Category Archives: Hinduism

Christ or Krishna ?

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Men are apt to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine and deceived by seducing spirits. One can be a “Christian” with his feeling and a heathen with his head. ( Lit-sen Chang,Zen-Existentialism,)

Here is a story from the blog of Joe Carter about a Reformed philosopher who has had a spiritual experience and become a devotee of Krishna.

The Story: Philosopher of religion Michael Sudduth recently announced in an open letter that he has undergone a surprising religious conversion: “Despite my long-standing adherence to the Christian tradition, my spiritual journey has now moved me eastward and outside the framework of Christian theism.”

In a lengthy explanation—which philosopher William Vallicella posted on his website— Sudduth says that for the past twenty-five years he has been “an adherent of the Reformed theological tradition.” But last September he underwent a religious experience that led him to embrace the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism:

Around 4:20am (Friday morning) September 16th, I woke suddenly from a deep sleep to the sound of the name of “Krishna” being uttered in some way, as if someone was present in my room and had spoken his name out loud. Upon waking I immediately had a most profound sense of Krishna’s actual presence in my bedroom, a presence no less real than the presence of another living person in the room, though I was alone at the time. I responded to this felt presence, first through my thoughts that repeated Krishna’s name (and inquired of his presence), and then verbally out loud by uttering Krishna’s name twice: Krishna, Krishna. I was seized at this moment with a most sweet feeling of completeness and joy. I felt as if Krishna was there with me in my room and actually heard my voice, and that my response had completed a process that began with his name within my mind. I pondered this experience for several minutes, while at the same time continuing to experience a most blissful serenity and feeling of oneness with God, not unlike I had experienced on many occasions in the past in my relationship with the Lord Jesus. It was a most profound sense of both awe and intimacy with God in the form of Lord Krishna.

Rest of the story here – http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/22/from-john-calvin-to-hare-krishna/

Krishna

Just a few observations.

  • Sudduth has been an “adherent of the Reformed theological tradition”. Has he ever been born again ? Has he ever repented of his sins and received the new life of Jesus Christ? Was he a follower of Christ, or a follower of the Reformed traditon?
  • After reading Sudduth’s “testimony” it was obvious that he was being drawn deeper and deeper into Eastern religious thought. The Bible’s claim is not that a person cannot have spiritual experiences that flow out of other religious traditions,but that these experiences are counterfeit experiences from the realm of darkness.

12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.(II Corinthians 11:12-15)

  • Spiritual warfare is real-the key is discerning whether one’s spiritual experiences are from God or not. Feelings of blissfulness,serenity,and oneness “with God” can be duplicated by drugs as well as by spiritual beings who are attempting to seduce one away from Jesus Christ.
  •  There is a tremendous movement in the world today to equate all religions as being one and the same. Krishna and Jesus Christ are not one and the same,and they are not spiritually or morally equivalent. Krishna is not another manifestation of God,or on the same level as Christ.

The Word Became Flesh- John 1:1-18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Wordwas God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were madethrough him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In himwas life,and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as awitness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world didnot know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receivehim. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave theright to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said,‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side,he has made him known.

 

 

Who has believed what he has heard from us?And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,and like a root out of dry ground;he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,and no beauty that we should desire him.3 He was despised and rejected by men;a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.(Isaiah 53:1-3)

 

For more information on the topic of Krishna and Christianity check these sites out :

http://kingdavid8.com/Copycat/JesusKrishna.html

http://thedevineevidence.com/jesus_similarities.html

http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/krishna02.html

http://www.christianlibrary.org.au/cel/documents/cults/13.html

Introduction to Hinduism

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I. Introduction

From fast facts on Hinduism – http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/fastfacts.htm
meaning of name
Hinduism, from the Persian Hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally “river.” Means “of the Indus Valley” or simply “Indian.” Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,“eternal religion” or “eternal truth.”
date founded
Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier
place founded
India
founder
none
adherents
900 million
size rank
third largest in the world
main location
India, also United Kingdom and United States
major sects
Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism
sacred texts
Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita
original language
Sanskrit
spiritual leader
guru or sage
place of worship
temple or home shrine
theism
pantheism with polytheistic elements (see Is Hinduism Polytheistic?)
ultimate reality
Brahman
human nature
in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape
purpose of life
to attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of reincarnation
how to live
order life according to the dharma
afterlife
if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved, attain moksa (liberation)
major holidays
Mahashivarati (mid-February)
Holi (Spring)
Ramnavami (late March)
Dusserah (early November)
Diwali (mid-November)

