Bhagavadgita Pages, Chapters 1 to 18
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V.Krishnaraj
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myumbra-judaism@yahoo.com
V.Krishnaraj
| Ramakrishna Paramahamsa [RKP]
(February 18, 1836 - August 16, 1886) as described by
Sister Nivedita
(1867-1911), born Margaret Elizabeth Noble in Ireland. His [RKP] was in fact the most perfect religious culture that the mind can conceive. The doctrine that "different creeds are but different paths to reach God," propounded in a general way, was not new in India. But taught as this man taught it, with his strong contention that it was the actual duty of men to follow their own faith, for the world gained by many-centredness; with his intense conviction "in whatsoever name or form you desire to know God, in that very name and form you will see Him;" with his assurance that rites and ceremonies contain religious experience, as the husk contains the germ; and above all, with that love that said of every faith, "Bow down and adore where others kneel, for where so many have worshipped, the Lord will manifest Himself."--it was unique in the world's history. |
As a Hindu by birth and secular upbringing, I try to understand my own natal religion and other religions. My family never celebrated Hindu festivals for the first 24 years of my life; from 24 to 30, I spent life in the USA as a single man. Since marriage at age 30, I just follow my spouse in the celebration of Hindu festivals. What I knew of Hindu festivals in childhood is what I saw other people celebrate. What I knew of Hindu religion was what I picked up here and there. I attended many religious discourses in temple during my college days, though I was very unfamiliar with ritual Hinduism. I visited temples with my uncle and aunts in my childhood, which was more of an outing than a spiritual journey. What I knew of Mahabharata and Ramayana was from friends and relatives and not from books; now I could confidently say that I was very ignorant. Bhagavad-Gita, Vedas and Upanishads were foreign to my being. My high school days were spent in a Christian high school, where I read and learnt Bible. I knew more about Jesus Christ and less about Rama or Krishna. Real in-depth study of Hinduism started at age 62 when I retired. Up until age 62, my mind was a clean slate with no impressions. There was a brief disturbing pause in the tranquil ignorance, when the vivisection of South Asia into India and Pakistan took place with accompanying river of blood. Hinduism was late in coming to my psychic being at age 62. I am a pre-teenager at 72 dabbling in Hinduism. The last ten years have been my formative years. I never heard of Jews or Judaism until I came to USA in 1961.
Judaism and Hinduism
Forgotten memory and broken citadels are the only remaining debris of some civilizations, which rose and fell like waves in the ocean. The Jews are one of the gifted races of mankind. Jewish civilization lasted, lasted and lasted for ages because of sheer will to stay at the forefront, irrespective of where the Jews lived and how much they wandered and suffered; the Diaspora held together by the cohesive nature and force of Talmud. Talmud consisting of Mishnah and Gemara, is a compilation of rabbinic laws, traditions, commentaries related to the Torah. Mishnah, the Oral Law given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai; Gemara is commentaries on Mishnah.
They were linear elements starting with postulation of codes, learning and teaching, illustration and discussion, application, commentaries, story-telling and writings. In a way it was Hinduism's smrti (memory, that which is remembered; in Judaism it is that which is repeated; oral law) and Sruti (that which is heard) in Hinduism. Smrti covers the non-revealed scriptures dealing with agriculture, law, history, science, spiritual matters and other human endeavors. It deals with matter and spirit. Each sect has its own sacred scriptures. Sruti on the other hand is what was revealed by the Lord to the Rishis, Munis and Seers many thousands of years ago. Sruti, consisting of Vedas and Agamas, was passed from Seer to Seer by oral tradition and later put down in writing in Sanskrit. As Smrti and Sruti held the Hindus together, Talmud Torah, the Jewish Religious School held the Jews together in disparate countries; that is no small feat. One extraordinary internal and external beauty about Judaism is that the basic aspects of spiritual and secular life of Jew are laid down in clear terms. There is very little ambiguity in the Laws of Moses; Rabbinic scholars are at the ready to apply those laws to modern conditions; in that sense the Laws are eternal.
Talmud is study and Torah is Knowledge. Mitzva is commandment.
Mishnah: the collection of laws given to Moses orally by god, compiled about C.E.200 by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi and forming the basic part of the Talmud. It is a six-part compilation, a natural progression in numbers (6) because the sixth part explains the five-part Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
· Gemara: (to complete) the section of the Talmud consisting essentially of commentary on the Mishnah. Thirty-eight volumes make Gemara. Common, pithy and dense words and phrases are parsed and analyzed, and put to essays (tractates) around skeletal Mishnah centered on the page with commentaries literally enveloping it and giving it skin, flesh, blood, and life (to Mishnah). I am reminded of short and pithy Brahma Sutras and Siva Sutras with explication in this respect.
(Talmud consists of six sections (Seder or order, six orders of Mishna) and several books (Mesechtos or tracts). The Six Sections are Seeds, Season, Women, Damages, Holy Things, and Purities.) Mishna (the entire body of religious law) is derived from verb shanah, to repeat and thus to learn.
Seeds (Zeraim): agriculture and food laws and blessings.
Season (Moed): laws with regards to Sabbath and festivals.
Women (Nashim): laws regarding vows, Marriage, sexual relations, divorce and related issues.
Damages (Nezikim): laws connected to civil and criminal matters.
Holy things (Kodashim): prescriptive laws concerning slaughter, sacrifice, and holy objects.
Purities (Tohorot): prescriptive laws with regards to ceremonial purity.
Each Seder (order) divides into tractates (essays), chapters and Mishnayot (paragraphs) in a linear manner. The fourth order tractate is Avot or pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), collections, sayings, quotes and maxims from sages and scholars. Mishna also contains points, counterpoints, opinions and discussions among rabbis. I am reminded of Sivagnana Siddhiar (sivagnana_siddhiar_by_arul_nandh, where the inner and outer religions and Saiva philosophy are explored from all angles and perspectives.
Mishnah according to practitioners is a well-laid out prescriptive paths and laws in the life of a person from the first wink upon awakening to the last wink upon sleeping. It is a life manual for life situations. It includes interpretations of parts of the biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy and other legal material. It is considered part of Torah revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Mishneh Torah is The Book of Jewish Law completed by Moses Maimonides in 12th century CE and contains elaborate commentary and discussion of 613 commandments of the Torah, which is central to the life of a Jew in rituals, customs, celebrations, business ethics and social intercourse.
Here are some quotes from the Ethics of the Fathers.
1:2 The world stands upon three things: Torah, Divine Service and Deeds of Loving kindness.
The eternal Truths of Hindu religion are the four Is: Immortality of the Soul, Immanence of God, Impermanence of the world, and Immediacy of Liberation as put succinctly by Swami Sivananda.
1:14 Who will be there for me if I am not for myself? What am I, if I live for myself? If not now, when?
God is immanent in all beings including animals and objects; He is the caretaker; we are only His instruments; doing good to others is your Dharma (duty).
1:17 Silence is superior to being with sages; action is better than explication; plethora of words generates sin.
Bhagavad Gita, 18.51: Endowed with purified Buddhi controlling self with determination, giving up sound, and sense objects, and casting aside likes and dislikes. ("Giving up sound" means getting away for the din, hustle and bustle of daily activity around him and practicing silence --mauna).
Bhagavad Gita, 18.52: Living in solitude, eating lightly, controlling speech, body and mind, engaged all the time in yoga of meditation, having taken refuge in detachment.
Bhagavad Gita, 2.47: You have a right to action and never to its fruits. At no time should your motive be the fruit of your actions. Never should there be any attachment to inaction either.
Bhagavad Gita, 2.42-43: The ignoramuses are immersed in earthly pleasures and think heaven as the supreme goal and argue that there is nothing else (worth pursuing). They indulge in Vedic sophism and play on words and utter flowery speech that recommend all kinds of Vedic rites to obtain opulence which only results in karma and rebirth.
1:18 The universe stands on Judgment, Truth and Peace.
Knowledge, Truth, power, wealth, service and justice are the cornerstones of a society.
2:12 Regard your friend’s possessions as precious as you consider your own. Study Torah and you are not born with the wisdom of Torah. Let Heaven be the Guiding Light of your actions.
Bhagavad Gita,16.1-2: Sri Bhagavan said: Fearlessness, purity of mind, steadiness in yoga of knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, rectitude, ahimsa, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquillity, abstaining from slander, compassion to all creatures, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness (absence of agitation), vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, absence of malice, and absence of pride: These are the qualities of the one born of divine nature, O Bharata.
Bhagavad Gita, 6.44: By virtue of previous (yogic) practice (in former life), he is carried forward even against his will. Even though he is only an inquisitive seeker of yoga, he transcends sabda-Brahman. (Hindu religion believes in rebirth of a soul with different bodies. Vasanas, Samskaras, and Karma are transmitted from birth to birth as genes are inherited from parents by a child. In like manner, a Yogi in previous birth, will find it easy to pick up where he left. How do you explain some children with no musical knowledge able to compose or play instruments without prior training in this life? That is what Hinduism calls Vasanas and Samskaras (tendencies and impressions) from previous life.
2:16 Do the best you can though you may not finish your task; your obligation is to act; completion is left to the will of the Lord. You are not at liberty to desist from it entirely. (Action is better than inaction.)
Bhagavad Gita, 2.47: You have a right to action and never to its fruits. At no time should your motive be the fruit of your actions. Never should there be any attachment to inaction either.
3:1 All actions are foreseen by the Lord; yet, you have free will. The universe is judged by good deeds and its preponderance.
Your Karma takes you where you never intended to go; Karma brings the killer and victim together; Karma has a long memory over many births; you cannot cheat karma.
Nothing moves from a blade of grass to Brahma without God's will. Your Free Will is the ticket to good, bad and indifferent karma; What you think, say and do come back to you without fail over many births.
4:1 He who learns from others is wise; he who desists from evil is mighty; he who is content with what he has is rich; he who honors others is the honoree.
4:17 One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than the whole life of the world of becoming; one hour of spiritual bliss in the world of becoming is better than all the life in this world.
5.23: He, who can endure the flood of desire and anger, before he gives up his body, is a Yogin and a happy man. BG5.24: He, who finds happiness, pleasure, and the inner light within his self, is a Yogin and attains Brahman (God) and the bliss of Brahman or beatitude of Brahman. 7.28: The persons who perform pious and virtuous deeds, whose sins have come to an end, are free from the delusion of dualities and worship me firmly fixed in their vows. 2.45: Be free of dualities such as pain and pleasure, steady in goodness (Sattva), free from thoughts of acquisition and preservation, and established in atman (self).
4:20 Pay attention to the content rather than to the container; a new flask may be brimming with old wine; an old flask may not have new wine.
Talmud Soferim 15:7 The Bible is water; the Mishna is wine; the Gemara is liquor.
Hindu saying: Upanishads are the cows; Krishna is the milkman; Arjuna is the calf; Bhagavad Gita is the milk.
Babylonian Talmud consists of rabbinic arguments in the academies of Babylonia (present-day Iraq) on laws and injunctions of daily living, marital and business contracts, kosher slaughter, holidays and other aspects of prescribed and observant life.
Torah: the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching as contained chiefly in the Old Testament and the Talmud. The word OLD is objectionable to Judaism.
Midrash:
1. an early Jewish interpretation of or commentary on a Biblical text, clarifying or expounding a point of law or developing or illustrating a moral principle (legends and stories). Midrash is story-telling at its best embellished by the imagination of the story teller to drive home a point.
2. (cap.) a collection of such interpretations or commentaries, esp. those written in the first ten centuries C.E.
Proper stacking of the Sacred Books
Since God's name should not be pronounced according to the Jewish law, he is called G-d or HaShem (The Name). Fearing God is fearing of His name (58You may fear this glorious and awful name, the Lord your God. 59then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions...Deuteronomy 28:58-59). One can meditate on Tetragrammaton but should not pronounce it. Hashem is used as a substitute for the Tetragrammaton.
TaNaKh is the acronym for Torah, Neviim and Kesuvim. See the chart for details. Ontological hierarchy demands that in a pile of books, Torah stays at the top all the time with Neviim below and Kesuvim at the bottom of the pile. The top is the Book of Genesis. Number 24 is auspicious for Jews; there are 12 Tribes of Israel. In Hinduism every number from 0 to 10 and beyond has significance.
Here are some samples of sacredness of numbers and the list is not complete.
1. There is one God (Advaitam)
2. Siva and Sakti, though apparently two, are One.
3. Triads: Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
4. There are four Asramas: Brahmacharya, Grihasthya, Vanaprasthya, and Sannyasa.
Asramas = stages of life: Student, Householder, Forest-dweller and Recluse
There are four Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksa. The goal of man: Virtue, Wealth, love, and Liberation
There are four castes: Brahmanas, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras.
5. Five functions of Siva: Creation, maintenance, destruction, veiling and Grace.
Pancharatra: Five fold nature of Vasudeva: Narayana, Krishna-Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Baladeva.
6. Six Kundalini Chakras: Muladhara, Swadisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha, and Ajna.
7. Saptarishis:
8. Ashtanga Yogam: eight limbs of yoga:
(8A Yama (Don’ts): Practice sexual
abstinence, ahimsa (noninjury), no lies, no theft, no greed.
(8B) Niyama (Dos): meditation on Brahman or
Isvara; mauna (silence); study of Vedas, Upanishads, and moksa-promoting
literature; repeating of mantra OM; ascetic practice; clean body and mind;
contentment; God-Pleasing actions.
(8C) Asana: body positions and postures.
(8D) Prānayama: breath control.
(8E)
Pratyahara (withdrawal): no contact between senses and objects of senses. This
should come natural to him.
(8F) Dharana: concentration and focus of mind
on an object or idea.
(8G) Dyana: meditation.
(8H) Samadhi: Convergence, one-pointedness, Subject and object (Yogi) unity.
9. Nine forms of Vishnu: Vasudeva, Samkarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Narayana, Hayagriva, Vishnu, Nrsimha and Varaha.
Nine doors of the body: 2 ears, 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 1 mouth, 1 genital aperture, and one anus. (females have a distinct urethra separate from vagina.)
