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Friends and Family,
So March is upon us. Those of us in the northern part of the U.S. know that spring is around the corner. During the course of the month, I am sure Mother Nature will often remind us that she's not finished with winter, but I think most of us are!
The other night, my oldest daughter treated me for my birthday to a kirtan (kirtan is a call and response chanting; the leader says a chant/mantra, the audience then repeats it) with Krishna Das at the Garrison Institute.
Krishna Das is a devotee of Karoli Baba, also known to his devotees as Maharaj-ji, one of the many Gurus/Teachers of India.
Liz also came along. It was wonderful night for all of us.
Krishna Das also did a chant about Jesus and then told the audience how people send him emails when he does this chant saying that it's not appropriate to chant about Jesus and his teachings at kirtans. But Krishna Das (who describes himself as a Jewish boy who grew up on Long Island) did not let the emails bother him. He knew that the teachings of Jesus were on the highest level of Love, which is what all spiritual teachers should be teaching (if they are teaching anything). Karoli Baba, Krishna Das' guru, had said that "Jesus is Love," which many of the teachers in India recognize. That is why I will continue to connect the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount to the teachings of the Vedas, as other teachers have shown me.
It also occurred to me that some of those who read my newsletter might think I am talking or preaching about the Christian religion when I point out the similarities between the Vedic teachings and the teachings of The Christ.
I am not. Below is the meaning of religion from Wikipedia, as well as the meaning of spirituality. There is a big difference.
For those who get turned off because of a certain name of God, all I can say is that sore spot is a place for healing. Our hurt feelings are usually nothing but ego, and an acronym for EGO is Easing God Out.
In essence, religion is a set of beliefs based on a certain God or Gods and limited to that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
Spirituality is an open belief, acceptance and or blend of different beliefs of religions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality
I find nothing wrong with religion. I think most of us can agree that the teachings of any religion are wonderful. It's people who use those teachings to try and make themselves better than others (or to justify their actions due to some piece of the scriptures in the religion, without looking at the whole book) who are the problem.
In my article below, I go into all this a little more, then continue with The Sermon on the Mount, according to the Vedanta and the Beatitudes.
Wishing all of you the best. Peace & Love.
Namaste,
Michael
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