Hinduism by the Numbers

three paths:

  • karmamarga – path of works and action
  • jnanamarga - path of knowledge or philosophy
  • bhaktimarga – path of devotion to God

three debts:

  • debt to God
  • debt to sages and saints
  • debt to ancestors

four stages of life:

  • brahmacharga – school years – grow and learn
  • grhastha - marriage, family and career
  • vanaprastha – turn attention to spiritual things
  • sanrgasu – abandon world to seek spiritual things

four purposes of life:

  • dharma – fulfill moral, social and religious duties
  • artha – attain financial and worldy success
  • kama – satisfy desires and drives in moderation
  • moksha – attain freedom from reincarnation

seven sacred cities:

  • Ayodhya
  • Mathura
  • Gaya (Bodhgaya)
  • Kasi (Varanasi, Benares)
  • Kanci
  • Avantika (Ujjain)
  • Dvaraka

ten commitments:
1. Ahimsa – do no harm
2. Satya – do not lie
3. Asteya – do not steal
4. Brahmacharya – do not overindulge
5. Aparigraha – do not be greedy
6. Saucha – be clean
7. Santosha – be content
8. Tapas – be self-disciplined
9. Svadhyaya – study
10. Ishvara Pranidhana – surrender to God

Sources

  1. “Hinduism.” Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions.
  2. “Hinduism.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 2004.
  3. Huston Smith, The World’s Religions.
  4. Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism, pp. 222-24.

II. Keys to understanding Hinduism-utilized the outline from A World of Difference,by Kenneth Richard Samples,from his chapter on Eastern Monism.

1. Ultimate Reality (Monism-One)  – Purely spiritual in nature,although impersonal. It could also be referred to as transpersonal,beyond personal,and therefore non rational and amoral.This reality pervades has no boundaries or divisions,and has no parts,dualities,or particulars.

2.Pantheism – Pan-(all or every) and theos (God)- All is God.Ultimate Reality is God. Nothing exists that is not God.All true reality is in some way identified with the divine essence. God is said to be in,through,and with all things. Philosophical Hinduism identifies Ultimate Reality as Brahman. It is infinite,immutable,and indivisible. Also,impersonal,non rational,and amoral.

A. Some forms of pantheism proclaim that the physical universe is an illusion (Maya).

B. Some forms of pantheism say that the universe emanates from God,or is created out of God (Ex Deo) as opposed to the biblical doctrine of ex-nihilo (out of nothing).

3. Atman- the true self or soul – Although ostensibly beyond definition,it is “that which pervades all,which is the subject and knows,experiences,and illuminates the subjects,and which remains always the same.” It is often “coupled with Brahman,for the two are intimately entwined:the same reality is known subjectively as atman and objectively as Brahman,the pair may be used as synonyms.” (Eastern Definitions,pg.33)

In other words,the true self is God.The soul of each human is part of the cosmic or world soul. Our problem is our ignorance of this fact.We perceive ourselves as separate and distinct from God.Our unenlightened state is our main problem in life.

4. Maya – illusion – This spiritual amnesia must be corrected.The question is,how do we shatter the false knowledge (some call it a dream state) ? As Winfried Corduan puts it,” The key to Vendantic thought then, is to transcend the world of experience,which is only maya,and to uncover one’s identity as the atman-Brahman.” ( A World of Difference, Kenneth Richard Samples,pg.236) Maya is also defined as “God’s creative energy,that may be defined as cosmic illusion,becoming,magic,art,phenomenal existence. Maya is thus not illusion in the sense of unreality,but cosmic play,the divine illa,or sport.” (Eastern Definitions,pg.249)

5. The law of karma- Karma means doing,deeds,works or action.It is a cosmic principal of justice.

The present existence is shaped and determined by the deeds of a previous existence,which was itself formed by the products of an earlier existence,and so on backward in a series of lives subject to the  blind determinism of strict retribution. Thus karma is the effect of any action upon the doer,whether in a past,present,or future life. Even the gods are not spared. With this in mind,most Indian sects believe that karma works as a kind of automatic moral safeguard ensuring that the righteous move toward liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth,while the evildoers are more and more bound to it,to their own detriment.(ibid, 215)

As humans attach themselves to illusory things their spiritual amnesia is compounded.

