Ajay0

The  ancient Thiruvathira festival in south India which celebrates the cosmic dance of Shiva as a golden red-flamed light, was celebrated this month on December 20.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvathira
The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance is said to take place in every particle and is considered to be the source of all energy.
Interestingly, the monotheistic Dharmic sect the Prajapita Brahmakumaris consider God Shiva to be an incorporeal point of golden-red light, synonymous with Jehovah, Allah, Waheguru and Ahura Mazda of the other monotheistic religions where there are similar connotations and associations with light.

 

Here are 108 wise sayings of Dadi Janki....
https://www.hindu-blog.com/2018/09/dadi-janki-quotes-collection-of-108.html
 
   

Studying the Orphic Egg of the ancient Greek Orphic tradition recently, I was pleasantly surprised by its similarities to the Shivalingam in Hinduism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphic_Egg
 
The Orphic Egg is considered the Father or creator of all the Greek gods.

The Shivalingam in Hinduism is also considered the cosmic egg from which sprang forth everything in the material universe, including the gods and sentient beings at the time of creation, and they will all return back to the Shivalingam at the time of cosmic dissolution.

The Prajapita Brahmakumaris consider the Shivalingam as representing God Shiva as an incorporeal point of light, and the Father of all the Hindu gods and sentient beings, and the same as Jehovah, Ahura Mazda, Allah, Waheguru in the other monotheistic religions.

 
 
Like the Orphic Egg, the Shivalingam is often depicted with a serpent wound about it.

It is possible that there is a common link and origin to these traditions.

Dadi Janki (1 Jan 1916 - 27 march 2020) was the chief administrative head of the Prajapita Brahmakumaris, the world's largest spiritual organization led, administered and taught by women and which have 9000 service centers spanning across 170 countries in the world. The Prajapita Brahmakumaris is also known as the Adi Devi Devatha Sanathana Dharma and is a monotheistic Dharmic sect which worships God as an incorporeal point of light and consider Him the same as Jehovah, Allah, Ahura Mazda, Waheguru in the other monotheistic religions.

Dadi Janki was often considered as the lone female equivalent of the Pope or Ayatollah or Shankaracharya or Dalai Lama in a religious world overwhelmingly dominated by male leaders.

Dadi, which means 'grandmother' in Indian language, trained and prepared thousands of female spiritual teachers for decades, who are now engaged in imparting values and spiritual teachings around the world .

She has conducted lectures and seminars at various national and international events for the promotion of human values and the empowerment of women around the world .

Through her many years of work, Dadi Janki has provided guidance and support to many, counseling them in a variety of areas, including emotional and psychological problems, family relationships and substance abuse.

Her daily routine started at 3 am in the morning for meditation till 7 am. Her breakfast included oatmeal, upma and fruits followed by khichdi or vegetables in lunch and condensed soup of vegetables in dinner.

In 1978, Scientists at the Medical and Science, Research Institute at the University of Texas, USA examined the brain wave pattern of Dadi Janki. She was described as the most stable mind in the world as her mental state remained completely undisturbed despite various kinds of external stimuli being applied. It was found that she emits delta waves even at trying times, leaving examiners surprised.

(Delta brainwaves are slow, loud brainwaves- low frequency and deep penetrating, like a drum beat. They are generated in deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Healing and regeneration are stimulated in this state.)

She attributes her equanimous mental state to Raja Yoga meditation. Sharing tips for a calm mind, she said, "We waste a lot of time criticizing others instead of focusing on ourselves."

In 2004, she was awarded Grand Cordon of the first order of Al Istiklal (the Medal of Independence) by HM King Abdullah of Jordan for her humanitarian services to the world.

In 2005, The Peace Abbey presented Dadi Janki with the 2005 Courage of Conscience Award for a lifetime dedicated to the service of humanity.

In 2019, at the age of 103, she travelled almost 72000 km in India and across the world for her services.

Upon her death, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Janki Dadi worked diligently for the society. Her efforts made a positive difference in the lives of many people ." The Indian president President Ram Nath Kovind stated that her contributions in the fields of spirituality, social welfare and women's empowerment had been invaluable.

Dadi Hirdaya Mohini has now taken charge as the chief administrative head of the Prajapita Brahmakumaris at present.

The Janki Foundation for promoting spirituality in Healthcare, was inspired and launched by Dadi Janki, and which advocates a healthcare model that combines the best of modern medicine with complementary approaches and spirituality. Research findings and clinical experience increasingly reveal the psychosomatic nature of disease and that spiritual factors have a significant part to play in recovery from illness.

Launched in December 1997 at the Royal College of Physicians, London, the Janki Foundation’s premise is that better understanding of these factors can benefit both patient and practitioner by promoting healing, reducing stress and staff fatigue and raising morale.

The President – About Dadi Janki

Dadi Janki has also published several books, including Companion of God, Wings of Soul, and Pearls of Wisdom.


Some wise sayings of Dadi Janki...


“Yoga is awareness, a Sadhana of human to divine consciousness. The modern system looks after just physical health, whereas the term Health, encompasses a complete mental, social, physical and spiritual well-being. Raja Yoga meditation changes the internal physiological response to environmental circumstances, thereby creating an adaptive and positive response. The power of the mind to resist disease is increased enormously as the subconscious level is healed and higher consciousness is awakened.”


