Originally Posted by
vcindiana
Dear Yajvan:
I guess JC expanded Brhaspati’s answer (One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one's own self ), in a positive way saying in Mathew 7 :12 "In everything treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the law and the Prophets (Golden rule)
Bṛ́haspáti says, that man who regards all creatures as his own self, and behaves towards them as towards one-self laying aside the rod of chastisement and completely subjugating his wrath, succeeds in attaining to happiness. This is true when some powerful person with rod and wrath is dealing with a weaker person. Brhaspati is saying him to contain himself to find happiness. JC is not disagreeing here, but he is about the weaker section and he is telling in Mathew 5: 39-41...Do not resist an evil person, whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. .. Whoever forces you to one mile, go with him two. I know this does not make any sense to many including me and Christians, but this is exactly what Gandhi followed in fighting the mighty British. This was again followed by M L King during the civil right movement. This is the message I see in JC that there is power in weakness. Could you please find this in any of the Hindu scripture ?
Thanks again ...Love…………………….VC
Namaste VC,
Right now the exact particular teaching "Turn the other cheek ----" is not known to me. But you correctly say "I guess JC expanded Brhaspati’s answer ------".
Sanatana dharma is seeped with 'Yagna', which means sacrifice and that does not mean binding an animal to a post and severing its limbs. Vishnu himself is the yagna. Shiva's naked ascetic life is yagna. Shiva drinking the poison to save the Universe, is yagna.
It is funny to realise that the English came and collected harsh taxes from the people who worked on their own land. Just think about it a moment and you will see the monstrosity. It is your land and your work but you pay the oppressors. Sustaining such oppressors with non-violence is yagna. Actually any work done with love is yagna.
In India, a specific injunction to turn the other cheek may not be required, whereas it is the most important requirement for the very individualistic aggressive people who have no inkling of ONE SELF and karma.
"Turning the other cheek----" is comprehensively included in the teaching as below:
1. Om. All this should be covered by the Lord, whatsoever moves on the earth. By such a renunciation protect (thyself). Covet not the wealth of others.
2. By performing karma in this world (as enjoined by the scriptures) should one yearn to live a hundred years. Thus action does not bind thee, the doer. There is no other way than this.
3. Those worlds of Asuras (demons) are enshrouded by blinding gloom. Those who are the slayers of the Self go to them after death.
4. Unmoving, It is one, faster than the mind. The senses cannot reach It, for It proceeds ahead. Remaining static It overtakes others that run. On account of Its presence, Matarsiva (the wind) conducts the activities of beings.
5. It moves; It moves not. It is far; It is near. It is within all; It is without all.
6. He who perceives all beings in the Self alone, and the Self in all beings, does not entertain any hatred on account of that perception.
7. When a man realises that all beings are but the Self, what delusion is there, what grief, to that perceiver of oneness?
8. That (Self) is all-pervading, radiant, bodiless, soreless, without sinews, pure, untainted by sin, the all-seer, the lord of the mind, transcendent and self-existent. That (Self) did allot in proper order to the eternal Prajapatis known as samvalsara (year) their duties.
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I have always maintained that adhereing to this demanding teaching, the sadhus of sanatana dharma appear to be very timid and are (as per the worldly view) placed in a disadvantageous position.
I would say that more Hindus than Christians know the bigger picture.
Om
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