The Meaning of Knowing God

[dharmanation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9VDRx-ph_o

Beautiful images. This person is the first non-Indian in American history to be appointed the spiritual leader of a Hindu temple. He converted to Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) 33 years ago, and has a Ph.D. in Religious Studies. Enjoy! :o

[planetsadhana]

thanks for that :)

[tjohn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9VDRx-ph_oBeautiful images. This person is the first non-Indian in American history to be appointed the spiritual leader of a Hindu temple. He converted to Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) 33 years ago, and has a Ph.D. in Religious Studies. Enjoy! :o
Some people don't understand what the saying "To know yourself, think for yourself" really means but instead go looking for a religion to follow. They might think they are making spiritual progress but they are not going far when stuck within the confines of a religion which in turn acts as spiritual prison.

God is in everything and is everything, many would agree with that - so why follow a religion when we are part of God's everything? To experience the presence of God we need only discover and know ourselves. Then indeed, why pray or chant and expect something to happen from somone outside of ourselves, when in reality we would be talking to ourselves?

[dharmanation]

Some people don't understand what the saying "To know yourself, think for yourself" really means but instead go looking for a religion to follow. They might think they are making spiritual progress but they are not going far when stuck within the confines of a religion which in turn acts as spiritual prison.

God is in everything and is everything, many would agree with that - so why follow a religion when we are part of God's everything? To experience the presence of God we need only discover and know ourselves. Then indeed, why pray or chant and expect something to happen from somone outside of ourselves, when in reality we would be talking to ourselves?

Hi, Tjohn,

Thanks for your insightful comments. For the most part, I would agree with your comments.

Truth is a reality that lies outside the confines of mere religious institutions and denominations. Rather, in the very best case scenario, religious institutions are meant to be mere temporal tools designed to direct the seeker to the Reality that lies beyond them. To focus more on the institutions of spirituality rather than the purported goal of the institution is similar to staring at the teacher's finger rather than gazing upon the beauty that the teacher is pointing to.

The opposite of fanaticism is balance.

Thus, to either a) arrogantly throw out systematic approaches to knowing Truth, or to b) ignorantly become slaves of such systematic approaches themselves rather than having fidelity to the Truth that such paths are merely pointers to, are both extreme forms of thinking. In other words, to say that I need x path to know Truth is just as fanatical as saying that I don't need a path at all. Both are fanatical, and thus unbalanced, statements.

Take care. :)

[tjohn]

Hi, Tjohn,

Thanks for your insightful comments. For the most part, I would agree with your comments.

Truth is a reality that lies outside the confines of mere religious institutions and denominations. Rather, in the very best case scenario, religious institutions are meant to be mere temporal tools designed to direct the seeker to the Reality that lies beyond them. To focus more on the institutions of spirituality rather than the purported goal of the institution is similar to staring at the teacher's finger rather than gazing upon the beauty that the teacher is pointing to.

The opposite of fanaticism is balance.

Thus, to either a) arrogantly throw out systematic approaches to knowing Truth, or to b) ignorantly become slaves of such systematic approaches themselves rather than having fidelity to the Truth that such paths are merely pointers to, are both extreme forms of thinking. In other words, to say that I need x path to know Truth is just as fanatical as saying that I don't need a path at all. Both are fanatical, and thus unbalanced, statements.

Take care. :)

I see, so now I am fanatical. :rolleyes: Well, you're right, because I am fanatical about truth and the truth is that on the whole, religion does more harm than good. Look at the state of the world and much of the trouble can be traced back to the influence of religion. If we mix many distortions of truth and lies with some truth, are we telling the truth? Then which religion is right?

That's not saying that we cannot learn anything of value (amongst religious rubbish) from religious teachers but the pearls of wisdom we get from religion we should already be able to know because hopefully, the truth is already inside us waiting to be discovered.

Religion can help us discover some truths but in doing so, it also plants many untruths and twisted concepts into the concious mind - which in turn affect the subconscious mind in such a way that our real identity and place in the universe becomes more hidden and difficult to comprehend.

