Swami Revatikaanta, a long-term disciple of Paramahamsa Vishwananda, is a monk and a prolific public speaker with almost two decade’s worth of experience. With his sharp intellect and straightforward approach, get ready for refreshingly honest conversations on spiritual matters. Join Swamjii and amazing guests as they explore today's intellectual challenges through the enlightening lens of Paramahamsa Vishwananda's teachings.
Thinking Bhakti Podcast:
Welcome to 'Thinking Bhakti', the podcast where wisdom from the bhakti tradition meets modern issues! Whether you're a dedicated Vaishnava, a spiritual seeker, or just curious about the intersection of faith and current affairs, 'Thinking Bhakti' offers insightful discussions that resonate with those seeking for deeper meaning in our complex world.
Respectfully disagree. People can have strong disagreements with other peoples religious beliefs, whilst at the same time love and respect the people who hold them, and support religious freedom in a democratic society. Christianity is built on a truth claim that’s either true or false. It is exclusivist by nature. That doesn’t mean Christians should mistreat followers of other religions. In fact Christian’s are commanded by God to treat others with kindness and respect.
I have read in the scripture’s that Lakshmana hunted, killed, skinned and then prepared a deer meal for Sri Rama, who ate it. Rishi’s would walk around with deerskin garments and meditate on tiger skin blankets. The pandava’s had to move from one location in the forest to another because of overhunting. Can you explain these instances? I say this with all respect. I am only eating dairy animal products myself. Jai Sri Krishna.
Exclusivity of truth doctrine? You do know that regardless of who has it right.. there is only one truth, right? Truth IS exclusive,by definition. It's only recently that people have said it's subjective, saying it's 'my trith.'
Have you seen God? Have you realised God? Does God loves only the people of your religion? You think you can *conquer* God by putting God in one box and all else is false? What about the people who never had the chance to get the book of your religion? - they go to hell? What about the thousands and thousands of saints in for example India who had direct experience of God and spoke about it? It's so funny, people limit God to one only way and believe completely what is written in their scripture but themself just speak out of faith but not direct experience. If i believe now in the spaghetti monster but have never seen it and then go around and proclaim, this is the only one way without seeing actually what was written i am just seen like a madman. Have you met actually the prophets of your religion? Why do you believe what they said which happened thousands of years back? just because it is written in a book? So i dont expect answers to all this questions but just to give you an opportunity to think about it for yourself and see that the doctrine of exclusivity is just made up by people for selfish reasons.
@@user-zh2th5pz4b Always increasing knowledge but never coming to an understanding of the truth. My God loves you and everyone. My God is just and all knowing. If she is just, he would not punish those who could not choose. My God did not send anyone to hell. Why would anyone reject a loving God. All those who seek soncerely will find Him. He IS the truth. The truth wont change whether someone wants to accept Him or not.
@@user-zh2th5pz4b Exclusivity is inevitable. Even you are claiming you are right in your view of God as all accepting, and this person is wrong. You're claiming Exclusivity for your view. In mutually exclusive matters, there only ever one right, and all the rest are by definition, wrong.
I am sorry. I must correct. Maharaja is such a ignorant l am ashamed myself... Brahmanas are The institution , the biggest and most organic one, arranged by the Lord ..
Former Shaivite here, now Eastern Orthodox Christian. When Christians tell you "you are going to hell" they are telling you thay you are not following the fullness of truth that is found in Jesus Christ. Hell is seperation from God, it isnt this cartoonish place where the devil pokes you with a pitchfork for eternity.
@@neivo1714 This is why in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 it says people will be destroyed from God's presence. God isn't going to torture you for eternity. If you reject the gospel, you'll be destroyed, both body and soul, like Jesus said in Matthew 10:28. You can't be removed from God's presence any other way. As one of the psalms says, even if you go down to realm of the dead (translated as hell in the KJV) God is still there.
Spot on. The part I missed was where that's a problem. We don't complain at doctors for refusing to tell us that beer will cure cancer... regardless of how nice that might be to hear, it simply isn't true.
As someone from the north who first visited the temples of South a few years back, I must say that I had never experienced that aura and energy. It was surreal.
The thing is, we as Hindus are free and generous enough to accept all this equality stuff but, on the other side it's a religious duty to bring the world under their own beliefs so it's good to keep these thoughts, but you are fighting a war here... believe it or not.