6.Reincarnation – Latin (again in the flesh) – The soul is born into a physical body again and again until the karmic debt is broken by mystical enlightenment. Samsara is the wheel of reincarnation. One may be born as an animal,human,or insect. Westerners tend to view reincarnation as a second chance,and many believe they will come back with a better life.  In the east reincarnation is regarded in a negative light as it involves a return to a state of ignorance and illusion.

7. Mystical enlightenment- Spiritual enlightenment or self realization is the key to breaking the cycle of reincarnation. This transformation or alteration of consciousness will reveal one’s true identity as being one with the One Ultimate Reality.

8.Liberation – Moksha- When man is emancipated and freed from the world’s illusions and reunited with Brahman.

Different schools teach different methods of escape and liberation -

A.Sacrifice- yajna  B. Offerings and worship – Puja  C.Good and moral life  D. Special grace from a god- such as Krishna – Bhakti.

The key is ” When man realizes his own true self,karma ceases for him,breaking the endless hopping from womb to womb.” (ibid.pg.216)

III. A Biblical Response-http://www.gospelway.com/religiousgroups/hinduism.php

The Bible Concept of God
God possesses the characteristics of a personal spirit Being.

The Bible says that God is spirit (John 4:24), and is not flesh and blood (Matt. 16:17).

However, His characteristics are those of a living, personal, individual Being. These include the following:

* He lives (John 5:26).
* He loves (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-11).
* He speaks (Matt. 3:17)
* He works (John 5:17,20)
* He knows (Matt. 6:8,32)
* He wills (Matt. 7:21)
* He sees (Matt. 6:4,6,18)

God is not just an impersonal force, nor does He need a physical body in order to possess personal characteristics. God is spirit, not material or physical, and yet He possesses the characteristics of a personal individual.

Man is not Divine.

Spiritually man is in the image or likeness of God (Gen. 1:26f; 5:1; 9:6; James 3:9; 1 Cor. 11:7). But our inner being is not Divine, not of the essence of God, and not to be worshiped. To believe we are Divine is blasphemous.

Acts 10:25,26 – Peter refused to accept worship from Cornelius because Peter himself was “a man.” [Cf. Rev. 22:8,9; 19:10]

Acts 14:15 – When the people of Lystra tried to offer sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas as gods (v8-18), the inspired men said the people should cease such practices and worship the living God. They said they were men of like passions with those attempting to worship them.

1 Samuel 15:29 – God is not a man.

It is not true that our inner essence is that of God. Therefore, it is not right to worship any man, neither ancestors nor religious teachers.

[See also Matt. 23:8-12; Ezek. 28:2,6-10; Gen. 3:5; Acts 12:22,23; Isa. 55:8,9; Heb. 2:7; John 10:33; Num. 23:19]

There is only one true God.

Three separate Beings possess Deity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But unlike Hindu deities, these three are completely united in will, goals, purposes, etc. All have complete authority over all aspects of creation (in contrast to one over fire, one over wealth, etc.). Hence, they are completely united to form one God (John 17:20,21).

Deuteronomy 4:35-39 – The Lord is God and there is none else besides Him.

Isaiah 43:10,11 – Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.

Exodus 20:3 – You shall have no other gods before Me.

[Isa. 44:6-8; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; Matt. 4:10; 2 Cor. 6:16-18]

Use of images in worship is forbidden.

Exodus 20:4,5 – You shall not make any graven image nor bow down to such.

Acts 17:29 – Since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone graven by art or device of men.

