Hari Om
~~~~~
Namaste,
Here's some thoughts for consideration. Note, I am not a scholar on this matter. As of late my eyes have turned to similarities, same-nss (sama) and even-ness of things.
This has taken me to some studies¹ I wish to share. So this is my view point to perhaps stimulate a conversation on finding commonality vs. diversity. See what you think.
We know that Christianity is grounded in Jesus the Christ. What is the root of Christ? Christos or the anointed one. This comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word mashiach or ha mashiah - the anointed one , the messiah, from the Jewish faith.
And what are some of these principles of the Jewish faith? If we know some of these we know the roots of Christianity... the faith that Jesus was part of.
The 13 Principles of Jewish Faith - the parallels to Sanatana Dharma
What I do not see in the list of 13 is Sat-Chit-Ananda references.
- The Existence of God: The existence of Brahman and/or Ishvara. Brahman is Existence itself.
- The Unity of God: Brahman- All this one Tad Ekam, That One
- God Is Omniscient: Brahman is everywhere; there is no place He/It/THAT exits - relative or absolute
- The incorporeality (spiritual, non-material) of God - Brahman/ISvara is of spirit. Finer then the finest. The essence of creation
- The eternity of God: Brahman is Infinite without end in time, space, place.
- God is the only hearer of prayer: I have no parallel offer for this principle. Yet to one that adores his/her Ishtadevata this is the personal relationship to ones Ishta.
- The prophets were inspired by God: The rishi, guru, saint, are exponents of Reality, of truth and is grounded in That.
- Moses is the supreme profit: Perhaps in Santana Dharma we can call out Adi Shankara, or Sri Chaitanya?
- The Penteuch ( penta = 5 + teuch = books) was given entirely to Moses - The 5 books of the Torah - Many know them as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This was thought to be a single document when revealed to Moses by the Lord ' as a he spoke to him face-to-face, as a man speaks to his friend'.This is = to the Vedas as being one in the Krta Yuga; And the Vedas are that if revelation ,that of sruti for the seers or rishidristi , seen by the rishi.
- The Torah is immutable: Vedas are immutable and the cornerstone of Satyam Ritam Bharat - the Truth, The Right and the Vast.
- God is the dispenser of divine reward and punishment; Isvara via His grace, brings one to Mokhsa; Punishment is a function of Karma, and dispensed via the Grahas
- The messiah will come ( This is Jesus queue as part of the core principle of Judaism); In Sanatana dharma this can be the principle of avatar of Visnu. Not just one , but many
- The messiah will raise the dead : this is confirmation that Jesus is in fact a messiah. In Sanatana Dharma this would be considered a siddhi. We see this in several Puranas.
I see a beautiful list of 13, yet I do not see the call out of God and Satchitananda. It is my humble opinion this is where Jesus plays a role here. Just as the Upanishads offer the explanation of Brahman, Jesus brings clarity to the personal experience of Ishvara and the native. This is where Satchitananda equivalents is called out or offered via a realized Being, Jesus.
Things I find interesting
- The kingdom of Heaven is within you
- You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
- Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions
- The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Many (Christians?) see Jesus on the cross dying… isn't the miracle in his resurrection over death? The twice born - He into the Divine, into the spirit. Any one can die , but how many can be reborn? This is a main teaching of Jesus as I see it, Victory over death, over ignorance, over the material body and into the Spirit. It not about the suffering...
This is the same as I see with Natraj… As He dances one foot is stepping on a person, some say this is a baby, and indicates victory over rebirth. A nice correlation between principles . Victory over the death of the body.
Now, many have opinions on this notion… is Jesus and his orientation Advaita or Dvaitya? Jesus said 'I and my father are One'.
There are some Christians that say, this means Jesus is God. Others say he and God are in alignment, and Jesus as Son of Man , is from God, His father, and therefore One.
So there are many views on this and will not debate this notion of Advaita or Dvaitya.
Yet I see this a interesting view on this matter.
1. Reference book: the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions - John Bowler, professor of Religion, University of Lancaster, with 80 contributors from around the world
pranams,
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