Universal Knowledge

Posted by Priya in Saturday, May 22, 2010

A very interesting passage for your reading pleasure:

What is to be done and what is not to be done, what is proper and not proper - these things you already know, of course, because you have a certain innate sense about them. No one can plead ignorance of what is right and wrong. This knowledge is universal.

What do you mean by universal knowledge? All monkeys, for example, born to live on treetops, need to know something about the law of gravity - and they do. Ifyou were to observe the mother monkey, yo would see that she has no concern about whether there is a baby holding onto her or not as she jumps from tree to tree. The baby monkey, however, holds onto its mother's bosom for its dear life. It is definitely afraid of falling, whereas the mother is not. She just keeps leaping from one branch to another, while her baby holds on tight.

Suppose, however the baby monkey had to undergo some education to know that there is a law of gravity operating, that it must hold on tightly in order not to fall, and that it if did fall, it would be injured or it would die. If all of these hings had to be taught to monkeys, many of them would die for want of education and the species itself would sooner or later become extinct.

Fortunately, every baby monkey, without being educated, seems to know what is done and what is not to be done. Without going to Harvard or Cornell, without joining the Moral Majority, it knows very well that 'I will fall if I let go of my mother.' That 'I will fall; is one piece of truth and 'if I fall, I may hurt myself' is the second piece of truth the monkey seems to know. The third piece of truth is, 'To fall and get hurt or be killed is not good forme or for my species.'

Instinctively, then, the monkey knows all this. Since monkeys are made to live on treetops, the minimum knowledge every monkey must have in order to survive is to know, 'I will fall; objects come down; I will be the victim if I don't hold on to the other branch when I leap.' This knowledge must be given to monkeys along with the creation. Only then is there any hope of a monkey living its life on the treetops.

Such knowledge is instinctive and is what we call the creation. If that knowledge is not given to a monkey and it has to be educated in order to know how to survive, then I would say that there is a defect in the creation.

Similarly, as a human being, I am born with a faculty of choice. Unlike a monkey, however, I can choose to live on treetops, on the 20th floor of a building in Manhattan, or in a cottage on some riverbank. I can choose to go to Alaska and keep only my nose out or I can live in the tropics. Because I have the faculty of choice, I can choose my course of action. I can choose various ends and various means to achieve those ends.

That human beings seek securities and pleasures is a common fact that we have already analysed. And in seeking these ends, they have to follow certain means to achieve them. More often than not, upon analysis you will find that the problems lie only in the means and not in the ends.

(For example, stealing in order to provide for the family. The end is 'providing for the family', which is not wrong. But the means, 'stealing', is wrong.)

This passage is interesting because it shows that we have a naturally in-built consensus of what is right and what is wrong.

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Sharada Stotram

Posted by Priya

I've been meaning to write a post for a long long time, but have never gotten the time. I still have one more exam left to finish, then I'm free!!!!!! :) But for today, I've done studying, so got some free time to share some things I've learned today in Hindu Centre class.

Today's class was superb interesting and I have gained a lot of insight from it! Such a beneficial class I would say, that has opened up new doors of thought for me! Every Sat is the same; I always get new insights, learn about new facts of Hinduism that I never knew existed. Each time my devotion just increases, and each time I become more and more happy (not proud) to have been born as a Hindu, completely convinced that I must have done so much good deeds in my past lives! I don't see the need to be politically correct here, so you can make any inference you want from my previous sentence, because I meant what I meant. 

Sharada stotram - chanting and commentary by Kathir

This part of the lesson was so interesting! I never knew that by just chanting this Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) stotram could actually mean we have worshipped the Goddess in the form of Knowledge! "Sharada" is the name given to the Goddess of Knowledge in Kashmir, which means a form depicting the season autumn. Why autumn? Because it is in the middle of two extremes; you neither experience the scorching heat, nor the shivering winter. Autumn relieves you from extremes: metaphorical meaning would be sinful deeds basically. Meaning Sharada Devi, the Goddess of Knowledge, relieves us of our sinful deeds. The whole stotram is about how knowledge is so important that it can relieve us from our sins committed in this life and our past lives.

