The Search Within

[Dreamwoven]

I really like your spiritual posts! Good to read and start the day with.

[little-self]

Thanks for the encouragement........

[Dreamwoven]

The more i learn more i become aware of my ignorance
Awareness of ignorance is wisdom

This is very true!

[Dreamwoven]

The most recent building at King's is the Sir Duncan Rice Library, opened in 2011. See http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/3770/...ly_opened.html

[little-self]

A beautiful dream transforms to reality! Just beautiful ....!

[Dreamwoven]

This is rapidly becoming my favourite thread, thank you!

I apologise for my misplaced post, it was an accident.

[little-self]

Here we are discussing about the real ‘commodity’ of Nature—humanity, not its (humanity) by-products. We are talking about, what is right and good for the people, not what material good/benefit accrues, as a result of scientific achievements.
Since the boundaries of nations have been charted out by the writ of the conquerors, or amalgamated forcefully. These forced amalgamation, can never produce a single homogenous society but in due course of time, their superficial cementing and forced quartering for centuries, under the same umbrella of adopted religions and environments, does churn out an admixture of ‘culture’, howsoever shallow it might be. In countries like Bhaarath, Egypt, Greece, Persia, many a rich societies flourished and synthesized into unique civilizations.
These civilizations, which each of these great countries gave birth to, were in fact the amalgamation of different cultures. But to the chagrin of the historians, these great civilizations were demolished and vanished; either under their own burdens of over indulgence—the result of material progress and the consequent down gradation of values—or these could not bear the onslaught of foreign elements. Whatever symbolic semblances are left of these cultures—after withstanding the ill effects of these onslaughts—is due mainly to their building blocks, which were sourced from the very fundamentals, which are the sustenance cause of the universe. Their nourishment was the unshakable faith of the people in God. Though outwardly disseminated into many theological groups and societies, but into their faith, seeped one invisible thread of unity, which united them all under one umbrella of religion. Even though each nation supported different religions, still the fact remains that these religions, within the boundaries of each nation, fell under the shadow of one bigger element—its composite culture.
Each nation traces its roots to the bygone civilizations. In the present times, there is hardly any nation in the world which can boast of one culture, one society and one religion. Civilizations, too, seem to have been swept off the surface of the earth, as not a single one flourishes, which could trace its lineage to the bygone ones, in any part of the world. Wherever some traces are left, these are being obliterated along with their bearers. The following is the present overview of the world, which is the repeat of an earlier version:
Today western countries control more than 80percentage wealth of the world (2007). Almost the entire industrial base: its production and distribution is also in their control. With strong economic base, on the strength of scientific advancement in all fields, they rule the world in every sphere of life. Economically, militarily, and scientifically they not only rule the earth but the sky as well. They have the total monopoly over the material assets, backed by an efficient industrial base and a powerful war machine laced with the latest gadgetry. They have the power to destroy the world with the nuclear arsenal, many times over, just by the touch of a switch. The tragedy is, their war machinery and the lethal power are in the hands of those people, whose ethical base is shallow. Money power, backed by military power, has corrupted the lives of these people to such extent that where the meanings of values have lost their importance.
In America, like its allies— the most powerful country in the world, pornography is being legally channeled through the e-media, obscene magazines, night clubs and fashion shows. It has now entered the daily routines of their lives. This would not have been a problem, if this moral turpitude had been restricted only to the upper strata of their society. But the sad fact is that, this base business—which they associate with obscene ‘culture’, as if there really is a culture which could be obscene for them—has entered the lives of common people in their countries. Just imagine the volume of damage being wrecked by the western society, in the venerable lives of the youth of the developing countries, as they are foolishly imitating the west in every manner. A society, where pornography has not only become a regular subject of study and officially entered in the curricula of their colleges /universities, but become the part of their so-called ‘culture’(Prof: Costance Penolli Santa Barbara Call. University), what type of values our youth would be imbibing is any sane mind’s nightmare?

