2. Religion What is Religion? Light from the East: Hinduism: Bhagavad Gita, Sai Baba Gita Buddhism: Light from the West: Judaism: Jews, God, and History Christianity: Bible Islam: Koran ------===ooo===------ What is Religion? Religion is concerned with death Do we have one life or many? With the one it's heaven or hell And I sure hope you do live well. But what if I die young? Or am born with one arm? The one big chance won't be the same Just God playing an unfair game. But isn't life about learning? About making those big mistakes? With re-re-birth, we get many chances Eat everything, and try all the dances. But if there's no religion Well ... there's just nothing. ------===ooo===------ Light from the East Om Om Om Let's meditate! Om Om Om Let's vegetate! We face the east The rising sun Light from the past Old wisdom come Om Om Om Let's meditate! Om Om Om Let's vegetate! ------===ooo===------ Hinduism Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva The creator, the preserver, and the destroyer. This grand trinity as the others Is the underlying cause of all our world Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva The creator, the preserver, and the destroyer. You may worship one you may worship all The Force out there will acknowledge your love Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva The creator, the preserver, and the destroyer. ------===ooo===------ Bhagavad Gita: is a tiny slice from the Mahabharata, one of India's two national epics. Literally meaning 'Song of the Spirit' it is a dialogue between two figures just moments before a huge destructive war. One is a purple skinned charioteer, Krishna, who is an incarnation of God. The other is a virtuous warrior, Arjuna, who is anxious about the coming Armegeddon. Good and evil forces are fully arrayed, and Arjuna can see friends and relatives lined up against him. He becomes disheartened. He doesn't want to kill those he loves. He turns to Krishna for help. Krishna assures him that although the body may perish, the spirit is eternal; and so this war can be fought with a clear conscience. The dialogue continues onto other philosophical matters; how to live a good life; the far reaching effects of karma; the nature of God. It answers the tough questions in life. Full of practical wisdom, the Bhagavad Gita is an unsurpassed handbook for attaining peace and enlightenment. Of the many English translations and commentaries, Yogananda's is easily the best. In assured and punctous prose, this 20C yogi sheds considerable light on this terse, at times condensed, text. Drawing upon Hindu mythology, Yogananda shows how the Bhagavad Gita may be read as an allegory, and explains the profound implications of this interpretation. A work to study and practice for a lifetime. Bound as two sapphire-blue volumes from the Self-Realisation Fellowship (1996). ------===ooo===------ Sai Baba Gita: this textbook of wisdom has been compiled & edited by Al Drucker. Based on the teachings of Sai Baba (an Indian holy man), it is a guide to self realisation for this age; the ideas are illustrated with modern-day analogies, and the language has the simple forcefulness of truth. The way to God is in our own hands; by controlling our senses, through devotion to God, and renunciation of attachments. But this is very much a worldly philosophy; it stresses the importance of purification through duty and action, and how one must show patience and good character in our relations with fellow men. Suffused with genuine hope and understanding, a profound work. Purple bound cardboard cover, with Mr Baba on the back (1995). ------===ooo===------ Buddhism I believe in the 4 Noble Truths And will follow the Eightfold Path May Buddha be my witness As this I humbly vow. Man's existence is all suffering Suffering is caused by desire Desire may be extinguished Extinguished by 8 steps. Right understanding, right livelihood Right concentration, right effort Right mindfulness and right speech Right thought and right action. This is the way to Nirvana. ------===ooo===------ Light from the West One god, one life But more than one wife One heaven, one hell So better live well. Light from the west Is but a single ray Split into three By the fading day. One god, one life But more than one wife One heaven, one hell So better live well. ------===ooo===------ Judaism You're a Jew I hate you Want some gas? Suck my ass. So has this learned humane race been treated throughout history. ------===ooo===------ Jews, God, and History: a lively and fascinating account by Max I Dimont. Spanning some 4000 years, there is an enormous flux of environment and social context, but the one unifying theme is that of struggle. A physical struggle against the Greeks, Romans, and Western Europe. A non-physical struggle against religious dilution and dissipation. A struggle for existence that shaped the Jews as few other groups. Wonderfully readable, this is history brought to life. Try to find a reprint of the original 1962 version. The revised edition (posthumous) shows an ugly meddling hand. ------===ooo===------ Christianity Let's crucify him! Yeah! Nail 'im up, Give 'im a crown, He's king! He's king! O Father, forgive them For they know not what they do. This crown of thorns Is really hurting my head And my hands and feet Sure feel holy right now. The king! The king! O man, this is starting to kill What a bunch of sadistic pricks! Here I come preaching love and peace And look at how they treat me! The king! The king! But they're young Not ready to understand The full force of divine love. God has changed. No longer violent and smiting No longer enamored of one race He embraces all with open heart. The king! The king! Father, forgive them. ------===ooo===------ Bible: the good book, as you know, is divided into two massive chunks; the Old Testament comprising 39 sections; the New a mere 27. The two parts should be read as separate works, for apart from the fact that Jesus was a Jew, there is nothing holding them together. It is, however, a literary masterpiece; almost endlessly quotable. Here are a few slanted highlights from a skeptical non-Jew non-Christian. Old Testament "The Lord is a man of war" Ex 15/3 "For the Lord thy God is a jealous God" Deut 6/15 "A man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry" Eccl 8/15 "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it" Eccl 10/8 "I am a wall, and my breasts like towers" Song 8/10 New Testament "Resist not evil" Matt 8/39 "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" Acts 9/5 How can one resist? Everyone should have a copy of this violent, contrary work. The King James version is a must; its poetic power is unmatched. I have a copy of the hardback Nelson (1970), recommended by its simple layout and high readability. ------===ooo===------ Islam A poor humble shepherd Received the word from God Armed with this grace divine He became a scourging rod. Taming the tribes of the Middle East Teaching them to submit Bringing peace to all mankind Otherwise you got hit. O yes! It was a glorious time The cities of the east Clean, and safe, and learned men Every day a feast. For a thousand years it was so God was Allah, and Allah God The shining jewel of all mankind The Arabs had got the nod. ------===ooo===------ Koran: unlike the Bible, the Koran was received by direct transmission from God. The 114 chapters form a coherent whole; poetic, direct, and decent. A noble work which inspired a noble people. Get the Pickthall translation in the Mentor paperback.