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Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Human Bondage

Love seems to be a form of bondage, which would snatch away the independence out of us. The way religion is preached, it seems quite obvious that the known attributes of God was likely to create a heavy bondage, which would take away that precious independence forever! Maybe, a few of the atheists could have sprung up due to this! Whether this happens really in this way or not, the logic seems sound, if it is going to happen thus. The problem is about the ‘experience’, and the mind always suggests, ‘why take a chance?’

I used to wonder, if a person happens to be the lone dweller of an isolated island right from the birth, how would that person be ‘categorized’ by religion, whether an atheist or a theist? That fellow may not even know that he is a ‘human’ being, till he comes across another sample! For no fault of his, he has to be ‘a non- believer’, since he has never uttered the name of God, he has never worshipped, etc etc!!

Relationship would put us under a great strain of bondage, due to that unconditional love. So unless a person is really ready to take such a chance, it does seem wise to ‘limit’ the love. But, while dealing with God, we may not be having “a level playing ground/field”.
That is exactly the question that this asker had! It is no wonder that this asker could not even decide the worth of the question, and just left it to vote. I did ‘love’ the frankness about asking even, of such a question.

Psn(8th March, 2011)

http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110301014758AAzwp5Y
Which is highest, absolute independence or love of god? Why?
If you don't love God, he will not care for you. He can place you in maya or illusion? If you surrender he will protect you. If you don't surrender and don't love him, he will place you in maya. If you love him he will take care of you. If this is the case then, I demand God, to destroy me forever i.e. no individuality at all. If I exist, then I should be absolutely independent, I should not depend on any body for my happiness. If this is not possible i.e. absolute independence or loosing individuality irreversible then I hate my existence and God's existence. There fore I strongly feel that absolute independence is what I want in the ultimate analysis. I want to know whether absolute independence is possible or not? Whether irreversible loss of individuality is possible or not?


My answer:
For the demands in this question to be met, we will have to change the attributes of God. Effectively, we have to reduce the powers of God (since we are not capable, we have to ask God to reduce His own powers!). Only then, we can be 'free from Him'! Right now He is within us also. Right now, He is capable of loving us even though we may not love Him. Please look at the "known" qualities of God. Most of the preachers would find it difficult to match these qualities and their teachings, when they tell us that God 'expects' from us (something/anything!). Expectation is possible only for a helpless powerless person. God does not have any expectations! At least He is free from expectations, desires, problems, and the urge to control us or the urge to create Maya to trouble us! It is convenient to blame some harmless person for all our troubles and God's name is the most convenient one! We are already independent, and also absolutely! We have the freedom to remain in the illusion created by ourselves, that we are enslaved here, and this freedom is unlimited. Only we alone can choose to get out of this illusion, and God has allowed us so much freedom out of utter magnanimity! Very unfortunately, this illusion is so strong, that we cannot believe that we are already independent! It is just a question of "realization" !!! That is why that "enlightenment" is also known by the phrase of "self-realization". And we are allowed ample time. The whole of eternity is waiting patiently, there is no hurry at all. There is also the choice... have the fun all the same, but with full awareness of our independence, freedom, or suffer the illusion all the way!
Best wishes.

2 comments:

David Shearer said...

I never read blogs but took time to read yours. It definitely had me thinking. Here is my take on what you said.

There is the idea of love and then there is love. Love as an idea is what most people think love is, because in truth thats all it is to them, an idea. They do whatever they can to get closer to it but can never become love because they cannot full become the idea. There is a separation built into this mode of being. We are meant to grow out of this and learn what real love is. This illustration is actually the same as most peoples relationship with God. Religions are built on belief even though belief, by definition, is a delusion in an idea (The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another). All of this isnt to say that real love doesnt exist in religion but religions arent meant to be forever. They are a stepping stone to knowing God more. Jesus knew this all too well. We love religions because they make us feel safe in our ignorance. This shelter holds us back from knowing ourselves and god more. Jesus also knew this.

The difference, as I see it, comes down to belief vs knowing, for they are the complete duality. Belief equals delusion, knowing equals love. Love is a relationship. It is not something that controls you. When you spend time with anything, you are changed forever, and that is love. You may never draw a picture and so you do not love to draw, and you may never know that love. But if you pick up a pencil and you start trying, over time the relationship develops and you begin to know/love drawing, even if its at a rudimentary level. Until one day you may draw fantastically and what once seemed like miracle is now gone, you are the miracle. This is the same as our relationship with God. When we view our lives as godless we cannot know God beyond that in that moment because that is all we are, it is all we know. Belief does not change that. It only sustains the ignorance. The faithless will believe that this limitation is all they will ever be. Those with faith see possibility and choose to know God more, moment to moment, day to day, and love develops one step at a time. When one truly knows God then that person is free and does no need anything to shelter him/her. This is choosing to live God's life.

Hope that makes sense :)

P.S.NARAYANAN said...

Thank you for an encouraging response..
It is only now, I found a "reply" button!
A nice observation (belief only sustains ignorance).
Regards,
psn