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| | The !:Global Sindhis Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Religion or Philosophy? | Views: 1305 | | May 16, 2007 6:49 pm | | Religion or Philosophy? | # | 
Pushpa Moorjani | | On my last trip to Madrid, I met a Sindhi woman. We got to talking religion and philosophy. And suddenly she asked me about my Guru. She asked me to tell her which religious path had I chosen. Was I a follower of Sai Baba, or Dhan Nirankari or Radha Soami or Brahmakumari?
I told her that I had not yet chosen a Guru because I was highly confused. My family is Radha Soami, my cousins are Dhan Nirankaris, My single aunts are Brahmakumaris and my friends are SaiBaba devotees. Plus there are more than twenty thousand Gurus, and all are highly qualified. I want to choose a path that can guarantee me a sure-shot heaven destination. I cannot live long enough to try all of them. I don’t have that much time.
To begin with, I have chosen to live the life of being an honest human being. I have promised myself that I will not lie, nor steal, nor slash anybody’s throat. But, I plan to make a decision soon, in this life time. I hope.
She told me there is no hope for me.
But yes, I am confused. What do I have to do to become a better person? If eating non-vegetarian is a sin, then, I stand committed as a sinner, and no Guru shall accept me anyway. But what of those who hurt the sentiments of their fellow companions, killing their souls mercilessly? What about those gossipers who spend endless hours slandering the character of innocent and naïve people? What of those who speak endless lies without even a fraction of a blink?
Do the people who have taken ‘Naam’ (initiation) get a free ticket to heaven against all odds?
I have attended many (satsangs) and I always hear the same thing, time and again, same things, over and over, but still, I see repeatedly that the devotees nod their head in astonishment, every time, pretending, as if they are hearing it for the first time. Repeatedly they ask the same questions (at questions/answers meetings) and get the same answers, but they look surprised every time, as if revelation of solution is disclosed to them for the first time!
Some of them have been devotees of one particular Guru for many, many years and they are still wondering the purpose of their life. Still complaining that they find it hard to concentrate on their meditation, still curious about what is lacto-vegetarian diet, still weighing and contemplating as to what medicines (in their veggie world) are safer to take, still finding it difficult to shed off their attachment with their materialistic world.
We are all lost. I, too, stand at a crossroad! Confused!
Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | May 17, 2007 1:51 pm | | re: Religion or Philosophy? | # | 
Rajan Bhavnani | | Well, Pushpa, I also come from a religious fractured family. And just sharing, in brief, my thought processes.
But after some introspection and study I turned to the Vedas. And came to the conclusion that Hinduism is a beautiful philosophy. That even as an agnostic, one cannot escape the laws of Karma and Dharma. And of reincarnation. And also Dharma can take the path of extreme destruction for good over evil, as extolled in the Gita. And that all of us are one, in our astral form.
Also that all knowledge is locked within our consciousness, and only few have reached that stage where they have been able to unlock it from within. The whole truth about our being!
To unlock this consciousness, meditation to attain Sadhana seems to be the accepted path. And pranic breathing, the key, to help us meditate and uncover this consciousness within us. Hinduism is kind. It talks of Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic foods and action. (I am an occasional non-vegetarian!)
That the chanting of certain shlokas has vibrations. When my Dad was terminally ill, his Guru gave me a mantra which I was asked to chant softly into his ear. That very same mantra was meant to give me and him peace and to this date this mantra gives me this peace and relief from pain. I was given this with the promise that I never reveal it to anyone; wife, mother or daughter. And one day I stumbled upon this mantra in its original Sanskrit form.
There our many Gurus out there, But some are charlatans. So how do we find the right one? Obviously, my parents Gurus seemed right for them.
To me meditation has been important. Some meditate on a verse, or a deity, but I meditate to keep my mind free of all thoughts. As explained to me, as the body does need rest, so does the mind and one must free it from thinking; being void of thought.
Have I found the answer?
NO! Not until I unlock the knowledge stored in me. There are Dept.’s of Parapsychology, in the USA, which have come up with startling revelations of previous lives! Much against what Christianity is silent about. And I have had many inexplicable weird experiences.
My only hope is to never be born in Kalyug again but in Satyug!
I think I may have confused you more!
Best
Private Reply to Rajan Bhavnani | | May 17, 2007 2:42 pm | | re: re: Religion or Philosophy? | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | No Sir, you have not confused me at all, in fact you have enlightened me.You are talking by your faith and you have used it for your own benefit, and that is good.
This is exactly what each and every Guru preaches. He says, “I show you the path but use it for your benefit and not to flash it with sparkling teeth, boosting your own ego.”
I would love to take an initiation from one Guru, preferably one, that I have learnt to believe in and respect (my only problem is that I find it difficult to follow a particular diet of lacto-veggie) but I don’t wish to be labeled, to be recognized as, of that particular cult, shamelessly critiquing the virtues of other Gurus.
