Krishna Jayanthi

Share thoughts and ideas regarding what can be done to meet contemporary humanity's need for rites of initiation and passage.

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About two nights ago Hindus around the world celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna otherwise known as Atham.
It is the most amazing night where Hindus sing, dance and chant. The music is vibrant and really speaks to the soul.
Here in South Africa, at midnight, everyone who has attended the function at the temple stops in their tracks and sing and aarti commemorating the Lord's birth over 5, 000 years ago.

Here are a few links with regard to this wonderful festival. Whoever has celebrated this day or experienced it in some way, please post your story up here.
However its not limited to those who celebrate it. Whoever wants to pass whatever knowledge they have of Krishna and Krishna consciousness may do so here. For the times we are living in, many of Krishna's teachings are relevant.

Here are a few links regarding the festival of Atham:

http://www.sanatan.org/en/campaigns/KJ/birth.htm

http://www.sanatan.org/en/campaigns/KJ/aarti.htm

http://www.sanatan.org/en/campaigns/KJ/aboutkj.htm

http://www.exoticindia.com/article/lordkrishna

And to know why hindus light lamps (diwo) here is another link. It's quite extraordinary:
http://www.sanatan.org/en/campaigns/KJ/aarti.htm

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Shamin on 2006-08-18 03:04 ]</font>

creekmary
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Post by creekmary »

That was interesting! I don't think there are any stories about Jesus as a baby like that. People comment on it, preachers sometimes, and speculate. It jumps all the way from being born to being in the temple confounding the elders.

The stories in the links are the kinds of stories I think of when I try to relate to the "qualities" of the scientific things Raphael and Ian are exploring. If a person knew or experienced the things they are exploring, without scientific reference or language, how could they explain it to the people back home trying to learn.

I liked a lot of things in the links: "before the beginning, there was an end.." and the Tree of Life that is also in the old Jewish Kabbala that Aireal mentions. (I am not that up on the Tree of Life though, not that familiar. Or the Kabbala either. I know people have spent their whole lives for hundreds of years and still find new things and understandings. So it seems like a project...I bet my cleric friend knows some, though, if I ask him.)

Not to be facetious, but I bet I would have tried to find me some Hindus. Dad always tried to teach us to have respect for other religions and beliefs. I think if you are humble and have respect, most people will let you in if you're wanting to learn.

Susan

creekmary
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Post by creekmary »

A rant -
....(transcendencetranscendencetranscendence)....

Anyway...my rant for....the year hopefully <IMG SRC="/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif"> Thank you... <IMG SRC="/forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">

Susan

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: creekmary on 2006-08-28 20:18 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: creekmary on 2006-08-28 20:44 ]</font>

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The stories in the links are the kinds of stories I think of when I try to relate to the "qualities" of the scientific things Raphael and Ian are exploring.
- Susan a.k.a Creekmary
Speaking about quality in science, I read the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". It was about a man's reflection on the definition of Quality. He started off with the question "what is quality?"
Then it led him to split the world into two: one being the scientific, classical world and the other being the artistic, beautiful, romantic world.
The writer eventually came to the conclusion that there is no clear definition of Quality because if one tries to define Quality, you just going to describe something that is less than quality. In my opinion, this is because the English language does not have enough words, or more precisely, does not have enough descriptive words to define Quality.
Quality, he realised, is something that is experienced.
But in splitting the world into arts and science, the writer soon realised that science is the underlying form of something and art is the surface form.
However for Quality to prevail, one is supposed to have an understanding of the underlying form to bring out the beauty and art of something. There must be a fusion of the two for Quality to prevail.

I always use football (soccer in the United States) as an example.
For a manager or coach to get the best out of his team, he must understand the science and technicalities of the game and then apply it to beautiful effect. He shall experiment with different formations, different players. He must experiment with various strategies.
Other technical aspects the coach must see to are the players' techniques. To get the most out of a centre forward or defender, the coach and his technical staff need to work on the techniques of these players. If a player is a speed demon, work on his speed and place him in the position that will suit his speedy style of football. Perhaps as a winger.
A coach will also make sure the players follow a correct diet.

Once the coach understands the science of the game, he must apply those understandings at training where he can observe whether his experiments are working or not. If he's satisfied, then the coach shall use it on the field of play.

Now this is where the art of the game comes alive. The game the spectators watch is the beauty of football unfolding in front of us. The tricks, skills and spectacular goals are the art form, the romantic form of the game. When the team gels together and plays splendid football that is when art is at work.

However one can also say that this is where Quality prevails. When a team is playing Quality football, it means the science (technical training, strategies and management) and art (skills, imagination, teamwork, rapport, intuition, passion, fire etc.) fuses.
I think this is one of the reasons why football is such a popular sport worldwide.

The book also talks about Greek myths and how it fuses art and science. So I won’t be wrong in saying that Mythology is a product of this fusion. And that’s the beauty of mythology, it’s this fusion, this acknowledgment of all aspects of the world and life. It’s like observing the striking beauty of a tree leaf and the role it has in this world, but also admiring the biological aspects of the leaf – its composition, it’s purpose and its substance. That is what Mythology is like. And that is what “Zen and the Art…” tried to say about Greek mythology. That it is the acknowledgement of this fusion in all parts of the world. Kind of like the theory of Relativity, science can’t live without art and art can’t live without science.

But one question:
Is Quality born from this fusion, or is art and science born from Quality?
According to "Zen and the Art..." Quality is the parent from which art and science is born. These two forms are just the offspring of Quality (sorry for this tautology). They provide the definitions of Quality, whereas words cannot.
Quality would be at the top of the hierarchy which art and science try in vain to please.

And another thing; isn't science born from art? That's another notion I have heard.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Shamin on 2006-10-06 02:13 ]</font>

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