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Love Thy Self — Admire Thy Self


'Love Thy Self'.Admire Thy Self'

Every one of us has the tendency to say,

 I loved him or her so much BUT.BUT.BUT..

There no end to that BUT and that BUT is crushing the mental peace of every one of us. That BUT is destroying our self esteem, which creates exhaustion  and hopelessness in us which will finally end up as depression.

We may be very generous with those around us and take extra care when we deal with our friends & family. But when we see the tender loving care we have rendered is not reciprocated, we literally fall apart. That is a very sad part  of the life.

Well, let us take a deep breath and analyze the problem. Every one of us sees every one & everything through our own eyes. We even think we can win every one with sex or money or any material goods. But sadly all those things are  temporary and transient.

Fact of the matter is, every one of us comes to this world with a cart load of one’s own personal problems and worries. Every one, including the people you love, has their own personal destiny and each one of them are at different levels of spiritual maturity.

It is normal to expect  love in return, but please do not fall apart when you do not get that 'love' you expected. It is not that the person you love, does not love you back.

The person whom you love looks at you according his or her own karmic debt and  spiritual maturity. That is the problem. What you sees as white, other person may see as yellow or green.

The only answer to our  problems is to seek within ourselves.

William Shakespeare wrote:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances………,

So due to our karmic debt we meet in this world as FATHER, SON, DAUGHTER, LOVER etc in this world…  When each of us finish playing our part, we just move on….So we cannot expect any one to act or love the way we wanted. Every one of us are just playing our own part after that we will leave this planet. That is the fact of life.

So what is the only pragmatic answer? Love Thy Self  and when you love someone else, just love that person unmotivated with out any strings attached  Then you will have a great life.

All your answers are within yourself.

You are NOT bad, since some one tells you that you are bad, You are NOT good, since some one tells you that you are good.

You are GOOD or BAD or SUCCESSFUL or FAILURE only when you decide you are…. If you look deep, you will see that the one and only person who loves you and I, is OURSELVES…..nobody else.

So for our own physical and mental welfare, we have to explore deep within  ourselves and enjoy. If and when you love others, please love them without any strings attached. In this way, you and I will have a great life.






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I AM GOD Concept in Hinduism

“I AM GOD” CONCEPT
[  http://amiahindu.com/ ]

 
 
 
1.          When Jesus Christ said:I AM GOD, Jews misunderstood him. Jews had and still has an aversion for any one claiming to be God since Jehovah in Bible said to Moses I AM A JEALOUS GOD. 

To please those Jews,  Roman governor  Pilate crucified Jesus Christ.  Pilate did not have any  problem of Jesus or anyone proclaiming  I AM GOD, since Rome had hundreds of gods at that time. 

2.             When Sufis [The Mystical Muslims] said: I AM GOD, religious fanatics killed all of them.  In the 9th century, Sufi Ibn MansurAl Hallaj was dismembered for proclaiming "I AM GOD."  Nobody understood the depth of spiritual knowledge Sufis had. 
 
3.          About ten or fifteen  years ago, when ShirleyMacLainesaid: I AM GOD,  many went after her also. Luckily for her, she only had to deal with verbal abuses not any physical attacks.

Why all these attacks on innocent people?
 
Since people misunderstood  what I AM GOD truly means in the western world.
 
Let us analyze "I Am God" concept in detail.
 
From where did this concept originate?
 
It came from the Hindu belief that there is an immortal soul [ATMAN] within the material body of the man and that soul is the mirror image of God or "Paramathman".   No Hindu scriptures states body is God. 
 
There are many  important mantras in Hinduism which proclaim I AM GOD concept.
 
Aham Brahmasmi

I am Brahman

(Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10]

Meaning I AM GOD  or I AM BRAHMAN.  I am not the physical perishable material body but the immortal soul, Atman within the body. This Atman is indeed God. 

Tat Tvam Asi

Thou art that

(Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7]

  'Tat Tvam Asi' or 'That thou art.'   You are that what we call Brahman or God.  Rishi  Uddalaka  repeats this message a number of times when instructing his disciple  Svetaketu about  the nature of Reality.

 Prajnanam Brahma

Consciousness is Brahman

(Aitareya Upanishad 3.3, of Rg Veda)

 Ayam Atma Brahma

This Self is Brahman

(Mandukya Upanishad 1.2, of Atharva Veda)

If one does not understand the whole story, I AM GOD statement sounds very egoistic and out right ridiculous.   If you say I AM GOD  in the Judaic-Christian context, I AM GOD  makes no sense, where God is very personal and a separate entity altogether different from man.   In you say I AM GOD in the Hindu way, that means you are saying, “The real YOU within You is indeed God and you are not the perishable material body.”
 
A——    In 66 books of the Holy Bible, THERE IS NO MENTION OF IMMORTAL SOUL. In fact, there is no word "immortal soul" anywhere in the Holy Bible. Instead it mentions a soul that can be created at birth and it can be destroyed.
 
