Guru Jesus My Foot 12
 4  1  11  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Vedic Tapas, Some Highlights
 |
| Who is illuminated needs to be strong to tackle impurity. |
Confucius teaches things like these. He was spoken of as the man "who was always trying to do what he knew to be impossible." However, through nearly 2,500 years the light kindled by Confucius has burned steadily and prepared men's minds for better things and goings. [Soc 32-35]
That is exactly what we all should set our minds on as soon as we can.
Krishna or Jesus Together?
Is it either Krishna or Jesus, or both Krishna and Jesus? Or even better, some of their teachings, as it suits your avatar? Mind the ant who likes sugar, but not sand.Yogananda teaches he unites the yoga of Krishna and the "original Christianity of Jesus Christ". We do not think he should do that. First, there was no Christianity during the life-time of Jesus. Second, all the apostles and the Holy Ghost he gave them, agreed to prune or weed out nearly all of it in Acts 15 and Acts 21:25. You can see for yourself. What remained is Christianity, but it is not the Christianity of Jesus, so there is a hope of surviving in it. If you find much of the Vedic teachings of Krishna in the teachings of Jesus, congratulations. If not, dropping unfounded belief in Yogananda would be better than getting mad.
You cannot get well along with everyone without departing from the proverb lesson, "Friend of all, friend of none." The truth will out, and comes like an avalance at last, says Yogananda. Try to control the goings better. Avalances can be dangerous. First be a friend to yourself and your Self. Set that highest.
Yogananda's kriya yoga society, SRF, teaches perfect unity between the Christianity of Jesus (there was none) and the Yoga og Hare Krishna. You know by now that they teach differently on vitally important matters, such as whether the soul can be destroyed, whether all is illusion or not, and further. There are many issues where SRF departs from Christian theology, and they do depart from Krishna teachings too. So where is the perfect unity and harmony SRF talks of? It is ceremonial.
Also, according to the Bhagavad Gita Krishna teaches Vedic sacrifices. Some are ruthless, others do not fit in at this place, and even though "Vedic" is no less than "Divine" in Hindu circles, the Vedic scriptures were written by people who saw things differently and who thought differently. One may assert that early Vedic may differ from late Vedic, and later Hinduism has changed as compared to older Hinduism. This is to say the matters are not as clear-cut as SRF would have them.
Are We Satisfied with Shewbread or Not?
Not a few live their "yes" to shewbread teachings. Those who set out to stand for a fancied essential unity between this and that, may do well to note that on some issues there could be agreement. Discern between surface agreement and deep agreement, partial agreement and total agreement. You have to use your judgement to decide about things like that. It is not bad to point out essential and frequent elements of concord and discord, to take much into account so as to reach a balanced, fair outlook.Ideas that are dizzy, obscure, or much figurative, may agree and disagree with one another, depending on interpretations. Some "interpretations" are tendentious, unfit, and tantamount to cheating. You should drop them.
Instead of claiming "Everything agrees", have the decency or fitness required to ascertain things first-hand and well. In comparison work there can be much to take into account so as to do it well. On some issues there are no agreement at all. Behaving well does not present a mismatch as a match, and does not seek to hide real differences on issues that count.
Study central matter first; they go deepest. You may get capable through them.
We have to conclude that the "unite-to-Jesus-Christianity" craze" of SRF is misguiding others a lot. There are vast differences of attitudes and sayings in the teachings of Jesus and Krishna. But the apostles and the Holy Ghost pruned things down into just four requirements for non-Jew followers. Hence, there is room for more, if it agrees with the pruned vinestump (Jesus) and the four twigs (requirements) left.
Also, in the early church there were no written gospels. We may suspect that some never heard a single saying of Jesus before they were baptised in the Holy Ghost, or before sayings of Jesus had been collected and written down. It seems that took decades. Compare what happened in the ministry of Philip. He talked with an Ethiopian eunuch who could not understand written Hebrew, was told a few things and then baptised, before he went to Ethiopia again. Ethiopia was christened afterwards. And got its canon too, it may be added. [Acts 8:5-39] We have gathered some Vedic statements below. They are not of much use today, and some are too violent to serve one. Killing is strictly forbidden by law in most countries, for example.
Krishna on Duties of Sacrifice
Take pleasure in thoughts and deeds that are appropriate. The Bhagavad Gita says:"Perform your prescribed duty (3:8) — It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though they may be faultily, than another's duties. (3:35)
Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed . . . So [try to] perform your prescribed duties for his satisfaction. (3:9)
In charge of the various necessities of life, the devas, being satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], supply all necessities to man. (3:12)
A man who does not follow this prescribed Vedic system of sacrifice certainly leads a life full of sin. A person delighting only in the senses lives in vain. (3:16)
One who is, however, taking pleasure in the self, who is illuminated in the self, who rejoices in and is satisfied with the self only, fully satiated - for him there is no duty. (3:17)
For the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work. (3:20)
The ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results. The learned may also act . . . for the sake of leading the people on the right path. (3:25)
[Some verses above are abbreviated.]