One particular verse caught my attention:
Yaa shraddha dhaaranaa medhaa vaagdevi vidhivallabha

You are the shraddha (faith), the power of concentration (dhaaranaa) and the power of retention (medhaa). You are the divinity in speech (vaagdevi). You are the consort of Lord Brahma, the creator (vidhivallabha).

So this is basically the translation. This verse alone extols all the virtues of gaining knowledge and how wonderful it is.

Faith (Shraddha)

You need to have faith in life in everything to be able to do your daily duties and actions. You apply for a degree in a certain university, but that university will not guarantee that you will attain that degree! Nothing in life is given to you as immediate. So you need faith in yourself and it is very important to have faith in Ishwara (God) also! Faith (on the unseen and unknown) motivates you to keep going and not give up in any pursuit of your life. So if you have this faith in you, you have Saraswati in you (in the form of shraddha)!

Concentration or focus (Dhaaranaa)

Lot of us have trouble concentrating on something for a prolonged time. We easily get bored of stuff quickly and keep changing. Concentration and focus of mind is very difficult to achieve for us. We can't keep focus in lectures for long, for example. But without a one-pointed mind, we can easily lose ourselves and our motivation. When we climb a mountain for example, our faith and our ability to focus and concentrate is tested in the middle of the expedition. Oxygen levels are low, our body starts aching, and our breathing becomes difficult. At that time, the only thing that will propel us forward to reach the summit is our faith in ourselves and our focus or concentration on our end-goal. So in this stotram, you are actually praying to Sharada Devi to grant you that dhaaranaa. When that dhaaranaa is in you, you have Saraswati in you!

Medhaa (power of retention of what we learned, ability to understand)

Our brain is so hardwired nowadays such that our power of retention and our ability to grasp things immediately and understand them perfectly have significantly decreased. People who have this medhaa shakti (power of retention of what they learned), don't have to study for any tests. They can actually remember and understand the concepts taught in lectures, for example, so easily that they need not study for exams! But why can't everyone do this? Because our brain is literally slacking!! We have lecture notes, textbooks, internet, library, wikipedia!!! All the information are already stored in there! So why do we have to put them in our brain?

Back then in the past, they did not have any books, texts, or any writing instruments. Everything was orally taught! But now, the situation is different. "I don't have to listen because there is a webcast for this lecture!" So automatically, our value for medha shakti has decreased and so we don't utilise it often. Our brain has so much power that we always underestimate it! There are people in India who can actually chant the whole 100,000 verses of Mahabharatha from memory!! There are scholars and priests in India who have the whole Veda in their mind and can recite by memory alone! And not to mention, we only utilise so little of our brain even when we are great scientists or engineers!

So do NOT underestimate the power of retention of your brain!! Try listening to a lecture, with so much of concentration (dhaaranaa) and faith (shraddha) in you, without taking any notes! You will actually realise that you are capable of understanding the lecture perfectly without any aid, but just by listening!!! I've tried this in one of my Hinduism classes, and I didn't forget anything. It is always our fear that we will forget what we learned later that impels us to take notes during class. But our brain is not hardwired to multitask and pay multi-attention. Our brain can do only one thing at a time. If it is multi-tasking, then its concentration is only on one thing and the rest of the tasks are mechanical/automatic/subconscious. So by taking notes & listening, you will not benefit much, you will lose on some information. So try listening and understanding! It will work. All you need is strong faith in you!! So don't ever underestimate your power of retention and understanding!!

Divinity in speech (Vaagdevi)

Why does divinity reside in our speech? This is because No knowledge can take place without speech. Our ability to speak is a gift given by the Goddess! There were other things said during class, which I don't want to share here, because prior knowledge is required. So pardon me :)

Consort of Brahma, the creator (vidhivallabha)

This means that you need Knowledge to create! You cannot just create without knowledge. In every object of creation, the knowledge of the creator is within it. Take Ravivarma's painting for example. His aesthetic value and emotions are contained within his paintings. Similarly, the knowledge of the creator (the God) is contained in this Universe. This means that the God who created this Universe is ALSO a manifestion/part of this Universe! Hard to understand, but it will make sense if you think about it more.