[Isa. 42:8,9; 40:18-26; 44:9-20; 46:1-11; 48:3-6; 41:21-24; Psa. 115:1-9; 96:5; 97:7; Lev. 19:4; 26:1; Ex. 32:1-35; 23:24; 34:12-17; Hab. 2:18,19; Deut. 16:21-17:7; 27:5; Dan. 3; Rom. 1:23,25; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 5:21; 1 Cor. 5:10,11; 6:9,10; 10:7,14; Rev. 21:8; 22:15; Acts 14:8-18.]

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 – What should be a Christian’s attitude toward idolatry as practiced in Hinduism? We should have no agreement with it, but separate ourselves from it and do not touch it.

IV. The Bible Teaching about Salvation

Our sins spiritually separate us from God.

Romans 3:23 – All people are guilty of sin, disobedience to God’s will.

Isaiah 59:1,2 – Because of our sins, we are out of harmony and fellowship with God. He is then not dwelling within us.

It follows that, contrary to Hinduism, God cannot be found within the heart of the sinner, for He is not there. Our soul is not part of God, nor are we in fellowship with Him.

Because of this spiritual alienation from God, we will be separated from God eternally if our sins are not forgiven.

[Eph. 2:11-19; Rom. 6:23]

Because of God’s love and grace, Deity came to earth in the form of man (Jesus) and died as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of man’s sins.

John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him might not perish but have eternal life.

1 Peter 2:24 – Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might live.

Acts 4:12 – There is salvation in no one other than Jesus.

John 14:6 – He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. Hence, Hindu deities cannot save. They did not die for us.

Ephesians 2:8,9 – Our good works cannot save us apart from faith in Jesus. We ought to live good lives, worship God, pray, etc. But if we do not receive forgiveness by Jesus, none of these can save.

Matthew 6:7 – Endless repetition of certain phrases cannot save. It is vain repetition which heathen think leads them to be heard, but it is not acceptable to God.

[Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:6-8; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Heb. 9:11-14,23-10:18; Isa. 53:4-11; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; 3:18; Rev. 1:5; Matt. 26:28; Acts 20:28; John 1:29]

To receive the forgiveness God offers, there are conditions man must meet.

Believe – Mark 16:16; John 8:24. Note that this requires belief in Jesus and in His gospel. Without this faith, man cannot be saved.

Repent of sins – Acts 17:30.

Confess Christ – Romans 10:9,10.

Be baptized – Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16

Live a faithful life – 1 Corinthians 15:58

These conditions do not earn God’s forgiveness but are necessary so He will grant the forgiveness we do not deserve.

[Heb. 10:39; 5:9; James 2:14-26; Rom. 6; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:12]

Men can learn what to do to please God only by means of Divine revelation.

Isaiah 55:8,9 – God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours like the heavens are higher than the earth.

Jeremiah 10:23 – The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Galatians 1:8,9 – No teaching except the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring salvation and a right relationship with God.

Meditation within oneself cannot possibly show man the truth about God or about how to have a proper relationship with God. Following any system other than the gospel leaves us in sin without hope for eternity.

[John 6:44,45; Prov. 14:12; Rom. 10:17,14; 1:16; 2 Thess. 2:14; Acts 8:26,29,35; 9:6; 11:14; 2 John 9-11]

V. Conclusion

Key questions that Hinduism does not answer.

1. If ultimate reality is impersonal where did personality come from ? And if monism is trans-personal and defined as beyond personality,why is it not only impersonal,but amoral ?

2. Karma is supposed to be a blind,impersonal force that judges peoples actions. Why were the first people who lived “spiritual amnesiacs” ? Because they did not understand reality they raised children who did not understand it,and a whole race of people are now “fallen” and stuck in ignorance and the wheel of life.

3.How can and entire race of beings be ignorant that they are part of God,and not only ignorant of that fact,live as if they are the exact opposite ?It seems that there is a far deeper problem than ignorance.

4. It seems that monistic philosophy is the exact opposite of reality.

A. If all is one,how can my soul be separate from Brahmin? What separated it in the beginning ? If all is one,then there is no separation by definition.

B. If it is an illusion that separates the two then why is the illusion a distinction,a difference ? All is supposed to be one. If maya is “cosmic play” who is the one playing with reality and why?

