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What is the Proper Balance Between Loving and...
Sadhika Pant
 April 16 2024 at 11:58 am
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This question has been cropping up in my mind again and again of late. Loving God encompasses feelings of adoration, reverence, and devotion. It involves a deep emotional connection and a desire to cultivate a relationship based on love, trust, and intimacy. Love prompts acts of worship, gratitude, and service as expressions of devotion towards the divine. On the other hand, fearing God involves a sense of awe, respect, and humility in the face of the divine's power, authority, and majesty. Fear in this context does not necessarily imply terror or dread but rather a profound awareness of God's transcendence and sovereignty. It can inspire obedience, piety, and a healthy reverence for divine will and moral principles. How does Hinduism answer this question? Finding the proper balance between these two attitudes is a complex endeavour and different traditions preach different modes of relating to the divine. At the risk of overwriting my own interpretation more than is justified over the wide-ranging perspectives encompassed by Hinduism, I would say that the relationship between devotee and deity in this faith is characterised more by intense love and devotion, known as Bhakti, than by fear. From this standpoint, love is considered paramount. The Bhagavad Gita, a central text in Hindu philosophy, elucidates the importance of devotion and love towards the divine. For instance, in Chapter 9, Verse 22, Lord Krishna says, “Those who are always full of love, who worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form - to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.” However, the concept of fear (or awe) in relation to God is not entirely absent in Hindu thought. Some Hindu traditions, particularly those influenced by Shaivism (worship of Lord Shiva, the destroyer), acknowledge the paradoxical nature of the divine, which encompasses both benevolent and wrathful aspects. In these traditions, fear may arise from a profound reverence for the awe-inspiring power and cosmic order (dharma) maintained by the divine. Another aspect of Hinduism which deserves mention here, is that God is not held to be the authority tasked with punishing sinners. The law of karma (actions and their consequences) evokes a certain fear among Hindus, but this fear arises not from a punitive deity, but from the recognition that negative actions lead to negative consequences. In this sense, fearing God could be seen as a form of respect for the cosmic order rather than a dread of punishment. All in all, I would say that Hinduism characterises the relationship with God to be one of love, with fear playing a very small role (if at all) in maintaining humility and reverence towards the divine. How do other faiths answer this question? In Judaism, the concept of fearing God, known as "Yirat Hashem," is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Proverbs 9:10 famously states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” At the same time, Judaism also places a strong emphasis on love for God, as expressed in the commandment to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5). This love is characterised by devotion, loyalty, and obedience to God's commandments, as exemplified by figures like Abraham, Moses, and King David in Jewish tradition. Christianity similarly emphasises both love and fear in the context of the relationship with God. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ teaches about the importance of loving God and loving one's neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:37-39). The Apostle John reaffirms this message, stating, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18). Here, love is portrayed as the antidote to fear, suggesting that a deep, intimate relationship with God dispels apprehension and dread. However, Christianity also acknowledges the importance of reverential fear towards God. Jesus himself teaches his disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). This fear is not based on a fear of punishment alone but on a recognition of God's power, holiness, and judgement. Christians believe that God's love, grace, and mercy are freely given to those who trust in Him, inviting them into a relationship marked by love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Relevance in day to day prayer Keeping aside the philosophy for a moment, the question becomes relevant in day to day prayer rituals. Take, for example, the common dilemmas encountered in everyday life, such as the moments of worry or uncertainty. The anxiety preceding a routine medical checkup. Or the guilt and fear one feels when a sinful thought crosses one's mind, followed swiftly by a prayer of apology. In such instances, the fear experienced, characteristic of a God-fearing individual, can be viewed as a factor that strengthens faith. And why not? If one experiences a fear of God each time a transgression occurs or whenever fear arises, it implies that one's thoughts often turn to God, perhaps as frequently as they do to one's own shortcomings. On the other hand, as a Hindu, I ask myself: What brings on the fear? Unwavering faith in God, or a lack thereof? More devoted Hindus than myself might argue that to give in to fear signifies a faltering faith in a deity whose omnipotence and benevolence can orchestrate miracles to guide us through adversity. They would say that God's love and forgiveness are boundless, akin to an expansive ocean capable of purifying our souls, even amidst the muddied currents of our transgressions. With the blessings of such a God, the decision to fear undermines the love of God. I have no clear answer. But that’s okay. Certain questions must be allowed to linger in our contemplation. This is not a question to which one can simply borrow someone else's answer, no matter how convincing. The answer we must find by ourselves, even if it emerges incoherently.