10. Dasavatara: 10 avatars of Vishnu: 1. Fish, 2. Tortoise, 3. Boar, 4. Narasimha, 5. Vamana, 6. Parasurama, 7. Ramachandra, 8. Krishna, 9. Buddha, 10. Kalki.
Vaishnava Agamas: Pancharatra Agamas were said to have originated in Kashmir in third Century B.C. and glorifies the fivefold nature of Vasudeva. It glorifies Narayana, Krishna-Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Baladeva.
The Pentateuch (five scrolls) is the five books of Moses, known as the Law or Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Pentateuch was put to text over a long period of time. Judaism objects to the use of the phrase Old Testament, because it is neither old nor stale; it is divine, fresh like a new blossom and relevant to the modern day. Torah in a limited sense is pentateuch, the five books of Moses. (See the diagram.) Pentateuch (greek) = penta + teuchos = five + tool or vessel. Torah is also the Pentateuch plus the books of prophets. In its larger context, it is a collection of all books, related to Judaism. The number five has a magical meaning in Judaism as number 9 in the world of maths. One is God; two refers to the tablets; three are the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph; four are the matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachael, and Leah; the five refers to the five books of Moses. Elsewhere these personalities are discussed. The number nine auspicious in Hinduism, no matter what you do with it with another whole number, always comes to nine. 9X9=81 = 8+1=9. 9X68=612 = 6+1+2=9. Five is also an auspicious number: Panchabhutas, five great elements, Earth, water, air, fire, and ether; Panchakona, pentagon, five-angled star; Panchakosa, five sheaths of the body; Panchanga, five-limbed almanac, solar days, lunar days, nakshatras (the heavenly bodies), yogas (conjunctions), karanas; Panchatantra, the five tantras, the forerunner of the genre, Aesop's fables; Panchakrityas, five functions of the Lord; Panchasya, five-faced or -headed god; Pandavas, five brothers of Mahabharata.
The number 12 is a sacred for Jews because the sun apparently makes a journey along the imaginary zodiac path of the heavens. Moses in recognition divided the nation into twelve tribes and established 12 cakes (Lev. 24:5) of the showbread and planted 12 stones around the ephod of the pontiffs (SD 1:649)
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Birkat Hachama (ברכת החמה, = Blessing of the Sun According to Jewish tradition sun was formed on the 4th day of creation on March 26, 3760 BCE. NYTimes: "According to the celestial calculations of a Talmudic sage named Shmuel, at the outset of spring every 28 years, the sun moves into the same place in the sky at the same time and on the same day of the week (wednesday) as it did when God made it. This charged moment provides the occasion for reciting a one-line blessing of God, “who makes the work of creation.” NYTimes. That day is April 8, 2009; the previous ones are April 8, 1953, April 8, 1981. The next one will occur on April 8, 2037. Birkat Hachama (ברכת החמה, "Blessing of the Sun") refers to a Jewish blessing that is recited on the Sun once every twenty-eight years, when the vernal equinox as calculated by tradition falls on a Tuesday at sundown. Wikipedia. It appears that Jews pay homage to the sun once every 28 years, while Hindus pay homage everyday. Here is the Gayatri Mantra of the Hindus paying homage to the sun.
Notes: Saturday April 4, 2009 Julian Calendar: God's creation. The dates are variable according to Julian or Gregorian calendar and the flaws in calculation. 1st day: Sunday, October 23, 4004 BC. God creates light ("Let there be light!") - the first divine command. The light is divided from the darkness, and "day" and "night" are named. 2nd day: Monday October 24, 4004 B.C. Waters above was separated from waters below. 3rd day: Tuesday October 25, 4004 B.C. Waters below coalesced into seas, so dry land appeared. God commands earth to bring forth grass, plants and fruit-bearing trees. Rivers and Garden of Eden were created. 4th day: Wednesday October 26, 4004 B.C. Sun, Moon and the Stars were created. Years, seasons, light, darkness, days, nights, weeks, months were created. 5th day: Thursday October 27, 4004 B.C. Teeming living creatures, birds, and sea creatures were created. 6th day: Friday October 28, 4004 B.C. More living creatures (beasts, livestock, reptiles) were created. Man and Woman in the form of Adam and Eve were created and were asked to multiply and subdue earth (and not to exploit earth). Man and animals were given plants to eat. (Man is not to eat animals.) Adam was created in His image so he will have knowledge of the divine. 7th day: Saturday October 29, 4004 B.C. God sanctifies the 7th day; it is a day of rest and Sabbath, Friday for Muslims, Saturday for Jews and Sunday for Christians. |
Seven is an auspicious number for Jews. The wheat is planted a day after Passover; the harvest is done 49 days later. Forty-nine (49) is square of 7, the Sabbath day (Saturday) and shows progressive accumulation of holiness over a recurring seven cycles (7 Sabbath Saturdays) in an exponential manner resulting in Shavuot, the day Moses received the Ten Commandments.
As observant Jews study pages of Talmud (study) until all 39 (24) books are completed, observant Hindus also engage in the Hindu version of Daf Yomi (Page a Day) with The Bhagavad-Gita and other Sacred Texts. The noble difference is that Daf Yomi participants are on the same page with everybody else on that day.
Canonization of the Bible implying closing any more additions to the existent text was done around 100 C.E.
Ingrates revile the Jews, though they deserve gratitude for their contributions in all walks of human endeavor. Their faith started as polytheism and animism like many other religions. Progression to Monotheism and Monolatry, excesses of monarchy, spiritual leadership of prophets, exilic shock and despair, and Torah's rejuvenation resulted in the strong affirmation of Yahweh. Though Yahweh cannot be rendered into a graven image, he is anthropomorphic. Hindu Brahman is nameless and formless IT or THAT. Since He is beyond human understanding, you can call him only IT or THAT. Brahman = That beyond all characterization. Sabdabrahman = Sound Brahman = Clinical Brahman = God in image. He does not care whether you think of him as Pure Consciousness or a stone; He is Pure Consciousness and He is stone; He welcomes both notions; If you want to worship Him, Her or It as an anthropomorphic being, He welcomes that too. (How do I know that? It is in the sacred texts.) You do not have to love him to attain salvation. The Gopis attained liberation (moksa) by love, Kamsa by fear, Sisupala by hatred, Pandavas by friendship, Yadhavas by attachment, Narada by devotion. The key is thinking and remembering the Lord in love, fear, hate, friendship, attachment, devotion or any one of myriad feelings. The Lord seems to say, "Ignore me at your own peril."
Hinduism is like a pyramid; the base is polytheism; the lower part is monotheism; the upper part is metatheism and what is above that is Supratheism. Read elsewhere in the article an explanatory note.
Yahweh is the First Man; his nature is eternal and divine; Adam is a mere first man having the image of Yahweh or Jehovah; Adam is of the earth and lives and dies on earth. Covenant, the agreement between G-d (God) and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him, is the connection between God and the Israelite. There is no covenant between the Hindu God and a Hindu; There is a prescribed code of ethics and conduct apart from Purusharthas, the goal of man. Every human act carries a load of karma which determines reincarnation with its attendant reward and punishment or merger with God. Null or acarpous Karma is the end game which guarantees salvation. The beauty about karma is that every act, though it manages to escape human touch, response, reward or punishment, is recorded in the chronicle of subtle soul, which when it is born again in the body of a man or animal will enjoy or suffer the karma of past deeds. Karma has an unfailing and unflinching memory. The long arm of karma will reach and touch the embodied soul (man or animal) through many births. One can escape man-made laws but not the laws of Karma. On that score, Hitler would be born a zillion times as man or animal and die a painful death every time, though he died an easy death for his atrocities. Other non-karmic religions provide no proportionate response system for the acts of man, when the acts go unrewarded or unpunished. Brahman, the Hindu equivalent of Yahweh is not demanding, jealous, punishing, and covenantal. He is full of love, unconcerned and tolerates many disparate attitudes and acts of man towards him. Bhagavan lets the universal and impartial karma do its job. He conceals Grace until the soul is ripe for salvation; with the ripening of the soul, Grace descends on the devotee and merger of his soul with the Greater Soul of God takes place. A note on obscuration and revelation of Grace. It is like the professor of mathematics concealing his knowledge of higher mathematics and letting his preschooler son struggle with simple additions. Once the youngster is mature, he is ready for higher math. Likewise when the soul is mature, it is ready for Grace. He caters to the Yogi and the snake worshipper in equal measure; they represent two extreme intellectual dimensions, beliefs and accomplishments. He does not assume the sins of man.
The following is mentioned elsewhere.
Love Me once, you are free (liberation/moksa); hate Me once, your are free; ignore Me once, you will fry in hell: that is one among many Hindu views of God.
The Gopis attained liberation (moksa) by love, Kamsa by fear, Sisupala by hatred, Pandavas by friendship, Yadhavas by attachment, Narada by devotion. The key is thinking and remembering the Lord in love, fear, hate, friendship, attachment, devotion or any one of myriad feelings. The Lord seems to say, "Ignore me at your own peril."
Karma, Pharaoh, Jewish babies, plague, the Sea of Reeds
Hinduism's
Karma
has some reflections in Judaism. If the
covenant is broken, the breaker receives punishment; that is Karma, though
non-karmic religions may not call it Karma. Moses was born in
Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah): This is a Question and Answer Session, questions coming from children and answers coming from learned adults in the evening. A child says, "Why is this night different from all other nights? I have four questions to ask about this.
1. We eat matzah or bread on all other nights. Why is it that we eat only Matza tonight?
Matzah, the unleavened flat cracker, is symbolic of
the haste with which the Israelites had to flee from
2. Why is it that we eat bitter herbs tonight, while we eat all kinds of Vegetables on all other nights?
Bitter herbs symbolizes bitterness of slavery.
3. We do not dip the food on other night. Why do we dip our food twice tonight?
Dip one: The observant Jews dip bitter herbs in Charoset (apples, nuts and wine). Charoset is the reminder of the clay used to make bricks and hard labor of Jewish slaves. Dip two: Jews dip parsley in the salt water; parsley is reminiscent of spring and new life; the salt water is the reminder of tears of Jewish slaves.
4. We sit and eat on all other nights. Why do we eat in a reclining position tonight?
Free
Jews of ancient times sat on the floor propped up by pillows in the back and
drink from the four cups of wine. Reclining position symbolizes liberation and
exodus of free Israelites from
Hindus
believe that all souls and God are one organism. If one suffers everybody
suffers. If you hurt one soul, you hurt God and others. The interesting aspect
of the Passover is that the wave of death and
destruction passed over (skipped) the Israelite homes--which were marked as
such according to the instructions of God to Moses--sparing their (Jewish)
sons. Since Israelites did not have time to bake bread, they ate unleavened
bread (matzah). All
hametz (baked products) are removed before
Passover; that includes animals which eat grain products.
The problem is what to do with the large amount of chametz, leavened
grain products, and liquor stored by the synagogue. An orthodox Jew must not
eat leavened bread and not even own them for the duration of Passover.
No problem. Find an
obliging Chametz goy (a non-Jew who buys the leavened products for a nominal
fee and sells them back to the synagogue for the same price at the end of
Passover). The goods stay in the Synagogue. Typically the janitor in the
Synagogue is the buyer and reseller of the chametz. It is a legal transaction
both ways. The New York Times reported on
Seder plate has six compartments and contains six symbolic foods: 1. Maror (bitter herb, horseradish), 2. Zeroa (roasted shank bone), 3. Beitzah (a roasted egg), 4. Charoset/Haroset (apples and nuts mixed with wine), 5. Karpas (celery or parsley), 6. Chazeret (a second vegetable more bitter than karpas.
The bitter herb stands for the bitterness of slavery; roasted shank for offerings in the Temple; roasted egg for new birth, beginnings and freedom; apple-nut-wine for the mortar in making bricks for the Egyptians; celery for hope and spring. It also has a place for salt and or vegetable. The contribution of woman was recognized upon prodding by women by putting an orange on the plate. As each item is passed around, its meaning is explained to the children.
The
Zeroa or shankbone is the reminder of
paschal lamb eaten on Passover in the distant past in the
Beitzah, the roasted egg, is a wholesome reminder of the
sacrifices in the
Charoset is a reminder of clay made by Israelites for the Egyptian buildings.
Karpas, a green vegetable (celery or parsley) is the arrival of spring and dawning of hope.
Chazeret, the second bitter vegetable has the same significance as the Maror.
The ten plagues are recited during seder: dam (blood), tzefardayah (frog), kinim (bugs and insects), arov (wild beasts), dever (animal disease), shekin (boils), barad (hail), arbeh (locust), hoshekh (darkness), makat bekhorot (death of first-born sons of Egyptians. It is a custom to dip the finger into the wine cup and drip a drop on the napkin for each plague. This is again a magnanimous expression of sorrow for Egyptians, who were devastated by the plague.
When Moses and Hebrew slaves in flight (600,000 men besides women and
children), pursued by Egyptian soldiers, came across the impassable Sea of
Reeds, God made the waters part and laid out in front of them a dry seabed
passable; Moses and Hebrews escaped followed by the Egyptian soldiers treading
the path in the seabed. When the last Hebrew was out on dry land, the sea
closed on the soldiers and drowned them. The God of Moses destroyed the
enemies of Hebrews, while
Shavout (weeks)
comes 50 days after Passover (Pesach) and is celebrated in the month of
Sivan (May-June) commemorating the giving of
Ten Commandments and Torah to Moses by God at
Sukkot (hut--Sukkah; Soo-COTE): Harvest festival;
Festival of Booths; pilgrimage festival; the Feast of Tabernacles;
Thanksgiving. It begins on the 15th of Tishrei.
It is a commemoration of 40
years of wandering and Thanksgiving pilgrimage to
Pongal is the Harvest Festival in Tamil Nadu India and goes by many other names in other parts of the country. It is honoring the chief of gods, Indra the rain maker, as started by Bhagavan Krishna.