B——      When Jesus Christ said: I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE [JOHN 10:30 ], masses immediately denounced him for blasphemy by saying, “YOU MERE MAN CLAIM TO BE GOD [JOHN 10:33 ].
 
C—–   Masses attacked Jesus not because he broke the Sabbath laws or showing miracles but because “HE WAS EVEN CALLING GOD HIS FATHER, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL TO GOD [JOHN 5:18 ].
 
D—–   Even though Christ said more than 81 times that HE IS THE SON OF MAN, by merely stating I AM GOD Jesus died on the cross.
 
E—–    Jesus Christ said I AM GOD many times indirectly. Christ also said I AM SON OF GOD indirectly.
 
F—–    Christ never said, I AM GOD in a direct answer to anyone…But he said BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS I AM. Those who heard that exploded with anger, condemning Christ for making statement of equalizing himself to God. The wrath of his enemies only grew when he said, I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE [John 10:30 ]
 

G—–      Jesus said:
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, HE THAT COMETH TO ME SHALL NOT HUNGER, AND HE THAT BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST [JOHN 6:35 ]
 
Hindus on their part believe that there is the imperishable soul within every man and that soul is an exact reflection of God .  The soul within the man is called ATMAN and the God is called PARAMATHMAN [Absolute Soul]. Of course, the ATMAN will remain captive within the body, life after life, until one realizes that HE IS NOT THE BODY BUT THE IMMORTAL SOUL WITHIN.
 
Of course, NOBODY REALIZES GOD by just repeating I AM GOD. That has to be achieved by good actions, good thoughts and by meditation. I AM GOD statement seen in many parts of the Holy Bible.
 
Jehovah to an inquiring Moses said, I AM WHAT I AM [Ex 3:14 ].
Jesus Christ said I AM GOD many times indirectly. He said BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS I AM. Those heard that exploded with anger, condemning Christ for making statement of equalizing himself to God. The wrath of his enemies only grew when he said, I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE [John 10:30 ]
 
Lord Krishna said I AM GOD many times in the Bhagavad Gita.   

“He who sees me in everything and everything in me, to him I am never lost; nor he is lost to me “  [ Gita 6:30
I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from me [ Gita 10:8]   
Everything is born of me. I am the original source of all. No one is above me  [Gita 12:6,7]

So, what Shirley Maclaine said is nothing knew. It was repeated in history many times. In St. Thomas gospel Christ said:  “He who drinks from my mouth will become as I am and I shall be he.”
 
Through those lines Jesus Christ is telling the mankind that those who follow him will achieve Christ consciousness and  indeed will become just as Jesus Christ.  In the ZOHAR [The book of Splendor] the mystical teachings of the Judaism, you may read that  if one meditates, everything will be revealed as one.
 
So a Hindu or a newager by stating I AM GOD is only repeating  his/her own oneness with God or God's  true nature.  Once again it is utter stupidity to think without proper meditation one can achieve Christ consciousness.
 
If by saying I AM GOD, one develops EGO, then that person is working against his objective of being one with God. A person, who states I AM GOD, should become humbler than a blade of grass….
 
When Lord Buddha was asked the same question about I AM GOD, his answer was:


“ARE YOU GOD?”
Buddha said: “NO”

“Are you an Angel?”
Buddha said: “NO”


“Are you a saint?”
Buddha said: “NO”


“THEN WHAT ARE YOU?"
” I AM AWAKE” answered Lord Buddha…


The word BUDDHA in Sanskrit means to KNOW OR AWAKE IN KNOWLEDGE


CONCLUSIONS:


1.     “I AM GOD” statement has come from the mouths of many so called realized  mystics around the world. Jesus Christ is one of those great mystics.
 
2.      “I AM GOD” statement is not supposed to be used for ego gratification , instead a person who states that is  humbler than a blade of grass.
 
3     Anyone who is in search of "truth" will finally come to the realization that I AM GOD, whether that person is a Hindu or a Christian or a Moslem or a Jew or an atheist or an agnostic.
 
I am fascinated by the statement I AM GOD. It is often repeated by the right wing Christian preachers in their sermons to condemn eastern religions as well as Newage. Unluckily, they have no idea the truth behind the I AM GOD concept. I AM GOD concept does not originate from the limited ego of a person but from the mind of a person who has attained self-realization.

Jesus Christ was crucified for saying   “I am God”.    Jesus Christ would have never crucified if he was a Hindu, since  Hindus  understand the true meaning of   “I am  God” concept.

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Original Sin [ Bible ] is Hindu Maya [Illusion]


Original Sin [ Bible ] is Hindu Maya [Illusion] 

So many subtle things written in the Holy Bible, I am finding detailed explanation in Hindu scriptures.  Original Sin is one of them.  

