioned Vedas are nothing but compilations of the outlook of our sages through the ages. While teaching their disciples, they explained the basics and left the rest for them to understand and explain. This accounts for the multitude of scriptures. Free will existed then to probably a much larger extent than now... after all convergence and divergence of ideas were well debated to reach commonalities, wherever possible. Fully agree with you on the sop operas on the TV these days - well, for them it is the question of survival at expense of inculcating such thoughts in the mind of viewers... their karmas would take care of them... Regards, Amitabh Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: Elaine. good to hear this I know a few Americans who share such a view and also some NRI who even if citizenship is acquired also still have kept growing children away from media as u said. I wish India does its too, sadly most new age parents if they have to choose between a movie star and god [if he really comes will prefer seeing the film stars. this is become a Neoreligion here when many film stars are even worshiped, temples built and prayers held for them or on them. the worst aspect is they hardly contribute to society as Hollywood does at least. here and appear on all festival days with special events with no significance for the religious day, just focus on their life, new releases. though they keep claiming TV AND MEDIA The remote control is in ur hand to watch or not, it is a temptation which parents themselves don't resist how can young minds stay away. unless education is backed by some social activities be it wild life, care of the elders, orphans, sick etc and free time spent with them society soon will go back to wild apes days having evolved/reformed through the ages we are heading back in reverse gear.. best wishes Elaine Gardner <pspmomster wrote: Namaste Prashantji, I completely agree with you about Television---I ONLY watch CNN (when something important is going on) or our Public Broadcasting Service--mostly Nature, history, geography and stories on the arts. Growing up NONE of my children were allowed to watch regular TV...they were pretty much brought up on books and the occasional PBS children's show or Disney Video. We also lived waaay out in the country and I was the co-founder and co-chair of a wildlife organization where I cared for MANY injured and orphaned wild animals until they could be released back into nature---so my children received QUITE an education there. Also, when it was discovered that my daughter had the " voice of an angel " , she was involved with several children's groups, the opera department at Florida State University and her Father, who is active in his church, got her involved in choir and now she primarily sings gospel and jazz. My second daughter also has an incredible voice but doesn't have the personality Christina Leigh has and won't sing in public. My son? He's another story--- HE ALSO has a wonderful voice and although just 17 is QUITE the ham with both his singing and his theatrical skills (He was Prof. Higgins in his schools rendition of MY favorite, My Fair Lady My children have been through a LOT in their young lives, but they all seem to be doing wonderfully despite it all---and one of the main things I attribute this to was their restrictions to media when they were younger. I feel that the media--(TV, movies, magazines, and unfortunately the abuse of the internet) is to blame for most if not all of our social ills, family breakdowns, etc. I am an EXTREMELY strong advocate of restricting children's exposure to media images and content drastically during childhood. I even got into a fight with the school board when the middle schools were *requiring* my daughters to watch violent TV shows and attend movies in off school hours that I objected to. I Won! Blessings to you and yours sir!! elaine On 23 Mar 2007 03:29:16 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Elaine, > > No i dont watch any program with adds surely soap operas r the worst in > it, I pref sports, news, discovery, NG, spend more time onBBC, CNN, CNBC if > i have time forTV but Bold and beautiful synopsis was given to me while i > was in Bangalore o n a visit by my aunt said shee this character... and > that and the gist that far. > > I know u did not mean to but sure many others may think likewise even > partially is dreadful, i an not for any soaps, the 2 greatest WMD's of our > times are movies and TV soaps.I wish George Bush does something here. > these w WMD's have destroyed civilisations, civility, space within family, > friends, society > > well does ur rest of the post suggest that ur daughter is a model in spite > of ur shutting off some immoral doors...! > > and for academic reasons u cud send urs and ur daughters birth details can > just see what I/we can make of it withanydates, events ucan connect either > to my ID or group. > > Best wishes > > Elaine Gardner <pspmomster <pspmomster%40gmail.com>> wrote: > PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning > > to continue this thread meanlessly----- > I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching > the Bold and the Beautiful > > I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child > (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of > crisis > and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: > SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, > several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, > corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic > Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, > hate.......... > I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the > world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! > My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in > an > article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now > a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and > possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... > > Peace, Love, and Light to All, > elaine > > On 23 Mar 2007 02 <javascript:void(0)>:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B < > gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> > wrote: > > > > Amitab, > > > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > > imply....! > > > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > > enhance it or cause it. > > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too > many > > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the > fore > > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show > just > > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any > cost > > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard > work > > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality > today > > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a > girl > > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them > JUST > > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well > same > > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. > can > > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such > a > > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got > crippled > > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > > spurned all her advances. > > > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it > is > > surely valid > > > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > > > Best wishes > > > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk> > <amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes > a > > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > > > Regards, > > Amitabh > > > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40><gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > > Member, > > > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or > spiritual > > paths. > > nor what u want to convey > > > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not > classify > > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly > Christian > > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to > date. > > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the > latest > > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs > to > > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power > to > > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the > other > > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > > points lost all they had won through boons > > > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > > Mind over matter. > > > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > > obstacles > > > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from > a > > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology > is > > not responsible for it. > > > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we > are > > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > > > Best wishes > > > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40><theblisswithin% > 40>> > > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > > done. Go ahead! > > > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > > whom you can never possibly fear. > > > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > > not succeed. > > > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > > In everybody I reside. > > > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > > it; they like darkness better. > > > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > > the spirit by the spirit. > ********************************************** > Elaine M Gardner > 570-253-7812 Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 Dear Prashant, Quite a few mails have been exchanged during the intervening period. However, at this stage, I feel it would be prudent to clarify. It was not with any " vedantic " or " non vedantic " thought that I had made the statement. After all when one is performing an action, he is not thinking of vedanta or otherwise. The concept of right or wrong differs with persons, families, societies, nations and cultures - one can keep on creating divisions and as many visions of right and wrong would emerge. Some would be similar; others not so. Convergence and divergence are but two views of the same idea due to variance in perception. If this were not there, change, the only constant of nature would have been non existent and so would we. Coming back to the performance of an action, till guilt is not associated, it remains an action, good or bad; but does not become a sin. Valmiki continued to be a highway robber till Sage Narad took the initiative of putting some sense to him. Even his family claimed not to be sharing his evil karmas! I have no disrespect for Swami Vivekananda. As a matter of fact, he deserves all praise for all his writings and explanations. One has to simply go through his works to understand the most complex subjects in the simplest of language - due to the anticipated comprehension level of his audience; rightly brought out by you... As for the difference of sin in our country and in the West, few important facts need elaboration. West draws a distinction between religion and day