RSS Feed (xml)
I have seen many people who go to some Guru/GOD just cribbing about their problems. They believe that if they have true faith in their GOD; then the GOD will do some magic to solve all their problems.
This kind of faith is dangerous. Many self-proclaimed Gurus take advantage of such followers to build their spiritual business empires.
On the other hand, some people have decided not get into this confusion of faith.
They call themselves as atheist. Meaning they do not believe in any such GOD/Guru.
According to me, real Gurus are those who teach their followers to have faith in themselves. Having faith in yourself will give you the confidence. This confidence will be helping you to overcome your problem. This may sound as modern philosophy, similar to 'believe in yourself' theory by Baba Ranchoddas. But, Vendanta philosophy have mentioned this about thousands of years ago.
Recently, I came across one quotation from Swami Vivekananda in this regard.
The Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first. As certain religions of the world say that a man who does not believe in a Personal God outside of himself is an atheist, so the Vedanta says, a man who does not believe in himself is an atheist. Not believing in the glory of our own soul is what the Vedanta calls atheism.
-- Swami Vivekananda
[Practical Vedanta, Page: 3]
Now, think on your own; whether you have faith in yourself or you are atheist?
Which basically means that vedanta promotes the modern day meaning of atheism - which is simply the rejection of the existence of deities and supernaturals. Vivekananda (sadly like most other Swamy's and Guru's) just seems to be playing with words because he might have had a huge audience in London - and most people fall for such a play of words.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside have a look at the article "Why I am an Atheist" by Bhagat Singh.
@Shekhar:
ReplyDeleteVedanta consists of many different schools of thought.
One of them is Advaita vedanta. I think this idea of non-dualism is basic principle for Advaita Vedanta.
I won't comment on 'play of words'. Because, I do not consider it as a problem.
Surely, I will look into the article you have suggested.
Thanks for your valuable comments.