![]() ![]() After his sin account is tallied, he has to come back to take another birth. Similarly, he has to go to hell and suffer for his sin. Once his merits are exhausted he has to come back to the earth to take another birth as per the karma he has done. After death, a person goes to heaven according to the merits he earned and enjoys all the pleasures of heaven. In order to avoid future punishment in hell or bad karma in the form of a lower birth, punya is sought (or earned) by every common Hindu. To the another question on the separate of accounts of ‘punya’ (merit) and ‘sin’, technically Sivam is correct, even though the common view among the ordinary Hindus is that merits (punya) are earned to get rid of bad karmas and sins. Sivam is not the first to read such a (Hindu) message in other’s scripture and he won’t be the last. Without knowing this cultural/social background of the Jews, Sivam gave his own interpretation on this incident. In that context, the Lord points out his bogus claim to follow Him, tells him ‘let the dead bury the dead and you follow me’. So he avoids it by hiding behind in the excuse of burying his father’s bones, which is the responsibility of the eldest son. Though he brags to the Lord and others that he will follow Him, he is not ready to pay the cost for the discipleship. Therefore, the person who sought the Lord’s permission to ‘bury’ his father could also mean that his father was already dead and the body was embalmed and put in the cave. After a year or two when the body is completely rotten, the bones are collected and put in a small stone box specially made for this purpose then buried or kept in a small chamber specially cut out for this purpose. In Jewish tradition, the body is embalmed and rolled in a cloth. ![]() Above all, the historical context of this statement ‘let the dead bury the dead’ is related more with the ritual related with the final rite among the Jews at that time and nothing to do with being awakened. The entire context is not about being ‘awakened’, but the cost of discipleship. Nor did anyone come and tell him that his father was dead. I need not to point out to those who know the Muktiveda that in this story 2, it was not a fisherman who asked the permission of the Lord to bury his father. This just shows how many like him (including me) cannot understand the scripture and philosophy/theology of other faiths unless it is learnt from the adherents of that faith. Although he speaks what he thinks as correct, sometimes his interpretation on scripture and philosophy doesn’t ‘tally’ with the original scripture and philosophy/theology. It is rare to find such a speaker who calls a spade a spade, not sparing anyone just to please them. He is one of my favourite speakers and writers. I am not surprised when I read Sri Suki Sivam’s exegesis on ‘Let the dead bury the dead’ in the Muktiveda. The one who is not awakened is equal to the dead. When Vallalar (Ramalinga Swami of Vadalur) said ‘be awakened’, he meant the same thing. He tells this with the meaning that the un-awakened people there, though are alive, are actually dead. Then he asks Jesus, “Can I go and finish the final rite to my father and then come?” That is when Jesus said ‘leave the dead with the dead’. At that time, some people came rushing to tell him that his father is dead. On listening to the teachings of Jesus on a sea-shore, one fisherman, after repentance, began to follow Him. Suki Sivam: The words of Jesus, ‘Leave the dead with the dead’ is a bit difficult to understand. Meenakshi: Tell us about the thoughts or incidents that attracted you in the Bible and Quran. Sivam, Religious teacher, Thugluk, (Tamil), 3-6-15, pp. There is separate punishment for sin and separate fruits for the merits. In Christianity there is a principle that by doing more meritorious act, the burden of sin can be reduced. One cannot increase or decrease the other. Suki Sivam: According to Hinduism, the accounts of sin and merit are separate. Raguram: Will the sins that one incurs be reduced by giving offerings to the temples, donations and doing several social services? ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |