Raghunandan Trikannad
Although we human beings have evolved over millennia to create great advancements in science and technology, communication and medicine, for example, it appears as if we have not succeeded in achieving happiness and satisfaction through the very objects we have created.
Unable to communicate with fellow beings, we are trapped in the vicious circle of desire, struggle, jealousy, greed and misery. We have created walls of fear and hatred because of the psyche of separation, on the basis of certain physical or social factors like language and skin colour. By allegiance to a particular religion or “ism”, we have digressed from the very purpose of religion, which is to strengthen universal bonding and establish harmony. Faith in all these temporary things has robbed us of that eternal factor, love.
In times like this, when everything seems dark, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s teachings can serve as a beacon of light that can guide us through the darkness. His message is reflected in his own life and in the voice of Swami Vivekananda.
Religion is misunderstood to mean only dogmas, doctrines, books and rituals. And in this sense, there is more of religion today, than ever before. We have built walls of separation around ourselves. We have turned our back on the larger picture and we tend to get embroiled in narrow situations, engaging in violence and brutality. In the name of religion, we are fighting with our fellowmen rather than bonding together in positive ways.
Every religion teaches us to rise above baser nature through practice of sense control and sacrifice; to be humane by increasing the compassion and brotherhood quotients and strive to become divine by manifesting love and experiencing oneness with the whole universe. Ramakrishna practised Hinduism, Christianity and Islam and experienced a godly, super-consciousness state, whichever path he chose.
In his conversation with devotees, recorded in the ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, he persuades us to give up lust and greed, to help us rise above our baser instincts. He would say that human-created differences such as caste, creed and religion can be removed by only one means, by love for God. Those who love God do not belong to any particular caste, creed or religion.
Swami Vivekananda, his greatest spokesman, says: “Never quarrel about religion. All quarrels and disputations concerning religion simply show that spirituality is not present. Religious quarrels are always over the husks. When purity, when spirituality goes, leaving the soul dry, quarrels begin.” Talking about spirituality, he says, “Each soul is potentially divine. The goal of life is to manifest the divinity within. Do this either through work or worship, psychic control or philosophy, by one or more or all these, and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, dogmas, rituals, books, temples and forms are but secondary details.”
Ramakrishna taught these sublime truths by simple analogies, illustrating them with parables. His teachings are effective, conveying the message of harmony and love to humankind, not only because of their simplicity, but also because they came out of his personal experiences and came straight out of his divine heart. For, he taught only those truths which were practised by him, thus giving us another lesson in life, that is, the integration of thought, word and action, which is very difficult to be find these days.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy: Times of India: The Speaking Tree:
Raghunandan Trikannad
Although we human beings have evolved over millennia to create great advancements in science and technology, communication and medicine, for example, it appears as if we have not succeeded in achieving happiness and satisfaction through the very objects we have created.
Unable to communicate with fellow beings, we are trapped in the vicious circle of desire, struggle, jealousy, greed and misery. We have created walls of fear and hatred because of the psyche of separation, on the basis of certain physical or social factors like language and skin colour. By allegiance to a particular religion or “ism”, we have digressed from the very purpose of religion, which is to strengthen universal bonding and establish harmony. Faith in all these temporary things has robbed us of that eternal factor, love.
In times like this, when everything seems dark, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s teachings can serve as a beacon of light that can guide us through the darkness. His message is reflected in his own life and in the voice of Swami Vivekananda.
Religion is misunderstood to mean only dogmas, doctrines, books and rituals. And in this sense, there is more of religion today, than ever before. We have built walls of separation around ourselves. We have turned our back on the larger picture and we tend to get embroiled in narrow situations, engaging in violence and brutality. In the name of religion, we are fighting with our fellowmen rather than bonding together in positive ways.
Every religion teaches us to rise above baser nature through practice of sense control and sacrifice; to be humane by increasing the compassion and brotherhood quotients and strive to become divine by manifesting love and experiencing oneness with the whole universe. Ramakrishna practised Hinduism, Christianity and Islam and experienced a godly, super-consciousness state, whichever path he chose.
In his conversation with devotees, recorded in the ‘Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna’, he persuades us to give up lust and greed, to help us rise above our baser instincts. He would say that human-created differences such as caste, creed and religion can be removed by only one means, by love for God. Those who love God do not belong to any particular caste, creed or religion.
Swami Vivekananda, his greatest spokesman, says: “Never quarrel about religion. All quarrels and disputations concerning religion simply show that spirituality is not present. Religious quarrels are always over the husks. When purity, when spirituality goes, leaving the soul dry, quarrels begin.” Talking about spirituality, he says, “Each soul is potentially divine. The goal of life is to manifest the divinity within. Do this either through work or worship, psychic control or philosophy, by one or more or all these, and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, dogmas, rituals, books, temples and forms are but secondary details.”
Ramakrishna taught these sublime truths by simple analogies, illustrating them with parables. His teachings are effective, conveying the message of harmony and love to humankind, not only because of their simplicity, but also because they came out of his personal experiences and came straight out of his divine heart. For, he taught only those truths which were practised by him, thus giving us another lesson in life, that is, the integration of thought, word and action, which is very difficult to be find these days.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy: Times of India: The Speaking Tree: