I recently took a pilgrimage to Corpus Christi Church on 121st Street off of Broadway, here in New York City. This is where Thomas Merton, the great Catholic monk/mystic/author, was baptized, formally beginning a spiritual journey which has captivated and inspired millions of truth-seekers over the past few generations, myself included.
It was a special enough moment to be there, but a certain deeper resonance came as I stepped back out into the street, as I suddenly saw my past, present and future all before me. My past, raised in the Catholic tradition by my family in Detroit, as represented by Corpus Christi Church and Merton, faced me in my present situation, as an aspiring Hindu minister in New York City. I turned to my left to see the potentiality of my future, as represented by Union Theological Seminary, where I am currently applying, and where I hope to find an experience to harmonize my spiritual aspirations with my concern to be a servant to create justice in the world.
I was reminded that we owe a tremendous debt to that which has shaped us, to those who have helped to form us. We can forget this so easily, when the cult of our own individuality oversteps its boundaries. I was once again reminded that what I appreciate most of all in my own spiritual journey is gaining a greater and more loving acceptance of where I have come from, from the sacred roots of my family.
The Catholic faith of my youth planted within me the seeds to seek the truth. Now the tables have turned, as my experience of the incredible vistas of Hindu theology and practice has turned a shining light back to where I was before. In fact, I see that where I was before is very much the same as I am now. My Hindu faith has made me a better Christian.
Even as a child, the stories and wisdom I received in church and in catechism spoke to me of a profound yet simple reality: God is a person who knows and loves me dearly and deeply, and that I am also a person who can return that love in a very personal and unique way.
As I began to study the great Bhagavad-Gita, I found out that my seemingly childish impression of a personal and loving God was not actually so. It was steeped in the deepest truth. The theology of the Gita is immense and all-inclusive. The reality of the Divine is explained in three ways: God is His all-pervasive, transpersonal essence, the guide or conscience within our heart, and also a distinct individual. It is His unique personal feature which the Gita describes as being the preeminent of these three aspects.
The Gita climaxes with this passage, in which Krishna, the original Personality of God as described in Hinduism, tells his friend Arjuna that:
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
The path of Bhakti which I follow is a system of connection, or yoga, with God, based on the idea of loving, devotional service. Real devotional service is the giving of one's body, mind, and words to the service of God. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, a classical 16th century devotional treatise, we read that:
"When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Kṛṣṇa favorably, as Kṛṣṇa desires."
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.For it is in giving that we receive
As I pray and meditate and call God's names, it takes me into the memory of the examples before me, of my great-aunt chanting the rosary with daily and deep devotion in the living room of my childhood home, and of my grandfather taking to the Detroit airwaves in his youth to say the rosary as well. These connections, sacred and sustaining to me, is where I really feel I have become a better Christian through my Hindu practice. It has allowed me to honor a desire in my family to carry forward a torch of devotion to God that transcends any cultural boundaries or differences.
Without the grace and knowledge I have received in my practice and life as a Hindu minister, I would not be able to approach my heritage as a Christian in such a meaningful way. This reality leaves me with a grateful heart, and a desire to go deeper into this harmony, to honor where I have come from, where I am now, and where I am meant to go.
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Comparing Christianity & Hinduism - Catholic Education Resource ...
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Hinduism
Confessions of a Hindu-Catholic Schoolgirl - Beliefnet.com
On "Hindutva" and a "Hindu-Catholic," with a Moral for our Times
Monotheistic thought is the bane of humans.
I tottaly agree with the author's statement: "Real devotional service is the giving of one's body, mind, and words to the service of God." Regardless of your religion, just do that.
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I totally agree with the above statement. However, I believe Paul was a Pharisee of the house of Israel, not a Roman soldier.
(By the way, the word Jew did not come into existence until the 12th century.)
Hindus can accept Jesus as an entity that can save them ( save in the biblical context means heal} or heal them and still be Hindu.