Have you thought about ORIGINAL SIN?  
Have you ever thought, why it is so difficult to explain the concept of Original Sin?  There  is no subject in Christianity, more liable to cause Christian
  theologians to fight each other, and even right wing Christians to

profess their outspoken doubt than ORIGINAL SIN.    If you study
the Genesis story about Adam & Eve, then you will see that
everything in the garden of Eden from the forbidden fruit to serpent
are figurative and symbolic.


ADAM, EVE, SERPENT, GARDEN, TREE OF LIFE etc are mere symbolic representation of a higher truth, which can never be explained in very simple words or sentences.

Let us analyze the chain of events.  Let  us analyze the chain of events. Genesis is a story of God creating the universe in SIX [6] days and resting on 7th day. It deals with the evil serpent, and the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.  That tree of knowledge you can see in every religion in the world, including Babylonian religions and Hinduism.

Even though, many theologians try to project GODAS GOOD & LOVING, those adjectives of God are purely man made.   God  is  timeless and formless.  GOD IS NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD. Man due to his
limited knowledge sees God with attributes without realizing the fact
that God has no attributes.

What really happend according to Genesis?God said to Adam: Of the tree of knowledge of  good and evil  you should not eat, for the day that you eat of it, you shall die [ GEN 2:17].    Adam & Eve disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of GOOD & EVIL.
By eating that forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve came to know RIGHT & WRONG and GOOD & EVIL and their own naked-ness.   

According to the Holy Bible, that mistake of eating the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve caused the fall of man and man inheriting sin.

Questions:

1.
           Why should all mankind be punished for a SIN [ eating the
forbidden fruit] COMMITTED BY one man, ADAM, THE VERY FIRST MAN?

2.            How can a personal God, condemn the whole humanity, for endless times, for eating one and only fruit?

3.
              How was the ORIGINAL SIN transmitted to the NEW BORN? If
the soul according to Christianity is created instantly at birth, then
how the NEW BORN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADAM’S SIN?

4.              What about babies dying before the age of reason, before being BAPTIZED, AND BEFORE BEING SAVED?

5.            Why God has to punish EVE more than ADAM, even though both
committed the same Sin. God said to Eve- " I will greatly multiply your
pain in child bearing: In pain you shall bring forth children and your
husband shall rule over you. …"

Unluckily, Original Sin has no answer for all those questions. Jesus Christ did not say much about ORIGINAL SIN.   Present  teachings on ORIGINAL SIN is more of a teaching of St. St. Paul than teaching of Jesus Christ. Many liberal theologians reject the concept
of original sin, stating that St. Paul might have mistaken about Original sin in his interpretation.   St. St. Paul might have tried to tell the whole truth. But due to  limitations of spoken and written language his interpretations look
very erroneous to us. St. St. Paul’s interpretations make sense ONLY,
if you analyze them through the concept of HINDU MAYA.   In Romans 5:12 St St. Paul said: "There fore sin came through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned."


In Romans 5:15St.St. Paul added:  For  many died  through one man's trespass.   St. Paul is stating to the word, “DEATH CAME THROUGH ADAM AND SALVATION FROM DEATH CAME THROUGH
JESUS CHRIST.”   Even the concept of BORN AGAIN originated to eradicate the ORIGINAL SIN AS WELL AS ANY PERSONAL SIN.

Judaism, the mother culture of Christianity, does not accept Original Sin.  Nor  Jews accept the principle of vicarious atonement. According to Judaism, EVERY MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS SALVATION.  So all these make me conclude that ORIGINAL SIN is a symbolism and is not the way St. St. Paul explained in the Bible.

Now let us go deep into the concept of “Original Sin” 

What is Original Sin?  It is the act by which man attained  "the knowledge about RIGHT &  WRONG, GOOD & EVIL etc" …..In a nutshell, Adam and Eve learned DUALITY CONCEPT [Dwaita] BY EATING THE FORBIDDEN
FRUIT.    DEATH  that is associated with Original Sin is not biological
death at all. It is the spiritual death, since there are statements in the Holy Bible

which prove that.


Just look at few of passages from the Holy  Bible. ” Before men are life and death. Whatever they choose is given to them [ECCLESIASTIC 15:16];
  ” If you live according to flesh, you will die, but if  by spirit you
put to death the deeds of the body, you will live    [ROMANS 8:12]

Original Sin as Hindu scriptures state is MAYA or illusion or FALSE KNOWLEDGE.

1      Hindu scriptures state, the ability to discern “RIGHT AND WRONG” “GOOD & EVIL” is duality perception, which is indeed So, the HINDU MAYA
is indeed the ORIGINAL SIN.

2         The ORIGINAL SIN is very  difficult to analyze without the Hindu concept of MAYA and DUALITY. The only crime Adam committed in the garden is attaining FALSE KNOWLEDGE.  That is the reason why he was aware of his nakedness. The SERPENT only depicts the inner weakness of the man.