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Beyond Belief (Part 3)
John Aufenanger
 Yesterday at 04:31 pm
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I called myself a writer for a long time. Now, writing is unpleasant because, 1. It's unnecessary; I have nothing true to say, and 2. My "rightness" is utterly dependent on everyone else's "wrongness," and I can't run that story anymore. Right and wrong are words that never come into contact with reality. Believing in something called "other people," society, politics, philosophies, just doesn't make any sense. To speak of "they" or "them" no longer makes any sense. "They" only occurs in imagination; there is no third person in direct experience. Likewise, there's not a single true story in any news media anywhere. Previously, attachments to ideas allowed me to pretend one point of view was "true," another "false," but that's gone. Nothing that is said in an objective way - no event or crisis - is found in the experience. So, my question is: as far as "acting in 'the world'" is concerned, HOW? More to the point, WHY? This is an apology for my silence. Endless conflict - not with imagined "others" but with ideas appearing as people - is the only possible outcome of discursive engagement. There is a way of communicating, or transmitting, which rings true, but it is not this. I continue to read your offerings, and I comment very occasionally when moved to do so. Much pain, much wonder. That movement comes from something that isn't "me." It is the heart speaking - not "mine" anymore than yours; there is One. Perhaps a better word for "One" is "All." Means the same, in this case. I neither agree nor disagree, but I feel each of your realities as I read them with love, for there's no other way to do anything. Nothing can be done through any other motivation. It is either from love that is sought because it seems to be missing, and this is why we hurt one another with wars and desires and governments and abstract ideas, or love that is experienced, and this is why we are considerate and compassionate and polite, and cooperative. We're all this. So, I could pretend to be on a mission to somehow "give" you the experience that I experience, so that you too can know this peace that I know, but that is just pretending - re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as it were. No one in History has ever said anything other than "God" in diverse, confusing, and contradictory ways because there is nothing else to say, because there is nothing else at all. This world is not "other than." It is not separate from You. It appears IN You. You cannot make the world "better" by pretending otherwise and interfering with "others." What others? Right now there is You here - which is also known as "I" and "Us." All Faiths are One. Now, think on this: I say there is One God, but I also say "your" God is "wrong" and "mine" is "right." How many? Now there are two gods? No, that's just stupid. There is One, known by many names, including None. If we truly believed in One God as we claim we do, how does rightness and wrongness make any sense? There is One. No one could possibly be speaking of a different One. This is exactly the same as Us: there is One, known by many names, including my name and yours. Names are also words that never come into contact with Reality. Would we argue about our names? No, of course not - they are what they are. So why on earth argue about God? Clearly, we are not. We can only argue about ideas. Ideas aren't real. What are you, really? Are you a body? Are you a sex? Are you a race? Are you an "identity?" Of course not - You are You. You are Everything. There's no such thing as an experience of body and mind, and Ego, and personality, individual identity - no experience of a world at all - without You who seem to have the experience of it. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light." Look into the "I" - the sense of "I." Our brother could not have been more clear and direct. Ask yourself, what is this "I" that I am? Reject all answers that come in the forms of words. "A glass of water" will never become a glass of water. A "rock" is never a rock, a "tree" is never a tree, a "person" is never a person. Words are abstract. Simply be still, and know directly the "I" - that intimately known sense which is self-evident - is God. No belief is necessary. In fact, belief is antithetical to truth. If the point of Religion were to cause conflict by asking us to "believe" in an abstract idea, then carry on killing each other on behalf of falsehood. This is, in that case, what you want. And yes, in our beliefs it is in us to want to kill and to do harm seemingly for its own sake. Religions are historically quite adept in this endeavor - the political religion most of all. But, if the point were to introduce us to God the Reality - face to face - just reflect on the implications of this, for this is the only legitimate purpose of language, to point us towards Reality as Christ did. "You" are the Way. Nothing happens "outside" You. Look into this deeply. It will not harm you. To