Vedic sacrifices and duties How are Vedic sacrifices, then? All may not suit present-day conform living. Krishna is said to be the god Vishnu descended into human shape. Below we make do with just a few points from The Institutes of Vishnu. However, You may study much more from Vedic law and regulated living in the Laws of Manu. A look into "Visnu" will do here, and "don't try this at home" may serve you much:
Punishments
Folk wisdom has seen that small criminals get hanged or exported to Australia or other colonies, while big criminals are made mayors and the like. Much depends on who is on top of the "chain", or who is in command. They institute laws that support them and try not to be undermined too much.Great criminals should all be put to death. [5:1]
Let the king put to death those who . . . forge (private) documents. [5:9-10]
With whatever limb an inferior insults or hurts his superior in caste, of that limb the king shall cause him to be deprived. [5:19]
If [a subordinate] breaks wind against [his superior, he shall lose] his hindparts.[5:22]
Contracts
"A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on. [Ohioan proverb, Ap 114]" Contracts have to be formally OK. Even if you trust the other party and both seem to mean well at first, let many divorces teach you that things can take an ugly turn, and then non-formal contracts are not worth a fig. So do not fall victim to sweet modesty or kindness in very personal and important matters. Do not falter from making contracts where they may serve and protect your assets and interests, and your life may get better than it otherwise would have. Do not smoke, either. It deranges and kills - you hardly know how great the risks are, do you? The large society defines or delivers the terms. The following Vedic ones are not valid here:A written contract having been fulfilled, the writing should be torn. [6:25]
If he who contracted the debt should die, or become a religious ascetic, or remain abroad for twenty years, that debt shall be discharged by his sons or grandsons. [6:27]
The use of ordeals
Even though the Catholic Church thought the Great Inquisition was great, it tortured and killed millions, allegedly out of love for their souls. Don't fall for such crap. Well after the Reformation in Denmark-Norway, a hundred persons were put out by various ordeals in Finnmark county alone in the 1600s or 1700s. One method was to back-bind the victim of slander and oppression and throw her into water. If she sank, she was innocent. If she floated, she was guilty. Most persons float in salt water. Very, very few do not, because they are bony, meagre, and have such specific gravity. Have nothing to do with ordeals, no matter what they teach in Vedic India.[Ordeals include the ordeal by poison. cf. 9:9-10.] If the poison is digested easily, without violent symptoms, [the judge] shall recognise him as innocent, and dismiss him at the end of the day. [13:5]
Mourners
In some societies there are mourning rites that even include paid wailing-women. Drop that. Let mourning be an individual matter if you can. Mourn as it comes naturally, and live up to the Confucian: "The rites of mourning should not extend beyond the expression of heartfelt grief [Soc 132]."It is good to know that mourning is a process through many stages. They are mapped along general lines, although people tend to react a bit differently and the causes of grief may differ widely. For example, break-ups may cause distress and grief in some, relief in others. It is not easy to be a student either, being separated from family, childhood friends and such. Some adults may take to grieving over their lost opportunities. Gossips may reveal loss of actualisations of their own inner sides, and that suggests that gossiping may come very close to grieving with a mask on. What do you think?
The death of a close family member can be a most stressing and painful event. The loss of someone or something can make you feel sad, lamed and empty. It may take a few years to get over the first worst period. For a while those who are bereaved may go on much as earlier, as if not much has happened, till intense sorrow comes at their door. In this phase the image of close friend may come to mind, and his traits may be "nicified", if not glorified. Guilt and violent sorrow may set in through stages, even anger, depending on the conditions. It may all be part of a process that in the end is crowned with coping. One has to be open about his grief and not shoo it from one's mind at all. Grief is the "long process fuel" that makes a full recovery from loss possible. Even though it may be painful and grieve you, talk about the deceased one as you straighten out his or her things and divide them among you. [Sop 461-62; Fam 761-62]
Grief may be most intense the first few months. Gradually it is replaced by apathy and much emptiness. One has to reconcile oneself with the loss, gain strength by not giving in to the wishy-washy apathy, and build for life anew, as often as it takes. If the grief is extra violent and long-lasting, however, the proper thing to do is to seek psychiatric help for it. And mourners may need support during long months after their bereavement, and some contact might be much appreciated.
A clean conscience is a very good help against deep grief. Acceptance may come easier to someone with nothing much to burden his or her conscience.