[little-self]

The second scenario is even more nightmarish! There are about fifty five Muslim countries in the world. Almost all of them have declared Islam as their state religion. Except for five, all other countries are ruled by monarchy or the dictators. In all of these counties Islamic (Shariat) law is ruthlessly imposed. Not even the immigrants, belonging to highly advanced countries are, spared from these archaic religious laws. Illiteracy, poverty and fanaticism are the common features in these feudal states. Fundamentalism roost there in the atmosphere of poverty, backwardness and illiteracy. Though some of these countries are oil rich, but adversity rules these societies. The most dangerously alarming signal which is emerging from these countries is, the state sponsored militancy (read—terrorism), and Islamic Jihads: all in the name of Islam.
The single most historical ‘fault’ of Christians (read: Whites) is, the common legacy which they should proudly share with their Muslim brethren—state sponsored barbarism, tyranny and forced conversion of religions of conquered races. Since the dawn, these two most respected religions established their ‘standards’, the world has not witnessed peace. These religions of ‘peace’ have been the cause of unimaginable loss of innocent lives on earth. Whole countries/societies were butchered and completely wiped out—all in the name of their religions. Strangely both these religions—of peace (!), trace their ancestry to the same roots: still in all those countries, where these religions are practiced; they have either been fighting among themselves or fighting against each others. Even today, though the tools of war and destruction have changed and the Western people are more scientifically advanced and thus have the upper hand, their old characteristics still remain the same. Whereas the West is exporting lethal tools of destruction, their Islamic brethren are exporting Jahadis (terror monger religious zealots). Truly the two great civilizations (according to them!), which flourished on this planet have wrecked more damage to the civilized societies than the natural calamities! Are they civilized or the barbarians, only the posterity would decide!
No doubt, both the societies have produced excellent poets, artists, architects, scientists, scholars and theologians/philosophers; but their incorrigible traits of state sponsored terrorism against each other or other countries has filled the pages of history. Their history is full of state repression, and during their onslaughts against the civilized world, religion was the state instrument. Both these religions flourished with the might of the state. As a result the entire world is divided between these two religions, excepting the negligible minorities of Buddhists and Jews. There are some very rare countries like Bhaarath which are truly secular where every religion is respected equally in law and spirit.
In the present times, religion has been sidelined in the West, with the arrival of the cheap media culture in the name of entertainment. Especially after the 2nd world war, the so-called ‘free’ and ‘promiscuous’ (non-) society has emerged there, which has completely discarded ethical values: by openly living and indulging in licentious liaisons. On the other hand, the Islamic countries and Bhaarath support religion based cultures. More than 80 percent of their populations openly profess to their respective faiths, without feeling the tinge of any complex.
Thus far, religions have not been used for the purpose, these were devised to fulfill. On the contrary their role has been limited to create strife and disrupt peace in the society. This is what they are meant to be!
Our ancient masters had not structured the Religion for fulfilling the aims of the rulers and assist them in the subjugation of the masses. Unfortunately, all the religions which are state sponsored have been made to play a very limited role. Even their masters, who actually ‘created’ these religions, had genuine intent to raise the character of man by infusing moral values in them and consequently bringing social transformation. Their role is limiting; especially in the direction of its social structuring, within the spheres of the society.
Like Religion, religions are not meant to play higher role of the ‘spiritual’ science, which leads the seekers to God-Realization. Like health and hygiene, religion is a social science, whose role is to promote/activate human (ethical) values and make the society a harmonious unit, which is in complete coordination with Nature and its elements. Like hygiene, civic sense and anti pollution measures, which are meant to keep the environments of the society clean, religions keep the conscience of the society, ever energized. Conscience again is the yeast of the conglomeration of the values. The main role of the religion is to keep the mind in control, by exercising proper restraint over the senses.

[Dreamwoven]

I agree with the above. Libya is a classic case of "Great Power" politics, resulting in the destruction of the country. Libya was a prosperous country under Gadaffi. But Obama did not like Gadaffi's attempt to create an African currency to help poor countries to gain some prosperity, as he perceived this as a challenge to the US Dollar's Global dominance. So he invaded and deposed Gadaffi, throwing the country into chaos. Very sad!

