Guest guest Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 What is Holiness ? We associate holiness with so many people, places, things and actions everyday. What is holiness? What makes someone or something holy? Is there a rational, non-dogmatic, non-sectraian, universal standard by which we can judge holiness? Invariably holiness is associated with religion. All religions have a concept of holiness. Whether the religion follows some tribal customs and rituals, or is institutionalized internationally, or it is based on simple nature and ancestor worship, or takes to the highest flights of formless worship, all religions have this concept of holiness. What is common in all religions? Every religion wants its followers to disidentify themselves from the body and mind, and identify with an entity beyond these. No religion is an exception. This is the unique characteristic that separates out religion from other sciences and philosophies. Man constitutes a physical body, a subtle mind and a sense of ego. These give man a self-identity distinct from other men and the world. Breaking down of this limited identity and the clinging to its artifacts is the path and goal of all religions. The clinging to the physical body results in seeking and indulging in the pleasures of the senses. The clinging to the subtle body results in seeking and holding possessions. The clinging to the ego results in seeking and upholding name and fame. The monastic vows of all religions, where monasticism is practised, is an open rebellion against this clinging. The vows of chastity, poverty and humilty is the essence of all traditions of monasticism. In fact, this is the essence of spiritual life for householders too in all religions. This renunciation is the essence of religion. The measure of holiness can be only the measure of disidentification with the body, mind and ego. Holiness is only a synonym for renunciation. And only man has the key to renunciation. Only man can be holy. Any other place or thing that is associated with holiness can be so only because it is inspired by the holiness of some men related to the place or thing. A wall or an image or a tree or a cow or a river has no intrinsic holiness. It can be holy only because of the thoughts and ideals of renunciation that it inspires in men. Any person who possesses a certain degree of renunciation is holy. More the renunciation a person has, the holier is the person. When a man reaches the summit of renunciation, he is revered as the highest manifestation of God Himself. This ideal of renunciation and holiness is what is worshipped as God. But not everyone can shake off this clinging to the body and mind that easily. To cater to the different levels of the aspirant, the concept of God is also brought down to those levels. For a person, who is very much restricted to the attitude that he is the body, physical ritual worship is prescribed. He sees a physical manifestation of God in the image or emblem. It may be in the form of Krishna or Shiva linga or Cross or Kabba or Christ or Mary. These are all physical symbols that remind the aspirant of God and take him out of his identification with the physical body. For a person, who has disidentified from the body to an extent, but identifies with the mind, the formless aspect of God with attributes like compassion, goodness, virtue, etc is prescribed. Gradually, the aspirant goes above this limitation also, and so does his mode of worship. In the final stage, the highest worship is of the Spirit by the spirit. Thus the aspirant slowly develops more and more renunciation and thus becomes more and more holy. At any point of time, our attitude towards ourselves reflects as our attitude towards the world. To a person who identifies himself as a physical being, the world also has a physical existence. To a person, who identifies himself as a mental being, the world is also made of thoughts only. For a person who identifies himself with the Absolute, the world is also a manifestation of the Absolute. However, it is not practical for the aspirant who has reached the highest to live his day-to-day life, being in the highest state of renunciation. He maintains a working relationship with his own being, with the world and with God at various levels. In the words of Hanuman, " Lord, when I identify myself with the body, I am your servant and You are my Master. When I identify myself with the mind, I am a part and You are the Whole. When I am free from these identifications, I am one with You. " Thus the holy man lives in the world without compromising his renunciation. It is these holy men and the things and places associated with them that lead us the way to our own holiness. This is the path. This is the goal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Hi Gokul, What about a person with Alzhiemer? He does not have identification with body, mind or soul or for that matter even GOD or absolute. He has no clinging to anything. He has no attachment to wife, son, husband, etc., Is he not a free man? Is he not a Jeevan Mukta? Is he not in a highest spiritual state? Is he is not in a state of holiness? According to me clinging to TeluguBakti pages is also a form of clinging. This is unholy. According to me if at all there is anything holy then giving birth to a child is also holy. The communion of man and woman is also holy. Regards Raghu "Ragotham Reddy" <bommareddi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 sir, arguments devoid of a clear message,should not be debated. i think you would agree with me. regards pgk murthy <murthypgk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 It is holy as long as you are not attached to communion. Suppose half-way through you get a phone call, if you can just walk away, it is holy. If you don't want to take the call and if you start cursing the caller, the telephone department and the guy who invented the phone, then you are clinging and it is unholy. If you involve in the act to give pleasure without expecting anything for yourself, it is holy.If you are interested only in your satisfaction, it is unholy. If you beget a child so that the child will look after you in your old age, it is unholy. If you beget a child to give a soul an opportunity to evolve and attain Jivan Mukti, it is holy. With regards, Gomu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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