Hinduism Today January 2009 - Cover, Index, Front Articles

Frank and Ernest © 2004 t h a v e s . r e p r i n t e d w i t h p e r m i s s i o n .Waste not a minute. Be bold.Realize the Truth, here and now!Swami Sivananda (1887-1963), founder of the Divine Life Society, RishikeshYou have been born in this world as ahuman being to worship God; thereforetry to acquire love for His Lotus Feet.Why do you trouble yourself to know ahundred other things? What will yougain by discussing philosophy? SriRamakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886)For our cause I too am prepared to die,but for no cause, my friend, will I beprepared to kill. Mahatma Gandhi(1869–1948), Indian spiritual leaderIn a day when you don’t come acrossany problems, you can be surethat you are traveling in the wrongpath. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), disciple of Sri RamakrishaDid You Know?Hindu Gods in JapanAlthough hinduism has fewfollowers in Japan, still it hada significant, but indirectrole in the formation of Japaneseculture. Many Buddhist beliefs andtraditions come from Hinduism,spread to Japan from China from the6th century. Several Hindu Gods arerevered in the land of the rising sun.Japan’s very popular “Seven Godsof Fortune” are partly originated fromHindu deities, including Benzaiten(Sarasvati), Bishamon (Kubera), andDaikoku (Mahakala). Benzaiten isspecially popular. A text praisingBenzaiten, called The Sutra of GoldenLight, became an important scripturein Japan used to support the Imperialclaim to power and divinity. She isalso part of the popular Lotus Sutra.The Hindu god of death, Yama,is known as Enma. Garuda, thesean wilson - wikimediaNot until we see the richness of the Hinduspirituality can we understand India.Lin Yutang (1895-1976), Chinese writerFaith is like electricity. You can’tsee it, but you can see its lightshining on you. AnonymousThe highest form of grace is silence.Swami Chinmayananda (1916-1922),founder of the Chinmaya MissionWater is sufficient to cleanse thebody, but truthfulness alone canpurify the mind. Tirukkural 298Truth is not only Eternal but also unlimitedand infinite. Sanatana Dharma is verysimple and natural because it is basedvahana of Vishnu, is known asthe Karura. The japanese tenninoriginated from the Hindu apsaras.In a massive temple at the FutakoTamagawa area of Tokyo, Lord Ganeshais displayed so many times that Heeven outnumbers the Buddha!Through Buddhism, many ofthe facets of Hindu culture whichhave influenced Japan have alsoinfluenced Chinese culture.on the Laws of Nature. Swami RamaTirtha (1873-1906), one of the firstsannyasins to bring Hinduism to AmericaBefore I came on this earth, I was thesame. As a little girl, I was the same. Igrew into womanhood, but still I wasthe same. And, even now, I am the same.Though the dance of creation will everchange around me in the hall of eternity,I shall be the same. Sri AnandamayiMa, (1896-1982), Bengali mysticThe body of Benjamin Franklin lieshere, made food for worms like an oldand worn book. Yet it will appear oncemore, in a new and more beautiful edition,corrected and amended by its Author.Epitaph on the grave of Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790), American philosopher andpolitician, who believed in reincarnationAlways remember you’re unique, justlike everyone else. AnonymousI do nothing but go about persuading youall, old and young alike, not to take thoughtof yourselves or your properties, but tocare about the improvement of the soul.Socrates, (470-399 bce) Greek philosopherThe first day a guest, the second day aguest, the third day a guest, the fourthday a calamity. Indian proverbDo not be proud of wealth, people, relationsand friends, or youth. All these aresnatched by time in the blink of an eye.Giving up this illusory world, know andattain the Supreme. Adi Shankara, 9thcentury Indian philosopher and saintThe present is the result of past action.Man is the architect of his future. SatguruYogaswami (1872-1964), Sri Lanka’smost revered contemporary mysticAn equation for me has no meaningunless it expresses a thought ofGod. Srinivas Ramanujan (1887-1920), Indian mathematicianWake up and find out eventually who youreally are. In our culture of course, they’llsay you’re crazy or you’re blasphemous, andthey’ll either put you in jail or in the nuthouse (which is the same thing). But if youwake up in India and tell your friends andrelations, “My goodness, I’ve just discoveredthat I’m God,” they’ll laugh and say, “Oh,congratulations, at last you found out.” AlanWatts, (1915-1973), English philosopherand expert in comparative religionThe three pillars of hinduism arethe temples, the scriptures and thesatgurus. They sustain and preservethe ancient wisdom. If any two were todissapear, Hinduism would come backfrom the third, as perfect as it ever was.Here we describe the second pillar, Hinduscriptures. The holiest and most reveredare the Vedas and Agamas, called shruti(that which is “heard”), both revealed byGod through clairaudient and clairvoyantrishis centuries and millennia ago.The Vedas and Agamas hold eternaltruths. They are Hinduism’s primary andmost authoritative scriptures, expoundinglife’s sacredness and man’s purpose on theplanet. They were memorized and orallyconveyed from generation to generation,then finally written down in the last fewI think I get enough exercise justpushing my luck. AnonymousSometimes I wish karma could talk...That would take a lot of the guessworkout of what we do. Randy Hickey, TVcharacter, brother of the eponymous starin the American show “My Name Is Earl”Few women admit their age, butfewer men act it. AnonymousSurrender can never be regardedas complete so long as the devoteewants this or that from the Lord. Truesurrender is the love of God for thesake of love and nothing else, not evenbasics of hinduismHinduism’s Second Pillar: Scripturesmillennia. The subtly symbolic language ofHindu shruti is lyrical and lofty, impartingreligious practice, rules and doctrine.The Vedas extol and invoke a multiplicityof Gods through elaborate fire ritualscalled yajna. The Agamas are specificto each Hindu denomination, centeringaround a single Deity and His worshipin sanctified temples and shrines.The array of works known as smriti (thatwhich is “remembered”) is equally vast. Themost prominent and widely celebrated arethe epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.Devotees also revere the many Puranas,which contain Hindu mythology.Moreover, through the ages Godrealizedsouls have poured forth volumesthat reveal the wonders of yoga andoffer passionate hymns of devotion.for the sake of salvation. Love Himunconditionally. Sri Ramana Maharishi(1879-1950), South Indian mysticEach Hindu lineage has within it an innersound, a nada of a different velocity, variedin pitch and depth. This is sampradaya.This is parampara. This is nada-nadishakti. This is Hindu mysticism. To hearthis very high-pitched eee sound is yourfirst siddhi. It will bring many benefitsinto your life, smooth out the karmas,keep you inspired and on the subtle path,strengthening your personal force fieldand that of all those connected to you.Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami(1927-2001), founder of Hinduism Todayhinduism today14 hinduism today january/february/march, 2009 january/february/march, 2009 hinduism today 15