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1. When God is said to be everywhere, what is the necessity of these many temples?
A temple is meant for a devotee, not for God! Though God is everywhere a devotee definetly requires an alter to offer prayer to Him. It is just like this-air is everywhere, but to inflate a tube of our car's tyre we need to go to a filling station. Similarly God is Omnipresent,but to inflate our mind with peace we inevitably require a place of worship.In our Hindu religion the temple is built in accordence with the Agama Sastra. The temple premises, Sanctum Sanctorum, idols....all are made holy by Mantras, Yantras etc.Ceaseless rituals and prayers are carried out to purge the impurities. So obviously, temples become a vibrant place to perform and observe any religios or spiritual practices. |
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2. Will Meditation lead me to Self-realisation?
Meditation comes under "Manasa Karma". Karma is meant for purification of mind( KARMANI CHITTA SUDHYARTHAM).So practice of Meditation etc., becomes an indirect means for Self-realisation.The direct means is Jnanam which comes from theVedanta adhyayanam.If one is practices Meditation regularly, one's mental agitations will surely come down and thus meditation prepares one for the sincere study of the scriptures. |
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3. We are born in a great culture,which commands us to be moral... Then why the society is degrading day-by-day?
You are right.Our culture is very great in all the ways.It teaches us not to be immoral...But you should clearly know one thing for certain that if people believe in certain ideals of culture and abide by them, our society can progress.Mere presence of great culture is not enough.The majority of the present day society neither bothers to study the tenets of our culture nor live them.This is the cause for our degradation. |
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4. How to find a Guru?
First you try to become a true seeker.Not just curiosity,but a deep desire to know and understand the Sastras and follow the path of Sadhana brings one into contact with a Guru.It is like a flower getting a seed through a honey bee.To the fully bloomed flower the bee is attracted and gives the seed.Similarly the preparedness and the maturity of the mind takes one to the teacher by some mysterious grace of the Lord. |
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5. What is Vedanta?
It is a very big topic. I shall try to give you some idea about Vedanta. The Vedanta is the most satisfactory system of philosophy.The term Vedanta literally means the end or the essence of the Vedas.Upanisads occur in the end portion of the Veda.They really form the essence of the Veda.Vedanta,being evolved out of the Upanisads,has superseeded all the other schools of philosophy called Samkhya,Nyaya,Vaiseshika,Yoga and Purva Mimamsa.Vedanta is also known as Uttara Mimamsa.According to the Vedanta,Self-realisation is the primary thing, and karma(performing rituals & worship...) are accessories.Sri Sankaracharya has popularised this Vedanta Sastra by writting commentaries on major ten Upanisads and Brahma Sutras of Sri Veda Vyasa. |
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