3         Hinduism states that MAYA or ILLUSION caused by DUALITY PERCEPTION [ Original Sin ] is the cause of all problems. SALVATION is realizing the TRUE KNOWLEDGE that THERE IS ONLY ONE and NOT TWO.

4          Unless and until we achieve that ONENESS, we will never have peace. That ONENESS we can achieve only within us.

5           IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR A PEACEFUL WORLD, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. we will always have wars and rumors of wars. As long as we perceive Duality, all types of wars will go on .

6            PERENNIAL PEACE, as Aldous Huxley describes, can be achieved only WITHIN EACH ONE OF US. All of us can argue and look for a savior who will straighten out everything, but that hope is only A PIE IN THE SKY.

7            Each one of us have to work and achieve salvation of self-realization through one of the 4 methods:  JNANA YOGA [ path of knowledge];  KARMA YOGA [Path of unattached, unmotivated actions];
BHAKTI YOGA [ complete self-surrender to the God within]; RAJA YOGA [ pranayama & breath control].

8            So what is the answer. SEARCH WITHIN, WHAT EVER WAY YOU CAN. This does  not mean to stop working, or encouraging laziness. Instead work hard, UNTIL YOU REALIZE UNIVERSE AS ONE.

9        I hope the explanation I am giving  makes sense. To me, the Holy Bible carries a lot of symbolism and it will be wrong to come to hasty literal
conclusions. I believe St. Augustine,  when he said:  “Knowledge always existed . It became Christian after the birth of Jesus Christ.”  So what ever Jesus said is a repetation of what Hindu scriptures wrote. 

10           So Hindu Vedas and Buddhist Dharmapada should concur with Jesus. They cannot differ.

A.——– Original Sin can be explained ONLY by “Hindu Dualism & Maya
theory.” I feel Hindu concept of Dualism make sense, since no other
THEORY explains the Original Sin concept well.

B..——– I feel the whole story of Adam & Eve, is the figment of imagination
of great Jewish seers, to explain the difficult and complex nature of
creation. Almost everything in that is symbolic.

ADAM     is the symbolism for INTELLECT

EVE         is the symbolism for SENSES

SERPENT   is the symbolism for INERT WEAKNESS

TREE  is the symbolism for DUALITY OF GOOD AND BAD

GOD is the symbolism for the IMMORTAL SOUL WITHIN

Original Sin as Hindu scriptures state is MAYA or illusion or FALSE KNOWLEDGE.

How can one attain RIGHT KNOWLEDGE? …  Through one of the four methods .

JNANA YOGA          [ path of knowledge];

KARMA YOGA         [Path of unattached, unmotivated actions];

BHAKTI YOGA         [ complete self-surrender to the God within];

RAJA YOGA            [ pranayama & breath control].


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Salvation is for all irrespective one is a Hindu or not

Unlike all other religions which state, 

 "only through their particular religion one can attain salvation",

Hinduism states

"Salvation is for all irrespective one is a Hindu or not"

SALVATION in Hinduism is a  very orderly  process.  According to Hindu scriptures, Salvation is for all.  Nobody is denied salvation.  

Even if one does not believe in God, the atheist and agnostic can attain salvation.  One need not be a  Hindu to attain salvation..  Everyone will finally attain salvation whether they believe in God or practice any religion. 

In Hinduism SALVATION is known as SELF-REALIZATION or MOKSHA.  That is the reason why, every one on earth should give more importance to SPIRITUALITY and less importance to religious dogmas.  

Religions are mere paths and not the final goal.  We have to do things that will elevate us spiritually.   There is no thermometer or barometer to measure the spiritual maturity of a person.  

As such,   some times, the rich man  you just met,  who is dazzling in luxury will be more matured spiritually, than the naked Sadhu you met in Benaras.   As such  sometimes the pretty model whom you met in Paris during a fashion show will be more advanced spiritually than the guru you met in Chennai. 

So we cannot judge anyone.   All of us are at  different stages of spiritual maturity.   Whatever  we think, say and do will either elevate or bring us down spiritually.  So we have to watch what we think or say or do.

 What is Hindu salvation ?    Hindu Salvation is known as self-realization.     Hindu salvation is the  process by which  a person is realizing that he/she is indeed the  Atman  [ the  Immortal Soul within] and not the perishable material  body.    Hindu salvation  is the process by which  a person [individual soul]  is merging with the Paramathman [or God]. 

How can one attain salvation?   Hindu scriptures state that people can attain self realization through one of the four methods. Those four methods are:  

 

A. JANANA YOGA; [path of knowledge]?Hindus have 6 philosophies called Darshanas.

B?KARMA YOGA; [path of unattached, unmotivated actions and thoughts]

C?BHAKTI YOGA; [ path of total surrender of one's will to God]

D?RAJA YOGA. [path of breathing and Pranayama'eradication of thoughts]

Most people in the world are Bhakti Yogis. 

