Collection of Thoughts from Hindu Mystics (standard:non fiction, 1599 words) [1/4] show all parts
Author: Juggernaut	Updated: Nov 27 2010	Views/Reads: 2788/1877	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A colletion of thoughts from Hindu mystics such as Ramana Maharushi, Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurabindo

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the images is not God. If a person can realize divine with help of an 
image (idol), it is not a sin. At a second stage of self realization, 
the person may not need an image. Praying to idols is an attempt of 
many Hindus during 1st phase of self realization. Many may remain at 
this stage of worship for self realization and some may move up in the 
process of self realization without images or idols. 

One should work like a master and not as a slave. Work is necessary, but
do not do slave's work. Ninety nine percent of mankind work as slaves 
and the result is misery because it is all selfish work. Work through 
freedom and love. 

Karma yoga is attaining unselfish work. Selfish work is immoral and
unselfish work is moral. The goal of all nature is attaining freedom 
through unselfish work. Karma yoga is a system ethics and religion 
intended to attain freedom through unselfishness and by good work. 

The one man that carried the teachings of Karma yoga into practice was
Buddha. The greater philosopher, preaching the highest philosophy. He 
is the ideal karma-yogi. He is the first great reformer the world has 
seen. The man represents the very highest ideal of karma yoga. 

Bhakti is defined it as extreme love for God. God is goal of life. We
can never conceive anything higher than God, because God is perfection. 
Love between people is bondage whereas love for God is attaining 
freedom and perfection. Attaining freedom through utmost love for God 
is Bhakti-Yoga. 

Bhakti is divided into two parts. The first part is called “Vaidhi
Bhakti” or the lower phase of worship. These include prayers, 
ceremonies and other forms. Some may be helped by the images. Some may 
not. Some require images outside, others require inside their mind. The 
second part of Bhakti is called “Mukhya Bhakti” or abstract 
understanding of realization. From Vaidhi to Mukhya Bhakti is a step by 
step process. 

The final idea is that my religion cannot be yours and yours cannot be
mine. Although the goal and aim are the same namely reaching God or 
self realization. It cannot be that one is true and the rest are not. 
The choosing of one's own road is called in the language of Bhakta is 
“Ishta,” the chosen way. 

Religion is based on faith and belief. The various religions of the
world are divided into two classes. Those with a book and those without 
a book. Those with book are strongest and have the largest following. 
Those without book were mostly died out. The truths they teach are the 
result of experiences of a particular person. Christ in case of 
Christianity, Buddha in case of Buddhism, Rishis or sages declared 
their experiences in sacred scriptures called Vedas in Hinduism. 
Mohammed in case of Islam. 

It is absolutely necessary to worship God as man and blessed are those
people which have “God-Man” to worship. Christians have such a God-man 
in Christ; therefore never give up Christ. The great limitation 
Christians have is they do not heed other manifestations of God besides 
Christ. He was manifestation of God so as Buddha, so were some others. 
“Whenever virtue subsides and immorality prevails, then I come to help 
mankind,” says Lord Krishna, the God-Man for Hindus. Krishna also says 
“Fools not knowing that I, the omnipotent and omnipresent God of the 
universe have taken the human form. 

Raja-Yoga proposes to put before humanity a practical and scientifically
worked out method of reaching the truth. There is only one way of 
reaching the truth is through concentration of mind. The power of mind 
is turning inward through concentration. Raja yoga teaches how to 
concentrate mind and how to discover the innermost recesses of our own 
mind. 

He who realizes Atman in his own nature, he who comes face to face with
God, sees God alone in everything has become, a Rishi. 

Ceremonies are the lowest form, next God external and after that God
internal. It would be the height of folly to say to everyone “you must 
pass through Karma and Bhakti before you can reach Jnana.” Stick to 
your reason until you reach something higher. 

Hold your money merely as a custodian for what is God's. Hence no
attachment to it. 

All relatives and friends are but “old dry well.” We fall into them and
get dreams of duty and bondage and then there is no end. 

Vivekananda on Lord Buddha and Why Buddhism failed in India 

The type of working without a motive is most highly developed in
Buddhism. Buddha got disgusted with cumbrous rituals and the caste 
system. He was also against priestcraft. He preached a religion in 
which there was no motive, power and was perfectly agnostic on theories 
about God. When asked if there was a God, and he answered that he did 
not know. On his deathbed Buddha said “none can help you,” “help 
yourself and workout your own salvation.” 

Buddha is the name of infinite knowledge. He did not want to go to
heaven, did not want money, he gave up his throne, preaching for good 
of men and animals. He was only man who was ready to give up his life 
to stop animal sacrifices. 

To many the path becomes easier if they believe in God. But the life of
Buddha shows that even a man who does not believe in God, belong to no 
sect, and who does not attend any church, temple and still attained the 
highest perfection, for others come only by Bhakti or Jnana yoga. 
Perfection does not come by faith or belief but come through work 
without a motive. 

Buddha was viewed as God incarnate on earth. A true karma yogi. His
principles were not well understood by his followers (monks). Buddha 
came to preach nothing new apart from Hinduism. He came to fulfill the 
spiritual aspect of Hinduism. He was against the ritualistic aspect of 
Hinduism. Buddha's followers also called monks kept Brahmin intellects 
out of the crusade; consequently, they were stonewalled and got crushed 
under Brahmanic Vedic sect. Therefore, the main message of Buddha which 
is karma yoga; salvation through unselfish work was marginalized by 
ritualistic segment of the Hinduism. As a result, Buddhism had to die a 
natural death in India. The reforming zeal of Buddha was lost and 
Hindus lost forever the reforming zeal within Hinduism. 


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