If a father makes a partition with his sons, he may dispose of his self-acquired property as he thinks best. [17:1]
The mourners, who lament the loss of a relative, shall be addressed by men gifted with a tranquil frame of mind with . . . consolatory speeches [such as:] [19:24]
Those even who have the power of creating and annihilating in this world (the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies) continually perish by the act of Kala; for Kala (time) is hard to overcome. [20:27]
As mourners will not help the dead in this world, therefore (the relatives) should not weep, but perform the obsequies to the best of their power. [20:30]
On Presaging and Pruning
You are invited to see how far these Vedic ordinances are in harmony with what is left of the teachings of Jesus after they were "pruned away nearly completely" by the apostles and Holy Ghost. We do not recommend any of these ordinances. Other-directedness is at times a blessing, but in time it may cripple. The child grows from great dependency and other-directedness into wilful mastery of some things in its life, and play may presage things to happen.Purifying agents
If a twice-born man has eaten (the food) of a member of his own caste, while the latter was impure, he must approach a river and plunge into it, mutter the (hymn of) Aghamarshana three times, and, after having emerged from the water, must mutter the Gayatri one thousand and eight times. [22:10](Impurity cannot arise) during the installation of the monument of a deity, nor during a marriage ceremony, if those ceremonies have actually begun; [22:53]
Sacred knowledge (see 92), religious austerities (see 90 (?)), fire (see 23,33), holy food (Pañkagavya), earth (see 91), the mind, water (see 91), smearing (with cow-dung and the like, see 23,56), air (see 23,40, (the morning and evening prayers and other) religious acts, the sun, and time (by the lapse of the ten days of impurity and the like) are purifiers of animate objects. [22:88]
Rites
[As for rites,] For female children [boy rites] (beginning with the birth ceremony, should be performed, but) without Mantras. [27:13]
Study
[The student] (must not study) when a strong wind is going, or when rain, lightning, and thunder happen out of season [30:7-8]Nor while dogs are barking, jackals yelling, or asses braying. [30:12]
[When] a cow, or a Brahmana (in general) has met with an accident (he must not study). [30:23]
Sexual misconduct in the family and otherwise
Sexual connection with one's mother, or daughter, or daughter-in-law are crimes in the highest degree. Such criminals in the highest degree should proceed into the flames; for there is not any other way to atone for their crime. [34:1-2]
Crimes in the fourth degree listed
- Sexual intercourse with another man's wife; [37: 9]
- For a younger brother to marry, though his elder brother is not yet married. [37:16]
- Omitting to pay one's debts to the gods, Rishis, and manes (or sacrificing, study of the Veda, and propagation of one's race). [37:29]
- Subsisting by a reprehensible art (such as dancing). [37:32]
- Intercourse with women who drink spirits. [37:33]
- Such criminals in the fourth degree shall perform the Kandrayana [of regulated self-starving, ch 47] or Paraka [of total fast for twelve days, 46:18] penances, or shall sacrifice a cow (as the case may require). [37:35]
Marks of sinners
Now after having undergone the torments inflicted in the hells, and having passed through the animal bodies, the sinners are born as human beings with (the following) marks (indicating their crime): [45:1]A criminal in the highest degree shall have leprosy; [45:2]
A killer of a Brahmana, pulmonary consumption; [45:3]
A drinker of spirits, black teeth; [45:4]
A stealer of food, dyspepsia; [45:11]
An incendiary, madness; [45:17]
One who has extinguished a lamp, blindness with one eye; [45:21]
Penances
Now follow the penances. [46:1]Let a man fast for three days; [46:2]
And let him perform each day the three ablutions (at dawn, noon, and sunset); [46:3]
And let him, at every ablution, plunge into the water three times; [46:4]
And let him mutter the Aghamarshana [hymn] three times, after having plunged into the water; [46:5]
During day-time let him be standing; [46:6]
At night let him continue in a sitting position; [46:7]
At the close of the ceremony let him give a milch cow (to a Brahmana). [46:8]
Thus has the penance Aghamarshana been described [46:9].
COMMENT: There are many other penances too in the following. You can look them up. Tormenting oneself is seldom all right; we recommend you to do what is good for you. You might be able to do wonderful things.
By now you may have got an idea of how difficult living is when you are not madly torturing and flogging yourself and not recoursing to evil too.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Literature | SECTION | First Page |
Ay: Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. 1st ed. New York: Theosophical, 1946. Online. [oaks.nvg.org/pv6bk12.html]
Ebu: Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD. London: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2006.
Pa: Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. 11th ed. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1971.
Soc: Giles, Lionel, ed. The Sayings of Confucius: A Translation of the Confucian Analects. Twickenham: Tiger Books, 1998.
CLICK on 'Literature' for the references of about 2000 works.
ANNOTATIONS: Code letters (acronyms and initial words) in square brackets in the text refer to works. Click on 'Literature' to see examples. Page references are put right after code letters. And the abbreviation cf. means "compare". [MORE].
SITE SEARCH: The 'Search' link gives access to dictionaries and more.
REFER: Prefer the standard 'location address' on top of the page(s).
PILOTING: Note the clickable text links on top of the page. [MORE]
DISCLAIMER: Two disclaimers intertwine: [A] [B]
© 1999–2006, Tormod Kinnes. All rights reserved — Revised in October 2006.