On Other Religions

Average man or woman not seeking may be far more pure than hermit, monk and nun.

The more you have a love of god, the more difficult it is to hate his creatures.

Only a person with the highest self-control can truly say, "Thy will be done."

Any practice which does not take ethics into account is a false one.

One should get on very good terms with the Lord within.

The Upanishads were written by grass farmers … people with no intellect.

Bhakti

• Bhakti … Dharma on God. Very difficult to concentrate on God. Casual surrendering will not do.

• Bhakti is a most difficult path; it demands death of will and self. Just passive intention to yield to God. Achievements of samadhi or release are not a goal of bhakti.

• Traditional dedication: "My body is at disposal of the Lord." Then there is not time to serve anyone else.

• Some take pride in their bhakti. Narada:  "… how dare you make fun of us, your bhaktas.…" then he looked in a mirror and saw the face of a monkey.

• Within possibility of anyone here in Austin to get deity’s glance; to be aware of your prayers.

• If you think it's easy to offer your life to the Devi how about offering up $500 to charity first?

• Contemplating quality of god would have the effect of weakening the material part of the world. Contemplating Buddhas should have the same effect.

Hinduism

• Goddess Kali, tantric yoga … a terrible physical form. What is the idea of suggesting such a form for God? Because God swallows us all. Death is inevitable. Everything is destined to die. Everything gets sucked in. Nothing survives.

• Indian traditions call for relentless self-improvement and procedures. Anything that is true, benevolent, beautiful must be pursued.

Christianity

• There is a devil of a difference between professing and practicing Christianity.

• The more goodness there is in you, the more you will indict yourself. That is the meaning of great beings who suffer for others.

• It granted me considerable happiness to receive a letter from a student saying her faith in Christ had been strengthened.

Muslimism

• Mohammad said you may have four wives, this was because so many men had been killed in a war at the time. This has been perverted to be a religious duty to have four wives.

Jainism

• Jainism: All life should be treated as if it was your own.

Judiasm

• Moses’ deity might be so constituted as it cannot hear your screams unless you rise up to him and try to get his help.

When finding moral lapses in the guru (the spiritual mentor) by the disciple this is the point according to Indian tradition that the disciple should immediately be dropped. Not much of a step from finding fault in the guru for the disciple to begin finding faults in his or her own god.

Guru … Inspirer of wisdom (but does not act). A guru is used for spiritual guide to whom service is permitted. True guru leads you to Ishwara. Teaches practitioner to die.

Those who [claim to be gurus] who teach methods of acquiring money, prosperity, fame, honor are false. These are businessmen. Nothing to do with reaching Ishwara.

To cause differences in a dhamma group is a very great evil. Not to drive people away – one who might become a Buddha.