C. Reincarnation and karma go hand in hand. We are what we are because of our past. If a person is suffering,they are suffering because of their past actions. What is the basis for helping people ? Would that not be taking them out of their rightful “just desserts” ?

What have been the practical results of believing in karma and reincarnation in Indian society ? It has had an harmful effect,with much suffering going unalleviated.

D. What is the basis for defining evil? Who determines right and wrong? Certainly an impersonal god/force who is amoral cannot do so.If one commits an evil act is that because of a past life experience,and in what way is he accountable for that act?

5. Christianity offers something that karma does not – grace. It also offers a revelation from a personal God who cared enough to deal with the root of man’s problem,his fallen nature . We are far more twisted than Hinduism teaches.The cross demonstrates the love of God,and that love has provided a liberation that offers authentic transformation. To have a relationship with the Creator of the universe is truly an awesome privilege.

Freedom From the Mind Games

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Sannyasa – last of the four asramas ,the stage of life where a man (or sometimes woman)leaves family (now grown) and renounces caste,social position,worldly affairs,livelihood,or career-whatever one might be attached to- to surrender oneself in the final search for the Divine.(Eastern Definitions,Edward Rice,pg.312)

The Buddha did this when he left his family in search for an answer to the problem of suffering.Through meditation he believed he had discovered the answer,and that answer became the Four Noble Truths and the eight-fold path. He also believed he had attained Nirvana without God. Unfortunately,his “enlightenment” became the authority for a spiritual tradition. I say unfortunately,because man’s “spiritual experiences” are no substitute for God’s revelation.

The Indian “power gurus” exalt themselves and attempt to  mentally tear down their disciples -

Rajneesh,the former guru that established a kingdom in Oregon for a  short period of time said this;

Just the other day Divyananda came to me-he works in my garden-and he said,”What is happening to me ? I have become almost a Zombie,and I am afraid. Should I go and do something else ?” And I told him,”You are a Zombie. Be a perfect Zombie,that’s all. You continue your work.” Now something immensely valuable is happening,but he cannot understand it yet. This is what is happening:catalepsy. He’s open to me,and working in my garden. He has become even more open to me. He is in a shock,he is forgetting who he is. He is losing his old identity,he is paralyzed! Why paralyzed? Because the old cannot function and new has yet to be born. So he is in the interval.

According to Rajneesh we were in a garden of Zombies, sci-fi androids. And it was good for them.But there was more to this madness:

This is going to happen to many. Don’t be afraid when it happens…This is a state of not knowing;you don’t know what is what,all your knowledge is lost,all your cleverness is gone. You become idiotic. You look like an idiot! People will say that you have become hypnotized or something,that you are no longer your old self. That is true;but it is a kind of shock. And good,because it will destroy the past…That is the whole meaning of sannyas and discipleship: that your past has been completely washed away-your memory,your ego,your identity-all has to go.(Riders of The Cosmic Circuit,Tal Brooke,pg.129)

In certain circles the Eastern counterfeit of being “born again” is akin to being mentally unbalanced,of losing one’s reason -

And each Master beheads you,cuts  your head mercilessly,destroys your reason,destroys your logic,brings you down from the head. And the only way is to cut the head completely. This is the third state: catharsis. When the head is no longer functioning,it’s control is lost and the prisoner is set free…That’s why a real disciple passes through a kind of insanity around a Master.(ibid.pg.130)

Jesus  Christ sets the prisoner free,not by mind games,but by the new birth. This is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Those who follow the Eastern “power gurus” are placed in bondage,and made captive. Christians are to love God with all of their heart,soul and mind. We are not “enlightened by our own efforts,we don’t lose our reason,and we don’t recognize our “oneness” with all of creation. The impersonality of Nirvana is a poor substitute for a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor]
[61:1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
[2] to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
[3] to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV)

One road leads to the LORD. All other paths involve self deception that leads to  mental and spiritual prison.

Are You a Wizard or a Bond Servant ?

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I have a recommendation for those of you interested in the difference between Hinduism and Christianity . Karma2grace http://www.karma2grace.org/ , has some very interesting articles and life stories. The article that follows is a comparison of what Deepak Chopra teaches and the teachings of Jesus.It is a  very “enlightening” article ! What Deepak teaches here really brings back memories of some of my studies of occultism. Wyatt Robertson has done a good job of delineating the huge gulf that exists between Hinduism and Christianity.

