Miscellaneous - Religion   

Advent of saints

CHENNAI: Spiritual tradition asserts that just as the Supreme Being incarnates in the world whenever there is decadence of Dharma in order to restore it, so also do great realised souls manifest in this world for helping humanity on the path to liberation. Swami Vivekananda in a famous verse, which is part of liturgical worship even today, hailed his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as one who “established Dharma, the personification of all Dharmas and great among incarnations.” So saints like him are not mortals but a principle (Tattva) transcending time.

In his discourse, Swami Nishtatmananda said it was essential to understand how Sri Ramakrishna rejuvenated Dharma. The Vedas describe Dharma as that action by which human beings derive both worldly and spiritual welfare. Today, people do not lead a holistic life as they think worldly life is different from spiritual life. The Vedas do not advocate such a division. Man’s material and spiritual wellbeing are intertwined, and every action of his has a bearing on both and so all actions must be God-centric. This integration was this saint’s signal teaching. There are three aspects to his life’s mission. Though he was in tune with God all the time, he made himself very accessible to all who thronged to him. So he did not allow his spiritual stature to distance him from the laypeople.

By his deeds he enabled his devotees to relate to him without dismissing him as a saint whose conduct cannot be imbibed by the common man. Secondly, he explained the Vedic tenets in a simple manner so that people would be able to follow them in day-to-day life. Specifically, he revived the Vedic practice of meditation for experiencing God to show that it is possible for all to realise God.

Further, he devised new spiritual practices in conformity with the Vedas, which will be suitable for modern times. For example, he showed by practice that it is not necessary to renounce worldly life and that it is possible for a householder to realise God just like most of the Vedic sages who were householders. So what is more important is to lead a God-centred life. He gave a benign orientation to Tantric practices.

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