So why do we chant these shlokas?

Basically, chanting shlokas have certain benefits attached to them. The pronounciations of Sanskrit with all the 50 syllables in the shloka, wil produce desirable vibrations in our body. Some shlokas have the power to relieve our fever, or any other ailments, especially if we chant it with FAITH, DEVOTION & UNDERSTANDING! Not just suka suka chant you know! The connection of the chant (sound) and the mind should be there, together with the devotion. This can only happen if we completely understand WHAT we are chanting! That was why this lesson was conducted.

Also by chanting shlokas, it can create positive vibrations that will help to increase our concentration, and our retention power of the brain!! This change can only be seen long term, after a few months of daily chanting. You can just chant Ganesha 108 names everyday (will take only 10 mins maybe), and that alone can help you a lot (if done with faith and devotion)! I am willing to teach anyone to chant any shlokas, if you are interested :)

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Does absolute evil exist?

Posted by Priya in Wednesday, January 20, 2010

There are lots of prevailing notions that are subconsciously embedded in our brains, that we unknowingly make associations with something we learn for the first time. Therefore, while learning anything new we have to do two things. First, we have to get rid of put aside all our prejudiced notions and opinions we have on certain subjects of life from our head/brain. Second, after having understood the new concept, we have to compromise our existing knowledge with the new concept and make a stand within ourselves.

Does absolute evil exist?

Now, let's look at the two key words "absolute" and "evil" separately first and then decide.

The word, "absolute" can mean two things.

i) Something which is not dependent on anything else. It is self-existent.
ii) Something that is perfect and whole.

"Evil" is something which is very difficult to define. It is very subjective. Something which seems evil to one person, may not be so for another person. If you say evil is something which does harm to you, then obviously it is a subjective definition. If you say evil is something that goes against good, then this definition is also not clear.

So now we can answer. Does absolute evil really exist? Objectively speaking, it cannot exist! Absolute evil is like an oxymoron in itself. If absolute evil does exist, then are you telling me that this entire world is full of evil? It cannot be. So absolute evil does not exist.

Let's look at this from the theological standpoint. Abrahamic religions believe in both God and Satan. Meaning that they are saying there is both absolute evil and absolute good. Now, let's ponder over the following points:

1) How can there be two absolutes?
2) If there is both evil and good (Satan and God), then they cannot be absolutes. SO there must be another absolute entity that must have created both the evil and the good. Who/What is it?
3) If there is absolute evil and if you say that this evil was born out the good God, then you are compelled to think, "how can evil arise out of good?" Doesn't it mean then that the God is not all-merciful? Why would God want to unleash the evil upon the world?
4) If the good God is able and willing, then there should be no evil in this world, only ignorance of the good.
5) If God is willing to prevent evil but not able to, then he is not omnipotent.
6) If God is able to prevent evil but not willing, then he is malevolent.
7) If God is neither willing nor able, then why call him God at all?

So in conclusion, there is no such thing as absolute evil. There is also no such thing as absolute good, while thinking logically under the same premises. Doesn't this automatically point out to the non-duality of this universe?

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Taj Mahal or Tejo Mahalaya?

Posted by Priya in Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Found this interesting article here... Not sure if this is really true or some concoction. But seems like the evidences are overwhelming! Do please read it when you have like 10-20 minutes to spare...

Link: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/true_story_of_the_taj_mahal.htm

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Proud to be a Hindu!

Posted by Priya

I had an idea of starting off this "Misconception of the Week" series from today onwards. This means it requires a commitment from my part, which I pray to God that He will grant me the time and the mood to write.

Misconceptions among ourselves seem so rampant. If you ask any random muslim what his religion says about the concept of creation, for example, he would answer you immediately! Same goes for a Christian. It doesn't matter who is right or wrong. But the fact remains that they KNOW what their religion says about important things like the concept of creation of the universe, the concept of God, what is right, what is wrong, what happens after death, etc.

