Let's think : By Dr.King, Swami Satyapriya

[Quick links]  [Pause] Let me continue with more verses from Bhagavad Gita in this episode, taking off from our previous discussion. As usual, the verses are sung by Padmini Dinesh followed by English interpretations

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} In the past several episodes, I had a wonderful time sharing my thoughts on some of the verses from Holy Quran. Picking some really illuminating verses from the Holy Quran, I have tried to show how lofty these fundamental ideas are.

[Quick links]  [Pause] There are people who believe that Islam was spread at the point of a sword. There are even some Muslims, who think that their faith should be forced on others.

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} All of us, however successful or great we think we are, have to exit one day. Time spares none. It is as if we are all trapped in the jaws of time and the time is slowly gnawing us one after the other.

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} As I said in the very beginning, Islam is a path of complete surrender. In a previous post, I gave reasons why we should surrender to God. This idea of surrender as a chosen and inevitable path, is not something new to Quran or Islam. Even before prophet Muhammad, many ancient great men talked about the same path.

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} Today we see some people identifying themselves with specific color, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion and so on. But they forget that all of us belong to one big family, i.e. the family of humans.

[Quick links]  [Pause] All of us would love to say that. We always want to blame someone else or the circumstances for all our mistakes. Unfortunately, we can’t get away with such excuses all the time!

[Quick links]  [Pause] I have dealt with this very question earlier, when I discussed various Indian scriptures, whether it is the Upanishads, or the Bhagavad Gita, or even the Buddhist Tipitakas. Though there are differences in the details, most Indian schools of thought do believe in re-birth – either the soul entering another new body, or the ‘dying consciousness’ of the person getting transmitted to another newly formed body, and resulting in rebirth.

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} Many of us rarely bother to ask this question. Some say that the purpose is to enjoy! And some others say that purpose is to attain ultimate liberation. And some even consider the world to be a play of God!

[Quick links]  [Pause] /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Liberation Serif",serif; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} Continuing our discussion on the five fundamental injunctions of Islam, today let us discuss the importance of charity.