arrive at the required word count I will repeat this, but this is where it ends, Please and Thank You, Bless You, Thank You. I called myself a writer for a long time. Now, writing is unpleasant because, 1. It's unnecessary; I have nothing true to say, and 2. My "rightness" is utterly dependent on everyone else's "wrongness," and I can't run that story anymore. Right and wrong are words that never come into contact with reality. Believing in something called "other people," society, politics, philosophies, just doesn't make any sense. To speak of "they" or "them" no longer makes any sense. "They" only occurs in imagination; there is no third person in direct experience. Likewise, there's not a single true story in any news media anywhere. Previously, attachments to ideas allowed me to pretend one point of view was "true," another "false," but that's gone. Nothing that is said in an objective way - no event or crisis - is found in the experience. So, my question is: as far as "acting in 'the world'" is concerned, HOW? More to the point, WHY?This is an apology for my silence. Endless conflict - not with imagined "others" but with ideas appearing as people - is the only possible outcome of discursive engagement. There is a way of communicating, or transmitting, which rings true, but it is not this. I continue to read your offerings, and I comment very occasionally when moved to do so. Much pain, much wonder. That movement comes from something that isn't "me." It is the heart speaking - not "mine" anymore than yours; there is One. Perhaps a better word for "One" is "All." Means the same, in this case. I neither agree nor disagree, but I feel each of your realities as I read them with love, for there's no other way to do anything. Nothing can be done through any other motivation. It is either from love that is sought because it seems to be missing, and this is why we hurt one another with wars and desires and governments and abstract ideas, or love that is experienced, and this is why we are considerate and compassionate and polite, and cooperative. We're all this.So, I could pretend to be on a mission to somehow "give" you the experience that I experience, so that you too can know this peace that I know, but that is just pretending - re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic as it were. No one in History has ever said anything other than "God" in diverse, confusing, and contradictory ways because there is nothing else to say, because there is nothing else at all. This world is not "other than." It is not separate from You. It appears IN You. You cannot make the world "better" by pretending otherwise and interfering with "others." What others? Right now there is You here - which is also known as "I" and "Us." All Faiths are One. Now, think on this: I say there is One God, but I also say "your" God is "wrong" and "mine" is "right." How many? Now there are two gods? No, that's just stupid. There is One, known by many names, including None. If we truly believed in One God as we claim we do, how does rightness and wrongness make any sense? There is One. No one could possibly be speaking of a different One. This is exactly the same as Us: there is One, known by many names, including my name and yours. Names are also words that never come into contact with Reality. Would we argue about our names? No, of course not - they are what they are.What are you, really? Are you a body? Are you a sex? Are you a race? Are you an "identity?" Of course not - You are You. You are Everything. There's no such thing as an experience of body and mind, and Ego, and personality, individual identity - no experience of a world at all - without You."I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light." Look into the "I" - the sense of "I." Our brother could not have been more clear and direct. Ask yourself, what is this "I" that I am? Reject all answers that come in the forms of words. "A glass of water" will never become a glass of water. A "rock" is never a rock, a "tree" is never a tree, a "person" is never a person. Words are abstract. Simply be still, and know directly the "I" - that intimately known sense which is self-evident - is God. No belief is necessary. In fact, belief is antithetical to truth.If the point of Religion were to cause conflict by asking us to "believe" in an abstract idea, then carry on killing each other on behalf of falsehood. This is, in that case, what you want. And yes, in our beliefs it is in us to want to kill and to do harm seemingly for its own sake. Religions are historically quite adept in this endeavor - the political religion most of all. But, if the point were to introduce us to God the Reality - face to face - just reflect on the implications of this, for this is the only legitimate purpose of language, to point us towards Reality as Christ did. "You" are the Way. Nothing happens "outside" You.Look into this deeply. It will not harm you.To arrive at the required word count I will repeat this, but this is where it ends, Please and Thank You, Bless You, Thank You.

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