What part of Jesus said in my above comment do you not understand?
My reply!
Hinduism is the closes faith to "smoke and mirrors" I've come across!
Hinduism is whatever any follower (yes singular) wanted it to be .
Hinduism has a very loose set of creeds -- and can argue "belief and acceptance" on any position.
Example Hinduism --- do not believe: Jesus is the Son of Almighty God; or that Jesus was impaled for mankind's sins! But they can say with a straight face:
"Hindus can accept Jesus as an entity that can save them!"
Hinduism is an ameba belief is my summation -- And I find it exhausting to pin it down. Lol
“The mind is like a parachute, it only works if it’s open.”
Christ said "Do not throw pearls before the swine" Even Christ realized there are certain people who wallow so much in the excrement of their own ignorance that even Christ had to call them swine. People like that exist in every religion, and in any walk of life:)
So, you ignorantly state that Hinduism is smoke & mirrors...lmao. Have you studied faith - I mean, the word, in general?? Faith is having belief - and in the case of religion, it's having belief in the Divine. Are you claiming to be God?? If God was upset with people who have been worshipping Him for - wait for it - 7,000 years plus! - God would have wiped us out - but HE didn't. God accepts people worshipping Him as long as it's sincere and we don't judge others for the way they pray to HIM. UNDERSTAND THIS VERY SIMPLE POINT. AND MAYBE - JUST MAYBE - JESUS WILL GIVE YOU SALVATION.
How do you know you're dealing with someone promoting the Truth?
1. No rituals in Christianity. No some have brought in rituals as a crutch because of weak faith.
2. No legalism in Christianity.
3. No philosophy in Christianity. One notices that with religions, there are always these long explanations of how to get in balance, ying and yang, one with nature and sin is minimized.
4. WORKS is always present. It’s usually trying to appease nature or attempting to be perfect. the idea is that this 'perfect person" will serve as an example for other to emulate. What are they really trying to illustrate? That man doesn't need Jesus and is the measure of all things( Genesis 3:22)
This is why mixing religions with Christianity is evil; it promotes confusion. Mixing doesn't promote enlightenment-it promotes darkness.(2 Corinthians 6:14)
People have every right to defend their faith strongly, however, its people like you that give religion in general a bad name! Don't comment on other religions when you clearly don't have a clue about them! People like you in any faith don't realize the negative consequences you bring upon the teachings of your own tradition.
This article mentioned Thomas Merton, a great Christian saint of the last century. It was Thomas Merton who wrote a foreword for the Bhagavad Gita. Rest assured, in your knowledge of Christianity, you are universes apart from a towering figure like Thomas Merton!!
You wouldn't be familiar with Merton at all would you? Try reading him sometime and if not at least don't comment on things you don't understand for the sake of your own religion.
I hope that I continue to give religion a bad name! I can comment about other religions because they all have the same thing in common-they are bogus. Its religions, not me, that have negative consequences on people. Don't your people come from a land that encourages the caste system? Why do you think you live in this country? Isn’t it for a better life? Well what gave you that better life was not Hinduism but Christianity and Capitalism. Both are strongly linked. If you were so in love with the "teachings" and "enlightenments” about Hinduism, you and your folks would still be over in India or Nepal.
Now your boy Merton was a bright fellow but what invalidates him as a "towering figure" was that the boy was a Christian "mystic". Now Colossians 2:9 says that when one has Jesus, they don't need anything else as they are complete. Now those with weak faith always seem to want to supplement that faith (makes sense because it’s weak faith) with knowledge. Seeking knowledge is the basis of Gnosticism. Lovers of knowledge are philosophers. It is written that one should be careful about being cheated with philosophy. Merton got caught up with philosophy-especially eastern philosophy. Anytime that a Christian 'validates" an eastern religion of philosophy, it gives the seeker confidence that there must be something truly valuable to it.
End of part 1
It matters that you, as one inclined towards a theistic orientation, turn to her. (Note it matters not the gender of each name).