Chopra v. Jesus: 20 Spiritual Lessons Compared

Chopra v Jesus (Telugu)

Chopra v Jesus (Hindi)
Deepak Chopra has written a book entitled, The Way of the Wizard, Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want.[1] This article compares the 20 lessons of Chopra, which represent the New Age and Hinduism, with the teachings of the Bible and of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this article is to show the teaching common in the New Age and in Hinduism in contrast with the teaching of Christianity, as they are often a study in opposites.

These compared lessons are both written by myself. I have tried to fairly summarize Chopra’s lessons. I have quoted one or two of his italicized lessons at the beginning of each of his chapters or lessons, and then tried to explain them. This is difficult because he is actually making two or three points in many of the lessons, and sometimes he repeats a similar point with slightly different emphasis. I have chosen the dominant or most often discussed central point of each lesson. He uses the medium of the fantasy personas of Merlin and Arthur and his fictional creation of dialogue and teaching from them to explain his viewpoint. I will compare it with the historical teachings of Jesus and the Bible.

For Creating the Life You Want
For Living the Life God
Created You to Live

(Deepak Chopra for the New Age)
(Wyatt Robertson for Jesus Christ)

LESSON ONE:

“A Wizard exists in all of us. This wizard sees and knows everything.”

“The wizard possesses the secret of immortality.”

The wizard is a person who has become enlightened and knows that there is God inside of everyone of us. Behind the appearances of the senses and mortality of man is the hidden and unlimited Self. The universe is inside of living creatures and reality is discovered there. Chopra uses the wizard as an analogy for the person who discovers this inner self and becomes enlightened. The answers to man’s searching are all within.

LESSON ONE:

There is a God, and He is not you.

In contrast, the Bible teaches that there is a God, a great “I AM.” This God is completely self dependent, and self-existing and He is not you. He does not depend upon man to be discovered. He is a separate being from man; man is His creation. Man has the ability to know God, but not to be God. The answers to man’s searching are outside of Himself in the person of God.

LESSON TWO:

“The return of the magical can only happen with the return of innocence.”

The natural state of a man, “innocence” is the ability to live beyond the self with all its categories and labels. Man is the creator of experience and reality. We give life to everything in the world. What you see and how you see matters because it creates reality.

Think with a new perspective, without labels. Do not let your mind box in your reality. Your own innocence is the only true existence. You become innocent through realizing that everything is God and that you are God looking out at yourself. Your own perceptions and awareness give the universe its life and reality.

LESSON TWO:

The world exists objectively by the creative fiat of God.

We are subject to God’s objectively created world with its laws and realities. God created the heavens and the earth. We are part of His creation, subject to the physical and spiritual laws of the universe. We perceive things that actually exist objectively of their own, whether we perceive them or not. Though we may bend our perceptions, reality must and can be discovered by us, and can not be created by us. Our thoughts and imaginations are actual but do not create reality; they are either true or not.

Rest of the lessons here – http://www.karma2grace.org/page.asp?pg=75

There are many people in the West who are checking out the various Eastern religions. Some of these seekers have a nominal church background while others have little or no religious training whatsoever. The Bible is very clear that there are angels of light,false teachers,and other gospels. All though our Western ears don’t want to hear about the necessity for “truth”,the importance of seeking and understanding the truth of God by the grace of God cannot be overstated. Paul puts it like this -

[No Other Gospel]
[6] I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— [7] not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
[10] For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
[Paul Called by God]
[11] For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. [12] For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 1:6-12 ESV)

That is some very strong language. But when you think about it,our eternal destiny rests in whom we put our faith.  May our faith be in Jesus Christ,and not in mere human beings who peddle teachings that attempt to undercut and obscure the mighty truths of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Bondservants,not wizards !

[26] For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV)

(photo by Dinah)

Yoga/Contemplative Prayer:The Snake in is the House

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What would you think if your church invited a speaker in who taught a week-end seminar utilizing the following:

  • Contemplative prayer practices that emphasize breathing,meditation,and the repetition of Scriptures.
  • yogic relaxation techniques
  • the teaching that Hinduism and Buddhism have much to offer Christianity.

