[ramakrishna] One of the replies on 'Creation'

[Guest guest]

Sriram said:

 

" That which is farther away from the centre (divinity)

is seen as evil and that which is relatively nearer is

seen as good. "

 

Within Vedanta philosophy, evil is not seen as energy

or entities separate from God. That thinking is only

present in dualistic philosophies, in immature

philosophies. In creation, all created things express

divinity based on degree. Goodness(sattva) is closer

to God, evil(tamas) is further away. That which leads

toward an awareness of God is " good, " that which leads

you away from an awareness of God is " evil. " These are

not absolutes.

 

What is the real " enemy " or " evil? " According to

Hinduism- it is ignorance. Ignorance of our true

nature. Hence the creation (prakriti) which only

exists for the sake of God(Purusha) to experience

Himself. The world, and more specifically the mind, is

the " mirror " where God (the Seer) can see Himself.

When the mind is purified, the Seer sees a pure

reflection. When the mind is " dirty " or unbalanced,

the mind sees a distorted image (the ego) and

identifies with that distortion.

 

So what is a " pure " mind and how can it be attained?

The pure mind, like a lake, is calm and serene. It no

longer feels craving for the things of the world or

the senses. It is the " musk deer " that has looked all

over the world for the musk scent only to discover

that the scent emanates from himself. It's a mind that

has learned, through repeated attempts, that there is

no lasting happiness in this world. That all these

vain attempts to find happiness in the senses have

just brought more pain and confusion. When we have

been " burned " so many times we let go of this idea

that we can find happiness in impermanent things- in

external things, including the body. This may take

many lifetimes to realize.

 

When this awareness finally arises, it is called

renunciation. Then, when the mind stops seeking this

external happiness, it turns inwards and realizes that

there is an ocean of happiness, or peace, reflected in

this quietness, this complete freedom from craving.

Then " liberation " (moksha) takes place and the

individual soul(jiva)is united with God.

 

Why does this take place? For fun!! God is the great

magician!! He loves to play!! He loves to entertain

and be entertained at the same time!! Hence the great

drama of hide-and-seek!! Who could have imagined such

an amazing stage director who also plays the actors-

but sometimes forgets He's acting! The actor (ego)

forgets it's just a play and starts taking it sooo

seriously!!

 

Then the Director taps him on the shoulder and says:

" Why all these tears my child? We were just playing!

It was just a play, a dream, that we were all playing.

If you have had enough of this dream, just come to me

and I will give you a rest. Relax! I will take you off

the stage. Come back stage with Me and just watch the

show! "

 

God in the form of a Guru, such as Sri Ramakrishna,

has been backstage, has attained the Director's favor.

He appears on the stage of life to help those who have

forgotten the Director, and hence are confused about

their role in the great play. His advice: " Play your

role, but don't be attached. Keep the mind free from

the world's turmoil. Meditate. Find peace within.

Serve others. You will gradually be freed from all

these comedies and tragedies and, when you're ready to

go, I will take you to meet the Director. When you

meet the Director, the peace that passes all

understanding will come upon you. What is it like?

Well, I asked a salt doll to measure the depth of the

ocean for me, but she never returned. You too will be

the salt doll. "

 

 

 

 

Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices

http://auctions./

[Guest guest]

I liked this posting very much. Thanks

 

Regards

 

Yours sincerely

Milind Sathye

Department of Finance and Banking

University of Southern Queensland

Toowoomba, Queensland 4350

Australia

Phone 61 +7 + 4631 5509

Fax 61+ 7 + 4631 2625

web page: http://www.usq.edu.au/users/sathye

 

 

 

 

R D [jaguarxox]

Tuesday, 24 April 2001 1:06

Ramakrishna

Re: [ramakrishna] One of the replies on 'Creation'

 

 

Sriram said:

 

" That which is farther away from the centre (divinity)

is seen as evil and that which is relatively nearer is

seen as good. "

 

Within Vedanta philosophy, evil is not seen as energy

or entities separate from God. That thinking is only

present in dualistic philosophies, in immature

philosophies. In creation, all created things express

divinity based on degree. Goodness(sattva) is closer

to God, evil(tamas) is further away. That which leads

toward an awareness of God is " good, " that which leads

you away from an awareness of God is " evil. " These are

not absolutes.

 

What is the real " enemy " or " evil? " According to

Hinduism- it is ignorance. Ignorance of our true

nature. Hence the creation (prakriti) which only

exists for the sake of God(Purusha) to experience

Himself. The world, and more specifically the mind, is

the " mirror " where God (the Seer) can see Himself.

When the mind is purified, the Seer sees a pure

reflection. When the mind is " dirty " or unbalanced,

the mind sees a distorted image (the ego) and

identifies with that distortion.

 

So what is a " pure " mind and how can it be attained?

The pure mind, like a lake, is calm and serene. It no

longer feels craving for the things of the world or

the senses. It is the " musk deer " that has looked all

over the world for the musk scent only to discover

that the scent emanates from himself. It's a mind that

has learned, through repeated attempts, that there is

no lasting happiness in this world. That all these

vain attempts to find happiness in the senses have

just brought more pain and confusion. When we have

been " burned " so many times we let go of this idea

that we can find happiness in impermanent things- in

external things, including the body. This may take

many lifetimes to realize.

 

When this awareness finally arises, it is called

renunciation. Then, when the mind stops seeking this

external happiness, it turns inwards and realizes that

there is an ocean of happiness, or peace, reflected in

this quietness, this complete freedom from craving.

Then " liberation " (moksha) takes place and the

individual soul(jiva)is united with God.

 

Why does this take place? For fun!! God is the great

magician!! He loves to play!! He loves to entertain

and be entertained at the same time!! Hence the great

drama of hide-and-seek!! Who could have imagined such

an amazing stage director who also plays the actors-

but sometimes forgets He's acting! The actor (ego)

forgets it's just a play and starts taking it sooo

seriously!!

 

Then the Director taps him on the shoulder and says:

" Why all these tears my child? We were just playing!

It was just a play, a dream, that we were all playing.

If you have had enough of this dream, just come to me

and I will give you a rest. Relax! I will take you off

the stage. Come back stage with Me and just watch the

show! "

 

God in the form of a Guru, such as Sri Ramakrishna,

has been backstage, has attained the Director's favor.

He appears on the stage of life to help those who have

forgotten the Director, and hence are confused about

their role in the great play. His advice: " Play your

role, but don't be attached. Keep the mind free from

the world's turmoil. Meditate. Find peace within.

Serve others. You will gradually be freed from all

these comedies and tragedies and, when you're ready to

go, I will take you to meet the Director. When you

meet the Director, the peace that passes all

understanding will come upon you. What is it like?

Well, I asked a salt doll to measure the depth of the

ocean for me, but she never returned. You too will be

the salt doll. "

 

 

 

 

Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices

http://auctions./

 

 

Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.co.uk