All spiritual traditions have rituals for observance, legal codes of conduct, and philosophy for the expounding of guiding viewpoints. And they all stress the central importance of works.
Confusion is not a bad thing but a sound starting point for the seeker through which the light enters into the heart.
Sometimes one should set aside scripture for a short while in order to truly discover the possibilities of meaning within it.
This is a very astute and intuitive comment.
I can relate to it from experiences in my personal journey. The cognitive dissidence and the reconciling of conflicting ideas through inner experience that can lead to a giant leap in ones evolution.
It evokes in me also a resolution towards greater compassion towards those who may be or seem to be confused.
Thank you for that
"to spread the culture of love, devotion and dedication."
This love is not a culture but a realization from which devotion and dedication stem.
Namaste
One can notice the development and evolution of the basic tenets of Hinduism. Accept the religion you belong to, either, Hindu, Chritian or Muslim and having COMPLETE FAITH in it, start a self inquiry into your SELF. This is introspection which is highly commended in the scriptures. If one questions, the very foundation of a faith, there is no place for further arguments. Evolution of Man as propounded by Darwin is also similar, but limited to the evolution of the Man.
Hinduism has this godhead doctrine – dates back to ancient Egyptian and Romanic beliefs --- also a key doctrine (the trinity) to the Christian community! And all false doctrines!
But you know what— there are a few last words from Jesus, that gives all of us hope; when being impaled by the Romans, as a sacrificial lamb taking-on the weight of world so that man would live he said: “Forgive them Father – for they do not know what they are doing!”
Jesus life on this earth, with us mortals, recognized “how lost we are! A people being mislead by wolves in sheep’s’ clothing – pushing ungodly doctrines and teachings!” And nothing has changed to this present day.
Jesus is mankind's final judge on Judgment Day; and in his wisdom, love, and mercy – there is the hope most of us will be given the opportunity “for everlasting life on earth with friends and love ones!"
Jesus will set all things straight when God’s earthly Kingdom is established! For mankind thirsts for a standard (God’s Kingdom) of life and government that is righteous, merciful, caring, loving, happy, all inclusive, and with God’s presence never ending!” All found in Jesus – mankind Savior!
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gthlamb.html
If you have been modified, its an illusion so what can it mean? (FZ, Joes Garage)
Question: Jesus to Hindus's, yes a person that lived -- but a non entity in regards to all the above claims.
For Jesus to proclaim all the above claims -- and in your eyes be a non entity - shouldn't Jesus be consider someone not worthy of being quoted - for Jesus would be a person with disillusions of grandeur in Hinduism's eye?
Please explain if the answer is other than "I agree with your summation."
In fact, it was Merton's foreward to the A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada edition of the Gita, published in 1966 by Macmillian, which turned me to Merton in the first place.
Don't know if you are familiar the great Indian saint Sri. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa? He is a towering saint in his own right, however, one unique part of his legacy is that he practiced the Hindu Dharma and also for a brief time Christianity and Islam. He achieved enlightenment through each of the 3 paths. You may really enjoy reading of him. "The Gospel of Sri. Ramakrishna" is an excellent work if you ever get a chance read up on him.
I bring that up bc the great saints like Merton, Ramakrishna, Rumi, etc.....are shining lights that prove all spiritual paths lead to the One and the same Source, Truth and also originate from that One Source as a means of providence and grace for the entire human race.
Don't be afraid, it seems you have little faith to put a sincere spiritual aspirant down.
There is no fear in me...certainly not of any mortal man.
Perhaps I don't have a captivating tone to my words. I'll let the Bible speak for me and perhaps you'll better understand my protest, From 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"
next this chap( and sounds like you're being beguiled) will be talking about "reincarnation" , 'karma" and that Shiva is another way, ( along with the other 330 million gods) and another truth and another light.
For more on Merton check out my site: http://mertonocso.wordpress.com