Krishna keeps the Indo-Aryan god Indra in line all the time so that he does not puff up with pride. In one instance, to defy Krishna's supremacy as the Paramatman (Supreme Soul or Universal soul), Indra sends days and days of endless rain. The cowherds, their spouses, children, and animals (cows) face an imminent threat of being washed away in floods. (It was worse than Katrina 2005.) Krishna comes to the rescue and holds up a mountain, so that all the living creatures can take shelter under its cover. They live by grace of Krishna. Indra coming to know of it begs for forgiveness. Krishna authorized celebration of this day every year in mid January in honor of Indra which coincides with the northern passage of the sun. It is a four-day harvest festival in honor of Indra, sun god, farm animals and farm workers and is known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makara Sankranti in North India, Onam, Kanumu, Lohri, Bihu, Bhogi, and Hadaga in various parts of India. (Jan 14, 2009)
Manna.
The Jews questioned the wisdom of Moses and Aaron to take them out of
Sukkoth festival. The Jews leave the modern home comfort of their well-built houses to the Sukkah with four plants: Lulav (branch of palm tree), Arovot (branch of a willow tree), Hadassim (branch of Myrtle bush), and Etrog (citron from Citrus medica). Lulav, Arvot, Hadassim and Etrog represent the spine, the lips, the eyes, and the heart respectively. This is symbolic of worship of God with all body parts. The Hindus worship God by Sashtanga Namaskaram [8-limbed prostration] with their eight limbs (parts of the body: prostration by touching the floor with eight limbs, two hands, two knees, two shoulders, chest and forehead).
The Jewish 'Castes' by good deeds and learning.
The plants represent four Jewish types: Etrog with taste and fragrance which represent learning and good deeds; the palm tree with taste but no fragrance which represent learning but no good deeds; the myrtle with fragrance but no taste which represent good deeds but no learning; the willow with no taste or fragrance which represent no learning and no good deeds under his belt. On Sukkot, the etrog on the left hand and lulov on the right hand are carried around the synagogue and Sukkah for the congregants to see, smell, hold and appreciate. The intriguing question is whether three branches on the right hand are equal to one citron on the left hand? More admirable note is that all Jews irrespective of learning and good deeds are equal in the eyes of God.
Point and shake the lulav. The holder while holding the etrog on the left hand, points the lulav (one branch of palm, two of willow, and three of myrtle) in the right hand in the direction up and down, east and west, and north and south, and shakes indicating that God is all around us and reciting the blessings, "Praise and glory to you, Adonai, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy by his commandments and commanded us to take and wave the lulav. Mystical Jews believe that lulav waving wards off evil. The lulav is shaken once or three times in each direction; the holder of lulav moves in a clockwise direction, later in the up direction and last in the down direction. The congregants circumambulate the synagogue with the lulav.
This omnipresence of God is portrayed in Hindu religion by ten directions: East, west, north, south, NE, SE, NW, SW, up and down.
Simchat Torah = Rejoicing in the Law of Torah (the last day of Sukkot).
The last day of Sukkot is called Simchat Torah. Humash /Chumash (five) is Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses. Each portion of weekly reading is in Hebrew with explanations and commentaries in English; all Torah portions starting from Genesis and ending in Deuteronomy are read in a 52-week period (12 months); a new cycle begins. The last reading of Deuteronomy and the first reading of Genesis are done on the same day, so that there is a cyclical and perpetual continuity with unbroken overlap. This is a day of joy, dancing and merriment which are enhanced by liberal use of wine or liquor in the synagogue. On Simchat Torah, all drunkards are considered sober. Drinking wine seems to be an universal practice for the levitation of the spirit.
Pilgrimage Festivals: Passover is freedom from slavery; Shavout, the giving of Torah by God to Moses; and Sukkot, Thanksgiving to God for permitting survival of the Jews.
Saktas and Tantrics in the use of wine
The Five M's, known as Pancha Makaaras (Pancha Makaras)
The
Five Ma's are the five words beginning with Sanskrit letter "Ma." These
notorious five caused a lot of controversy: Madya
(wine), Mamsa (meat),
Matsya (Fish), Mudra (grains) and
Mithuna (sexual union). For the modern
man, these five acts within the confines of marriage are normal. Actually,
these acts are actively encouraged for one reason or another: mental health,
cardiac health (meat not recommended). On superficial examination, it appears
that these five acts are sins of the flesh for the spiritually enlightened
individuals in certain sections of
Tantra
says that purification of soul begins by accepting the existence of these
desires. Once they are accepted and practiced within the social norms, one by
one they must be transmuted or sublimated and eventually eliminated from one's
life, if one wants union with the Supreme. Nada (thrill) enjoyed by sexual
union is the earthly counterpart of beatitude or Bliss. One needs to supplant
the earthly pleasure with spiritual Bliss. By sublimating and conserving
sexual energy, it is said that the vital fluid rises to Sahasrara, becomes
Soma, the nectar of immortality and spreads through the lymphatic system
eventually finding its way to the brain where it becomes Ojas and Tejas (Vigor
and splendor), which are essential for obtaining Superconsciousness.
This ascent of conserved energy is called Urdhvaretas.
Sri Ramakrishna Pramahamsa says that sexual bliss is nothing compared to the bliss in the realization of God. In ecstasy, resulting from love of God, all the pores in the skin and the roots of the hair act like sexual organs and in every pore the sadhaka enjoys immense happiness of union with Higher Atman.
Bhagavatam (Canto 11, Chapter 5, Verses 11-13) states the following: 11) Man is naturally inclined towards enjoyment of sexual pleasure, flesh and wine. No rules enjoin them to indulge in them. A certain check is provided over these tendencies (by the Sastra) by permitting sexual commerce with one's wedded wife, meat-eating at the end of animal sacrifice, drinking of wine during SautrAmani sacrifice; the intention is to turn man away from them. 12) They do not understand the pure essence of their religion. Only the smelling of wine is sanctioned and animal sacrifice is allowed for the adoration of the deities and it is not permissible to kill them for meat. 13) Those who are ignorant of this Dharma and, though wicked and haughty, account themselves virtuous kill animals without any feeling of remorse or fear of punishment, and are devoured by those very animals in their next birth. Translation from Sanskrit by C.L.Goswami Shastri.
Tantric drinking
Drinking wine was prevalent in Satya, Treta, and Dvapara Yugas, but from abuse, its use fell into disuse by laws and convention. Wine's function, it is said, brings latent thoughts to the surface and into the open. One who is immature in Kaula knowledge is a sinner and should not engage in religious practices. Practice without perfection in Kaula knowledge is drunkenness, rape, and slaughter (of animal), as it applies to wine, marital sex, and prescriptive eating of meat.
If drinking wine leads to spiritual attainment, all drunkards would attain moksa. If meat-eating leads to sojourn in heaven, all carnivores are righteous claimants to heaven. If sexual intercourse with women is the ticket to liberation, all animals have a right to liberation. Tantrics are of the view that sacrificial killing of approved animals to please forefathers and gods is permitted. Killing and eating for nourishment and enjoyment is proscribed. True devotee's offer of meat and wine to Devi is Anananda (Bliss); they are dear to Devi; they are true Kaulikas. Bhairava inculcates in those who drink wine the knowledge of Kula principles. Wine lights up Atma enveloped in dark Maya. Drinking wine with the utterance of proper mantra and offering it to Guru guarantee a Kaulika not to drink his mother's milk again--no rebirth. A Kaulika enjoyer, who is a Vira, is Bhairava himself, while the meat he offers is Siva, and Wine is Sakti. Does it remind you of the body and blood of Jesus? This is My body...; this is the cup of My blood... You notice some commonality between Tantrics and Catholics with regard to wine and meat (body of Christ); the catholic rituals are imports from Tantrics. The union of Siva and Sakti from such offering is liberation. Bliss is Brahman; it is present in the body, waiting to be expressed by wine; thus, Yogis imbibe it. Vira, the embodiment of Tantric virtue, untouched by polar opposites like pain and pleasure, possessed of Kula and Vaidik knowledge, imbibes wine which gives him Bliss and liberation. Mother Kali is the goddess of the Tantrics and Saktas.
Drinking of Soma is prescribed for Brahmanas, as wine is prescribed to Viras. Permitted user of wine, meat, fish, and sex should have thorough knowledge of Kula Sastra, before he uses them. The Sakti of Vira is alive and well, while that of Pasu is at sleep.
Haftarah = conclusion. This is reading of Neviim (Prophets) after the reading of the Torah. Haftarah and Torah readings have relevance to each other. This is read from a bound book, while Torah is read from scrolls.
Karma, Jacob's ill-gotten blessings take a revenge
At forty years of age,
Isaac married
Rebekah, grandniece of Abraham and his
niece (of Isaac) who begot fraternal twins Esau
with red skin and profuse hair and Jacob, the
foot grabber, who exited the birth canal holding on to the foot of Esau. Esau
was an outdoorsman and the favorite of Isaac, while Jacob was a tent dweller,
a chef and the favorite of Rebekah. Jacob at an unguarded moment asked a
very hungry Esau that he would cook for him a nice meal if he gave up and
transfer his primogeniture and its attendant
privilege and right (the rights of the firstborn son) to him. Being very
hungry, Esau agreed. Years passed by without incident. It is a custom to bless
the oldest child, before the father died. Isaac asked Esau to prepare a
meal and receive his blessings. Esau went off to bring a game animal for
cooking. Rebekah hearing this, conspired with Jacob and asked him to
impersonate Esau and receive the blessings of his father before Esau came.
Since Isaac had poor eyesight, he was not be able to identify his son by
sight. Esau had long body hair. Rebekah gave instructions to Jacob to present
himself to his father with his brother’s clothes and goat’s skin to cover the
arms. The father felt his hands with the long hair and bestowed blessings on
him. As he finished receiving the blessings, Esau walked in and found out
Jacob’s cheating and taking away his birthright. He even planned to kill
Jacob. Rebekah was alarmed and sent Jacob away from Beer-sheba to her brother,
Laban, his uncle in
Karma has an unfailing memory of Jacob’s cheating and paid a visit to him. The cheater becomes the cheated.
On the way to
In the morning...behold it was Leah! (Genesis 29:25). Jacob said to her, “Deceiver and daughter of a deceiver! At night I called you Rachel and you responded to that name.” She replied, “Is there a school without disciples? Did your father not call you Esau, and did you not respond?” (Bereishit Rabbah 70:19).
He served for another seven years before he
married Rachel. Jacob loved Rachel and hated Leah.
This is karma that cheated Jacob out of his first choice because he
impersonated Esau to receive his father's blessing. Jacob's loving of
Rachel more than Leah had its own Karmic consequence: Rachel was barren first
and Leah was blessed with Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. (see the diagram
below.) After Leah gave birth to Zebulum, Rachel gave birth to Joseph and
Benjamin and died near
As was the custom in those days, Jacob married the maids, Bilhah and Zilpah.
Jacob posed as the first son of Isaac to receive the blessings of his father and married the first daughter Leah, instead of his love Rachel, the second daughter. That is Karma in action.
Twelve sons of Jacob
(
Gen 37. Joseph was the darling of
One thing about reward and punishment with regards to karma is good acts do not cancel out the bad acts. Every fruit, either reward or punishment, is eaten so that Karma comes to a zero-sum status. If a person has ten merits and five demerits, simple math tells he has five merits over and above five demerits. It is not so in Karma. All ten merits have to be enjoyed and all five demerits have to be suffered before the zero-sum status is attained. This is known as Malaparipakam. Malaparipākam =மலபரிபாகம் = Mala + paripākam = impurity + cooking; maturity; perfection; ripeness; fit condition. Jacob's own son told a lie that his other son (brother), Joseph was killed by a beast, though Joseph was sold into slavery. Jacob, Joseph's father impersonated Esau, told a lie to his father Isaac and received his blessings rightfully due to Esau under false pretence. Karma would have it that Jacob became a victim of lie from his own son.
Heredity, environment and ancestry
Most of the non-karmic religions believe that heredity, environment, and ancestry have nothing to do with one's behavior. Esau was wicked and wanted to kill his twin brother Jacob for cheating. Yes, they were brought up under similar physical conditions and had identical genes. And yet the Samskaras, Vasanas and karma of each individual are poles apart.
Samskaras, Vasanas, and Karma reside in the Svadhisthana Chakra and influence the corresponding brain. That is why some of our actions and reactions to situations are automatic and unexplainable, unless we make a conscious effort to react to it in a conscious manner. This is the root of the unconscious being, instinctive behavior and SVK-driven actions. Samskaras, Vasanas, and Karma form the innate character of a person for better or worse and are the reminders of the past lives.
Vaasanaas: Vasana is fragrance that clings to the clothes. In like manner, the subtle body carries the fragrance of past actions, impressions, and karma in previous life. The example given is the unbaked clay pot carrying the smell of whatever it contained. Another example is the baked pot carrying the smell of smoke. Vasanas are subtle; Samskaras are scars left behind by the above experiences. (VASANA, knowledge derived from memory; an impression remaining unconsciously in the mind from past good or evil actions, and hence producing pleasure or pain.)
Samskaras: Every experience leaves an impress on the mind in the present (and past life) and modulates future behavior. These impressions from former and present life establish a behavior pattern colored by the imprints. Samskr = transform + kr = to make = Samskara = predisposition, inclination. Since predisposition translates in to an established behavior, it is like a scar on the psyche and behavior carried from one life to another. Samskara (Sanskrit) Tendencies (both physical and mental), former impressions, former dispositions)
To regard God as the god of one people and not of other people is not a Hindu idea of god. Brahman is not parochial and his products, services and blessings are not franchisable, but available to the deserving without any need for applying for them. Man brings his own reward, punishment, blessing and oneness with God by his own act. He is the God of all people of many disparate religions and faiths, animals, plants or any living being on this universe. One can be a good Muslim, a good Christian, and a good Jew and yet can be a good Hindu. It is an inclusive religion.
God (Siva and Sakti) sends the soul to the world with a body. This soul is contaminated with Anava Mala, Maya Mala and Kanma Mala . Primer in Saiva Siddhanta. Once the impurities are eradicated, the soul merges back with Siva.
