On Meditation

[Charzhino]

Sounds very similar to Christianity.

How so? The only thing that Christianity has in common with Hinduism is perhaps that God can incarnate as man, although the perception of this in both religions is different.

 

[Ramadhan]

well, christians especially roman catholic church have all these statues, images and likeness of jesus pbuh, maryaam, saints etc
in Hindu you have all statues of brahma, siva, wishnu, indra, krisna, ganesh, etc

 

[_ALI_]

Salam Charzhino

The verses say that the true nature of God is attributless without image. This can only be realised when a person gets rid of the influence of Maya completley, otherwise he is in the pragmatic state where he only see's Brahman (the Supreme creator) as Ishwara on earth, in which he manifests into millions of forms. The Yajur Veda doesn't condemn idol worship, it simply states that it will not fulfil your eventual desire to realise the true nature of God.

You say that Yajur Veda doesn't condemn idol worship. What about this verse
"Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"
"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti."
[Yajurveda 40:9]
Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc. If Yajurveda says that idol worshippers are in darkness, isn't that condemning idol worship?
So my simple question is this. If Hindu scriptures are against idol worship, why do Hindus worship idols?
Peace

 

[indian]

The same Yajurveda has "aawahan mantras" of Rudra, Indra, Vishnu and other deities. You must check properly . And believe me, In india nobody worships the natural elements like Air, water , Fire etc.

 

[indian]

And secondly, the english translation of the "vedas" does not give you the correct meaning of what is meant by the hymns. I studied sanskrit till high school was one of the toppers in CBSE in sanskrit. Still it's hard for me to understand these hymns of vedas. Only someone like a brahmin born to serve god in banaras or kashi who has been trained since birth in vedas can tell the correct meaning. It's highly improbable that an english author knew the meaning and translated it correctly . Partly because the indian concept of god does not appeal to a westerner's perception of god.
So, i advice against reading the vedas in english by an english author. There is one source where i found some correct translations of vedas by a brahmin .
http://www.hindutemple.ca/Brahma Vidya.htm

 

[glo]

How so? The only thing that Christianity has in common with Hinduism is perhaps that God can incarnate as man, although the perception of this in both religions is different.

Hi Charzhino

I hope it doesn't take this thread off topic too much, but I would be interested to know what (if anything) Hinduism makes of Jesus.
Can you tell me? (Via PM if you prefer - once you have 50 posts, that is ...)

 

[Charzhino]

Salam Charzhino

You say that Yajur Veda doesn't condemn idol worship. What about this verse
"Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"
"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti."
[Yajurveda 40:9]
Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc. If Yajurveda says that idol worshippers are in darkness, isn't that condemning idol worship?
So my simple question is this. If Hindu scriptures are against idol worship, why do Hindus worship idols?
Peace

That is referring to the people who actually think that they are worshipping the idol itself. Many go astray thinking that the idols will save them and that they are god themselves, but not realise that it's just an illusion, the idols simply represent a characterstic of Gods true nature. And as indian said, other parts of the YagurVeda deal with these other dieties.

So in answer to your question, idol worship isn't agaisnt the Vedas, but getting too attached to them and thinking they are physically god themsleves is where the delusion appears.

 

[Charzhino]

well, christians especially roman catholic church have all these statues, images and likeness of jesus pbuh, maryaam, saints etc
in Hindu you have all statues of brahma, siva, wishnu, indra, krisna, ganesh, etc

Yes that is true, but they don't really worship the paintings of the saints, etc they are just present for a reminder I guess.

 

[Charzhino]

Hi Charzhino

I hope it doesn't take this thread off topic too much, but I would be interested to know what (if anything) Hinduism makes of Jesus.
Can you tell me? (Via PM if you prefer - once you have 50 posts, that is ...)

Sure, just 2 more posts!!!

 

[indian]

Hi Charzhino

I hope it doesn't take this thread off topic too much, but I would be interested to know what (if anything) Hinduism makes of Jesus.
Can you tell me? (Via PM if you prefer - once you have 50 posts, that is ...)

Hey dude.... what do you know about this "jyoti" of light, of the size of half a thumb which u are using in avatar. I am interested in knowing. Or is it just for fun that you are using it.??? Some of my mates say that this is the final form of god but i haven't encountered it yet.

 

[glo]

Hey dude.... what do you know about this "jyoti" of light, of the size of half a thumb which u are using in avatar. I am interested in knowing. Or is it just for fun that you are using it.??? Some of my mates say that this is the final form of god but i haven't encountered it yet.

A "jyoti" of light? Final form of god???
What do you mean by that?

I always just took it to be a glowing candle light. No more, no less.

 

[MuslimCONVERT]

My reaction to visions and so on which occur during hindu, buddhist, etc. meditations is similiar to my reaction to new age spirituality. It is spiritual experiences in "free form" i.e. it is a blind guide, a mix of emotional responses, spiritual responses, and subconscious mental responses and the one experiencing these things is unable to decipher which of the three is actually happening.

There must be a Sacred Law that focuses on real spiritual tranquility that lasts, not just sporadic visions and emotional responses to stimuli. The human being must also have a spirit of humility and submission to be able to surrender his/herself to Sacred Law. Many people's concept of God might be accurate because they are rational and logical, but they cannot be humble and submit to a truth that contradicts certain values they have developed. On the same token, someone may just indulge in "vague spirituality" but they do not reason, they think too much in the abstract, and as a result their beliefs are just a set of emotional/spiritual/mental responses to certain stimuli, rather than something firmly grounded in truth.

In Islam we must have both. We must have the iman [confirmation] of faith, and the experience of faith.

 

[Rabi'ya]

How can millions have the same hallucination.

this seems quite easy for me to explain. I think that you see idols of these "gods" each and every day. most of these idols are pretty much similar in form throughout india(and any other hindu households throughout the world) it would therefore be pretty easy to have the same vision as you all have seen the same idols day in day out

 

[Dagless]

What do you do when you meditate? Do you just sit still? Any particular way to breathe? What are you thinking? Do you chant?