to day living. There religion means attending church every Sunday, listening to sermons and having one God with Christ as the Saviour. The Church, has over the centuries, expounded the " sin " theory so deep that everyone associates sin with their daily actions; believing themselves to be a sinner at all times! Materialism and economic powers have added a dimension to this as well. If it were so simple to disassociate from karma dues, life would have had altogether a different meaning. In our country, Vedas, at no stage have attempted to force belief in God. Our sages who compiled the Vedas, along with other scriptures, Vedanta included, have provided explanations and processes for every concept and then left it to the individual to experience spirituality the way he understands best. Our sages did not want people to have blind faith in HIM without experience. Experience has varied understanding with different people in different ways and is explained in as many ways. This brings to the fore that, there is, in fact, no religion such as Hinduism!!! In our case religion has altogether a different connotation. This is one of the main reasons for multitude of so called Gods and Goddesses - a concept difficult to be understood. However, our priests and so called religious saviours have, over the ages corrupted this lesser known facet quite badly to suit their advantage. A word about Vedanta. Vedantas owe their existence to the Vedas; as mentioned Vedas are nothing but compilations of the outlook of our sages through the ages. While teaching their disciples, they explained the basics and left the rest for them to understand and explain. This accounts for the multitude of scriptures. Free will existed then to probably a much larger extent than now... after all convergence and divergence of ideas were well debated to reach commonalities, wherever possible. Agree with you on the sop operas on the TV these days - well, for them it is the question of survival at expense of inculcating such thoughts in the mind of viewers... their karmas would take care of them... Regards, Amitabh Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: Elaine. good to hear this I know a few Americans who share such a view and also some NRI who even if citizenship is acquired also still have kept growing children away from media as u said. I wish India does its too, sadly most new age parents if they have to choose between a movie star and god [if he really comes will prefer seeing the film stars. this is become a Neoreligion here when many film stars are even worshiped, temples built and prayers held for them or on them. the worst aspect is they hardly contribute to society as Hollywood does at least. here and appear on all festival days with special events with no significance for the religious day, just focus on their life, new releases. though they keep claiming TV AND MEDIA The remote control is in ur hand to watch or not, it is a temptation which parents themselves don't resist how can young minds stay away. unless education is backed by some social activities be it wild life, care of the elders, orphans, sick etc and free time spent with them society soon will go back to wild apes days having evolved/reformed through the ages we are heading back in reverse gear.. best wishes Elaine Gardner <pspmomster wrote: Namaste Prashantji, I completely agree with you about Television---I ONLY watch CNN (when something important is going on) or our Public Broadcasting Service--mostly Nature, history, geography and stories on the arts. Growing up NONE of my children were allowed to watch regular TV...they were pretty much brought up on books and the occasional PBS children's show or Disney Video. We also lived waaay out in the country and I was the co-founder and co-chair of a wildlife organization where I cared for MANY injured and orphaned wild animals until they could be released back into nature---so my children received QUITE an education there. Also, when it was discovered that my daughter had the " voice of an angel " , she was involved with several children's groups, the opera department at Florida State University and her Father, who is active in his church, got her involved in choir and now she primarily sings gospel and jazz. My second daughter also has an incredible voice but doesn't have the personality Christina Leigh has and won't sing in public. My son? He's another story--- HE ALSO has a wonderful voice and although just 17 is QUITE the ham with both his singing and his theatrical skills (He was Prof. Higgins in his schools rendition of MY favorite, My Fair Lady My children have been through a LOT in their young lives, but they all seem to be doing wonderfully despite it all---and one of the main things I attribute this to was their restrictions to media when they were younger. I feel that the media--(TV, movies, magazines, and unfortunately the abuse of the internet) is to blame for most if not all of our social ills, family breakdowns, etc. I am an EXTREMELY strong advocate of restricting children's exposure to media images and content drastically during childhood. I even got into a fight with the school board when the middle schools were *requiring* my daughters to watch violent TV shows and attend movies in off school hours that I objected to. I Won! Blessings to you and yours sir!! elaine On 23 Mar 2007 03:29:16 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar wrote: > > Elaine, > > No i dont watch any program with adds surely soap operas r the worst in > it, I pref sports, news, discovery, NG, spend more time onBBC, CNN, CNBC