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Am I A Hindu? A book about Hindu Culture


Am I A Hindu?


A book about Hindu Culture




                                                    [http://www.amiahindu.com/]

is a  book for every   one who wants to know all about Hindu Culture in very simple sentences.
This book is in the form of "Question and Answer " format between a 14
year
old American born Indian teenager and his middle aged father about
every  aspect of Hinduism  in 90 chapters. It contains many educational
flow charts such as “caste System”; “Yugas”; “World Religions” etc.

Published by HALO BOOKS, San Francisco and RUPA PRESS, India which is sold hundreds of thousands of copies
around the globe.

The Hindu, Madras wrote,

“—-the need of the
hour not only for those overseas but even here in India—”.

The Hindu Times, Nepal wrote,

“—We treat this book
as a very valuable contribution to the world of religions—”

Mr. Walter Isaac son, Managing
Editor of Time Magazine wrote,

“—this book is extremely
interesting to me, and I plan to share it with others who may be curious about
Hindu religion—”

Hinduism Today wrote,

“—Viswanathan 
has indeed done his homework and his well crafted answers should prove
useful to many who like their Hinduism liberal—-”

Editor-in Chief Lisa Peschel, The
Llewellyn News Times wrote,

—-The very best
introduction to the tenets of Hinduism I have yet to read—-”

Both LIBRARY JOURNAL and BOOKLIST magazines highly recommend
this book for all libraries.

Table of Contents


Publisher’s Foreword
Preface

1. Introduction to Hinduism
2. Christianity in India
3. Birth and Development of Hinduism
4. Indology
5. Sruti and Smriti Literature
6. Rig Veda
7. Dharma Sutras
8. Code of Manu
9. Panchatantra and Artha Shastra
10. Charvaka –The Hindu Materialism
11. Brahma Sutras and Agamas
12. Jnana Yoga
13. Adi Sankara
14. The Ramayana
15. Yoga Vasistha
16. The Mahabharata
18. Last Days of Lord Krishna
19. Puranas and Srimad Bhagavatam
20. Thirukural ? Holy Bible of Saivites
21. Classical Music
22. Hindu Dances
23. Avatars in Detail
24. Avatars of Lord Vishnu
25. Ayurveda and Jyotisha
26. Hindu Mathematics
27. Bhakti Yoga
28. Bhakti Schools
29. Karma Yoga
30. Raja Yoga
31. Samadhi and the Koshas
32. What is Occultism ?
33. Law of Karma and Reincarnation
34. Science of Reincarnation
35. AUM - The Word and Sound
36. Mantras and Mantra Yoga
37. Gayatri Mantra
38. Transcendental Meditation
39. What is Meditation ?
40. Brain Waves and Biofeedback
41. Brain Electrical Impulses and Samadhi
42. Pranayama
43. Kriya Yoga and Hatha Yoga
44. Ashtanga Yoga and Laya Yoga
45. Easier Form of Meditation
46. Tantras, Chakras and Kundalini Power
47. Sivalinga, Yantra and Mandala
48. Salagrama, Kumari Pooja, Mudra and Nyasa
49. Kama Sutra
50. Who is a Guru?
51. Idol Worship
52. Gods of Hinduism
53. Kali and Human Sacrifice
54. Rationality of Worship of Many Gods
55. Hindu Temple Construction
56. Mythology
57. The Cow and Hindus
58. Status of Women in Hinduism
59. Sati?The Most Horrendous Act
60. Hygiene and Aura
61. Ashrama Dharma and Non-Violence
62. Hindu Diet Code
63. Untouchables
64. Truth?A Virtue
65. Story of Ganges
66. Hindu Pilgrimages
67. Kumbha Mela Festival
68. Benaras?Holy City of Hindus
69. Hindu Holy Festivals
70. Hindu Rituals
71. Hindu Marriages
72. Mysterious Brahman
73. “Aham Brahmasmin” and Other Mantras
74. “I Am God”
75. What Do you Mean By “Born Again”?
76. Sin in Hinduism
77. Maya?The Original Sin
78. Creation and Annihilation of the Universe
79. Pralaya?The Hindu Armageddon
80. Devils and Ghosts
81. The Swastika and Hinduism
82. Hare Krishnas
83. Drugs and Hinduism
84. Elements and Sacred Plants of Hinduism
85. Birth of Creation as per Hinduism
86. The Hindu Search for God
87. Day-to-Day Problems and Hinduism
88. Misrepresentation of Hinduism
89. Does Science Have Answers?
90. Concluding Advice



 










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A Tribute to Hinduism — Sushama Londhe

A Tribute to Hinduism


Sushama Londhe


Hindu Wisdom


http://www.hinduwisdom.info/

http://www.atributetohinduism.com/



Published by Pragun Publications, New Delhi, India

Distributed by D.K. Publishers Distributors (P) Ltd.