[little-self]

The mind of the man roams in the cosmos, whereas his body remains in the society. It thus being the cosmic entity, harbors cosmic dreams. Like the Nature controls its creations, the mind desires to master Nature. In this mirage race, the body which embodies it—in its mini form—proves too fragile for meeting its aims; as a result the mind is compelled to use nefarious means to keep itself in the race for achieving its ends. This disturbs the social order.
To maintain proper balance in society, numerous social sciences were devised, but its reach being unlimited, no external discipline could keep the mind within bonds. Sensing its vast powers, the ancients searched its depths and discovered tools, which could restrain its tentacles within the spheres of the society. To their surprise, this wily fellow, besides being an inexhaustible black hole: could devour the entire knowledge of Nature: was, also capable to ‘create’ knowledge: It is equipped with the powers of intellect and discrimination. Lying hidden within was its living-force—the Conscience. Further inquiries revealed to the spiritualists that the fundamental constituents of the living-force were the ‘values’! Even in ancient times, it was discovered, the mind (conscious screen of memory) too was composed of very subtle particles, whose carrier energy is subtle vibrations. These values, which are the emotional content of the conscience, were further staggered into many parts, as per the requirements, by the religions.
All religions are the by-product of the mind. Every religion is the creation of the mind of one ‘personage’. Hence the scope of religions is always within the periphery of the mind. As mind is full of variety and diversity, there are thus a variety of religions, each catering to one class of people only. Not one religion is universal in outlook and content, because no two classes of people are identical in nature. Only by blossoming of the values does mind become conscious. Otherwise, with the values subdued, it is gross—an emotionless entity. In spiritual parlance, Aathma (soul) is referred to as ‘heart.’ Conscience is also designated as Aathma’s reflection in mind. As such mind sans values and conscience is, a plane conscious screen of activated memory (knowledge), i.e., stored data of Nature.
It is a known fact; all the five religions of the world, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism and Zoroastrianism came into existence within one hundred years of each other, in the sixth century B.C. Islam came some eight hundred years after Christianity. All the great Masters who founded these religions, were ‘persons’ who belonged to this world and were ‘men’ of the world before God chose them for His special mission. Each one of these prophets went through great turmoil of mind and the world, before they realized the course of journey for Self-Realization was, always from mind to wisdom! We do not know, as yet, what God-Realization stands for. The three attributes ascribed to God, viz., Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, by these worthies were of very narrow prism: Being God-Realized would automatically confer these attributes on the subject! If we apply these attributes to these great masters, it is found, none stands the test of a scientific brain, because not any one of them had attained them. We have found earlier, whenever any religion has tried to impose on itself, the role of science, it has failed miserably. No religion or for that matter, its founder was supposed to ‘usurp’ the role of the Creator! If the Creation/Nature is its own cause, and is self-regulatory, as is being ‘known’ gradually, then there is no role left for the Creator!

[little-self]

