| VALUE OF TRADITION |
| Written by Sanjay Rath |
| Wednesday, 06 January 2010 18:19 |
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Let me indulge ... A simple explanation for such a complex issue is not possible nor would it be wise to say 'to each his own'. Ignorance is surely not bliss in spiritual matters. You have given some nice examples to bring out the point that it aybe impossible to infer the level of the worship but then that is what tradition is all about. It gives us the possibility of lerning the scriptures and understanding them in their higher levels. when the understanding arises and as we grow older and pass through the stages where desire for small things no longer satisfies. Then the same little boy whowould go to the shiva linga for asking for good marks in exam will gow up and feel ashamed that he could ever ask for such a petty thing like better exam scores. But then his mind tells him, look Shiva is holy father of all, he understands. you were small. now pray for higher things then he goes a level higher and asks for well being of his family...and like this another 25 years or so passes and he becomes wiser by the day and desires change. Kids have grown and he goes to Shiva linga and realises he was so stupid to ask for the well being of the children - they are not really his, they are Shiva's cildren and he is only a guardian. now he must rise higher and ask for well being of his country, his people, his dharma...and all that. He lives beyond 75 and then he ralises that the nation is only a line drawn on a piece of paper called map. there is a whole world in animals and plansts who have shared life with him. The pipal tree in his courtyard is the only living thing that has stayed with him. wife is dead, siblings are dead or too weak to see him. children have their lives to live and now grandchildren also have their children to marry and settle. He has done his time and then he goes to the Shiva linga and wonders - I must be the most stupid fellow on earth. I have wasted a whole life asking for something which in fact is Lord Shiva's responsibility. He is the old father of all and he has been doing his dharma all through. So why was I being so narrow and selfish and asking only for my wife and children and nation. what about othr nations? What about the good old pipal tree under which I sit everyday who has been my only true companion for 75 years. Let me now pray for all in the world, the globe and my pipal tree ... And that night he sees Lord Shiva in a dream telling him that he has lived a good life and is now grow a little older. If a day of the devas = 1 year in human life, then then his deva age is just 75 days (although he feels like 75 years in human life). In deva calendar he is just beginning to take some baby steps.... If after this people still have the time to do all those things for personal gratification, then they are just babies in the eyes of Shiva. and babies can always seek forgiveness when they grow out of their baby mistakes and fancies. Now think of tradition. If the present day traditions started at the time of Sri Krishna, then they are about 3000 days old (in eyes of devas, not shiva or brahma or vishnu)...in simple words, the traditions restarte at the time of the Kali Yuga by the grace of Krishna are just 9 years old (3000/360 approx). Which means it is time for them to have sacred thread. therefore all these traditions are seeing a sudden spurt of religious study, inquiry and all that. But in comparision to the scriptres themselves, they are small kids for the scriptures are as old as Brahma. that is why they are Brahma vidya. |
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