Guest guest Posted January 26, 2002 Report Share Posted January 26, 2002 In a message dated 02-01-26 18:48:18 EST, brad writes: << <Gradually these nations are joining, and I am sure the day will come when separation will vanish and that Oneness to which we are all going will become manifest.> This understanding, I believe, is what our planet is most in need of. >> Yes, I too believe that this is what is most needed. Unfortunately tho, this would seem to be a process of evolution. Individual evolution. Only when individuals begin to evolve beyond petty differences will nations begin to evolve. It starts with each and everyone of us. When it is time, it will be so...It's hard to watch so much violence at times. So much fighting over borderlines, land occupation, whose has the right to live where...(Middle East, India and Pakistan over Kashmir) If only those advocating all that violence could come across that story about how God laughs when people draw imaginary lines upon the ground and say " ...this side is yours and this side is mine... " for God knows that all belongs to God. <<how could our genes, our bodies, our families, our ancestry, our religion or our nation cause us to be separate, different, inferior or superior to one another?>> I think it has very little to do with our genes, or our bodies. Family, yes, ancestry, yes, and religion most definitely yes. How we are " programmed " by the society in which we live, what our parents, teachers, and so-called authority figures tell us. Mostly it's about fear if you truly analyze it. Swamiji once said that a time will come when we will evolve beyond the need of religion..Now you know that very idea must scare the hell out of religious leaders who make their living off religion. They fear losing their " flocks " . So does the idea of Oneness, or One religion...too many preachers will be out of work if that happens. It scares them so much that some religious leaders have said that all this talk about One universal religion comes from Satan...Some people embrace change, the new and unknown and others retreat in fear. It's hard to understand at times what makes people so afraid of change. <<Why is this simple Truth so hard to realize?>> Because it is simple...and people think it must be complicated in order to be of any value or worth. (G) <<As long as this belief is held (i.e., " My religion is true, yours is false " and " My religion will lead me to Heaven, your religion will lead you to Hell. " ) - how can we rise above war and hatred, and learn to live our lives in the pursuit of Truth, Harmony and Self Realization?>> We can't. All WE can do is to try to be good examples of toleration, open-mindedness, and not judgemental of others beliefs. Perhaps by seeing our examples we can open others hearts and minds to the beautiful possibilities that can come from such behavior. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2002 Report Share Posted January 27, 2002 I enjoyed the discussion on how we should define Truth. I was perplexed by one other question within my own mind What is Faith? Is it that we need to deny our rationale if we have Faith? And what is the difference between Belief and Faith? Is the former more 'rationalistic' and the other more of the Uncertain? WOuld appreciate the thoughts and viewpoints of all _______________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2002 Report Share Posted January 29, 2002 THankyou ! Your thoughts are helpful.. My reason for asking the question was that i was reading of the power of the mind and listening to a talk on the same. And a question was asked about this which did stump me. At that moment i asked myself whether people who are not Jnanis and rely more on the Bhakti path have to use Faith more for their spiritual life? And if so is that any superior or inferior. In the West the Bhakti path is looked down upon yet the whole aim of spiritual life is Bhakti...is it not? So if Faith means getting away from the senses then why use the senses and the brain in the first place. THat seems an act of the little self...and it just amounts to circular thinking.... i myself may be confused, and altho i do agree with the statement that both belief and faith transcend the senses, i am not too sure about the classification of one being more satvic than the other...but perhaps it is as faith is more mystical.. Another term that does come to mind here is Trust. When i look at a map and use it to take me to a particular place, i " believe " the map will take me there...or i trust it will do so. Perhaps because others have done so. In the same way, if Ramakrishna says that we should do something, i do trust Him...(yet i do not do ALL HE says!!)...is it faith or is it trust or is it belief...? A bit of all three i s'pose... i do thank you for furthering my thought process pranaams > " sunderh " <sunderh >Ramakrishna >Ramakrishna >[sri Ramakrishna] Re: Digest 1033 >Mon, 28 Jan 2002 15:11:30 -0000 > >Namaste, > > Here is one attempt! > > Both the words, Belief and Faith, refer to an attitude of >mind, a conviction towards phenomena that cannot be 'proven' in a >tangible manner - within the purview of the senses or reason. >Sometimes the use is interchangeable. > Belief would appear to have more of the 'rajasic' >quality, the individual trying to justify it intellectually. Faith >seems to have a more 'satvik' quality, the individual having >experienced first-hand something that is hard to dispute by >someone else. > Both may at times complement each other, or Belief may >mature into Faith! Belief in a 'flat earth' was displaced by Faith >in 'science'! Will Faith in science mature into 'shraddhaa' in >Divinity?! > In spiritual life Faith may be said to be more advanced >than Belief. > >The word 'shraddhaa' [Ref. Gita Ch. 17] implies even further >maturation of Faith > >Regards, > >Sunder > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Ramakrishna, " J_ R " <j1958r@h...> wrote: > > > > > > I enjoyed the discussion on how we should define Truth. I was >perplexed by > > one other question within my own mind > > > > What is Faith? Is it that we need to deny our rationale if we have >Faith? > > And what is the difference between Belief and Faith? Is the former >more > > 'rationalistic' and the other more of the Uncertain? > > > > WOuld appreciate the thoughts and viewpoints of all > > > > > > > > _______________ > > Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: >http://mobile.msn.com > > _______________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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