The sad fact is that this scenario is happening in churches all across the United States and Great Britain.This synthesis has been accomplished while much of the church has been spiritually negligent. The process has been ongoing for several decades. Peter Dodson was a facilitator in this process in Great Britain in the 1970′s. As he said;

It is,however,unwise for the leader to refer too much to ,say,Buddhist or Hindu meditative disciplines,or to use the foreign words or phrases associated with them.I have learned to ‘button my lip’ about matters relating to Eastern religions other than Christian,mainly because some Christians are doubtful about Eastern styles of meditation but also because there is really no need to refer to them.The valuable things they have to offer have,in recent years,been well and truly incorporated into Western thinking and practice.”(The Serpent and the Cross,Alan Morrison,pg.407)

There are Christian teachers who advocate using “the Jesus Prayer” as a way to practice the presence of God. Repeating a phrase several hundred times is not only not a Biblical practice,it is pagan in nature.This has become the new Christian mantra. Again,Alan Morrison points out exactly what has happened;

All this is just as the occultist and Gnostic psychologist C.G. Jung predicted some fifty years ago: “the West will produce its own Yoga,and it will be on the basis laid down by Christianity.” Thus a mystical activity which has its roots in Hindu and Tantric occultism and its fulfillment today in the rituals of the New Gnosticism,is now practiced  in an increasing number of church halls  and Retreat Centers across the country.(ibid.pg.408)

Implementing Hindu based spiritual practices is affront to a holy God and shows a lack of faith on the part of those practicing the specific techniques. Is it not enough to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God? To be able to fellowship with the Father through the power of the Spirit and by meditation on the Word of God?To be called “friend” by the Lord Jesus Christ ? As John Piper says,

There is no point in romanticizing other religions that reject the deity and saving work of Christ.They do not know God. And those who follow them tragically waste their lives. If we would see and savor the glory of God,we must wee and savor Christ. For Christ is “the image of the invisible God”(Colossians 1:15)To put it another way,if we would embrace the glory of God,we must embrace the Gospel of Christ.(don’t waste your life,John Piper,pg.39,40)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the snake killer par excellence !!

wellofsouls

A Brahmin Repents :Jesus Christ is Mighty to Save !

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The Brahmins are the most influential caste in Hinduism. They receive worship from other Hindus,and are considered to be the most spiritually advanced of all the castes within the Hindu religion. Here is a brief testimony of one Brahmin who came to know,love,and serve Jesus Christ.

When Mr.Hamid (the pastor,and a former Muslim) said ,”Amen” he suggested that I might want to pray in my own words. Quietly,choking with emotion,I began.”Lord Jesus,I’ve never studied the Bible and don’t know what it’s all about,but I’ve heard that you died for my sins at Calvary so I could be forgiven and reconciled to God. Thank you for dying for my sins and for coming into my heart and forgiving me! I want to be a new and changed person!”

I wept tears of repentance for the way I had lived: for the anger and hatred and selfishness and pride ,for the idols I had served,for accepting the worship that belonged to God alone,and for imagining that he was like a cow or a star or a man. I prayed for several minutes-and before I finished I knew that Jesus wasn’t just another one of several million gods. He was in fact the God for whom I had hungered. I had met Jesus by faith and discovered that he himself was the Creator.Yet he loved me enough to become a man for my sake and to die for my sins. With that realization,tons of darkness seemed to lift and a brilliant light flooded my soul….I knew he had taken my sins away. I knew he had made me a new person on the inside. …I was one of God’s children now. I had been born again. (Death of a Guru,Rabi R.Maharaj,pg.129-130)

Rabi’s book Death of a Guru is an excellent read,especially if you or someone you love is being drawn to various Hindu practices such as Yoga.We need “new life” that is only found in Jesus Christ. The phrase “born again” has been overused,mocked and abused,yet it is still an accurate description of our need, and of the experience of spiritual re-birth.

For God so loved the world ,that He gave His only begotten (unique,one an only) Son,that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.(John 3:16)

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