THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
( Page 3) |
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| Eternal Life |
| Religions are generally very stipulative. You must
do this and do that for the privilege of entering heaven. This is
what you must do to ensure eternal life of bliss. So on goes the stipulations.
The leaders of Christian churches have made rules and laws of what
to do and not to do, often containing ideas Christ had never dreamt
of. If you study some of these stipulations you would think that even
1 % of the people on earth will not reach heaven. But that cannot
be true. God did not do so much for man to finally plunge him into
eternal darkness. |
| I personally do not think that the membership of any
one particular religion is a criterion for entering heaven. It is
open to people of all religions and even to those who do not belong
to any particular faith. I do not wish to make any more stipulations
but would like to make the following suggestions, any one of which
can lead you on the path to eternal glory in union with God |
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See God in others and treat every one with respect
and love. |
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According to your ability look after the needs of the poor. |
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Stand firmly for truth and justice. |
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Do good deeds without the desire for the fruit of your actions. |
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The greatest happiness is when you make others happy. A smile can
go a long way in making others happy. A kind word with a smile is
worth much more than an expensive gift with a grouchy face. |
| To these you may add the golden rule, the common factor
of all the masters – “Do unto others what you wish others
to do unto you”. Make heaven for others; you will be in that
heaven. Make hell for others; you will also be in hell. |
| Liberation |
| The equivalent of the Christian concept of salvation
or kingdom of heaven, in Hinduism is the concept of Moksha or liberation
– liberation from the bondages of the perishable body, liberation
from the cycle of births and deaths. This liberation or Moksha is
complete only with the ultimate union with God. There are different
paths (marga) or means (Yoga) of attaining this goal. These are the
paths of action (karma), devotion (bhakthi), spiritual knowledge (jnana),
and the great ascetic progress (raja). |
| Karma yoga, the path of action, involves a life of
doing one’s duties and doing good to others without any desire
for the result of the actions. Karma includes any physical or mental
action devoid of selfish motives – of wealth, power, fame, even
heaven – the only goal being the good that comes out of it results
that are beneficial to others. |
| Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion, is the real genuine
search after the Lord, a search beginning, continuing and ending in
Love. Some of the many qualities expected of the bhakti yogi may be
mentioned here for further clarification of this path. Continuous
effort to restrain the mind from contemplating objects of enjoyment,
fixing attention on the Lord, daily study of religious texts, service
of humans and non-humans, worship of God, truthfulness and straightforwardness,
and calm cheerfulness. |
| Jnana yoga and raja yoga are not for the average people.
The first is for the philosophically minded while the latter is for
the ascetic. In most of the languages of India, the word Jnana, literally
meaning knowledge, is associated with the knowledge of God. The word
jnani is used only in reference to a few people who, having relinquished
all possessions or attachments live in constant union with the Absolute.
The word ajnani meanwhile stands for those who do not believe in God.
Jnanayoga is generally understood to involve renunciation or non-attachment.
Does it mean that you renounce all interest in the world and people
around you? I certainly do not think so. I remember reading somewhere
or hearing somewhere the following words that will tell clearly what
I have in mind. “Jnana yoga is not renunciation of karma but
renunciation in karma”. |
| In Raja Yoga, the aspirant first prepares himself by
the study of the scriptures, by selfless life of devotion and service
and by common practices of spirituality. Then he begins meditation
in the correct physical posture. This meditation leads the aspirant
to the final goal of Samadhi, which is the greatest form of union
with the Absolute. |
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