Guest guest Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Thankyou Michael, excellent stuff!! James From: michael.bindelDate: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 08:19:41 +0100 for those who are new on our list Sunday » November 9 » 2008 Ask the Religion Experts Question: If God is everywhere, why do we need churches or temples? Radhika Sekar Citizen Special Saturday, November 08, 2008 A: Vedanta advocates God as without form, attributes or agent. Advaita (a school of Vedanta) observes that the world we live in and see quite clearly is an illusion (Maya), created by our ever adaptive minds. Thus the human goal is to shed the illusion and realize the true reality, i.e. to see God everywhere and in everyone. Yet Adi Sankara (AD 788-838), the greatest proponent of Advaita, frequented temples and composed glorious hymns in praise of various deities. It is said that he confessed to three lapses: confining That Which Has No Form to stone and mortar; describing That Which Transcends All Qualities; and, by frequenting temples, denying the omnipresence of the divine. Living in the abstract does not come easily to humans. We are "social animals" and "creatures of ritual," who need interaction. We also have the need to construct systems of expression and communication. The path to realization, therefore, is a movement from the concrete to the abstract, beginning with structure, symbol and ritual. All forms of religious expressions are therefore no more than markers that guide us on the journey from illusion to reality. Temples help focus our intentions and act as reference points where we may seek solace and gather with others of similar cultural histories to celebrate and worship the intangible in tangible form. In bygone times, when there was no sharp distinction between culture and religion, local temples were the primary focus of social life that supported all activities, be they religious, economic or cultural. Although no longer pivotal in our lives, nor even mandatory, they nevertheless remain important hubs of spiritual and cultural activities. Most importantly, in the absence of central authority, Hindu temples provide local leadership in religious matters. Radhika Sekar has a PhD in Religious Studies and taught Hinduism at Carleton University for several years. She is a disciple of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission. - - - Write to the experts, c/o The Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, Ont., K2C 3M4 or e-mail experts (AT) thecitizen (DOT) canwest.com Replies from the Citizen's religion experts can also be read at ottawacitizen.com. Look for Ask the Religion Experts under Current Features. © The Ottawa Citizen 2008 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Click here for FREE customisable desktop wallpapers. Get them Now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 The following article from the Ottawa Citizen starts off nice, quoting Adi Sankara. But, fails to give a strong enough reason for the symbols i.e. temples, applicable to present day. Though abstract, there is logic in self enquiry. But, when we start with the form, this logic gets muddied. And, it is like starting off East, to go West. sundar , " Michael Bindel " <michael.bindel wrote: > > Sunday » November 9 » 2008 > > Ask the Religion Experts > Question: If God is everywhere, why do we need churches or temples? > > Radhika Sekar > Citizen Special > > > Saturday, November 08, 2008 > > > A: Vedanta advocates God as without form, attributes or agent. Advaita (a school of Vedanta) observes that the world we live in and see quite clearly is an illusion (Maya), created by our ever adaptive minds. Thus the human goal is to shed the illusion and realize the true reality, i.e. to see God everywhere and in everyone. > > Yet Adi Sankara (AD 788-838), the greatest proponent of Advaita, frequented temples and composed glorious hymns in praise of various deities. It is said that he confessed to three lapses: confining That Which Has No Form to stone and mortar; describing That Which Transcends All Qualities; and, by frequenting temples, denying the omnipresence of the divine. > > Living in the abstract does not come easily to humans. We are " social animals " and " creatures of ritual, " who need interaction. We also have the need to construct systems of expression and communication. The path to realization, therefore, is a movement from the concrete to the abstract, beginning with structure, symbol and ritual. > > All forms of religious expressions are therefore no more than markers that guide us on the journey from illusion to reality. Temples help focus our intentions and act as reference points where we may seek solace and gather with others of similar cultural histories to celebrate and worship the intangible in tangible form. > > In bygone times, when there was no sharp distinction between culture and religion, local temples were the primary focus of social life that supported all activities, be they