Blooming Stars - Swami (Dr) Snehanada Jyoti
We
do not for sure know about our past life or for that matter about our
after-life. We know only about this life. The rest comes from our faith or
theological speculations. We need to focus on the unity of humanity, equality,
respect, and freedom bereft of any abuse. This religion seems to coincide with
the religion that Sri Narayana Guru speaks of: oru jati, oru matham, oru daivam manushyanu (one caste, one
religion, one God for humans). Again, mathamethayalum
manushyan nannayal mathi (whatever be one’s religion, it is enough for
human to become good). The theology for
the modern world needs to be pragmatic, and needs to come from lived experience. To be meaningful, it cannot be mainly about
dogmatic formulations and abstract theological pronouncements. It cannot be
merely doctrinal statements or disciplinary diktats.This theology can prepare
humans to reach the sublime state of realized souls described in
Sankaracharya’s Nirvanashtakam that go
beyond any concept, and enjoy the status of chidanandaroopa
(the mind bliss state). Christ speaks of the Kingdom of God within each one of
us, a kingdom of truth and justice, a kingdom of peace and reconciliation of
everything and everyone in a unique God-human blend. Again these are human expressions about the
incomprehensible. Let us focus on living right, doing right, taking things as
they come, praying for grace to accept what we get when we do not get what we
pray for. Everything, both good and bad, happens for a reason. We can mentally
and spiritually grow if we are able to decode or decipher the message contained
in everything that happens to us. It is also good to remind ourselves of the
great insight imparted to us by the great Roman thinker, Epictetus: “It is not
what happens to us that matters, but what we make of what happens to us that
matters”.
The powerful Serenity Prayer that says ”God, grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference”
is also a powerful guide in our daily living. We are asked to be as perfect as
our heavenly Father is. We are God’s, and God is ours. God is love, and love is
God; God is truth and truth is God. God is freedom, beauty, compassion,
justice, and all other attributes. God loves us and wants everyone to become
what he/she is capable of. God’s
corrective - not punitive - justice brings us back to his
ways. God does not want anyone to be lost. Even the one who rejects God
sincerely will be saved. God gives humans unconditional freedom knowing the
possibility of abuse of freedom. It is important to have an attitude of
profound gratitude for the entire creation, nature and its wonders, this
magnificent world and all its beauty, and all the blessings freely given. A
heart-felt feeling that all is well, that there is a universal Providence
looking after everyone and everything, that all are co-creators with God is
ours to have. We need to constantly thank God for creating us as God’s
children.
For more articles from Blooming Stars, kindly visit Indian Thoughts
No comments:
Post a Comment