There is an
interesting story about rationalist Vivekananda becoming a spiritualist and
his success in converting a foreign-educated inveterate aniconic (an-iconic)
fop to an idolist. Once Vivikananda went visiting with the neo-phobic of
Indian values and mores. He was led to a hall of frames where forefathers of
the fop's ancestors graced the walls. No later than the host showed his
father's portrait with great respect and obeisance, Vivekananda spat on it
knowing well that he was an iconoclast. The salivary splatter on the revered
portrait drew immediate anger from the host. Keeping his natural cool and
composure, Vivekanada questioned its sanctity and whether his father lived in
the portrait. The foreign-educated man, intelligent as he was, immediately
realized that the idols are as sacred to the votaries as his father's portrait
was sacred to him.
Judaism and
Idolatry.
The following list is in the Maimonides list of 613 Commandments. They may
appear harsh for idolaters but DON'T expect to be attacked by them for your
practice of idolatry. They know the value of tolerance.
This list
follows the numerical value of the commandment with reference to appropriate
Book.
24. Lev.19:4 Do not turn to idols or make for
yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.
28. Ex. 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
30. Lev19: 4 4"‘Do not turn to idols or make
gods of cast metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.
31. Ex.
32. Ex.
33. Deut. 13.12-118 12If you hear it said
about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in 13that
wicked men have arisen among you and have
led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us
go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), 14then you must
inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has
been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, 15you
must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. Destroy it
completely, both its people and its livestock. 16Gather all the plunder of the
town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all
its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It is to remain a
ruin forever, never to be rebuilt. 17None of those condemned
things shall be found in your hands, so that the LORD will turn from his
fierce anger; he will show you mercy, have compassion on you, and increase
your numbers, as he promised on oath to your forefathers, 18because you obey
the LORD your God, keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and
doing what is right in his eyes.
53. Deut 12:2-5 2Destroy completely all
the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every
spreading tree where the nations you are
dispossessing worship their gods. 3Break down their altars, smash their
sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire;
cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their
names from those places. 4You must not worship the LORD your God in
their way. 5But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from
among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place
you must go;
54-55. Deut 7:25-26 25The images of
their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not
covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you
will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the LORD your God. 26Do
not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set
apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for
destruction.
56. Deut 7:1-6 1When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are
entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites,
Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven
nations larger and stronger than you—2and when the LORD your God has delivered
them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them
totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. 3Do not intermarry
with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters
for your sons, 4for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve
other gods, and the LORD’S anger will burn against you and will quickly
destroy you. 5This is what you are to do to them:
Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah
poles and burn their idols in the fire. 6For you are a people holy to
the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on
the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
203 Deut 32: 36-39 36 The LORD will judge his people and have compassion
on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave
or free. 37 He will say: "Now where are their gods,
the rock they took refuge in, 38 the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up to help you! Let
them give you shelter! 39 "See now that I myself am He! There is no god
besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will
heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.
What is
Brahman?
God is the Soul of souls, all living things included. His body is Superconsciousness. We as human beings get an Amsa of his Soul and a dilute version of his Superconsciousness; thus our soul in its pure state is identical to his and yet when we merge with him, our souls remain separate in association with other souls.
Saiva Siddhantist believes that souls of other religions should excel and achieve the native blessedness of that particular religion; thus, no religion (other Hindu sects included) can give the ultimate release that Saivism gives. When the soul is ripe in its own religion, it will be born in Saivite religion. That is not the end of the road; within Savism there are subdivisions or inner religions; once the soul attains excellence in the inner religion, the soul has to take birth in Saiva Siddhanta. Now the soul has to perform Chariyai, Kriyai, and Yogam before it gets Jnanam. These are set in ascending step-wise pattern to reach Siva. The soul has to excel in Dasamarga, Kriyamarga, Sakhamarga and Sanmarga. The chart (Primer in Saiva Siddhant) illustrates the various Margas, a Sadhaka in Saiva Siddhanta should follow to obtain release. Dasamarga is the path of servant; Kriya Satputramarga, the way of a child; Sakhamarga, the path of friend; Sanmarga-Sadhanamarga, the path of wisdom. The soul has to go through three events before it gets release: Malaparipākam, Iruvinaiyoppu and Sattinipātam (eradication or maturing of Anava Mala, equable resolution of good and bad Karma, and descent of Grace into the soul).
மலபரிபாகம்= Malaparipākam; இருவினையொப்பு = Iruvinaiyoppu; சத்திநிபாதம் = Sattinipātam
Tat Tvam Asi = That Thou art. That = God; Thou = You; Art =are. You are THAT. You are a drop from the ocean; THAT is ocean; so what is the difference between you and THAT. It is not as simple as one going and announcing to the world that he is God. That is rank stupidity. The self in you is the same as the SELF that is God. The self in man is contaminated by Malas (impurities); once the impurities are expunged, then there is no difference between your soul and the Greater Soul; after all the fragment of the soul you have is chip off the Old Block. Another way of putting it is that your soul belongs to him in its purity. If Yahweh, Elohim, Adonoy, Adnai, El Shaddai is your father, you are the son; therefore, there is no difference between you and him in a pure state.
Prajnanam Brahma = Consciousness is Brahman. Brahman is not anthropomorphic in his original state; he is Pure Consciousness of divine status; our consciousness is derived from his and it is very dilute version of his. There are 11 entities whose consciousness and power are higher than human consciousness. Animals belong to lower consciousness.
Aham Brahmasmi = I am Brahman.
Ayam Atma Brahman = This Self is Brahman.
Yahweh is said to be an Egyptian world, Yah + Weh = Moon + Renewal.
Moon = the soul, the self, the Ego, the One. Since the moon comes into being after three days of absence, it stands for renewal.
Yahweh = The Being who has the ability to renew himself over and over again (perpetually).
Jiva (individual soul) and Yahweh sound similar. Yah is Soul that renews itself. A connection between Jiva and Yahweh is intriguing. Renewal is different from eternal. In Hindu religion the Great Soul or Pure Consciousness (Brahman) does not renew ITSELF; it is eternal and immutable; It neither grows or shrinks; the question of renewal does not arise. Renewal is a mutable quality; there is a suggestion of waxing and waning which are the qualities in the Hindu mind of matter and not of Brahman. Mutability is the property of matter and not of the Spirit. In Judaism, renewal is eternal.
By and large, God presents two forms: Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman. Nirguna Brahman (Nir + Guna = absence + qualities) is the transcendent IT or THAT, which cannot be measured by any human yardstick or qualities; He is beyond human comprehension. Saguna (having qualities) Brahman is transformation of the attributeless Brahman to One with qualities. Saguna Brahman is also known as Isvara, meaning controller (of the Universe and beings). When Hindus address God, Isvara is the One they are calling by one or many names.
Creatio ex nihilo (creation out of nothing) is central to Judaism. Hindus believe that Isvara uses his energy, Maya, as the source of Tattvas (building blocks) of the universe and beings. TATTVAS-36. Judaism calls it as Light Energy, which is the source of the Tattvas. We have a word for the Light: BINDU. Nada (Sound) and Bindu (Light) are the source of the universe and beings, according to Saivites. This Nada and Bindu come from Siva-Sakti.
Vaishnavites believe in Ramanuja's views: The triad consists of Isvara, prakara (cit and acit); all three are one mass. We are his (Isvara's) body along with matter and other beings. There is nothing that is not the body of Isvara. Isvara is the antaryaamin meaning the inner controller of cit and acit. Cit is life, the sentient world of organisms from ameba to man, and plants. Acit is the world of matter and insentient. Ref to BG C9V10: " Under My supervision, prakrti gives birth to both moving and unmoving (things)". Cit is individual soul. With Brahman / Isvara as the Supreme controller, creation comes into effect by His sheer will.. Brahman wills the contact of his intelligent principle to Prakrti, the non-intelligent matter. From this contact, gods to insentient objects come forth. They are cit and acit as said before. Supplement Go to God according to Ramanujachârya. There are gods but only ONE GOD, according to Hindus. The term "god" points to a highly evolved human being in heaven; thus, Isvara is the God of gods, men and everything else.
Polytheism: a plague or Polynomial God. There is nothing wrong in calling God of Abraham Yahweh, Adonoy or Elohim.
A little story explains polytheism, individualized relationship to God and Gods of many religions. An old man was sitting in the living room watching TV. Many children ran into his lap and addressed him, Grandpa. A middle aged man walked in and greeted him as father. An elderly woman walked in and addressed him, "hello, dear." Thus people coming in to his presence addressed him by different names and greetings indicating their special individual relationship with the elderly man, though he has only one name and one body. In like manner, there is only One God and people call him by different and many names, which, when appended to him, do not change his main quality that he is only One Being. A daughter-in-law has a reverential relationship (according to traditional Hindu mindset) to her husband's father. Her relationship to her husband, the son is on a different platform; it is one of mutual love and respect, intimacy, and sexuality as opposed to platonic love and respect towards her father-in-law. That variability in relationship reflects in Hindu's contact with God. One devotee (the slave) sees God as slave owner and thus, rests all responsibilities on God; one sees him as a husband; one treats him like a father; one regards him as a friend; Kamsa treated him as an enemy; Gopis treated him as lover. What ever you conjure up in your mind, you can act out that relationship with God. Most are praiseworthy; some are abominable and sacrilegious.
Polytheism is not worship of many gods, but worship of One God with many names. Hinduism is monotheism with tolerance and respect for polytheism. Yes, you can have it both ways. You are father, husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend; You are Mono and yet you are Poly. Your relationship with others is complex and tailored to the individual you relate to. Anything your imagination would allow to describe a God is very well documented in Hindu mythology. All human strengths and frailties, good and bad, beauty and ugliness are attributes of God. Lord Krishna says, He is the stealth in the thief. There is nothing God is not.
The dualism of Zoroastrianism (good and bad God) is different from that of Hinduism. Dualism, simply put, addresses two entities: the God and the individual soul. Our origin is God; our soul is a chip of the Old Block; when the individual soul obtains release it goes back to the source, which goes by the name Monism.
Good and bad things happen to people and countries. Good people die unrewarded and bad people die unpunished (example: Hitler). All these inequities are addressed by Karma, which hounds an embodied soul over many births until it reaches a zero-sum status with regards to good and bad karma. BG04.
Judaism does not embrace trinity of Christianity or Hindus: Father, son, and the holy Spirit; Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Trinity is not an indication of division of an indivisible God. There is one company and three senior positions (CEO, COO, Chairman); One Being holds three positions and therefore carry three different work descriptions and designations. It saves a lot of money for the investors, if one person holds three positions. To a Jew, Jesus Christ is a Rishi Muni or Messiah and nothing more and nothing less. There is one God and many gods; the ubiquitous gods live in heaven and are the liberated human beings, free of karma; God is God of gods and men and all living things.
God rescued the Jews from
Every Hindu has a personal god of his or her liking (Ishta Devata). What is
this all about? There is One God who bears many names. Liking is personal
preference. Why don't we make a generic car and ask the people of the world to
drive that one-model car? Each one us makes a choice as to which car we will
buy and drive. It is the same with (one) God with several brand names, models,
and modifications. One likes Siva and thus Siva is his Ishta Devata; the next
one likes
It is not uncommon in devout Hinduism to jive, joust, argue with and call God
by names, thief (the One who steals the devotee's heart; Butter thief,
Their (Jews) numbers are small, but their contributions are humongous, great and innumerable. The tree of human race has one primary Jewish branch out of which sprouted sturdy outgrowths of Christianity, Islam and Mormons. The Jews, Hindus, Chinese and Egyptians are the only people who played continuous roles in the world stage of civilization; every one else glimpsing on the stage like fireflies has had bit parts. Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma = eternal order) spawned many great religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism; so did the Jewish patriarchs. The Jews thrived in a continuous multicentric civilization in their Diaspora, while the Hindus spawned a continuous civilization in one landmass bound by the Highest mountain ranges and vast oceans. The Jews can boast of their contribution in disparate lands among disparate people with different tongues; the Hindus of many tongues, united by one continuous landmass and people too big for one invasion, one race, one religion, one empire, and one idea to impose its will, gathered around their one Supreme tenet, Sanatana Dharma, which had no patriarch to look up to. Every religion claims a patriarch, but Hindus claim no one person for its father. It is Sanatana Dharma, eternal religion or order based on natural laws and revealed wisdom, polyphonic in its content and expression through sages and seers. It is not of human origin because being human and not being God, one cannot pack such wisdom in the Sacred Texts; and human senses, mind, and intelligence are too circumscribed to enunciate such wisdom. The gods are promulgators of Sanatana Dharma; they are not the originators, but simply a conduit for the Dharma. Siva, Vishnu and Brahma do not claim to be authors of Agamas, Nigamas, Sastras, Vedas, which are older than gods themselves. Sanatana Dharma is eternal order; there is no suggestion that it is a religion. Something close to it is RTA (pronounced as rrita), the cosmic law, such as gravity, magnetism. It is as secular as secular is. Such Eternal Secular Order (ESO) came to be called Hindu religion by practitioners of other religions. Only ESO can conceptualize an order such as Karma, which is the Law of Cause and Effect. Even gods are subject to karma; they enjoy or suffer the fruits of their acts. Karma's hand is beyond the manipulations of man, god, nature, and man-made laws; the latter elements may become the instruments of karma.
Ineffable Jehovah is the God for Jews; Brahman of Hindus is without attributes; therefore Jehovah is Brahman for our purpose. A Jew can choose centripetal action that leads Him to God or centrifugal action that leads him away from Him. The former is Nivrrti of Hindus and the latter is Pravrrti. (There are two paths: Pravrrti and Nivrrti.) Pravrrti is common path and Nivrrti is a hard path. Pravrrti is centrifugal movement of the soul with desires, dualities and bondage. Nivrrti is the method of choice for outright 'renouncer' or hermit. It is a centripetal movement towards God right from the beginning. Tantra declares that it will shape men and women leading animal life of deglutition and defecation, procreation and slumber, fright, fight or flight, change them into productive people, and lead them in the path towards God. Pravrrti is life in the phenomenal world in pursuit of desires. Nivrrti is life, liberty and pursuit of Bliss; in other words it is a life of devotion to God, liberation from the bondage (Pasa) and eventual bliss. Tantra recognizes that man is a sensual animal; it tries to put a prescribed order in his lifestyle, convert him from sensual to a supersensual being and later it leads him to Reality. In this process the aspirant gives up his passion and darkness (Rajas and Tamas) and becomes pure and Sattvic. He strives on the path of Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and or Bhakti Yoga. For the Pasu (the individual soul) to attain liberation, he should get rid of impurities or Malas.