There are many a questions, queries and anomalies being raised by modern brain, whose earlier ‘explanation, expositions or interpretations are no more valid as these do not stand the test of scientific parameters. The following are some points, which need careful inquiry by the religious priests, so as to give their religions a modern scientific outlook that befits the times.
• Each religion has failed to provide background or history of Creation/human race’s origin/Gods mystery. The ‘revelations’ of these mysteries, as recorded in their scriptures, are not comprehensible to an intelligent brain!
• Each ‘master’ is equated with the Creator, and thus he automatically assumed the mastership of the universe! Surprisingly the universe they represented was very small in each case, comprising only known areas of their times, they were inhibiting. Their ‘vision’ of Universe did not include billions of galaxies, nor could any one imagine the distance of the stars from the earth! Their idea of the universe did not even include the unknown/undiscovered countries of the world, for these did not exist for them in those times!
• Not a single religion was aware of the existence of other religions/cultures/civilizations, which were flourishing in the far off lands. The Bible or Koran does not speak about Buddhism or Jainism; as Buddhism and Jainism were ignorant about Judaism and Zoroastrianism. The religious founders did not possess geographical sense or their super-natural powers of Omniscience.
• All the religions have tried to tell about the Creator and His creations, but in each case, science has made a mockery of their ‘revelations’. Then what were the objectives of these religions, other than the God, which was their ‘star’ commodity’ for sale?
• The Revelations, Word, Naam, Nirvan, Divine ‘messages’ etc. etc., ‘received’ by the prophets directly from God, ought to possess highly charged divine potency; as is the natural consequence of being in the immediate proximity of Divinity! But we do not see perceptible changes or transformations in the characters of their disciples, who in turn had ‘received’ the ‘Manthar’ from these masters, or had the benefit of their physical ‘presence’. The divine grace, which these masters had supposedly been granted, ought to have had the same effect on their followers. But this was not the case!
• There is no consensus among the masters of Divine ‘perception’ about Reality/Truth/God! Rather, every religion seems to center around their master’s personality cult, laced with homely jargon of religious doctrines.
Here are a few asides:
Almost all the messiahs belonged to princely class, or when they wore the mantle of masters, their environs were quite different from their followers. As a result their paths of ‘realisation’ were also different, because their compulsions, which drove them towards ‘divinity’, could not coincide with their followers. Therefore their ‘discoveries’ of Reality and the methodology of realization were at variance with those messiahs whose roots were from amongst the masses. However in both cases, the religions which emerged on the bases of the teachings of the masters, lacked philosophical content, because of the ‘circumstantial’ limitation of each master. Just imagine the knowledge of the entire Nature, miniaturized in one single brain (as conscious)! Does this kind of brain exist in the history of man? May be in parables only! But in these parables, the ‘vision’ of the universe was of very limited scope and dimensions. Thus the religious doctrines were not universal in content or consciousness. These merely represented sectional sub-realities, which graduated later with state patronage.
• Doctrines of every religion invariably reflect the mental aspects of that religions’ master/creator. That is why, not even the priestly classes of the religions are themselves ardent followers/practitioners of their masters ‘Word’; as no mind is ripe or ready enough to follow other people’s mind, nor any mind is ready for reformation! Hence there is no reflection of their masters’ life or message/teaching, in the lives of their followers.
• The laws of Nature are very intricate. Not every aspect of Nature has been revealed in full to the scientists, despite an era of science and technology? Similarly the religious masters were not aware about even the basic laws of Nature how are they supposed to know its’ creation!
• Nature and its laws relate, basically, to its material aspect and any knowledge about its creation/creations that accrues on account of its revelation/discovery, belong to the domain of the mind. The mind and matter are the byproducts of Nature. Both are gross in nature and their existence is totally dependent on the principal that sustains them. The individual minds, which are not aware of the totality of Nature and mind, in their integrated forms, are not expected to enlighten us about the Principal that governs them.

[little-self]

As earlier observed religions are not the science or the right subject to know about Nature, Creation or their Creator. They were not meant to be so! These are simply the methodology to stem the tide of the mind, by the prescriptions of various means for controlling the senses. These can also be described as the science of morality and ethics. Each religion caters to one particular section of society, which has a common cultural bond. That is why each religion is at variance, in the modes of worship, symbols, and designs of temples, and most importantly, in their ‘objects’ of worship. These external symbols later became the cause of strife among themselves. Man has not learnt to co-exist as a secular race, despite all the paraphernalia of law and order machinery and military powers, which each nation supports.
Similarly at his mental level too, man has not found a harmonious state of equanimity, despite there being the costly paraphernalia of temples, churches, mosques, synagogues, gurudawaras, deras and ashrams, with their parasite class of priests, which each society support with the sweat of their labor. Theses ‘houses’ of God are no less a liability than the military/police contingency. Both have proved to be very expensive in terms of money and loss of lives in every society. Though meant to provide mental ‘safety’, both have always been the root cause of society’s ruin and obliteration. These fatal menaces, though man’s own innovations, owe their origin to the lust for power expressed through the conquest of territories—whether of earth’s hemisphere or mind’s horizons.
But there had also been some finer aspects: The majority of have-nots, suffering from hunger, homelessness and illiteracy, have found solace from their miseries, in the faiths they are born to. But this has been used always against them by their clever leaders, both of secular and religious powers that be! These innocent believers have been exploited in the name of their religion and used as war fodder.
There are some excellent spiritual philosophies like, Confucianism, Zen (from Buddhism), and Vedhaanth. The latter is the gem that illuminates all those who practices it. None of these is sectarian. These belong to all the classes of enlightened masters, the world over. But their illumination is limited only to few adventurous minds, who have outclassed their enlightened minds from all kinds of ‘ism’ and their minds are as expansive as the universe itself. Amongst the three, only Vedhaanth is a complete theory, which has been proved to be universal, and at its goal is the Supreme-Brahman—Supreme-Cosmic-Being.
Each religion took upon itself only those areas of socio-economical and other related disciplines/issues, which were of prime concern to their leaders/masters. Gautham Buddh was primarily concerned with the sorrows of death. (Who is not?) —.the remaining seven cardinal principals were added later. He was a prince, so his problems were different from those of common people. He had no body related worries. His concern was only of its demise. Because, being a prince, he did not want to suffer death like his subjects. He wanted to raise himself above them. So that’s’ what he did and achieved ultimately. Being a prince, his first and foremost concern should have been to mitigate the sufferings of his subjects. But he was utterly selfish. He could not see beyond his body and its sorrows. What he found ultimately, was of no concern or could remotely benefit his subjects. It only gave him ‘Nirvan’, not to his poor subjects or even to his followers. Even otherwise, whatever he attained or achieved, its benefits only he could derive/apply. It would have been wonderful, had he applied his cardinal principles on himself, after assuming princely powers again. Alas it could not be! He had renounced his ‘Karamkshether’—life of duty and action—long before he achieved his ‘Nirvan’! Truth is attained after great travails. Only its application in our lives, earns a thinker the appellation of a philosopher. Philosophy is not a religion in the context of present times. It is love (language) of God. Only the wise and philosophers know its deeper meaning, because by its application they shower its grace on all and sundry.

