Good thread on the other side of the sanyasins or the 'greats'
Sanathana Dharma has always advocated detachment. Basically there are four major ways of attaining the supreme - Bhakthi margam, Karma Margam, Raja yogam and Gnana yogam.Bakthi - devotion to god, karma - do your duty dont expect results, Raja yoga - meditation, kundalini etc, gnana yoga - SELF REALIZATION.
Every one who were successful in self realization were sanyasins, though there are exceptions like king Janaka, father of Seetha. It stresses on detachment.
Being detached is the toughest thing which is repeatedly stressed in all the walks of a Hindu's life. Attachment leads to rebirth, more sins etc. Detachment leads to mukthi.
Thats why all the greats took the path of detachment. for mortals like us, leaving the family suffering seems to be a great sin because we see through the attachment perspective. WE DONT HAVE THE DIVINITY TO SEE THE SAME THING FROM THE OTHER SIDE and thats why we are not great and people like buddha, vivekananda, ramana are great.
Most of us are obsessed with emails - even a single day i cant skip reading and replying mails. I feel if i dont reply, the group will not function. This is attachment - the I concept. If i try to get detached from this bondage, and get out of it, mail vandha enna varati enna. why should i be bothered about the groups functioning?
Same is the case with the 'greats'. Once they get detached, what if the family survives or not - they dont care because the earthly things take care of its own and they dont run the show. SIN comes into picture when something is done with attachment. when detached, where is the point of sin?
Krishna says that for the betterment of a country, one village can be sacrificed. The 'greats' sacrificed only a couple of their family members for the welfare of the whole world. Then how come its a sin? For mortals like us, Bhagavat gita clearly says, Karma marga is the best. but for 'greats' gnana marga.
I have tried to some extent throw light on - why the act of the 'greats' is not a crime. Other learned people can throw more light so that i can get cleared if i have said something wrong.
Beautiful explanation Mr.Venkatesh and Mr.Satish although in different styles (Mr.Venkatesh in typical "ezhuthaalar" style) Exactly what i was hoping somebody would explain rather than an arguement. Thank you
a adivasi dacoit in the forest who cant even pronunce the name of god becomes a saint.
I am talking about valmiki and his 'mara mara'
look at sundaras case.
just as he is about to marry he gets a divine call. but the greatest thing is that while god denied him one wife alloeed him to marry twice later. was it a boon or bane sundara only knows for his wife paravai gave him hell.
but the point is god has chosen a opportune moment to make a dramatic entry into the saint's lives.
for appar it was a stomach ache, for sambandar it was the hunger for his mothers milk
why should thinnan a tribal get lost in a forest and see a shiva linga. his calling was the stream of blood from the lingams eye.
what is a blind mans life worth in the forest. how long can he last but then thinnan answered his divine call. recognising it as servitude to his heavenly master.
the mangani episode was the divine calling for karaikal ammaiyar.
not only in hinduism. we have it in other religions too. take the case of joan of arc who got a divine call.
the divine call is just god telling a man "drop everything you are doing. I need you"