The Jew says that God holds him responsible for his actions. The Hindu says that actions create Karma with merit and demerit; meritorious karma leads to good life and bad karma to bad life spanning over many births. The best karma is no-load null karma which leads to liberation.
Abraham
encountered God Jehovah and the dialogue forms
the central tenet of Jewish religion. There was no one god or person who can
claim that distinction in Hindu religion; all gods are derivatives of noumenal
Brahman. Saivites believe that Siva taught Agamas to his consort Parvati and
his son Kartikeya. Nigamas were answers provided to questions posed by Parvati
to Siva. Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by
When
Babylonians were enjoying the epicurean pleasures, Terah; his son, Abraham;
his wife, Sarah; and his son,
Psychiatrists are of the view that hearing and seeing what is not there are symptoms of essential schizophrenia, a rare, benign and transcendental phenomenon in perfected Yogis. These realized souls are capable of and do experience visions. Some psychologists call this integrated, expanded altered consciousness by an imperfect term " (Transcendental) Essential Schizophrenia", as opposed to the pathological state "Paranoid Schizophrenia." These realized souls are in peace with the world around them. Their visions are most often limited to their own religious background. But Ramakrishna Parmahamsa had visions of Kali, Allah and Jesus Christ. When they return to their waking consciousness, they behave like everyone else. Their altered consciousness – Kaivalya, Samadhi and Turiya – are not drug-induced or pathological. These yogis bring these altered states upon themselves intentionally or otherwise and undergo complete remission upon resurfacing. These yogis receive wisdom or visions or hear voices during their altered conscious states. Ramana MahaRishi, who never had formal religious instructions or teaching of Vedas and Upanishads, received all that wisdom during his altered consciousness and bliss during Turiya state. It is said that instinct matures into reason in man and reason matures into Superconsciousness in the yogi. It is also known as Samadhi. It is said that some acquired imperfect superconsciousness, experienced hallucinations without a full preparation for the state of Yogi and received revealed wisdom with superstitions, according to Vivekananda.
Abraham and Jehovah entered into a covenant (or was it a creation in the mind of Abraham according to psychologists? That is not the thrust of our discussion): "the agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him." This covenant transformed into a Will (Hinduism's Iccha) to survive against all odds over millennia. Joseph Campbell explains what a covenant is.
In the Jewish tradition, God
has a Covenant with a certain people;
no one else is in on this.
How does one achieve membership in that group?
This was defined in
For four
hundred years, Abraham and his descendants wandered in
God abides in the spiritual heart of all beings; knowing that he exists is Jnana (knowledge); conversing with him is Vijnana (Wisdom) which Yogis (Jesus Christ, Abraham and Moses) possess. That being so, it is understandable that no one saw God, while Jesus Christ, Abraham, Moses, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana Maharishi did.
Here is a comparison between Hinduism and Judaism.
THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF JEWISH FAITH (MAIMONIDES)
Moses Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, a Sephardic) 1135-1204 CE is generally regarded as the highest authority of post-talmudic rabbinical wisdom. His 13 principles are taken by many as the essence of Judaism, derived from Judaism's 613 commandments found in the Torah.
Maimonides (1135-1204 CE) was a physician and a scholar with deep knowledge of Talmud and Bible.
The Thirteen Articles of Jewish faith are as follows:
It is the custom of many congregations to recite the Thirteen Articles, in a slightly more poetic form, beginning with the words Ani Maamin - "I believe" - every day after the morning prayers in the synagogue.
In his commentary on the Mishnah (Sanhedrin, chap. 10), Maimonides refers to these thirteen principles of faith as "the fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations."
1. God exists; may He be praised; His is the most perfect existence; He is the cause and the source of existence of all beings.
Hinduism: Isvara is God who creates, sustains and destroys this universe. He is the creator of Cosmic Law, Rta, which directs the laws of the universe: Gravity, magnetism etc. Sanatana Dharma (eternal order) leads one to Truth. Rta is the Law of Tao from which the heavens, earth, Man's law, and king draw their guidance.
When Moses wondered aloud to
God by what authority he could lead Israelites out of
Torah: The teaching or
instruction, and judicial decisions, given by the ancient Hebrew priests as a
revelation of the divine Will (Ichha); the Mosaic or Jewish law; hence, a name
for the five books of the law, the Pentateuch.
2. God’s unity is unique and indivisible; He does not belong to a Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Hinduism: God is One and his names are many. He is One without a second. Jewish Monotheism is the noumenal Nirguna Brahman of the Hindus, who has no attributes.
3. God is incorporeal; He is not subject to any force.
Hinduism: Brahman has no attributes and no form; yet he sees without eyes, he hears without ears, and he walks without legs. He is the origin and purveyor of all forces, the universe and beings.
4. God precedes everything; He is eternal, the First and the Last.
Hinduism: He is the first, the middle, and the last. He has no beginning, no middle and no end. Time resides in Him and not the other way round. He is the First because he creates; he is the last because he dissolves what he creates; he is the middle because he sustains what he creates; thus, the cycle goes on for eons.
5. He is the only One to be worshipped and praised; proclaim your praise and obedience to Him.
Hinduism: There is one God; some have given him names and forms (Saguna Brahman) and some call him nameless, formless Nirguna Brahman. Does He really care what you call Him. What is in a name: Allah, Father in heaven, Yahweh, Brahman....?
Devotees worship him in his Saguna form; Yogis meditate on him in his Nirguna form. Whom one prays to, worships or meditates on, depends on the excellence of the mind. Man relates easily to forms, names, addresses and zip codes; in like manner, man worships God in an image, though God is formless; Yogis can meditate on formless Brahman. True worship is doing what pleases the Lord, according to Hindu scriptures.
Jews believe in Monotheism; others are Pagans, excluding Christians, Jews and Muslims. Pagans include polytheistic believers. Hindus believe that religion is like a pyramid. Saiva Siddhanta calls Supratheism, Camayātītam (Samayatitam), the Supreme Being transcending all religions. Samaya + Atitam = Religion + end = end of religion.
Here is Saiva Siddhanta. Siddhānta = Siddha + Anta = Perfection + end = End of perfection = be all and end all of perfection.
Saiva Siddhanta is beyond the apex of pyramidal structure of all religions that rises majestically from a broad base. Its base is Polytheism; its lower half is Monotheism; its upper half is Metatheism; Siva Siddhanta is Supratheism or Camayātītam (Samayatitam), the Supreme Being transcending all religions. It does not need any support or advocacy; it has no beginning, no middle, no end and no name. Supratheism is a word coined by me to illustrate its position compared to other pyramidal religions; in fact, it is not a religion; it is the Universal Truth. Man can ascend this pyramid to a comfortable or competent level. When he goes beyond the pyramid, there are no icons, Mantra, Tantra, Yantra, disputations between religions and no names. Metatheism is immersion and absorption into the emanating essence of unbranded Being without regard to any particular religion. The generic Being may be worshipped as an icon or a word. The mental and spiritual eyes, ears and perceptions of the worshipper are his organons. Drawing the hidden essence and meaning, registering all visual, auditory and extrasensory vibrations emanating from icons, formulating them in words and phrases and laying down new paths are the essence of inspired religious prose and poetry of Metatheism. Some revealed Truths are beyond words. The object of all these constructs is to attain Moksa. (Author's view).
Supra. a prefix meaning "above, over" (supraorbital) or "beyond the limits of, outside of "
Organon. 1. an instrument of thought or knowledge. 2. Philos. a system of rules or principles of demonstration or investigation. (Random House Dictionary)
6. I believe in prophets and their prophecy.
Hinduism: Prophecy as such does
not exist in the same context mentioned in Judaism. There is no record of any
prophecy in Hinduism as to history, joy and jubilation, pain, exile and
suffering, coming of Messiah.... Vaishnavites believe in incarnation of Vishnu
in the form of Kalkin in the future. God's words are Agamas, Nigamas and
Sastras. There is no Higher Truth. Seers and Rishis received their Brahma
Vidya (Received knowledge, Brahman Knowledge, Supreme Knowledge) as flashes
during their meditation, which they revealed to the world in Vedas, Agamas,
and Nigamas. Saivites are of the belief that Agamas came out of Siva's mouth.
Bhagavat Gita came out of the mouth of
Prajnanam Brahma = Consciousness is Brahman.
Aham Brahma Asmi: I am Brahman.
Tat Twam Asi: That Thou Art.
Ayam Atma Brahman: This Self is Brahman (without gender identification).
As you see there is no religious accretion in these Great Sayings. Here is the Supreme Being in its most generic flavor.
Tat Twam Asi is the most important Mahavakya. Brahman transforms into Isvara, who pervades this universe, beings, and matter which collectively make the body of the Lord. We are all part of his body; thus That (Isvara, Jehovah) Thou (you) Art (are).
Our human consciousness is a dilute version of the Pure Consciousness of Brahman (or Jehovah). The Superconsciousness of Yogi is one notch closer to the Pure Consciousness of the Lord. Human consciousness is inadequate for a transcendental vision of Jehovah which Moses saw with his Superconscious state of Mind, also known as Turiya, which is the fourth state of consciousness (other states are wakefulness, dream sleep, and deep sleep.) Jewish theology does not address (??) the nature, quality and character of consciousness of Moses at the time he communed with his God. Yogis call that state 4th state (Turiya) and one beyond the 4th state (Turiyatita).
All their words are true = Brahma Vidya or Brahma Jnana
God is one without gender. Since It has no attributes, Brahman is addressed It or That. Once attributes, appellations and genders are assigned, Brahman transforms into Isvara or Isvari. Consider this:
To the Jew, God is One, both female and male blended in One but He or She comes with many names and
flavors. He invokes and thanks Lord Adonai for Her kindness; he invokes God Elohim for being harsh (justice) on him. Simply,
Feminine Lord Adonai becomes Masculine God Elohim depending upon dispensation. To him Female Lord Adonai and
Male God Elohim are parents--though one-- keeping the children in line first by giving soft love and then some tough love.
Brahman with Maya is Isvara or Isvari; Brahman with ignorance is the individual soul. Remember that Jiva's (soul) consciousness is diluted and so is without the knowledge of Brahman (Brahma Vidya). Sects worship Isvara or Isvari (the Goddess). Saktas worship the Mother Goddess, who is no other than transformed genderless Brahman with Maya in female form. Transformation of Brahman with the addition of attributes is compared to milk turning into yogurt. The inert Brahman becomes active with the transformation. It is Maya that creates multiplicity of forms and names, which could be objects or a neighbor, father, mother, son, spouse; we came from Maya and thus we are all related to one another. According to Saktas, Mother Goddess is the mother of the universe and beings. Vaishnavas regard Visnu as the Supreme God who is father of all beings and universe; for Saivites, Siva is the Supreme God. Ultimately all gods and goddesses are the many names and forms of transformed Brahman with Maya; that Brahman before names and forms is Nirguna Brahman. Isvara and Isvari are Saguna Brahman (with attributes). Maya creates this world stage; Samsara is drama of life enacted on the world stage, where actors play the role of father, son, mother, friend; once they leave the stage, appellations disappear and they come back to their own selves. He, who has risen above names and forms though living in the mayik body and attains Brahma Vidya (Brahman knowledge), becomes one with Para Brahman. All beings, power (sakti) and matter come from Brahman and at dissolution go back to Brahman; the entire cycle repeats itself. Brahman is putative entity (not a He or a She) of all gods and goddesses who eventually dissolve in it. Saktas believe in Mother Goddess (Brahmamayi or Devi), originating from attributeless Brahman. Vaishnavas believe in Vishnu originating from attributeless Brahman; Saivaites believe in Siva originating from attributeless Brahman. There is One God; many are his forms and names. Hindus include Jehovah as God, originating from Brahman. Saktas are of the view that the earthly Mother nourishes them for "10 months and 10 days" in the womb and father is only a secondary contributor, a puny (though important) one at best. Furthermore, Mother nurses them for a long time; father's contribution ends the moment it begins. The Great Womb of the Mother Goddess issues forth all gods, goddesses, celestials, humans, beings, and matter and she takes them back at dissolution; She has Sakti, (power) which she doles out to Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva and others. These are mentioned in Tantric Texts which are revealed wisdom.
7. Moses is the father of all prophets who preceded and succeeded him. I believe in his prophecy.
Hinduism: There are no prophets
in Hinduism; Seers play the same role; Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Ramana
Maharishi played similar roles. Hindus consider
8. Torah, as given to Moses and in our hands, is the word of God.
Hinduism: His law is Rta and
Sanatana Dharma. Rta is the Cosmic Law: Magnetism, Gravity, etc. Sanatana
Dharma, eternal religion, is worldly counterpart of Rta. It is also called
Vaidik Dharma or Vedic Religion. To be a Hindu is believing in Vedas, whether
he knows it or not. The basic teaching of Hinduism relate to
Purushartha,
the purpose of man: Dharma, Artha,
Hinduism's Purushartha is the Jewish Talmud, Christian Bible, and Muslim Sharia.
16.1:
Sri Bhagavan said:
Fearlessness, purity of mind,
steadiness in yoga of knowledge, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of
scriptures, austerity, rectitude,
16.2:
Ahimsa, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquillity,
abstaining from slander, compassion to all creatures, absence of greed,
gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness
(absence of agitation),
16.3:
vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, absence of malice, and
absence of pride: These are the qualities of the one born of divine nature, O
Bharata.