 


 


 


Just like her popular web page, 

Sushama Londhe's book is one-of-a-kind.


 


It is the first work to examine Hinduism from the vantage point of so many great minds.  



Viewing  Hinduism  looking through the eyes of hundreds of
philosophers, writers, historians, politicians, Indologists, academia,
scientists, poets, scholars, artists, Industrialists etc  is thought
provoking &  fascinating. 


 


As
Sushama has stated in her book, the aim of this book is to encourage
and stimulate Hindus and non-Hindus to take a fresh look at Hinduism,
its diverse and rich traditions, through the eyes of great
intellectuals of the world, many of them have nothing to do with
Hinduism in their day to day lives.


 


The
presentation of this book is very elegant and graceful. Every chapter
is very informative and captivating. After reading this book, I have
decided to keep this book on my coffee table to be used as a reference guide. 


 


True, there are hundreds of books available about Hinduism, but you will never ever come across a book like this. 



As such Sushama's book is a must-read by every one, 

whether some one is a Hindu or not.


 

www.amiahindu.com



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Sati or Suttee


Sati  or  Suttee

Sati  or  suttee  is the most horrendous act of widows killing themselves jumping into the funeral pyre of their dead husbands, sometimes willfully and sometimes forcefully by others. 

Believe it or not Sati has nothing to do with Hinduism.  To say, Sati is a part of Hinduism is exactly like saying "Salem witch hunt" and Spanish killing of Mayas have something to do with the immortal teachings of the Jesus Christ.


There is not even one scriptural statement in Vedas or Upanishads or two epics concerning SATI.

How does the name Sati originate? The name Sati originated from the name of Sati, the last daughter of Daksha Prajapathi, who was born from the thumb of Lord Brahma.  King Daksha had 100 daughters all of them except Sati married other Prajapathis, who are also the sons of Lord Brahma.  Sati, against the wishes and command of her father king Daksha married Lord Siva.  

King  Daksha once conducted a very grand Yajna [prayer & sacrifice] to which almost all the relatives and dignitaries were invited, except Sati and her husband Lord Siva.  Sati went to the Yajna [prayer & sacrifice] uninvited, against the wishes of her husband  Lord Siva.  

King Daksha did not even recognize his daughter Sati when she appeared
at his palace gate.  Sati felt insulted beyond her wildest   imagination.  Struck by profound sorrow, Sati killed herself by self-immolation.   This suicidal act of act of Sati or Dashayani [daughter of Daksha ] has nothing to do with her husband Lord Siva.   She did that since she could not take the humiliation.

MANU SMRITI or the Code of Manu: Sage Manu was India's code giver and in his book Manusmriti has dealt with almost everything one can think of. There is no mention of Sati any where in Manusmriti.

RIG VEDA:   Some  argue Rig Veda sanctions Sati based on a verse 10.18.7.  This verse ispart of the funeral in Hinduism.  Text only state that widow should sleep next to the body of the dead husband as an act of last saha saya [sleeping together].  The texts continuing to this text never mentionany act of Sati. 
 

So according to the funeral hymns  in RIGVEDA, the ceremony is widow sleeping next to the corpse of the dead husband and then being allowed to marry anyone she pleases.


RAMAYANA:In Ramayana, after Lord Rama’s father king Dasaratha died, none of his three wives practiced Sati.  In Ramayana, when the monkey-king Bali died, his wife Tara did not commit Sati. Instead she married his brother Sugreeva.When the demon king Ravana got killed, his wife Mandodhari did not kill herself.

MAHABHARATA:

Kaurava princesses:There is not even one act of Sati in the whole epic poem of Mahabharata where  thousands of men got killed.  Even though one hundred Kaurava Princes  including Duryodhana were killed, not even one Kaurava princess committed Sati. I The acts of Lord Krishna killing themselves after the 
demise of Krishna have nothing to do with SUTTEE.  

Lord Krishna's wives:All those wives of Lord Krishna were Apsaras, [celestial beings who were born on earth to help Krishna to kill all demons.  Once Krishna left, there were no need for them stay on earth.  That is the reason why they killed themselves after Krishna went back to Vaikunda, the abode of Lord Vishnu. 

Queen  Madri:  Queen  Madri,  the wife of  King Pandu  jumped into the funeral pyre of the  fallen husband and killed herself.  But her suicide has nothing to do with Sati.  She felt she was responsible for the death of her husband who had been cursed by a dieing saint  to die, if he ever had an
intercourse. 
What happened to King Pandu was  not Madri's fault, still Madri killed herself out of remorse.  Madri  begged her husband to control himself but of no avail.  King Pandu had another wife Kunthi and she did not kill herself. That clearly shows Madri's suicide has nothing to do with Sati.