if > i have time forTV but Bold and beautiful synopsis was given to me while i > was in Bangalore o n a visit by my aunt said shee this character... and > that and the gist that far. > > I know u did not mean to but sure many others may think likewise even > partially is dreadful, i an not for any soaps, the 2 greatest WMD's of our > times are movies and TV soaps.I wish George Bush does something here. > these w WMD's have destroyed civilisations, civility, space within family, > friends, society > > well does ur rest of the post suggest that ur daughter is a model in spite > of ur shutting off some immoral doors...! > > and for academic reasons u cud send urs and ur daughters birth details can > just see what I/we can make of it withanydates, events ucan connect either > to my ID or group. > > Best wishes > > Elaine Gardner <pspmomster <pspmomster%40gmail.com>> wrote: > PLEASE Prashantji--I do NOT mean this with ANY disrespect---and not meaning > > to continue this thread meanlessly----- > I'm sorry, but I HAD to smile thinking of Prashantji sitting and watching > the Bold and the Beautiful > > I watched one day, MANY years ago when I was pregnant with my first child > (and very sick), of daytime soap operas---I'd thought MY life full of > crisis > and chaos even then was bad, until in one day I saw: > SO many instances of infidelity I stopped counting, 3 murders, 2 rapes, > several murder trials in progress, a woman " coming back " from death, > corporate and personal theft, several fights, Satan worship, a Catholic > Priest and his Mistress lost on a desert Isle, mobsters, greed, lust, > hate.......... > I shut off the TV, apologized to my unborn daughter and promised her the > world wasn't THAT bad yet!!!! > My children tease me about this from time to time, as I wrote about it in > an > article that was published several years ago. My eldest daughter is now > a professional model and singer, and hopes to one day be on Broadway and > possibly play in a Soap Opera. Talk about Karma......... > > Peace, Love, and Light to All, > elaine > > On 23 Mar 2007 02 <javascript:void(0)>:16:09 -0700, Prashant Kumar G B < > gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40>> > wrote: > > > > Amitab, > > > > Guilt again as seen by non Vedantic thoughts is what u r trying to > > imply....! > > > > as most our teachings/ sayings are Pryaschatapa will cleanse sin not > > enhance it or cause it. > > and if this moral firewall is not there then sure it will be no holds > > barred contest as we see now the church made it so simple now with too > many > > walls of sin/guilt and now broken apart due to materialism being the > fore > > runner and all is fair and u can usurp someones wealth, life partner, > > assets, his intellectual property whatever with no inhibitions/guilt. > > > > I hope u r seeing some of Ekta kapoors soap operas what do they show > just > > brazenness, schemers, cruel women just out to destroy the other at any > cost > > no competition to rise or a positive dimension is shown someones hard > work > > can just be yours just by scheming not by striving. > > > > I hope the Bold and beautiful episodes too are not far from reality > today > > in it a big industrialists family's 2nd generation one of them has a > girl > > friend who after falling apart [who was pregnant too] with one of them > JUST > > FOR REVENGE gets to hook the father and is pregnant with him as well > same > > year. a stable marriage of 35 years and a family structure destroyed. > can > > the mere thought of such a event not fall under sin? a would have been > > daughter-in-law becomes a step mother....!? > > > > the soap operas are not facts but still such a thing is now is possible, > > as stooping to conquer is our way of life. > > > > Similar episodes in History of Sarangadhara exist but did not take such > a > > twist as the sense of morality [sin still prevailed] he rather got > crippled > > by his conniving step mother whom he refused to have an affair with and > > spurned all her advances. > > > > what Swami Vivekananda must be seen in the context of his audience. it > is > > surely valid > > > > there is aclear difference betwen how we see sin and the west has > > > > Best wishes > > > > Amitabh Shastri <amitabh_shastri<amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk> > <amitabh_shastri%40.co.uk>> > > wrote: Would just like to summarise in one sentence - an action becomes > a > > sin if guilt is associated with it. > > > > Regards, > > Amitabh > > > > Prashant Kumar G B <gbp_kumar <gbp_kumar%40><gbp_kumar%40>> wrote: > > Member, > > > > as u have not signed a name below we don't kbow ur ethnicity or > spiritual > > paths. > > nor what u want to convey > > > > I can summerise this in a few lines > > > > starting with AHAM BRAHMA ASMI I am brahman or part of the brahman > > whatever ur level of evolution be [mentally]. Vedenta doesnt not > classify > > any one as sinner max the actions can be, else we wont have Valmiki, > > Pundalik, Purundara dasa, Yogi Vemmana as saints....! life is meant to > > evolve and with a discriminating intellect/mind we have to. > > > > Swami vivekananda spoke of the quoted text in the west a broadly > Christian > > audience and the last paragraph summerises the church's teachings to > date. > > that we r sinners and the gods son will come and deliver us and the > latest > > we can quote as Pope John Paul the 2nd who said Asia more so India needs > to > > be enlightened from darkness in his last visit here. > > > > all our epics are pointers to this effect say the mighty ravana was > > reduced in