Guest guest Posted November 25, 2001 Report Share Posted November 25, 2001 Pranaams to Solai Kananji, My answer to the 2nd assignment was submitted on 20 november. You may have overlooked it because I forgot to write the subjet of my post. for which i offer my apology.(Message 1115). Iam reposting it. Pranaams to Panditji, Gurus of SJVC, Fellow students. My attempt to answer the assignments in SJVC Lesson 2. 1. The concept of God has undergone many changes throughout my life. God for me is `Truth' Dr. Paul Brunton in his book `Hidden teachings beyond yoga' gives the following definition of Truth. "Truth is that which is beyond all contradictions, Free from all doubt; which is beyond the very possibility of both. Beyond the changes and alterations of time and vicissitude, Forever one and the same, Unalterable and unaltering, Universal and therefore independent of all human ideation." There are two stories that have affected me deeply. The first one I read when I was a kid. The story was from Chandamama (a popular monthly story magazine for children in India). It tells the anecdote of a teacher of a Gurukul, who one day called his students and asked for Gurudakshina.Which was unique in that he asked each pupil to bring to him a stolen article which they have to steal when no one was watching -Next day all students except one brought a stolen article and deposited it at their Guru's feet. When the only student who was unable to offer the Guru Dakshina was asked and ridiculed why he could not offer even this simple Guru Dakshina he answered, "My apologies for not fulfilling my dharma and offering my Guru Dakshina to you Gurudeva,but try as much as I could, there was no place that was not watched by anyone. When no one else was therewatching ,there was always `I' who was there to watch. The Second story is from Ramesh S.Balsekar's book,"Explorations into the eternal" forays into the teachings of Nisargdutt Maharaj Pg.17. It is a Sufi story- A Banquet is being given in honour of the king; all assembled Guests are seated according to rank, and only one chair remains vacant awaiting the arrival of the king. At this point a ragged Sufi fakir walks in and sits in the chair reserved for the king. The chief minister is very upset, angrily approaches the fakir and the following dialogue takes place. C.M-How dare you sit in that chair? Are you an important minister even senior to me? Fakir-No, I am more than that. C.M- Are you the king? Fakir- No,I am more than that. C.M-Are you the prophet? Fakir- No,I am more than that. C.M- Then are you God? Fakir- No, I am more than that. C.M-(Horrified)-How can you say that? more than God, there is nothing. Fakir-Yes, and I am that nothing. I feel God does not play a role in my life but I am allotted a small role in God's play .I hope to play it to the best of my ability. 2. Reading NISARGDUTT MAHARAJ'S book, I could understand that there is no coming closer or going away from God because IT is-THIS, HERE, NOW. 3. a) God is all- is from the viewpoint of `God' which is true because IT is the very basis of existence of ALL. b) All is `God' is true from the view point of all (which is composed of many individual units,each unit takes itself to be separate from others)It is only when the personal(individual) realizes that it is intimately linked to every other unit that go on to form the whole,then it can say All is God. Both are relevant and mean the same when looked from this viewpoint. 4.Traditionally at least from the part of India to which I belong (Udipi in Karnataka)the priest is an astrologer and theastrologer is a priest. Highlighting the difference between the two-The Astrologer mainly points out to a person his Karmas(past)which affects him in the present/future. And may sometimes suggest remedies to correct or overcome those Karmas. Where as a priest focus is on the present and he will guide a person to do pious deeds now so that the person may be benefited. A priest tries to bridge the gap between a devotee and the object of devotion by rituals and specialized methods.The focus of the priest is on the Deity and how to make it happy so that the individual may be benefited. The focus of an Astrologer is on the individual and how best to make the person overcome his difficulties. In this way both the priest and the astrologer compliment each other. A good astrologer would recommend the best of remedies to overcome bad influences in a chart, And a good priest will try to do his best (as far as rituals are concerned ) so that the native is benefited after undertaking the Remedial measures. And so at last ends my long & confused answer. Thanking the Gurus of SJVC for giving us their valuable time and patient guidiance. Sincerely yours, Vivek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2001 Report Share Posted November 25, 2001 Dear Sri Solai Ji, Please find answers to Assignment 2 as an attachment. With regards Jagmeet Attachment: (application/msword) Ans to lesson 1.doc [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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