Aug 14, 2002, 12.00am IST,
ANURAG.
A little girl was to undergo an operation. The surgeon said to her: ‘‘Before we can make you well, we must put you to sleep for a little while.’’ The little girl looked up and smiled: ‘‘Oh, if you are going to put me to sleep, I must say my prayers first’’.
She knelt down beside the table and prayed: ‘‘Now I lay me down to sleep,/ I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep,/ If I should die before I wake,/ I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take.’’ The surgeon said afterwards that he prayed that night for the first time in 30 years. Prayer doesn’t change things. It changes people, and they change things. So, don’t pray for lighter burdens; pray for stronger backs.
Rabbi Eliezer once said, ‘‘Turn to God one day before your death.’’ His disciples asked, ‘‘How can a man know the day of his death?’’ The Rabbi replied, ‘‘Then you should turn to God today; perhaps you’ll die tomorrow; thus everyday will be employed in returning to God.’’
Faith, as embodied in religion, and reason as embodied in science are often but erroneously thought of as being in opposition to each other. Science is not an enemy of religion, only of superstition. Both science and religion are engaged in the search for truth, the main difference lies in the methodologies used.
Science is an investigation of truth in the finite nature outside, the object. Religion is an investigation into the nature of the infinite, the subject. Science aims for universally verifiable knowledge. Religion aims for individual realisation. It is true that universal laws operate regardless of one’s beliefs and faith.
We are closer to the physical world than to the metaphysical. We respect science, because it is premised on reason.
Swami Sivananda holds that science knows little about the origin of life, the origin of thought, and the origin and destiny of human nature and the universe. Even scientists are quite conscious of the limitations of science and scientific method. Faith is not predicated upon reason; it is beyond reason. But there are many questions to which our faith alone can help us find answers.
Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoga-nandji advocates experimentation in religion. He asks, ‘‘Why should we merely read and hear discussions about God, and know nothing from personal experience? It is possible to put religion into practice, to use it scienti- fically. Without practical application, religion is of little value.
The first experiment with religion must begin with silence. This is the first step towards meditation. As Yoganandji says, ‘‘If you make a supreme effort in the silence of the night or early in the morning, then after a little while you will see a glimmer of God’s light or feel a ripple of his joy coming over your consciousness.’’ Experimentation with religion is unique as the results take place right inside you.
Truthfulness is another spiritual principle recommended for experimentation. Yoganandji says that truth is always wholesome. Giving happiness to others is vital to one’s own happiness. The world outside is an extension of the world inside. So we should practise self-control, forgiveness, and communion with God in our daily life. One can evolve spiritually without being religious in the conventional sense of the word. After all, we are spiritual beings, part of the one supreme spirit. We exist beyond our bodies. You don’t have to subscribe to a religion to realise this truth. To follow the path of prayer and single-mindedness of thought is sufficient.
Prayer is communion with God through single-minded devotion. Prayer is surrendering oneself to God completely. It doesn’t demand intelligence or eloquence. Swami Sivananda says that one should pray for God’s grace, not for earthly goods or for heavenly pleasures. Selfless faith and prayer can work wonders.
SACRED SPACE
Live in Loving-Kindness
As a mother with her own life guards the life of her own child, let all embracing thoughts for all that lives be thine. Metta Sutta
A man once asked the Prophet what was the best thing in Islam, and the latter replied: ‘‘It is to feed the hungry and to give the greeting of peace both to those one knows and to those one does not know.’’ Hadith of Bukhari
The bodhisattva should adopt the same attitude towards all beings, his mind should be even towards all beings, he should not handle others with an uneven mind, but with a mind which is friendly, well-disposed, helpful, free from aversions, avoiding harm and hurt; he should handle others as if they were his mother, father, son, or daughter. As a saviour of all beings should a bodhisattva behave towards all beings. So should he train himself if he wants to know full enlightenment. Perfection of Wisdom
Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai said: ‘‘Go forth and see which is the good way to which a man should cleave.’’ Rabbi Joshua said: ‘‘A good friend’’; Rabbi Jose said: ‘‘A good neighbour’’; Rabbi Simeon said: ‘‘One who foresees the fruit of an action’’; Rabbi Elazar said, ‘‘A good heart.’’ Thereupon he said to them: ‘‘I approve the words of Elazar ben Arach, rather than your words, for in his words yours are included.’’ Mishnah, Abot 2.13
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