Question: What are the qualities and aims of a good religion? There are many religions; what makes Sanatana Dharma stand out and be the best? I don’t mean any disrespect to other religions by this, but I’d like to hear a clear-cut answer (I usually get a diplomatic answer to this!). Your answer is going to count a huge deal for me because from the answers you gave previously, I’ve developed a trust in you. By guiding me at this juncture, you would save me from traveling half the distance on a lesser good path.
My response: I think by reading my previous response on Truth, etc., you might easily guess my response to this question as well. First of all, every religion is man-made. Even Sanatana Dharma is our own construction, particularly in the context of facing Western (or Oriental) criticism about our indigenous faiths, which they wrongly called ‘Hinduism.’
As I was born a Hindu, which is now accepted even by our Constitution as a (personal) religion, I am happy to be a Hindu, even without understanding all its various precepts. My attitude towards other religions is the same: each person has the right to remain in the religion in which they were born, or choose to leave it.
Thanks for your encouraging words; I’m happy that at least there is one person on this earth who thinks that he trusts me. However, I warn you not to do that. We don’t know each other, and if, by reading a few responses, you come to this conclusion, I need to be blamed for brainwashing you within a short period with my responses, which can be easily refuted by others.
Question: How do you know the other paths you might want to travel are “lesser good paths”? This sounds like an absolute statement to me.
My response: The first thing you need to do as a young man is to have patience. If you want to become a body-builder, can you do it overnight? Similarly, in this spiritual path, you cannot decide by reading some responses to your questions by an unknown stranger like me.
Here, my humble advice would be: If you believe in God, wait upon Him/Her patiently. Continue to pray that He/She would send the right guru to guide you, gradually taking you along with him/her to maturity slowly but steadily.
This is also my experience. When we seek sincerely and honestly, God will send the right guru into our lives. Then we need to have the discerning spirit to recognize that he/she is the guru we have been longing for. Then TRUST him/her and make an initial commitment—though you may not understand everything they say to you or feel comfortable with it. Trusting, making an initial commitment, and being ready to follow the teaching are the first steps to not becoming a ‘jack of all trades’ in spirituality.
But how do we know he/she is the right guru? One small tip: Anyone not keeping any personal interest with any selfish motive, but keeping only your need and interest and wishing to serve you for your own good, could be that guru.
26-4-2027
Revised on 4-8-2024
Gurukulam
Question: What are the qualities and aims of a good religion? There are many religions; what makes Sanatana Dharma stand out and be the best? I don’t mean any disrespect to other religions by this, but I’d like to hear a clear-cut answer (I usually get a diplomatic answer to this!). Your answer is going to count a huge deal for me because from the answers you gave previously, I’ve developed a trust in you. By guiding me at this juncture, you would save me from traveling half the distance on a lesser good path.
My response: I think by reading my previous response on Truth, etc., you might easily guess my response to this question as well. First of all, every religion is man-made. Even Sanatana Dharma is our own construction, particularly in the context of facing Western (or Oriental) criticism about our indigenous faiths, which they wrongly called ‘Hinduism.’
As I was born a Hindu, which is now accepted even by our Constitution as a (personal) religion, I am happy to be a Hindu, even without understanding all its various precepts. My attitude towards other religions is the same: each person has the right to remain in the religion in which they were born, or choose to leave it.
Thanks for your encouraging words; I’m happy that at least there is one person on this earth who thinks that he trusts me. However, I warn you not to do that. We don’t know each other, and if, by reading a few responses, you come to this conclusion, I need to be blamed for brainwashing you within a short period with my responses, which can be easily refuted by others.
Question: How do you know the other paths you might want to travel are “lesser good paths”? This sounds like an absolute statement to me.
My response: The first thing you need to do as a young man is to have patience. If you want to become a body-builder, can you do it overnight? Similarly, in this spiritual path, you cannot decide by reading some responses to your questions by an unknown stranger like me.
Here, my humble advice would be: If you believe in God, wait upon Him/Her patiently. Continue to pray that He/She would send the right guru to guide you, gradually taking you along with him/her to maturity slowly but steadily.
This is also my experience. When we seek sincerely and honestly, God will send the right guru into our lives. Then we need to have the discerning spirit to recognize that he/she is the guru we have been longing for. Then TRUST him/her and make an initial commitment—though you may not understand everything they say to you or feel comfortable with it. Trusting, making an initial commitment, and being ready to follow the teaching are the first steps to not becoming a ‘jack of all trades’ in spirituality.
But how do we know he/she is the right guru? One small tip: Anyone not keeping any personal interest with any selfish motive, but keeping only your need and interest and wishing to serve you for your own good, could be that guru.
26-4-2027
Revised on 4-8-2024
Gurukulam
Leave a Reply