RE: Devotion and Love in Hinduism
Dear Cub,
Thanks for the post and all in it.
You mention Santoshi Maa.That's really interesting to me as an off-shoot subject, since isn't that the recent deity who was kind of 'invented' through story telling quite recently (late 20th century), and then a TV series or something was made about her? I'm not debating her real or non-real existence, but just interest in the way deities come about....
Venetian xxx
RE: Devotion and Love in Hinduism
Dear David
Have you read every single gnostic text in every language? You judge accuracy on what is available to you, do you not.
I look forward to the day when the Vatican archives are opened. I learnt a very long time ago to never say never David.
Yes I and others have had personal experiences and have danced with Jesus. That is not channelling it is a mystical religious experience of a supreme order. Not only does he dance but he twirls you around like cinderella and her prince, the lover and the beloved at the most amazing ball. It is the most wonderful experience of pure joy to be held in his arms in such a way. To see him so happy to dance is an experience one never ever forgets.
"He inspires me with his presence
And I feel like the belle of the ball
Dancing through heaven our Kingdom of Love
The Sacred Union with the Divine".
Love beyond measure
Kim xx
RE: Devotion and Love in Hinduism
Hi Venetian,
I did a little reasearch and found some evidence to suggest that Santoshi Maa has a film alter ego that predates the actual incarnation of the avatar [sm=eeeK.gif] http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/santoshimaa.html - this has a really good critque of the film.
I do remember watching the film as a teeny weeny child, but checked with my mum about the origin. She was quite emphatic that Santoshi Maa is one of the 9 incarnations of Durga Maa, and that she was taught about Her as a child. Now my dear mum is quite frail and elderly, and does get a little confused, so she could be right, but she could equally be mistaken. That said, She always feels like a divinity to me when I pray to Her (although I know that's not the point you were making).
Will do some more digging around when I come back (am off hunting this weekend for more heavenly Blue John in the Peaks, being the Crystal Cub that I am [sm=jump1.gif]).
Cub
RE: Devotion and Love in Hinduism
Hi Cub,
I believe in deities and gods, etc., but also come from an academic (in quotes) background, Santashi Maa is really interesting to academics for it seems to be a very recent example of how a "deity" might be invented - such as Durga, Brahma, Kali, Hanuman,and all the others. Now, I am NOT saying that they are not real beings! I am just being "intellectual" here. But Santoshi Maa did not exist until a few decades back - that is fascinating to academics, I assure you!
I'd love to hear anything else you can add.
Of course, this is a chicken-and-egg situation in all cases - what came first? It may be that the deity was invented by mortals and is not real, or it may be that a real Being made himself/herself known.
It's very interesting indeed. Because it may give insight into how the gods and goddesses came about at least in some cases. In this recent case it was sheerly through the mass media and talk/chat, and academics are truly fascinated.
[This is totally off-topic of the thread, but I am happy to go with it, or it can become another thread.]
ORIGINAL: Crystal Cub
Will do some more digging around when I come back (am off hunting this weekend for more heavenly Blue John in the Peaks, being the Crystal Cub that I am [sm=jump1.gif]).
RE: Devotion and Love in Hinduism
Hi Venetian,
Thanks to Cub's super posts, I've just read this. Very interesting and I totally agree with where you write:
There's a need for technique - a need for a scientific technique to be applied. Spirituality at its highest levels is a kind of a scince and does require conscious technique, whatever it may be. BUT technique is "dry" and leads nowhere without the motive being one of Love - to God and to fellow man/woman. I am certain that the Gita nad R mean this - that you apply technique, but that the motive must always be one of love.
This passage of Mary Baker Eddy's I feel exactly sums up what you are saying here and certainly, from my perspective I have seen how the letter alone has so killed the love, joy and inspiration that should be at the very heart of all religions. I'm going to insert 'Hinduism" here instead of 'Christian Science":
"God is the Principle of divine metaphysics. As there is but one God, there can be but one divine Principle of all Science; and there must be fixed rules for the demonstration of this divine Principle. The letter of Science plentifully reaches humanity to-day, but its spirit comes only in small degrees. The vital part, the heart and soul of (Hinduism), is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,--pulseless, cold, inanimate." (Science and Health p 113)"
However, my favourite quote about this idea is:
Principle without love is an iceberg.
Love without principle is a wobbly jelly. 😀
Judy