WHAT IS A HOLY LIFE?
Holy life is a moral struggle, and it is not meant to fool around and deceive people or earn wealth in the name of religion or make name and fame, and then lead a luxurious life as a parasite on others money. Basically, Holy life is to control the body, purify the mind, to calm it and make it still, develop detachment from worldly enticement, possessions, relatives and relationships, so that the Sadhu or the holy man attains Moksha the ultimate objective of spiritual life. Therefore, the Holy man is attached only to the ‘Soul’ and not to his body. Yet, it is difficult for him to maintain his physical body without the use of worldly goods. So, the holy man has to disengage himself from the ‘Maya’ and like a bee collect alms and take small portions of food to sustain his body. Need and not greed is the divine path of simple living and high thinking. According to Vedic Parampara, a Sadhu must renounce the world, leave his home and dwell like a hermit in a cave, forest, Himalayas, temples or ashrams, and must not stay at one place for long, he should keep moving from one place to another or else he will develop an ‘Inflated Ego’ take pride in material possessions, brag the number of disciples and showcase palatial ashrams. In the present scenario the Godman has relegated the real and genuine ‘Holy Man’ to the background. Today, the ‘Godman’ is a ‘Holy Man’, he is a wealth generator, a capital fund raiser of his companies. He projects himself as commercial entrepreneur of religion, clothed in holy robes, with well kempt beard and tidily trimmed hairdo displayed as a distinct brand identity. Even after 1000 years of long embarrassment, the audacity to disgrace ancient Vedic culture continues, and it has not ended. What a shame. When will Hindus wake up from their slavish slumber? WHO IS A GODMAN? The word Godman was first recorded in 1550 to define a demigod. Nowadays, Godman is used as a colloquial term for a charismatic Guru, who is raised to the pedestal of a demigod by their cult following. They have a high-profile presence and attract attention and support from large sections of the society. They claim to possess paranormal powers, such as the ability to heal, the ability to see or influence future events, and the ability to read minds, etc. In India the 'Himalayas' was called the abode of Gods. Mystics who had risen from this ascetic order, were seasoned and competent to show the right path to worldly people, unlike the present day charlatans, who in the garb of self-proclaimed Gurus and Swamis shamelessly mislead innocent and trusting people with their smooth talk, holy robes, hairdos, matted locks, shaven heads, and by coloring their whiskers and beards. All these are deceptions to deceive the world. What more proof people need to know, how the charlatans look and behave? The greatest exploiters of religion are the self-styled Godman. In India they call themselves by many self-bestowed titles like Guru, Swami, Mystic, Baba, Bapu, Bhagwan, Brahamchari, Maharishi, Sadguru, and so on. There is never a shortage of charlatans in any religion, but in India they are available dime a dozen in all seasons. They wear a robe, grow a beard and support a hairdo as a trademark, and use religion to build their credibility, character and capital. The Godman is a part of Indian social system, a product of indigenous ‘Religion-God-Factory’, this is a worrying social ill, indeed. These conmen have assumed the position of a psychiatrist or a counselor or a father figure, and mislead people, by claiming to have the panacea of all problems. As a result, the simpletons who genuinely seek happiness go astray between the tussle of the ‘Cheaters’ and the ‘Cheated’. In India there are thousand charlatans available for every honest man in search of God. Therefore, Godliness should not be left to the whims of bearded anchorites, who claim to know the truth. Most are clever psychologist; whose wisdom is no deeper than a puddle.
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AuthorSuresh Kumar Soni is an ex- Banker, a truth-seeker, leading a retired life. He dabbles in philosophy and is receptive to idealism and pacifism. He is the author of the Book ' A RELIGIONLESS WORLD ' which stands for the spiritualization of mankind. Archives
October 2020
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