religious, economic or cultural. > > Although no longer pivotal in our lives, nor even mandatory, they nevertheless remain important hubs of spiritual and cultural activities. > > Most importantly, in the absence of central authority, Hindu temples provide local leadership in religious matters. > > Radhika Sekar has a PhD in Religious Studies and taught Hinduism at Carleton University for several years. She is a disciple of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission. > > - - - > > Write to the experts, c/o The Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Rd., Ottawa, Ont., K2C 3M4 or e-mail experts > > Replies from the Citizen's religion experts can also be read at ottawacitizen.com. Look for Ask the Religion Experts under Current Features. > > © The Ottawa Citizen 2008 > > CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. > > CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Yet Adi Sankara (AD 788-838), ------------------------------- Thanks for posting Michael, excellent article. On a tangential subject, I was at the website of the Kanchipuram Madams ( www.kamakoti.org ). It names every head of the Hermitage, starting with Adi Shankara - chronologically till date. Gives one a great sense of history. As an adjunct to that, if you notice the dates, the second acharya (Sureshwacharya) is said to have headed the Kanchi Madam till 407 BC. There is no break in the lineage since then. Rgds , " Michael Bindel " <michael.bindel wrote: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Dear One i stated clearly that this is article for beginners on our path and it is nice indeed that people in the west can read this... in Sri Ramana Maharshi michael - Sundararajan Sunday, November 09, 2008 4:42 PM Re: for those who are new on our list The following article from the Ottawa Citizen starts off nice, quotingAdi Sankara. But, fails to give a strong enough reason for the symbolsi.e. temples, applicable to present day.Though abstract, there is logic in self enquiry. But, when we startwith the form, this logic gets muddied. And, it is like starting offEast, to go West.sundar , "Michael Bindel"<michael.bindel wrote:>> Sunday » November 9 » 2008 > > Ask the Religion Experts> Question: If God is everywhere, why do we need churches ortemples?> > Radhika Sekar > Citizen Special > > > Saturday, November 08, 2008> > > A: Vedanta advocates God as without form, attributes or agent.Advaita (a school of Vedanta) observes that the world we live in andsee quite clearly is an illusion (Maya), created by our ever adaptiveminds. Thus the human goal is to shed the illusion and realize thetrue reality, i.e. to see God everywhere and in everyone.> > Yet Adi Sankara (AD 788-838), the greatest proponent ofAdvaita, frequented temples and composed glorious hymns in praise ofvarious deities. It is said that he confessed to three lapses:confining That Which Has No Form to stone and mortar; describing ThatWhich Transcends All Qualities; and, by frequenting temples, denyingthe omnipresence of the divine.> > Living in the abstract does not come easily to humans. We are"social animals" and "creatures of ritual," who need interaction. Wealso have the need to construct systems of expression andcommunication. The path to realization, therefore, is a movement fromthe concrete to the abstract, beginning with structure, symbol and ritual.> > All forms of religious expressions are therefore no more thanmarkers that guide us on the journey from illusion to reality. Templeshelp focus our intentions and act as reference points where we mayseek solace and gather with others of similar cultural histories tocelebrate and worship the intangible in tangible form.> > In bygone times, when there was no sharp distinction betweenculture and religion, local temples were the primary focus of sociallife that supported all activities, be they religious, economic orcultural.> > Although no longer pivotal in our lives, nor even mandatory,they nevertheless remain important hubs of spiritual and culturalactivities.> > Most importantly, in the absence of central authority, Hindutemples provide local leadership in religious matters.> > Radhika Sekar has a PhD in Religious Studies and taughtHinduism at Carleton University for several years. She is a discipleof the Sri Ramakrishna Mission.> > - - -> > Write to the experts, c/o The Ottawa Citizen, 1101 Baxter Rd.,Ottawa, Ont., K2C 3M4 or e-mail experts > Replies from the Citizen's religion experts can also be readat ottawacitizen.com. Look for Ask the Religion Experts under CurrentFeatures.> > © The Ottawa Citizen 2008> > > > > > > > > CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWestMediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.> > CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications,Inc.. All rights reserved.> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.0/1778 - Release 09/11/2008 14.14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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