BUT DO WE KNOW??

Isn't this the question that we should all ask ourselves? Do we know what our religion says about all these things? Do we even care? We have more reason to be proud about our religion than anyone else. But why aren't we taking the efforts to finding out ourselves before we go around pinpointing and blaming others.

So this is basically what triggered me to write this post.

What is Religion?

According to Dictionary.com, this is the definition given:
"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

My point I want to prove in this post is that Hinduism is simply more than just a religion. The definition about does fit Hinduism. Except for the creation part. Because Hinduism says that the creation and the creator are the same! Meaning everything you see, feel, touch, hear, smell, taste, breath is God. This is, like I had previously mentioned, different from how other religions view it.

So do not equate Hinduism with any other religion in the world! Never! IT is UNIQUE! And be proud of your religion! It might seem like a fanatic is talking here. However, I am in a sane state of mind, and I don't see why I should not extol the virtues of Hinduism while it is there to be extolled!

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It's been a while...

Posted by Priya in Thursday, December 31, 2009

I realise suddenly that this blog has not been well taken care of and updated. I couldn't even manage one blog. I wonder what made me start this one, and maintain this one too. I have another blog, but that one is mainly to post personal and random stuff. If I were to infuse posts related to Hinduism about Hindu philosophy over there, then it will not be fair for the authenticity of these musings. Because these are serious discussions here, which I'm writing for people out there to benefit.

I just want to let the readers out there know that everything I talk about in this blog have a strong basis in the scriptures or in logic. I swear on God that I will never stray away from scriptural evidence and logical explanations. Nothing in this blog should be taken blindly as well. You, as readers, should process whatever I have said in your own minds and come to your own conclusion.

I also realise that I had not started off this blog correctly. What I mean is this. Before learning anything new, we have to ensure that we do so with a clean slate. Only then we can approach the subject and understand it to the fullest. If we do not have a clean slate, we might tend to view the new subject we are trying to understand in a light that is tainted by our previous thought impressions already in our mind.

I'll give an example for this. So today, many people think that Hinduism is all or mostly about temple worship, and all you have to do is just visit the temple once a week, and you are a Hindu. But this preconceived notion about Hinduism will later hinder in your understanding of what Hinduism is really all about. Later when you learn that there weren't really any temples 3000-5000 years ago during the Vedic civilization, and temple worship only started in around 1000 BCE, you will be stumbled/shocked.

I might wrong in the exact datings, but it is true, there weren't really any temples built yet. Most of the oldest Hindu temples in India were only really built during the Raja Raja Cholan, or Pandian kings' time. Another thing is, do you remember any mention of temples, worship, etc. in Mahabharatha or Ramayana? We would have only heard about fire sacrifices and other forms of ritualistic worships, but not temple worship. So, this is just an example.

Therefore, I would wish to start of the new year with some common and interesting misconceptions most people have when it comes to Hinduism. Now, when I say "Hinduism", what I really mean is Sanatana Dharma, and not the name that the British people gave us. I'm just using this term for convenience and nothing else.

So hope you guys are all geared up for another fresh start... :)

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The Four Goals...

Posted by Priya in Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Hey guys!

Take a look at the video below. This is what is happening to our fellow Hindus who have lost their Shraddha (faith) in our way of life and have reverted to Christianity (or Islam). God bless their souls! I have nothing against converting to other religions, but I have so MUCH against converting because of our own ignorance of our Sanatana Dharma! My commentary for the video below is only until 3:42 minutes, as I don't care about what he says on Christianity.


"importance of scriptures, work out our own salvation, so that we won't go back to the cycle of birth and re-birth (samsara)" - This was the advice given to him by his dad who was a priest. Let me dispel this World's Greatest Misconception in Hinduism:

Moksha (liberation, salvation or realisation of the true Self as God) is NOT THE ONLY GOAL for all Hindus!!!