[Dreamwoven]

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself”
― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

[Malakhi]

Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain.

-- John Calvin

[little-self]

Same was the case with Mahavir, the Jain saint, whose spiritual attainment was also of no significance to his subjects, in the enhancement of their standard of living or in relieving their miseries from poverty.
A king’s first duty is toward his subjects’ welfare. But wherever they have donned the robes of monks, their efforts have been utterly selfish and like their princely lives, their renunciation produced only high profile results, which had least connectivity with the masses. That is why their ‘message’, (sub-) truth, had no appeal, nor could it produce any element of transformation in the hearts of their followers. It was only the state power which converted the masses to their new faiths, about whose nuances they were completely ignorant. Ask any adherent of any faith or religion, about the cardinal ‘truths’ of their faith, and only blank stares would be the answer!
Even if the majority of followers, being illiterate or belonging to the lower strata of society, are unable to understand the complex ‘philosophies’ of their religions, still their innocent faith inspires them to seek Godhood in images and living bodies of their masters. May be, to the surprise of the elite, the earnest Sadhna of many such followers actually bore fruit and their prayers were answered. There are many instances in every religion, where, in response to a devotee’s prayers, the ‘Master’ actually materialized in ‘person’. In some cases the Divinity itself ‘appeared in person before the devotee, in the form of his ‘conception’. These cases are not figments of imaginations, as in most such cases, the narrators were persons of impeccable character. Perseverance, unshakable faith always bears fruit, even if the ‘object’ is a mere rock.
The other side of the picture is equally glaring; with shameful exhibition of religious mockery. The conduct of the priestly class and the self acclaimed masters of the religions, in whose hands the control of the ‘houses-of-Gods’ has been passed on is, simply obnoxious and degenerating. The less it is said about them is better, otherwise the faith and feelings of the innocent followers would be hurt. It is a matter of wonder, since centuries, the faith of followers in their masters has remained unshakable, unwavering and stable like rock, whereas the conduct of the latter—the spiritual heads and the priestly class—has been anything but exemplary. This matter needs in-depth probing as the very survivability of the religious institution depends on this sensitive issue.
Religions, as of now, are irrelevant for the enlightened minds or for the seekers of truth. They have failed, even in their limited role, as the conscience bearer or of being the social conscience of the society. Still these have not become redundant for a silent majority of people world over, and are still playing important role in their lives. That’s’ why we can see full house in most of the temples. Religious preachers/kathavachhics (commentators) are drawing no less crowds than pop icons. If the obscene antics of Michael Jackson can draw lakhs of crazy youth to his show, the erudite commentaries of the former are equally magnetic. But the result in both cases is the same—mental recreation! These shows don’t leave lasting effects, but are of superfluous nature. Because their repertoire, art, erudition is, mere repetition like an audio or video tape of old classics. Their presentation is so cheaply displayed that these are good only till they last. Nothing of precious nature to carry home! Whatever their creative worth, these showmen do inspire their audience and their (followers) subdued potentialities! The youth is ‘inspired’ to move further away from the shaky values—his base being very shallow—and the believers faith in the masters—not in their ‘word’, is cemented more intensively!