The best Christians exist in Kerala, India. It is believed that St. Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, came to Kerala in AD 52. These Thomas Christians have integrated Hindu traditions as part of their Christian faith. I belong to this community. We proudly say, "We are Hindus by culture and Christian by faith". When Portuguese, we had to fight to preserve our traditions. They try to destroy our faith and traditions
Some really nice insights to take from conversation! Specially for a devotee living in the west, and participating in society full time. One critique though!: I would wish Swami Revati could elaborate his views uninterupted, it was difficult to watch at times. Would love to see more balanced exchange next time. Jai Gurudev
Interesting Prabhu, but then why are you criticising "Hindutva"? Isn't Hindutva (as you seem to describe it in your podcast) taking the position of Dharma?
Hindutva is the need of the hour, those who don't understand this, please visit Bharat, Vaishnavas, please come to Mathura, Sri Krishna Janam bhoomi and have a look for yourself, if there is no push back, no Hindutva, the not so tolerant "peacefulls" will destroy all to do with Hinduism. The fact that there are still temples and dieties in Bharat to be worshiped is because of the Swords of Maharana Pratap , Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Guru Gobind Singh, that is Hindutva. If Ahimsa was the only answer , Sri Krishna would not have told Arjuna to fight. Don't forget your Kshatriya Dharma.
1:09:25 prabhuji refers to a great vedic quote "अहिंसा परमो धर्मः धर्म हिंसा तथैव च" Non-violence is the ultimate dharma. So too is violence in service of Dharma.
Thank you so much for this podcast. Love the principle of only using violence to protect peace/nonviolence. Such an unheard of principle for this day and age. I think there is a lot of evidence that the Torah/Old Testament is a historical book- all 3 Abrahamic faiths agree on this. Hebrew people are descended from Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac. Many Arabic people are descended from Abraham and Hagar’s son Ishmael. Jesus is descended from Isaac thru Mary. Mohamed is descended from Ishmael. Vedic religion is pre Adam and Eve. It is the most ancient, and gives many metaphysical details others do not. Meher Baba said there is only one birth of the mind (at beginning of our entry into time-space-maya) and one death of the mind (upon out exit from maya in God realization) which 3 Abrahamic religions believe physically. So if all the 5 main world religions are coming from God for time place and circumstance, what is the essence? Doesn’t Srimad Bhagavatam say pure bhakti, prema purushartam the fifth goal of life is the essence and highest goal, which even the Vedic literatures don’t clearly explain? Isn’t Guruji giving us the essence of all religions by showing us examples from different traditions of saints who attainted this goal of pure bhakti? In another episode can you discuss about the difference between fundamentalism/belief vs spiritual growth/transformation? How to we prepare for unlimitedly growing in God’s Divine Love/Will in the Vaikuntha realms beyond time-space-matter?
I am Hindu and love you guys. But I do want to say that I fall in the camp of "Let's criticize but with softness and kindness." . There is violence in our thoughts and words, words cut like a knife, we should be gentle and loving with our fellow human beings. If you are Hindu and believe in reincarnation, be gentle, don't think that anyone else's path is "wrong". They are just born in one path or the other. Let us criticize but kindly. They are all our brothers and sisters and at the end of the day, they are us, they are you.
Actually Abrahamics(especially Christian) go further than this. Their Exorcists try to make you believe that youre worshipping a Demonic being or a fallen Angel.
Then it should be of no consequence if someone beliefs in the ‘wrong’ thing. Belief has zero bearing on the Truth or fact. So live & let live, and share your path to whoever cares to listen & follow.
India was ruled by muslims for centuries but they were never more than 10-15% of the population. If they wanted to they could have forced the entire subcontinent to convert. Jews (and Christians) lived in Islamic lands for 1400 years until modern colonialism like Zionism and western invasions without conflict. In fact the only place where Jews lived safely was the Muslim lands, many rabbis acknowledge this today. The assumption that Muslims can’t live peacefully with others isn’t based on any knowledge of history.
You are missing the bigger point. Hinduism was never against other religions. Where as all the Abrahamic Religions were against other faiths including their own off shoots. When Islam entered India it was accepted as another faith and so no one really saw it as foreign. The Muslim invaders were treated just as any other Kingdom struggling for control. The Hindu kings didn't spend time figuring out Islam and how to convert it, while the Muslim invaders did. Hinduism even today does not care to convert nor does it go against other faiths in debates. Hindus have better things to do than to pretend to know God.
They tried well and had in Bharat, but met the swords of Guru Gobind Singh, the slayer of Muslims, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Maha Rana Pratap, Maha Rana Sangha, there was a massive resistance, islam failed in Bharat.
One important point being mentioned is the vulnerability of left ideologies that tend to be overly open and welcome to ideologies that will not allow the same openness. We can see that with the muslim invasion of India, in which more open values gave too much space to aggressive ideologies with the results that we know (temples destroyed, massacre of locals over a period of 500 years). It's naivety to expect to apply the same principle of freedom to ideologies that will threaten that same freedom. So education is important, so we learn from past mistakes .