Every Guru is a blessed soul and they come to spread a particular message and they sincerely ask us to shed off our five vices that includes ego and greed. But what do we do? We forfeit our own values and become the supervisors of a common man.
Instead of using the knowledge for improving our Karma/Dharma, we start roving our eyes in all directions, desperately looking for naive sinners.
Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | May 17, 2007 3:27 pm | | re: re: re: Religion or Philosophy? | # |
Rajan Bhavnani | | Thanks!
My parent's Gurus taught them that about food, it was all relative. Being Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic. And anyone in those categories could progress spiritually. Because spirituality is not uni-dimensional. It embraces all but to a relative degree.
I prefer vegetarian, but never make a fuss if there is non veg to eat.
So this can be applied to other threads of spirituality too.
As far as Gurus are concerned there are Gurus and "gurus"! One popular one from the 80's rotting in jail for molestation!
Thus, I think about spirituality from within and read books which are written by Gurus.
BestPrivate Reply to Rajan Bhavnani | | Jun 14, 2007 9:33 am | | re: Religion or Philosophy? | # | 
Nitin Karani | | Hi there,
Short answer to your question. Ignore the negative behaviour of other so-called followers. That should not reflect on the Gurus or their teachings--the followers are just as human as you (and prone to err).
And it's not about being a "better person" but finding your own self and God. Do you really want to? If yes, then study the philosophies of various masters around and decide which path appeals to you and steadfastly follow that (I know, it's easier said than done by us).
Once you have made up your mind, things like following a particular diet will seem hardly difficult.
All the best.
Nitin Private Reply to Nitin Karani | | Jun 14, 2007 6:03 pm | | re: re: Religion or Philosophy? | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | Once Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.
In his opening address he said, “We can't keep people from going to pray. We can't keep them from reading their holy books and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their GOD. Once they gain that connection with GOD, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their prayers; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with GOD."
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their GOD and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable to occupy their minds," he answered. "Keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from GOD."
"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
It will work!"
It was quite a plan!
The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing people everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families, having no time to tell others about the power of GOD to change lives. I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?
You be the judge!!!!!
Does "BUSY" mean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | Jun 28, 2007 6:34 am | | re: re: re: Religion or Philosophy? | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | What do we say of the religion when religious Gurus have differences?
The top Sikh clergy on Wednesday rejected the fresh "apology" by Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, accused of blasphemy, saying it neither accepted his sin nor promised to refrain
The Dera Chief had invited the ire of Akal Takhat for allegedly dressing like Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and his action sparked violent protest by the Sikhs across Punjab last month.
My views on my blogspot at on 'So much commotion over dera Sacha Sauda' at
http://chat-with-pushpee.blogspot.com/2007/05/so-much-commotion-over-dera-sacha-sauda.html
Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | Jun 28, 2007 7:14 am | | re: re: re: re: Religion or Philosophy? | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | I was watching TV program ‘CNN live' today and they showed some devotees in their trance. They looked happy and contented and they were the followers of Osho.
“Sri Sri Ravishankar and Osho are today the glamour boys of Indian spirituality. They are charismatic and offer a new spiritual product: how to take the good life to the fulfilled life’’, said the reporter.
“They are the modern-day sects of the successful. They teach you how to meditate and celebrate. The two will never clash.
It's a personalized designer religion that allows you to love your material aspirations with no guilt.
Sects like those of Osho and Sri Sri Ravishankar are today really popular with the young and successful. It's a young and personalized religion that allows them to enjoy their materialistic needs”.
The people looked quite contented doing what they liked best, be it singing hymns or meditating. Their focus was on their own experience. If they took part in dancing sequences, they seemed to enjoy every moment.
There is no teaching in Osho, you only have to strive for yourself because there is always danger in imitating others.
“With gurus like Osho and Sri Sri Ravishankar, nirvana is hip. The community, therefore, is global and the holy life merges with the comfortable life.” said the reporter on CNN live.
In Osho, Capitalism is in, charity is out. It’s not really an arduous pilgrimage. This is the philosophy of "Me".
Well, everybody has their own choice to make; it all depends on our attitude towards life!
Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | Jun 29, 2007 4:38 pm | | hi | # | 
Pavan Choudhary | | reading ur posts is really something.
Its remarkable. U write really well. Private Reply to Pavan Choudhary | | Jul 01, 2007 6:53 am | | re: hi | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | Thank you Pawan for your encouraging words, however, I would appreciate if people shared their views too...I would like to know what is their take on religion, an opinion, which is objective, but untangles my confused mind...
:)Private Reply to Pushpa Moorjani | | Sep 17, 2007 10:49 am | | religion or philososphy | # |
Pushpa Moorjani | | A SATSANG goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to SATSANG every Sunday.
"I've gone to SATSANG for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 SATSANGS. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the SPEAKERS are wasting theirs by giving SATSANGS to us all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to SATSANG for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"
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