Garuda Purana
(1.113.37) states that there are five cleaning substances: truth, pure mind,
control of sense organs, feeling for all living beings, and water.
For more go to BG Chapter 16 The Divine and the Demon
Krodha (anger), Kama (passion), Sahaja Pranaya (natural love or friendship), Bhiti (fear), Vatsalya (parental affection), Moha (delusion), Guru Gaurava (reverence to Guru), Sevya Bhavaih (proneness to service), Sancintya (meditation) are the feelings entertained towards the Lord; all these feelings liberate the soul but the road to liberation is different for each one of the aspirants.
God says: Love Me once, you are free (liberation/moksa); hate Me once, your are free; ignore Me once, you will fry in hell. (Because of man's hatred to God, He destroys and liberates him.)
The Gopis attained liberation (moksa) by love, Kamsa by fear, Sisupala by hatred, Pandavas by friendship, Yadhavas by attachment, Narada by devotion. The key is thinking and remembering the Lord in love, fear, hatred, friendship, attachment, devotion or any one of myriad feelings. The Lord seems to say, "Ignore me at your own peril."
9. Torah as given to Moses is the final word of God subject to no change.
Hinduism: Samsara (earthly life) is conditioned by Karma. Those who engage in good karma enjoy good life in this or next life; those who engage in bad acts (bad karma) will suffer in this or next life. Karma chooses heredity, ancestry and environment for every living entity. God is a resident Witness in the spiritual heart and can erase the sins and confer Grace. Karmic law, once written by the Lord, is very rarely broken by God; in his Avataras, he submits himself to karmic consequences. Just think of Rama's exile in the wilderness and the abduction of his consort by Ravana. Just think of the death of Lord Krishna (by an arrow) at the hands of a hunter. All this is Karma. Deeds are of two kinds: Sakama karma and Niskama karma; the former deed is done with self-interest and latter is done without self-interest and earns liberation. Niskama Karma, though it is action, is not considered action because there is no expectation of reward.
10. God knows our deeds.
Hinduism and Upanishads: From Brahma to a blade of grass, nothings moves without his consent.
11. God rewards those who obey and punishes those who violate the commands of Torah. (The belief in divine reward and retribution.)
Reward and punishment are deed-dependant and can range over many births; good and bad deeds bring respective results. No-load karma is the best karma, resulting in liberation of the soul and its merger with God. Karma is self-made; thus, the individual alone determines his destiny. Disobedience of God is action that has demerit, which carries consequences. Karma brings victory and the king together; karma brings the victim and the killer together: this is one essential point in Kurushetra war. The subtle soul is the chronicler of karma and carries historical notes of the individual soul from birth to birth. Karma is a dogged pursuer of the soul over many births during its passage in bodies (animal, man, worm); it is the ever vigilant dispenser of fair justice over and above the law of man. Consequential rewards and punishments are dispensed by men. Hindu religion goes beyond dependence on men to dispense justice. What happens if Law is literally blind (no physical sight) and does not see the perpetrator? What happens when the victim does not come forward? What happens if justice is skewed and lets the guilty go free? That is where karma comes. Whatever that is aberrant in and missed by man's law and justice is pursued relentlessly for better or worse by dogged internatal (birth to birth) karma with unfailing memory.
Saivites believe that they can expunge karma by Chariya, Kriya, Yoga, and Jnana (worship of God, Agamic rites and ceremonies, mental worship of Siva, and path of Wisdom.) Hitler escaped punishment on earth; his karma will follow him until it comes to a zero-sum status. From the information available in Hindu texts, I assume that he will suffer in hell for many years, equal to the number of hairs of all the people who died on account of his pogrom.
12. I believe in the coming of Messiah. I will wait regardless how long the wait is. (The belief in the arrival of the Messiah and the messianic era.)
Hinduism: Messiahs as such are
not sent, but he comes as Avatars (incarnations) or sends others with his Amsa
(fragment of Himself): Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ,
13. God will resurrect the dead.
Physical resurrection of the dead is open to controversy among the "informed" on either side of the issue. Some say it is spiritual resurrection; some say it is a physical resurrection; both positions have their advocates and supporters. It is claimed that Tanakh is ambiguous on this issue of resurrection. If physical resurrection takes place it is a miracle. Maimonides says that God does not violate the Laws of Nature, known in Hinduism as RTA (Cosmic Law from which physical and other laws came into being).
|
Hinduism |
Jewish Faith |
Christianity |
|
Creation, preservation and dissolution; also Moksa, Salvation. |
Creation, Guidance: past, present and future |
Creation, sustenance, and salvation |
|
Nirguna Brahman |
God is unity |
There is only one God |
|
God is Consciousness |
No body, no name, no attributes |
There is one God |
|
God is the beginning, the middle and the end |
The First and the last. The past, the present and the future. |
I am the Lord; that is my name |
|
God is the object of prayer |
God is the object of prayer |
God is the object of prayer |
|
Rishis carry God’s words |
Prophets carry God’s words |
Christ spoke God’s words |
|
No prophets but Acharyas |
Moses is principal prophet |
Son of God |
|
From Brahma to a blade grass, nothing moves without his knowledge. The Eternal Soul is the paramount Witness. |
His attention, and heed encompasses every act and every deed of every human being. |
|
|
He is the seed and womb of all beings. |
|
He wills that all men shall be His children |
Jehovah is immortal and thus he does not resurrect, though he wanes, disappears and waxes again like the moon. His disappearance is only an illusion as the New Moon also is an illusion; its impact is real in that the night is bathed in darkness. Hindus believe in reincarnation and hierarchy of gods, while Jews don't. There cannot be hierarchy if there is only one God who is the Para Brahman of Hindus and Jehovah of Jews. When gods' merit runs out, they descend from heaven to earth as men. Lesser gods include liberated divine men living in heaven; in Judeo-Christian context, they are Moses, Abraham, Jesus Christ (son of God). They may make one appearance on earth, never to return or may come down many times as ordained by God.
Let me explain the difference
between God and god according to Hindus. There is ONE GOD and many gods.
God is the Head Honcho of a company; gods are godly men and women working for
him; thus, they advance His and the company's motto, principles and goods.
Being gods means that they all have their individual responsibility which they
carry out in the interest of the company under the direction of God. In order
to work for God, all gods must march in a lockstep fashion. It is not
rigidity; it is acknowledgment that God knows best. There are promotions,
demotions, warnings, opprobiums, and lay-offs. But no one can become a GOD.
Men and gods with merit can merge with him but cannot take his place. You
cannot simply lay Him off and take His job; He is God for eternity. An
office boy (man or woman), belonging to non-executive branch in the company,
may become qualified to assume the role of a god. A demoted and or laid-off
god becomes the office boy and will be born as man on earth. The (
|
Heads of the
thousand-headed
|
Satyaloka–
Brahma's abode (Brahmaloka), Sankarsana. Brahma lives on the eyebrow. The
creation is a play of the eyebrows of the Supreme Lord. Sarasvati, Consort
of Brahma. |
|
Brahma-randhra
(Anterior Fontanel area on the crown)
|
The exit point
for the soul from the body. In addition, it is the entry point of the
soul.
|
|
Forehead
|
Tapoloka,
Vairagins' heaven
|
|
Face (midface)
|
Janaloka:
Sri, Bhu, Siva (Rudra), Sanatkumara
|
|
Neck
|
Maharloka:
Bhrigu, Prajapati. Escapes sublation of three lower worlds. Above
the Polar star.
|
|
Chest
|
Svarloka:
Indra’s heaven, gods. Situated between sun and polar region
|
|
His Heart
|
Avyaktam or The
Unmanifest or Primordial matter
|
|
Breasts
|
Indra's heaven,
also god of righteousness
|
|
Arms
|
Ksatriyas'
origin, also gods
|
|
Navel
|
Bhuvarloka
Space between the earth and the sun (Munis and Siddhas)
|
|
Loins or Hips
|
Bhurloka,
men, others animals–the Earth's crust
|
|
Buttocks or
Thighs
|
Atala or
Vitalaloka, Vaishyas's origin. Subterranean locus (-2) Demon Bala, the son
Maya lives here. Here, women make any men sexually potent by administering
Hātaka elixir—ingredients not identified in Bhagavata Purana Book five,
Chapter 24 Verse 16.
|
|
|
|
|
Knees
|
Sutalaloka -
Subterranean locus (-3)
|
|
Shins
|
Talātala -
Subterranean locus (-5) Siva has given refuge to Maya in this location.
|
|
Ankles
|
Mahātala -
Subterranean locus (-6) A snake pit—a region of serpents
|
|
Dorsum of the
feet
|
Rasātala -
Subterranean locus (-4). Daityas, Dānavas and Panis live here. They are
demons opposed to gods and stole Ambrosia from Dhanvantari, the attending
physician of gods.
|
|
Feet
|
Sudras' origin
|
|
Soles of the
Feet
|
Pātāla -
Subterranean locus (-7) The
|
|
His Mind
|
The Moon was
born of His mind
|
|
His Eyes
|
The Sun
|
|
The Eyelids
(apt locations and metaphor for day and night)
|
The day and the
night
|
|
His Mouth
|
Indira and Agni
(Fire) came out
|
|
Nostrils
|
Asvinikumaras―The
physicians of the gods
|
|
The Head
|
The Sky was
born
|
|
His ears
|
The quarters
|
|
His Speech
|
The Vedas
|
|
His arms
|
Indra and the
subsidiary gods
|
|
His Breath
|
The Vayu (Wind)
was born
|
|
The Navel
|
The middle
space was born
|
|
His Two feet
|
The earth
evolved
|
|
Crown of the
head (Brahma-randhra)
|
Vedas, Exit
point for the departing soul
|
|
His jaw
|
Yama, the god
of death
|
|
Teeth
|
Show of
affection
|
|
Palate
|
Lord of water,
Varuna
|
|
Tongue
|
Rasah, the
essence of any
|
|
His Smile
|
Intoxicating
māyā
|
|
His Glance
|
Infinite,
unending creation
|
|
Upper Lip
|
Modesty
|
|
Lower Lip
|
Greed (Lobhah)
|
|
Breast (right)
|
Dharma–
Righteousness
|
|
Back
|
Adharma -
Unrighteousness
|
|
Genital -
Phallus
|
Ka = Who, What
and which. Prajapati, Brahma
|
|
His
Gonads―testicles
|
Gods Mitra and
Varuna (Sustainer of all created beings and water) Common meaning of Mitra
is “friend”
|
|
Abdominal
Cavity (Kukshi)
|
The oceans
|
|
Skeletal mass
|
The hills and
mountains
|
|
Blood vessels (Nadyah)
|
The rivers
|
|
Body hair
|
The vegetation
|
|
|
|
|
His activity
|
The continuous
flow of gunas as in creation and the created
|
|
His hair on the
head
|
The water-laden
clouds
|
|
His Eyebrows
|
The abode of
Brahma
|
|
His Eyelashes
|
Night and day
|
|
His eyes
|
The Sun and the
Moon
|
|
|
|
|
His ears
|
The Quarters,
directions
|
|
The nares
(nasal openings)
|
The Asvinis
|
|
His lips
|
Greed and
modesty
|
|
His front teeth
|
The stars
|
|
His molars
|
Death, the
great equalizer
|
|
His Smile
|
Māyā, illusion
or māyā energy
|
|
His Breath
|
The Infinite
power of air
|
|
His Speech
|
The formation
of the birds in flight
|
|
His tunes
|
Siddhas and
celestial artists
|
|
His mouth
|
Fire
|
|
|
|
|
The twilight
|
The apparel or
Raiment
|
|
|
|
|
His Mind
|
The Moon
|
|
Mahim or Cosmic
Intelligence or Maha-tattva
|
Universal
Consciousness
|
|
Rudra
|
Ego of the
Universal Soul
|
|
His Nails
|
The horse, the
mule, the camel and the elephant
|
|
His Hips and
Loins
|
The deer and
other animals
|
|
Manu
|
Intelligence
|
|
Manujah -Sons
of Manu
|
Abode
|
|
Ghandharvas
etc.
|
Melody
|
|
Asuras―Demons
|
His Virility―Virya
|
A perfected man, when he dies, becomes god. That is why all cultures identify some men and women as divine, meaning they are closer to god than other men. Unconsciously by using such expressions, monotheists express their underlying polytheistic view. Now you know truth comes out in unguarded moments and statements. Polytheism is the base of all religions (which we forget very often), on which are built Monotheism and Metatheism. Supratheism is belief that He, It, or THAT does not need any support from the pyramidal structure. That is Parabrahman of Hinduism.
(Yahweh is said to be an Egyptian world, Yah + Weh = Moon + Renewal.)
Moon = the soul, the self, the Ego, the One. Since the moon comes into being after three days of absence, it stands for renewal.
Yahweh = The Being who has the ability to renew himself over and over again (perpetually).
Parabrahman is THAT; the lesser
Hindu gods are known for internecine (mythological) wars, while the one and
only Jehovah remains in peace with himself. Jehovah is genderless, formless,
and nameless as Para Brahman is.
Psalms
9.11
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in
9.17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
Hinduism's
The Cosmic Form of the
Lord: Source Bhagavatam and other sacred texts.