Savitri, the legendry heroine of Hinduism  
When Savitri’s husband Satyavan died,   the god of death Yama came to take the soul of Satyavan. 

Savitri engaged Lord Yama in a debate and Yama  was forced to let go Satyan.  During this episode there was absolutely  no mention of Savitri committing Sati.  That thought never occurred in her mind.  Instead Savitri tricked Yama in bestowing life to his  fallen husband.  

Then from where did Sati come  from?  Suttee had its roots in Greece.

Pyre services similar to Suttee were prevalent among Germans, Slavs and
other races besides Greeks. The practice of SUTTEE came to India through KUSHANS in 1 A.D.

Who Practiced Sati in India? It  was RAJPUTS a warrior tribe who were descendants of KUSHANS and who were very fanatic Hindus and who were extremely monogamous whopracticed SUTTEE.

Why did they practice Sati?
Rajputs were in constant wars within themselves and were also war with Moslems. So there were thousands of young widows and they feared that it isdangerous to have thousands of young, extremely beautiful widows running around and they went were the extreme measure of eliminating them. Moslems were also in the same plight and they took care of the 
problem of young widows by each man having four wives.

What happened to Sati? In 1829, British government in India, outlawed SUTTEE as a criminal offense. Suttee was never ever practiced in South India. Copycats appear now and then, but believe me vast majority of people have nothing to do with SUTTEE.


If Sati was part of Hinduism,  thousands of widows should have been killed all over India.  That never ever happened. We have no history to prove other wise. 


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Who is a Hindu? Anyone who searches after truth.


Who is a Hindu?  As far as I am concerned, any one who searches after truth is automatically a Hindu, since Hinduism is the relentless search after truth.  
According to that concept, a Jew, a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, a Jain, a Sikh, even an atheist who searches after truth is  automatically a Hindu.


For a very long periods of time, I used to say and write “A Hindu is born and never converted" since Hinduism is a culture, a way of life, it did  not make any sense to me  even talking about conversion of non-Hindus to Hinduism.


Now  for the very first time I am looking into the plight of a very large
number of people who love Hinduism and who really  want to embrace Hinduism. 
After Meera Jasmine,  a Malayalee movie actress's   temple visiting controversy, I have become a very strong proponent of the idea of opening the “flood gates” and allowing  millions of  non-Hindus who love Hinduism, to plunge into  the very fast ocean we call Hinduism.

 Hinduism is a culture as well as it is the relentless search after truth and
as such any one who searches after truth, including atheists have a
place in Hinduism.  A Christian, a Moslem, a Jew, a Sikh, a Buddhist, a
Jain ,  an atheist  and countless others who search after truth should
be welcomed to Hinduism.

 In  July  2006,  Meera Jasmine, a Christian, offered  prayers at Raja
Rajeshwara temple at Taliparamba , Kerala . Ms. Jasmine made offerings
to God at the famous temple, where the entry of non-Hindus is
prohibited, and paid obeisance to Lord Raja Rajeshwara, the presiding
deity. I do not know anything about Meera Jasmine or why she did what
she did.  I do not  know  the reason why she went to a  temple or why
she was forced to pay 10,000 rupees for temple purification. 
 

http://www.hinduonnet.com/holnus/009200607020321.htm

 
If  Meera  as well as other non-Hindus are sincerely interested in
Hinduism, then we have to make some changes to accommodate them in our  culture/religion Hinduism.
 

Sure,we have to maintain the sanctity of our places of worship but we should also to take "baby steps" to alter the way we were doing things for centuries.  

There are many non-Hindus like Meera Jasmine or Yesudas come from families who were Hindus few generations ago. They may be coming to the Hindu temple and Hinduism because they sincerely LOVE Hinduism and what it stands for.

They are coming to Hinduism since they are not comfortable with  their religion. They are  coming to Hinduism, since their  personal religions cannot answer many questions they have.    It is a crime to deny them a chance to come back to their mother religion.

  Let us alter things in a proper slow order, which even the most conservative among us can agree upon.   If we cannot allow Meera Jasmine or Yesudas or many like them,  to worship in our main temple, then we have to at least allow them to worship in an outer temple. By doing that they will know that we are welcoming
them with open arms.

I am writing all these things since so many Christians [Indians as well as Americans ] after reading my book AM I A HINDU?[www.amiahindu.com]  have written to me expressing their heart felt desire to embrace Hinduism.    It breaks my heart to tell them that A HINDU IS BORN AND NOT CONVERTED. Let us change our ways and do things a little different so that millions can join us in the search after truth.

I  know those who are in hierarchy will not listen to what you and I will
say. But repeated statements from people like you and I will finally
open their eyes.