his valor inspite of loosing all his men still had more power > to > > win but was overwhelmed with lowness when Sri Rama said go back come > > tomorrow armed, the grace of life for him was his undoing., if he simply > > went home and came back may be cud have still been a winner so too the > other > > rakshasas in several other Epics who had invincible powers on small ego > > points lost all they had won through boons > > > > all is in the mind is Jyotishya too we have the mind as the base for all > > our Yogas that is why chandra is used as a dasa's starting points. the > > saying when the going gets tough, the tough get going must be seen here. > > Mind over matter. > > > > Sade saat tests ones mettle stronger one who observe the prayers or even > > otherwise ignorant ones who with inner strength move on still win over > > obstacles > > > > astrology is a guide to see that weaker souls move back to strenght from > a > > point of acceptance not resignation if some have gone that way astrology > is > > not responsible for it. > > > > please understand vivekanands works from a western point more, now we > are > > close to it, looaing our base due to intellectual slavery still. > > > > Best wishes > > > > theblisswithin <theblisswithin <theblisswithin%40><theblisswithin% > 40>> > > wrote: Excerpts from The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: volume 8 > > > > Chapter: Is Vedanta the Future Religion > > (Lecture Delivered in San Francisco on April 8, 1900) > > > > ..So Vedanta knows no sin. There are mistakes but no sin; and in the > > long run everything is going to be all right. No Satan-none of > > this ...Vedanta believes in only one sin; only one in the world, and > > it is this; the moment you think you are a sinner or everybody is a > > sinner; that is sin. From that follows every other mistake or what is > > usually called sin. There have been mistakes in our lives. But we are > > going on. Glory be unto us that have made mistakes! Take a long look > > at your past life. If your present condition is good, it has been > > caused by all the past mistakes as well successes. Glory be unto > > success! Glory be unto mistakes! Do not look back upon what has been > > done. Go ahead! > > > > You see, Vedanta proposes no sin nor sinner. No God to be afraid of. > > He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is > > our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be > > afraid; He is that...God is man's very Self. He is that one being > > whom you can never possibly fear. > > > > ...What does Vedanta teach us? In the first place, it teaches that > > you need not even go out of yourself to know the truth. All the past > > and all the future are here in the present. ..This present is all > > that is. There is only the One. All is here right now. One moment in > > the infinite time is quite as good as complete and all inclusive as > > every other moment. All that is and was and will be is here in the > > present. Let anybody try to imagine anything outside of it-he will > > not succeed. > > > > ...Therefore Vedanta formulates, not universal brotherhood, but > > universal oneness. I am the same was any other man, as any animal- > > good, bad, anything. It is one body, one mind, one soul throughout. > > Spirit never dies. ..The Universe is my body. See how it continues. > > All minds are mine. With all feet I walk. Through all mouths I speak. > > In everybody I reside. > > > > ..Whatever you dream and think of, you create. If it is hell, you die > > and see hell. If it is evil and Satan, you get a Satan. If ghosts, > > you get ghosts. Whatever you think, that you become. If you have to > > think, think good thoughts, great thoughts. This taking for granted > > that you are weak little worms! By declaring we are weak, we become > > weak, we do not become better...What good does it to me to say that I > > am a sinner? If I am in the dark, let me light a lamp. Yet how > > curious is the nature of men! You tell them the truth-they do not see > > it; they like darkness better. > > > > Worship everything as God-every form is His temple. All else is > > delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that > > Vedanta preaches, and such is His worship. Naturally there is no > > sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta. > > > > ..Infinite knowledge abides within everyone in fullest measure. You > > are not really ignorant, though you may appear to be so. You are > > incarnations of God, all of you. You are the incarnations of the > > Almighty, Omnipresent, Divine Principle. > > > > ..For thousands of years millions and millions all over the world > > have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, the Incarnations, > > the saviours, the prophets. They have been taught to consider > > themselves helpless, miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy > > of some person or persons for salvation. There are no doubt many > > marvelous things in such beliefs. But even at their best, they are > > but kindergartens of religions, and they have helped but little. Men > > are still hypnotized into abject degradation...The hour comes when > > great men shall arise and cast off these kindergartens of religion > > and shall make vivid and powerful the true religion, the worship of > > the spirit by the spirit. > ********************************************** > Elaine M Gardner > 570-253-7812 Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Travel to find your fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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