I find everywhere the sanskrit word paap (pāpa) routinely translated as sin. I’m not happy about this because the word sin, especially for westerners, carries baggage of the Abrahamic tradition. Unlike Abrahamic sin, paap is not at all an absolute, not-contextual punishable something. Nor a transgression of some God-decreed law of acceptable behaviour. In the Dharmic tradition there is no such law. …
Continue readingIn a nutshell, the guru is not a Jesus-like saviour, rather a bearer of the torch-light of knowledge. The guru reveals the path. The guru walks the path, but not on behalf, or in place of the disciple. The disciple is supposed to become spiritually realised in their own right. The guru inspires, guides and encourages the disciple in that journey. …
Continue readingIf I’m pursuing a spiritual path, a reasonable question is why? What is my motive? What are my motives? For example, am I motivated primarily by fear or love, or by something else? Perhaps I’m in a state of transition between fear and love, and if so, is that a comfortable experience?
Although I believe choosing to embark upon a journey of spiritual awakening is always a divine prerogative – I suspect in the early stages it may be that faith in beliefs centred around fear serve one ‘better’ than those centred around love. …
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