The table shows some
overlaps to reflect different sources.
|
The Body of the Lord
|
The many worlds and their
residents
|
|
The Most Supreme Abode
|
Goloka:
|
|
The Supreme Abode
|
Vaikuntha,
Abode of Lord Narāyana or
|
Table: The Lord’s
body parts, the universe, and the functions
|
Hair on body
|
Vegetation, trees especially
those used in sacrifices
|
|
Hair on the head and face
|
Clouds
|
|
Nails
|
Generates electricity. Boulders
and iron ore deposits
|
|
Hands
|
Fields for gods
|
|
Feet
|
Shelter for upper, lower and
heavenly planets
|
|
Genitals
|
Water, Vital Generative Fluid,
Rain
|
|
Anal opening
|
The abode of the deity of death
|
|
Anus and Rectum
|
Abode of violence, ruin, death
|
|
Back
|
Ignorance, frustration, adharma
|
|
Veins
|
Rivers
|
|
Bones
|
Mountains
|
|
Avyakta―Unmanifest
|
Oceans
|
|
Abdomen
|
The materially devastated beings
|
|
Heart
|
Subtle material bodies
|
|
Consciousness
|
Duty, Justice, and four
bachelors: Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanatkumara and Sanandana, Also Sattva and
Vijnāna -Goodness and wisdom
|
|
All beings, past, present and
future
|
Occupy one Vitastim, distance
between the tip of extended thumb to the tip of the fifth finger. – 9
inches or 12 angulams
|
|
Upper Lips
|
Modesty, bashfulness (Vrida)
|
|
Chin
|
Longing, eager desire (Lobhah)
|
|
Breast (Stanah)
|
Righteousness (Dharma)
|
|
Back
|
Unrighteousness (Adharma)
|
|
Vrsanau-male Gonads
|
Mitra and Varuna uphold and rule
the earth and sky, protect the world, and preserve religious rites:
guardians of truth and light. Punish sinners.
|
|
Waist (back of it)
|
Oceans, animals
|
|
The toenails
|
The elephant, camel, horse, and
mule. All four-legged animals
|
|
Blood vessels
|
The rivers
|
|
The air
|
His Movements
|
|
The march of Time
|
His activities―Karma
|
|
Guna pravahah―reactions and
consequences of modes of behavior and nature
|
His Ego
|
|
Rudra - later known as “Siva
Face”
|
Brahmanas
|
|
Arms
|
Ksatriyas
|
|
Thighs
|
Vaisyas
|
|
Feet
|
Sudras
|
|
|
|
Idols, artifacts, images,
During
the wandering, the daytime guide was the pillar of clouds; the nighttime guide
was the pillar of fire.
Hindu
God (Brahman, the progenitor of all) lives in the trees (
The Babylonians put the First Temple to torch in 586 B.C.E.; the Romans torched the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Jews believe that the acts were punishments from God for not following his precepts contained in the Two Tablets. Idolatry (prohibited by the First Tablet) by Jews was the sin that brought on the wrath of God in the form of fire from the Babylonians. Mitzvos (Dos and Don'ts) recommends the following with regard to idols.
N3 Do not make an idol (even for others) to worship; N5 Do not bow down to an idol; N6 Do not worship idols. N10 Do not study idolatrous practices; N25 Do not augment wealth from anything related to idolatry; N26 Do not prophesy in the name of an idol; N27 Do not prophesy falsely; N28 Do not listen to the prophesy made in the name of an idol; P185 Destroy all idol worship.
Lashon ha-ra: Bad tongue; Gossip.
According to Torah bad-mouthing is as bad as the three sins:
idolatry, adultery and murder. Jews are to
give up their life rather than commit any one of these sins.
Mitzvah: pl mitzvos. any of the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Bible and additional ones of rabbinic origin that relate chiefly to the religious and moral conduct of Jews.
It is
the belief that the feuds and hatred between Jews breaking the tenets of the
Second Tablet precipitated the wrath of God who punished the Jews by sending
the Romans to torch the
God of Abraham with many names:
Elohim means, "Those who from Heaven to Earth came." in Annunaki. Elohim created Adam in his image. Adam = "in the image of Elohim created He him."
Adonoy: Hebrew. a title of reverence for God, serving also as a substitute pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton.
Tet·ra·gram·ma·ton (four letters)
the Hebrew
word for God, consisting of the four letters yod, he, vav, and he,
transliterated consonantally usually as YHVH, now pronounced as
Adonai or Elohim in substitution for the original pronunciation
forbidden since the 2nd or 3rd century B.C.
Cf. Yahweh.
In daily life, Jews invoke Adonoy (God or Sadasiva revealing and showing Grace according to Hindus) when their son or daughter gets admitted into a medical school.
When something bad happens to a Jewish person, he or she invokes Elohim (Mahesvara who conceals Grace from his devotees according to Hindu belief--Isvara Tattva).
Since
Master-servant relationship
Elohim (God in Hebrew) entered into exclusive covenantal relationship with the Hebrews that in exchange for protection of Hebrews they would give their undying obedience to Elohim. Receiving protection for true devotion is a common theme in Hindu worship. The relationship between God and man has more choices in Hindu religion: Love, devotion, obedience, fear, hate, friendship, attachment, spousal affinity, father-son affinity, mother-son affinity.
Love Me once, you are free (liberation/moksa); hate Me once, your are free; ignore Me once, you will fry in hell.
The Gopis attained liberation (moksa) by love, Kamsa by fear, Sisupala by hatred, Pandavas by friendship, Yadhavas by attachment, Narada by devotion. The key is thinking and remembering the Lord in love, fear, hate, friendship, attachment, devotion or any one of myriad feelings. The Lord seems to say, "Ignore me at your own peril."
A question was asked of Jung by a Hindu: What gives liberation faster and ends incarnation or rebirth: love of God or hatred? The thrust of the question is that hatred as a stronger emotion makes man think of the hated object more intensely and more often than love would, and that intense and constant hatred of God guarantees liberation (faster) in fewer incarnations than love would. Because God destroys the evil-doers and gives them liberation, the hater of God gets liberated more quickly than a devotee.
This concept of hate (The Conciliator) of God as a liberator is strange to the western mind, but not to the Hindu mind. Hate of God is a sign of of his acceptance in the supremacy of God. Hitler's man-to-man hatred of Jews is pathological and it has no place in the relationship between man and God. According to Hindu precepts of inferno, Hitler fries in hell but is alive so that he suffers pangs of the deep fry. The number of years he would stay in hell and suffer is equal to the aggregate number of hairs of all the people he killed. This estimate is based on parallels in Hinduism. His bad Karma has put him there. He did escape man's justice but his Karma, long on memory, pursues him all the time, dispensing justice.
Afterlife
Afterlife; birth, death and rebirth; liberation are important part of Hindu theology. Karma is the chain-link in life before and after birth. Once the karmic chain is broken the soul is liberated for ever to merge with God. In Judaism, history forced the Hebrews to accept the concept that the deferred justice has to bear fruit at least in another world. Afterlife is a world of reward and punishment for the Hebrews. Before the Exile, innocence lived comfortably in the Hebrew psyche of here and now and this-world. Afterlife was out of question then. After the exilic shock and hardships, a concept of a world of good and a world of evil took birth in the mind of Hebrews. All good is on the side of Yahweh and all evil on the side of principle of evil. This explained the exile, hardships, duality, polarity, and opposites of the world. In Hindu religion good and evil are as old as creation, because the gods and demons are half brothers.
Sheol, kareit, Olam Ha-Ba, Gan Eden, Gehinnom....
Sheol is the first place to go to after death; it may the way station to other places or a final destination before the souls disappear. Sins bear fruit of spiritual excision (kareit) from his people in afterlife, which was devised to address the question of bad people going unpunished and the virtuous going unrewarded. While the evil ones are excised from their virtuous near and dear, the virtuous ones join the other virtuous. The virtuous go to a place similar to Christian heaven. They may undergo many incarnations or wait there until resurrection at the coming of messiah. Reincarnation is considered a virtue in Judaism, while it is not necessarily so in Hindu religion. Good or bad karma is the cause of reincarnation; the bliss state is null karma when the soul finds liberation from cycle of births and deaths and merges with God. God is the home base for the soul; birth of a soul in a body on earth is a karmic event. Judaism believes that some souls want to return to the earth to complete their unfinished business. Virtuous people (Spiritually virtuous) do descend to earth at the specific command of God, according to Hindus. Judaism: The wicked people by their acts create demons of equal or more wickedness and suffer at their hands and eventually their souls are destroyed. Hindu belief is that the individual soul and the Greater Soul (God) are indestructible and eternal. Sadducees did not believe in afterlife and coming of the Messiah.
Olam Ha-Ba, the World to come, is part
after-life and part resurrection of the virtuous dead, who come to enjoy a
perfect world, while their counterparts lay dead. The good ones come back to
earth again and again to perform tikkum olam,
mending of the world. Every Jewish soul at one time or more has touched the
soil of Sinai and agreed to abide by the covenant. The righteous of all
nations and people can earn a place in Olam ha-Ba; that is a very commendable
generosity of the Jewish faith to the world. The very virtuous go straight to
the place of spiritual perfection, Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden), not the
Eschatology and Apocalypticism
At the end of time, good and evil fight and good prevails over evil and unrighteousness. The Hindu view is that Time has no end; it has no beginning, middle or end on its own merit; it is an endless cycle; it will go on after this universe comes to an end. There are other universes keeping Time; there are countless universes more than the number of all sand grains on all the seashores. The One that is superior to Time and has the Time in Him is Brahman, who manifests as Vishnu or Siva. This universe in a constant state of flex. To read more about Time, dissolution and creation go to BG Chapter 8 Brahman The Imperishable.
Messianism
Deliverer or messiah is he who delivers Hebrews, and protects the precepts and tenets of Jewish faith. There is no one messiah as such in Hindu religion. Incarnations are known. They serve the same purpose.
|
Name |
Fathered at age |
After progeny, life in years |
Died at age |
Others: sons & daughters |
|
Adam |
130 |
800 |
930 |
|
|
Seth |
105 |
807 |
912 |
Yes |
|
Enos |
90 |
815 |
905 |
Yes |
|
Cainan |
70 |
840 |
910 |
Yes |
|
Mahalaleel |
65 |
830 |
895 |
Yes |
|
Jared |
162 |
800 |
962 |
Yes |
|
Enoch |
65 |
300 |
365 |
Yes |
|
Methusaleh |
187 |
782 |
969 |
Yes |
|
Lamech |
182 |
595 |
777 |
Yes |
|
Naoh |
500 |
450 |
950 |
Ham and Japheth |
|
Shem |
100 |
500 |
600 |
|
|
Shem was a contemporary of Abraham, nine generations down the line. |
||||
Isaac, the son of Abraham, was to become the holocaust to God. It was a common practice then to offer human sacrifice to God. Isaac knew and accepted the sacrifice; at the last moment, the holocaust was stopped by an angel dispatched by God and Isaac was released from the binding to the altar (Akeidah). God prompted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and promptly stopped it at the nick of time, having tested his devotion and obedience to God.
Human sacrifices were common in other countries even until recently to appease gods and goblins. Human sacrifice to Kali was stopped a few decades ago in India. Animal sacrifice continues to this day.
Isaac had two sons, fraternal twins, Jacob (Ya'akov) and Esau by his wife Rebecca (Rivka). Jacob, the favorite of Rebecca, was spiritually oriented and Esau, the favorite of his father, was a hunter. Jacob left home to live with his uncle, married the sisters Leah and Rachel and their maids Bilhah and Zilphah and fathered 12 sons and one daughter. After an interlude of many years, Jacob went to see Esau and on the way was waylaid by a man who turned out to be an angel (that is the face of God), who gave him the name Israel (Yisrael), the one who wrestled with God and prevailed. God disabled his thigh by touching the hollow of his thigh in order to put him at a disadvantage and terminate the fight. Since then the Jewish people are known as children of Israel, who claim lineage from Jacob. Easu received his brother with open arms.
Jacob was born holding on to the heel of Esau, the first of the twin, and thus was named so. Jacob fell in love the Rachel, whose father, Laban made Jacob work for him for seven years before he would agree for marriage. And yet fate would have it that Laban stealthily gave Leah as Jacob's bride. He had to work another seven years before he married Rachel.
Joseph was one of the 12 children of Jacob who was the father of two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Joseph was a religious man and received visions from God, which made his older brothers jealous, sell Joseph into slavery, and lie to their father that he was dead. The slave made his way to the Egyptian court of the Pharaoh for his ability to interpret visions.
The details are as follows:
Gen 37. Joseph the 11th son of Jacob was the darling of Israel (Jacob) because he was the son of his old age; that made other brothers jealous of him. Joseph had two dreams: 1. the sheaves of his brothers bowed down to the upright sheaf of his. 2. the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to him (Joseph). All the brothers were upset about the presumed dominion of Joseph over them; his upset father rebuked him. The brothers were grazing the sheep. Jacob sent Joseph to find out how the flock and his brothers were doing on the grazing fields. The bothers saw him coming towards them and decided to kill the "dreamer." They wondered what would come of his dreams after his death. Reuben was against any violence to his brother and asked them to cast him in a pit in the wilderness. They stripped him and cast him in a pit. No sooner than they sat down to eat, they saw Ishmaelites to whom they sold Joseph on the recommendation of Judah for 20 shekels of silver, after the bothers pulled him out of the pit. Judah said he found no profit in killing Joseph. Joseph was seventeen years of age then. The traders took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. Reuben, unknowing of selling of Joseph into slavery, found the pit empty. They tore, dipped his clothes into sheep's blood, and produced them as evidence of Joseph being devoured by a wild beast.
Joseph was working in the kitchen of Pharaoh under the supervision of Potiphar, whose wife tried to seduce him, turned around and slandered him. Potiphar put him in jail. Soon he became a model prisoner and put in charge of other prisoners and the kitchen staff of pharaoh. The butler and baker had dreams which Jacob interpreted: Butler would get his job back and the baker would meet his death on the order of Pharaoh. His predictions came true three days later. A few years later he interpreted the dreams of the Pharaoh and prevented famine by accumulating grains during the first seven years of plenty for the next seven years of famine. Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring, gave him an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah, elevated him to the post of the Prime Minister and arranged his marriage to Asenath, meaning "gift of the sun-god", daughter of Potipherah, the priest. Asenath was the mother of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Famine struck Canaan and Jacob sent his 10 oldest sons to Egypt to obtain food. They ended up in the presence of Joseph who pretended not to know them, heard their story and told them that they have to bring Benjamin to prove what they were telling was true. Jacob refused to send Benajamin to Egypt. The grains were depleted and famine struck; Jacob consented to sending Benjamin in the custody of Judah. The brothers came to Egypt, still not knowing that Joseph was their once enslaved brother. Joseph recognized Benjamin and was happy to see him. He gave them grains, asked a servant to stuff in Benjamin's bag a silver goblet, and sent them back home. Benjamin was caught with the alleged loot, which was really a gift. They were brought back and Joseph said that he would accept Benjamin as his slave for "stealing" the silver goblet. Judah pleaded with Joseph that he promised his father Jacob to bring Benjamin back to Canaan. Joseph sent his servants away and told his brothers that he was their brother, Joseph.