Religion is a fools paradise and it mainly offers false hope and it is based on distortions at best, half-truths and at it's worst, deliberate lies by those who want to manipulate and control people's minds.

So I am sorry if what I say offends anyone but for many people spirituality has outgrown religion and religion has all but had it's day and should be archived to where it belongs, the primitive past. And it has to be, else there is no real hope for humanity.

[dharmanation]

Hi, Tjohn,

My apologies. You apparently severely misunderstood the direction of my message. As I stated, I thought your initial comments were actually quite accurate. No, I was not saying that you are fanatical. I have never met you, so I wouldn't really be in a position to make such an assessment. I was making a very general philosophical statement. It's unfortunate that you chose to take a philosophical discussion so personally. I don't really understand why you want to turn a pleasant conversation into an angry debate...but I'm not interested in conflict. Take care.

Love & Light,
Tulasi Devi

[pinkfreud]

I see, so now I am fanatical. :rolleyes: Well, you're right, because I am fanatical about truth and the truth is that on the whole, religion does more harm than good. Look at the state of the world and much of the trouble can be traced back to the influence of religion. If we mix many distortions of truth and lies with some truth, are we telling the truth? Then which religion is right?

That's not saying that we cannot learn anything of value (amongst religious rubbish) from religious teachers but the pearls of wisdom we get from religion we should already be able to know because hopefully, the truth is already inside us waiting to be discovered.

Religion can help us discover some truths but in doing so, it also plants many untruths and twisted concepts into the concious mind - which in turn affect the subconscious mind in such a way that our real identity and place in the universe becomes more hidden and difficult to comprehend.

Religion is a fools paradise and it mainly offers false hope and it is based on distortions at best, half-truths and at it's worst, deliberate lies by those who want to manipulate and control people's minds.

So I am sorry if what I say offends anyone but for many people spirituality has outgrown religion and religion has all but had it's day and should be archived to where it belongs, the privative past. And it has to be, else there is no real hope for humanity.


i agree 100%.

im a hindu, born and living in india. from all the organised religions, hinduism would be the one that addresses or touches upon ancient wisdom and truth regarding chakras, spirituality, ayurveda, the nature of the universe, and so forth.

what saddens me is this wisdom has been overshadowed by idol/deity worship and this has become the so-called face of hinduism, which it actually isn't. like all other religions, hinduism has also become tarnished over the millenia and i do not think that in this present situation, we should choose religion as a means of attaining spiritual peace. what we need to do is delve upon the teachings and hidden wisdom of religions, instead of using them as a full fledged path to happiness and submitting ourselves to the 'god' who sits up there in 'heaven'.

religion is not the gateway to eternal bliss, but knowledge and consciousness is. i dont think any religious institution today realises this.

[tjohn]

Hi, Tjohn,

My apologies. You apparently severely misunderstood the direction of my message. As I stated, I thought your initial comments were actually quite accurate. No, I was not saying that you are fanatical. I have never met you, so I wouldn't really be in a position to make such an assessment. I was making a very general philosophical statement. It's unfortunate that you chose to take a philosophical discussion so personally. I don't really understand why you want to turn a pleasant conversation into an angry debate...but I'm not interested in conflict. Take care.

Love & Light,
Tulasi Devi It did look like you were implying that because I reject religion I am a fanatic but I didn't take it personally in the sense of being personally upset with you but I did take the opportunity to express my views against religion. :D

It has taken a long time to grow up but I no longer get upset with views which are against what I believe to be true. However, I do get upset while (most) of humanity are being so misled that countless numbers of people are murdered or are needlessly suffering because of deceptive religion and politics.

Religious paths are what unquestioning sheep follow.

[tjohn]

i agree 100%.

im a hindu, No, you are not Hindu, you are you!
born and living in india. I do not live in India but you are human and you are my human sister. :)

[pinkfreud]

No, you are not Hindu, you are you!
I do not live in India but you are human and you are my human sister. :)

lol right then :D my name is ME, and whatcha getting me for my birthday bubby ;)