Moksha is ultimately our goal. But it is not the only goal! Listen to me friends. If someone comes and tells you that you should do yoga or meditation or fasting to attain God, think about it! Is moksha what you really want? This person's dad has adviced him, when he was only 8, to go read these books so that he can escape samsara (bondage). Don't be an escapist! That 8 year old fella has not even lived his life fully yet, and his dad is asking him to do penances to attain moksha! My God! Please save these people!!

"fasting, meditation, mortification of the body, penance, rituals to attain salvation" - Imagine an 8-year-old kid doing all this in his quest for salvation?! Seriously, who told you that if you do all this, you will attain moksha?! I can prove to you that doing yoga WILL NOT give you moksha! You need KNOWLEDGE to attain moksha! There is a very BIG difference between doing these penances without knowledge and doing these penances with knowledge!

"how to get moksha: book to read, went to building top to meditate to escape samsara, to be with the creator" - Hahaha... I can only laugh! Seriously!

"I was indulged in the pleasures of the word", "guilt and pain to live a life of hypocrisy", "seeking for something that would release him from the power of guilt", "still in bondage, lust, anger, life of hypocrisy" - Great! This is what is happening to most of the ignorant beings in this world! Every Swami is preaching us to renounce happiness and do all the difficult things like yoga to attain moksha! These ignorant beings (I was also once like these people), never realise the BEAUTY OF SANATANA DHARMA!! We are all alpa janmas (limited beings) and as such ignorant of all such beautiful things... I'll explain to you in a while what the beauty of Hinduism is...

"what is life after death? chance of eternity?", "lost faith in attaining salvation in Hinduism" - You were ignorant! And now you are blaming Hinduism?! Sigh... I don't blame you as well. You are only misguided by all those who were misguided... The blind leading the blind...

THE BEAUTY OF HINDUISM:
Sanatana Dharma says that humans have 4 goals... Artha (basic securities and wealth), Kama (pleasures, entertainment), Dharma (ethics, code of conduct in life) and then Moksha (the magic word). I colour-coded Moksha differently because lets leave it for a while and look at the other three first, shall we?

Artha and Kama is the common goal of ALL human beings (including animals in some instances) regardless of race, religion, language, creed, nationality, etc. You agree with me? Because we all need shelter, water, food, money, and some pleasures in life. We need a bed to sleep on, but once we've fulfilled the first goal of Artha, we can then move on to getting a water bed for our pleasure ;P So where in Hinduism, tell me, does it say that you can't have pleasure?! When some alpa janma comes and tells you to "renounce happiness, be neutral, be even-minded, etc." it is NOT meant for YOU!! Don't listen to them. You are happy with your life right now, then just BE HAPPY! BE SATISFIED! Why are you making yourself feel guilty with all this talk about renouncing happiness, when Hinduism tells you to be happy?! This is the BEAUTY of Hinduism I've been talking about...

Why is Dharma one of our human goals? As I said before, artha and kama are common goals to BOTH humans and animals! What then, differentiates us from animals? The very fact that we can make a CHOICE! Dharma is our guiding principle that helps us to pursue artha and kama in the RIGHT way. So WE NEED DHARMA!

So now we come to the fourth goal: moksha. One thing you have to be very clear: Moksha is for those who SINCERELY SEEK for it! That is why I colour-coded it differently. If you do not seek it, you will not attain it! This is the BEAUTY of Hinduism. If you are happy settling for a normal life and want to enjoy this life, GO AHEAD and DO IT! Why look at Moksha, when now itself you are happy with your life AS IT IS?! Please don't make this mistake... I'm writing this post to those who have this very big misconception embedded in their minds!

Let me tell you something! Just by following Dharma and assimilating it in your life, just by doing your duty, you would come to realise (in this birth or the next coming births) the limitations in living a life with artha and kama as your pursuits! That is when you will realise that your True and Ultimate goal is Moksha! Until you realise this, be calm and just do your duty. Bhagavad Gita's main point is also this: Do you duty!

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