Joseph and Pharaoh agreed to receive Jacob and his family to Egypt and house them in the town of Goshen. Upon their return to Canaan, Jacob did not at first believe that Joseph was alive and well. Having been convinced by the riches and wagons sent by Joseph, he set out to Egypt at age 130 with a retinue of 70 family members to escape the famine. Since they were shepherds, the Pharaoh put them in charge of livestock and housed them in Rameses.
The famine continued and the grains ran out. Jacob family gave their animals in exchange for grains. They ran out of livestock. The Pharaoh and Joseph nationalized all arable lands, gave the farmers seeds and ordered them to give the pharaoh one-fifth of their crops.
Jacob died and according to his wish he was embalmed and buried in the cave of Machpelah, probably in the ancient city of Hebron, where Abraham, Sarah, Rebekah, Isaac, Jacob, and Leah were buried.
Joseph accompanied his brothers to Canaan for the burial with a many Egyptian dignitaries. The brothers were afraid that Joseph would seek revenge for having been sold a slave. Joseph told that it was God's will and that he would not harm them. They all lived in Egypt. Joseph lived for 110 years and received a promise from his brothers that his bones would be taken to the promised land.
(When the Jews left Egypt, Moses took Joseph's bones for burial in Shechem. Joseph's two sons were the tribes of Israel and the northern Israelite kingdom went by the name of House of Joseph.)
Joseph and his extended family thrived in Egypt along with other Jews in Goshen. After the death of Joseph, their luck ran out and the period of affliction started. They multiplied in numbers, which made the Egyptians worry and despise them. The rule of Egypt changed hands to a new king, Seti, who did not know Joseph and wanted to oppress them and thereby reduce their numbers. They were rendered into slavery and began building cities, temples and palaces. Hardship and slavery did not deter the Israelites who multiplied and grew. Continued with Moses.
Moses
The king entered into a compact with the midwives that the latter would kill all male Israelite newborns. The midwives in their long tradition of good secular service did not honor their compact with the king. The Jews proliferated beyond expectations. The king declared an edict to the public to cast all Hebrew male children into the river. This brought alarm to a particular Hebrew family, the Kohathites with wife Jochebed and two children Miriam, 15 and Aaron 3 living in Memphis, the Capital City. When the edict was in effect a male child was born of the Kohathites in 1571 BCE. Jochebed made an ark of bullrush, put the three month old and floated him in the river at a spot commonly used by the princess for bathing. The princess saw the crying child floating by the river bank, called Miriam to bring her maid Jochebed and ordered her to nurse the child for a fee. The plan worked and the child stayed in the family. Thus the child named Moses was thus brought into the loving hands of his own mother.
Once weaning took place, the child was taken into the palace as the adopted son of the princess with his biological mother still caring for him. He was learned in "all the wisdom of Egyptians." He spent his adult life as a military General and his fame skyrocketed when he earned a brilliant victory over Ethiopia. Moses killed an Egyptian who abused an Israelite. Jews did not realize his worth and potential. The killing of Egyptian reaching the ears of Pharaoh (Rameses II) who wanted to kill Moses for his act, precipitated his fleeing to Midian (southern part of the peninsula of Sinai) where he lived like a foreigner, settled down and had two sons.
Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of the priest of Midian and had one son, Gershom. Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, near the mountain of Horeb and witnessed a burning bush and yet the flames did not consume the bush. When he approached to investigate this anomaly, God called out to Him from inside the Bush and told him that he commissioned as the leader of Israelites and he should rescue the children of Israel from Pharoah's oppression and take them out of Egypt in the name of God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God told Moses that the king of Egypt would let go of the Hebrews because of the pressure He would exert on the king and the wonders he would perform. He further advised Moses to let the women gather as much riches as possible from the Egyptians and leave for the land of Canaan. In order to convince Moses that He is with him all the way, God morphed the staff into a snake from which Moses ran. God advised him to pick up the snake by the tail, which he did and it turned into a staff. On his way to the king, Moses met with Aaron and the elders of Israel. The king would not "let my people go." The divine anger sends ten plagues upon Egypt. The king relents and let the Israelites leave Egypt. They cross the Sea of Reeds when the waters part. The pursuing Egyptian army suffers death by the engulfing sea. Moses composes a song praising the Lord and the rescue of Israelites (Ex 15). His family joins him in the wilderness. With his father-in-law serving as his advisor, Moses instituted a system of government. Moses goes up Mount Sinai, comes down with Ten Commandments, the five Books and the Oral Law and finds out that his people were participating in orgy and worshipping the Golden Calf. He admonished them for it.
Shiva Assar be-Tammuz (the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz) is a minor fast on the 17th of Tammuz (June-July) commemorating the Five Catastrophes that happened on that day: 1. Moses broke the Tablets, 2. the suspension of Tamid, 3. the walls of Jerusalem suffered breaching by enemies of Israel 4. Apostomos burns Torah, 5. He constructs an idol in the sanctuary.
1. Moses broke the Tablets (Ten commandments) upon returning from epiphany on Mount Sinai and seeing the worship of Golden Calf by the Israelites.
2. The suspension of Tamid (Perpetual offering) from the time of breakage of the Tablets. This reminds me of the Tantrics who offer meat, fish, grains and wine with incense to their Ishtadevata (god of their liking).
Exodus 29:38-46: 38"This is what you are to offer on the
altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39Offer one in the morning and
the other at twilight. 40With the first lamb
offer a tenth of an ephah of fine
flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of
oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a
hin of wine as a drink offering.
41Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its
drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma,
an offering made to the LORD by fire. (ephah
= a bushel; hin = 1 1/2 gallon = 5.7
liters.
42"For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at
the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and
speak to you; 43there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will
be consecrated by my glory.
44"So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate
Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45Then I will dwell among the
Israelites and be their God. 46They will know that I am the LORD their God,
who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD
their God.
In the time of sacrificial practice of the First and Second Temples, two lambs were offered one in the morning and one in the afternoon with flour, oil, wine and incense of pleasing aroma at the altar of the Tabernacle. God says, "there I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory." Now the sacrificial worship is replaced with Shacharit and Mincha (Minhah). Maariv has nothing to do with the ancient practice and is a later addition.
Nowadays, a public service is held if there is a quorum of ten adults (minyan) in the synagogue. Ten is an auspicious number because Moses sent ten spies to scout Canaan. Jews worship three times a day at home or in the synagogue just like observant Hindus do Sandhyavandhanam three times a day. Abraham mandated three daily prayers: Shacharit, Mincha (Minhah), and Maariv (little morning; mincha = gift, afternoon; and evening).
Psalms 55:16 But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. 17
Evening, morning and noon I cry out in
distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He ransoms me unharmed from the battle
waged against me, even though many oppose me.
Sandya (junctional [transitional time
zones] prayers—sunrise,
Om
Bhur Bhuvah Suvah =
Line one: Tat Savitur Vareniyam = THAT Light (sun) adore
Tat Sa vi tur Va re ni yam = 8 syllables
Second line: Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi = Splendor divine meditate
Bhar go De va sya Dhī ma hi = 8 syllables
Third line: Dhiyo yonah pracodayāt = Intelligence who our inspires
Om , earth, atmosphere, and heaven,
We meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun;
May he inspire our intelligence.
The presiding deity of deities, Gayatri is Supreme Brahman (Paramatma), Devi, Vishnu, the Sun, or Saguna Brahman. It is suitable for all asramas. The seven Rishis, Visvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Atri, Vasistha, and Kasyapa are the seers of the seven rhythms or vyāhrtis. Vyahrtis: mystic utterances. In relation to Gayatri, Bhur, Bhuvah and Svah (earth, atmosphere, and heaven--the cosmic space between the sun and the polar star.) are three of the seven Vyahritis or Lokas (worlds) of the cosmos. (The Vyahritis are Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahar, Janar, Tapar and Satya.) The presiding lesser deities are Agni (Fire god), Vayu (Wind god), Savitr (sun god), Brhaspati (the celestial Guru), Varuna (the god of waters), Indra (the chief of gods), and Visva deva (the Cosmic Deity). The seven lines in the following invocation depict the seven worlds and planes of existence with their respective presiding deities, all of whom are under one Supreme Diety, the Cosmic Purusa. The deities are invoked to help us attain the higher spiritual worlds in their domain and realization.
3. The breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans and the destruction of the Second Temple.
There are numerous episodes of destruction of Hindu temples by Muslim invaders.
The First Temple was destroyed by Babylonians and were exiled to Babylonia where they could not follow the sacrificial rituals. The Second Temple was built 70 years later and the sacrificial rituals and prayers were put back in place. The Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE. The priests dismissed the Service of the Altar and instituted the Service of the Heart (prayers). Gradual evolution took place and the synagogue became a place for prayer, assembly and study (Bet Tefila, Knesset, and Midrash). The Holy Ark (Aron Kodesh) is the centerpiece and the spiritual heart of the Synagogue and is placed along its eastern wall. Parochet (Curtain) hangs in front of it.
Exo 40:17So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in
the second year. 18When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in
place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 19Then
he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as
the LORD commanded him.
20He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the
ark and put the atonement cover over it. 21Then he
brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and
shielded the ark of the Testimony, as the LORD commanded him.
22Moses placed the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the
tabernacle outside the curtain 23and set out the bread on it before the LORD,
as the LORD commanded him.
24He placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting opposite the table on the
south side of the tabernacle 25and set up the lamps before the LORD, as the
LORD commanded him.
26Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain
27and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him. 28Then he put
up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
29He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the
Tent of Meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the
LORD commanded him.
The Synagogue has more than one Torah in the Ark. The Menora,
the centerpiece of the Tabernacle had seven branches in the Original Two
Temples. Once they were destroyed number seven was retired permanently. Any
number other than seven is acceptable now. Ner Tamid (the Eternal Light)
overhangs the Ark. The ninth candle of the Temple Menorah, the Shamash is in
the very center and slightly above the rest and serves as the eternal Light
and the Light of lights.
4. The fourth occurrence was the burning of the Torah by Apostomos, one of the ministers of Rome.
Jewish people regard the breaking of the Tablets and the burning of the Torah are two sides of the coin of spiritual destruction. The suspension of the daily sacrifice and the installation of idol in the Temple are the twin cognate catastrophes against the worship of one Monistic God.
Commemoration of these events is a resolve to repair what went wrong with the Jewish tradition and restore faith to its pristine state. The body, heart, mind and soul of Jews turn to Israel, Jerusalem, the Temple, and Holy of the Holies.
5. Apostomos builds and installs an idol in the Temple.
The other Fives are as follows:
On the 9th of Av:
1) God of Abraham told Moses that the ancestors of Israel would not be allowed to enter Promised Land for breaching the faith and word of God by Moses.
2) The 1st Mikdash was destroyed
3) The 2nd Mikdash was destroyed
4) Beitar was conquered
5) The city was plowed under
Once the people were running out of water and blamed Moses for bringing them to the desert where there was no water for them and the livestock. There
were no grain, figs, grapevines or pomegranates. After hearing an earful of complaints, Moses and Aaron fell face down. God appeared to them and
said to Moses to gather all the people, take the staff, and speak to the rock before their eyes and water would gush out of the rocks for the people and the livestock.
He took his stick and instead talking to the rock to yield water, struck it twice bringing a gush of water. God was angry that he smote the rock instead of talking to
it to give the water. That was the reason why angry God did not allow Moses and the community to enter Israel. There are several purported reasons for the anger
of God. Moses performed the miracle as if it was his own miracle; but it would not have been a miracle if it were not for God. By striking the rock Moses showed
anger and a lack of faith, a sin by itself. Twelve Israeli spies came back from Canaan and ten of them except Caleb and Joshua reported that the Hebrews would
not be able to conquer Canaan. Moses and Aaron were very disheartened and had doubts on the world of God. Caleb and Joshua said otherwise and spoke words
of encouragement to the Israelites. That was the reason why God said only Caleb and Joshua would enter the promised land and not others. This lack of faith in
the word of God and the sending of the spies in Canaan for forty days for scouting drew the ire of God who made the Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness.
Num 14:33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies
lies in the desert. 34For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know
what it is like to have me against you.’ 35I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community,
which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert;
here they will die."
Moses dies at age 120 in 2488 BCE.
God said to Moses, "Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho,
and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be
gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51This is because both of you broke faith with me in the
presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52Therefore,
you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." DEU 32. Miriam also died before reaching the promised land.
The origin of Yahweh
This two-syllable word are Egyptian as the name Moses is. Yahweh = Yah + weh = The Moon + Renewal.
Yah refers to the Moon Deity as in Hinduism SOMA is identified with the Moon. Renewal is characteristic of the Moon because it appears again on the third day
of absence. People die and never return, while Moon alone reappears. The ancients in Egypt named their God neter meaning perpetual renewal. Neter is a Being
who has the power and ability to create objects in a cyclical fashion.
Yahweh = Yah + weh = The soul (the self, the One, the ego) + Renewal.
The Hebrew texts in Old Testament identify God by the terms Elohim and El Shaddai (God Almighty).
Renewal cycles in Hinduism
Hinduism talks in terms of Kalpas and Kalpal cycles. Below is a sample of Kalpas. Brahma is the creator of the universe and beings under the direction of Vishnu.
Brahma lives and dies, while Vishnu lives for ever in perpetuity.
When Brahma dies another Brahma is created by Vishnu to run the show for 311.04 trillion years in human time frame. Brahma is the creator; Vishnu is the
preserver; Siva is the destroyer; all three are essential to complete the cycle.
Brahma’s Life Span: 100 Brahma years
(311.04 Trillion person-years.)
Table: The Kalpas
|
Brahma Units |
Kalpa Units |
Man-years |