We who preach
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam:
"The entire creation is one family.";
Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti:
"Truth is one; sages call it by various names";
Sarve Api Sukhina Santu Sarve Santu Niramayah:"
Let everybody be happy, healthy, and blessed"
Athithi devo bhava"
Guest is God "
has nothing to fear except fear itself. 

They feel and act like honey bees being denied to go to a full blown flower.
They feel and act like a newborn being denied to be with his/her mom.
They literally feel like fish out of water.

As such  we should allow all those souls to embrace Hinduism. 


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"Love Thy Self .Admire Thy Self"


 "Love Thy Self .Admire Thy Self"

 

Every one of us has the tendency to say, " I loved him or her so much BUT .BUT ..BUT .."   

 

There no end to that BUT and that "BUT" is crushing the mental peace of  every one of us. That "BUT" is destroying our self esteem, which creates exhaustion and hopelessness in us which will finally end up as depression. 

 

We  may be very generous with those around us and  take extra care when we deal with our friends &  family.    But when we see the tender loving care we  have rendered is not reciprocated, we literally fall apart.  That is a very sad part of the life.

 

Well, let us take a deep breath and analyze the problem.  Every one of us  sees every one & everything  through our  own eyes.   We even  think we can  win every one  with sex or money or any material goods.  But sadly all those things are  temporary and transient.

 

Fact of the matter is, every one of us  comes to this world with a cart load of one's own personal problems and worries.  Every one, including the people you love, has their own personal destiny and each one of them are at  different levels of spiritual maturity. 

 

It is normal to expect " love"  in return, but please do not fall apart when you do not get  that "love"  you expected.  It is not that the person you love,  does not love you back. 

 

The  person whom you love looks at you according his or her own karmic debt and spiritual maturity.  That is the problem.  What you sees as white, other person may  see as yellow or green.

 

The only answer to our problems  is to seek within ourselves.   

 

William Shakespeare wrote:

 

"All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,"

 

So due to our karmic debt  we meet in this world  as FATHER, SON, DAUGHTER, LOVER etc in this world…

 

When each of us finish playing our part, we just move on….So we cannot expect any one to act or love the way we wanted.  Every one of us are just playing our own  part after that we will leave this planet.  That is the fact of life.

 

So what is the only pragmatic answer?  "Love Thy Self  " and when you love someone else, just love that person "unmotivated with out any strings attached" Then you will have a great life.

 

All your answers are within yourself.  You are NOT bad, since some one tells you that you are bad,  You are NOT good, since some one tells you that you are good. 

 

You are GOOD or BAD or SUCCESSFUL or FAILURE only when you decide you are…. 

 

If you look deep, you will see that the one and only person who loves you and I, is OURSELVES…..nobody else.

 

So for our  own physical and mental welfare, we have  to explore deep within ourselves and enjoy.  If and when you love others, please love them without any strings attached. In this way, you and I will have a great life. 


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Why Many fear the book and movie Da Vinci Code?


Answer is very clear.    

Fear of reemergence of Gnosticism.

Why they fear Gnosticism?  Since it has to do more with Hinduism than with Christianity.    It is speculated that  organizations such as "Opu Dei" in Latin means “work of God”  took birth in Catholic religion to challenge  everything associated with "Gnosticism."

There are two set of Gospels in the world. First set of gospels which one can read in the Holy Bible are called Synoptic Gospels  which consist of Gospels of Mathew, Luke, John etc.

Second set of Gospels are known as Gnostic gospels. 
They were written by Thomas [doubting Thomas], Mary Magdalene, Stephen
etc.   Church  destroyed these gospels since it has more to do with
Hindu Upanishads than accept beliefs of early Christian church.

But Gnosticism came back to life when fifty-two ancient texts were found buried in an earthenware jar near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945.

"Gnosis" is a Greek word meaning "knowledge"
like Vedas means "knowledge". Veda is derived from the root “Vid”,which means, “to know”

1——-The Gnostics claim to have inner knowledge of God like Hindu Rishis.

2——Like what is taught in Upanishads, Gnostics believed God is not a separate entity to be prayed to, but God is within every one of us as well as around us. Like Hindus, Gnostics also believe God has male as well as female attributes.

3——Gospel of Mary Magdalene reads: "Take care that no one deceives you by saying "Look over here", "Look over
here" .For the true child of humanity is within you. Follow it. For
those who seek it will find it."

4—–In Gospel of Thomas Jesus said,   “Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him.”

5——Amazing it may sound an important statement of John 1:1 in the Bible 

In the beginning was the Word

(In principio erat Verbum),

and the Word was
with God

(Et Verbum erat apud Deum)

and the word was God
(Et Deus erat Verbum)

 

is a repetition of Vedic statement

“Prajapathi Vai Agre Aseet”
In the beginning was Prajapathi,
The Brahman, The God

“Tasya Vag dvitiya Aseet”

with whom was the word:

“Vag Vai Parama Brahman”

 and the word was verily the Supreme Brahman



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