“At least, put an end to the crisis within your own mind when you can’t do much about the crisis outside of you. Flexibility means converting your problems into teachers. Never lose hope, never give up — if the task is given, you will also get the power to fulfil it. Light and Might are with you as your Right from God. You can bend only when you are strong. Be like the lotus, take what is useful but do not let the dirt spoil your beauty. Sorrow makes one sick and scared, so do not take it from anyone. If you allow the negative in word, thought or form to enter you, then it is due to your weakness. Always ask what you have to do at this moment in time and not past or future.”

Hi Harsharanji, , 😀
Thank you for your reply. Reading the above filled me with bliss and light myself. 😇
I checked this out in the internet and found the verse number to be (13-5, DnwsrI, m 1 ).
An alternate translation goes like this...
sB mih joiq joiq hY soie ]
sabh meh jot jot hai so-ay.
Amongst all is the Light-You are that Light. (13-5, DnwsrI, m 1 )
 
Thank you again for your scholarly reply. 🙏
May you be blessed yourself by God Almighty Himself.
Sweet regards,
Ajay0

Hello Ajay,
welcome. It is true, many religions describe the divnity as  luminous energy, just as you mention in your post above.
But as we all know, lights have different  intensities. 
For example, we have a candle light, a tube light, a 20 watts bulb, or even a 100 watts one, just to mention a few sources...
So, if the creator is for example like a Sun, then we souls having emanted from Him, are just as rays of that Sun. 
And just as all rays are the same, each one of them carrying the same light, the same heat.... in that sense, we all souls are same, above any barriers such as genders, classes, caste, dharam, mazab, color, race, etc  etc and etc ....the list is endless.
In Gurbani, in the Aarti, we come to know something on this respect: Sabh meh jot, Jot hae soee
Which means, His light is in everything, He Himself is the Light.
Other thing is, as per our own different karmas, we are born in different cultures, in different countries, in different religions,  different races...etc 
But all these conditions are outer aspects, which differ  in each birth  of  the chaurasee  ka chakar .... and yet the stupids, and profoundly mentally disabled, create conflicts among themselves, hatred, thirst for blood,  by killing whosoever do not think alike ...utter madness, and yet they call themselves spiritually adavnced or gyanis, or even the priest class people.
Mostly all look at the different sizes and colors of the boxes, and make classifications/discriminations, as per those outer aspects, which are temporary and perishable, and yet, the essence of Truth in them all as souls, is the same in all.
Such a pity, blinds commiting attrocities and unjustice. 
Almost everybody forgets that, nobody is better or superior to anyone else.
It is just that by their own past karam, and in accordance with the Law of Nature, (as you sow, so shall you reap),each one as said above, is born in different envoirements, such as color, caste, gender, nationality, dharam or mazab.....
All this is done strictly and carried under the universal law of karma. Nobody can alter it, nor bribe nature. 
Religious scriptures are full of references and examples, to this one law.
In the Bible it says: even the hair on your body is numbered. (Nothing happensjust like that).
In the Bani we read: Aapay beejeh, aapay khaaey.( You sow, you reap and eat).
 
Going back to the point of Light as divinity mentioned in different religions, it could be well said, as all beings are also light, whether devis, devtays, incarnations, gods, godesses, angels...etc, absolutley all beings carry the light of their origin.
Some beings have less or almost no stain of karmas, thus they are purer, their glass covering is not so dirty, so in them the light or purity shines more... some are heavy sinners, their glass covering is so dirty, that there is absolute darkness, ignorance, no morality in them .... and so on.... yet in the very depth of all of them, the flame of the divine is the same in all, no less, no more, no partiality.
 
Moreover, in the infinite creation  all beings are like stars in the  sky, yet  there is one Infinite Sun also, absolutley brilliant,  full of refulgence, full of mercy, full of Love.
And refering to the Light of this Highest Consciousness, Supreme and eternal Truth, Gurbani tells us:
Je Sau Chanda Ugveh Sooraj  Chareh Hazaar , Ete Chanan Hundeya(n) Gur Bin Ghor Andhar.
If a hundred moons were to rise, and a thousand suns appeared, even with such light, there would still be pitch darkness without the Guru. And this Guru, is no other than the Aad Guru, or call it Satnam, or Waheguru also. Ooch apaar, beant Soami.
 
So you see, each one talks of light as divinity as per their own reach or level of consciousness. According to their escalated heights,  that they view that light and took it as ultimate reality.
But in Gurbani, Guru Sahiban, Bhagat Jan, Gurmukhs, Sant Jan, having witnessed the refulgence and Light of that Supreme Being, Parbrahm Parmeshwar, namely Akal Purukh, Waheguru or Satnam; describe and share with us, the majesty, the  inmensity, the akhoot Jot,  of that One Universal Supreme Power.
You see, there is a vast difference between these Purest Beings: Guru Sahiban, Sant Jan, Gurmukhs, and the rest of the beings, howsoever prophets or endless list of gods there may be.
While the former, see only the Jot of Waheguru in all, thus unite humanity as equal, and give the gift of His bhakti to all alike;  the limited blind ones, divide and discriminate, thus remain prisoners in the mayavee creation.
If have any chances, just dive deep into the Bani, and savour the  Amrit of Nam contained in it, for the ultimate purpose of blending into that Anhad Bani as one without distinction.
Stay blessed.
Sat Sree Akal.

Hello all, 😀
I have come across some observations which depict an interesting correlation between God and light in the major world religions....

In Hinduism, the Vedas and Hindu scriptures considers the Shivalingam as representing a cosmic pillar or point of light.  The Dharmic monotheistic sect the Prajapita Brahmakumaris consider God to be a point of light. The Upanishads and enlightened masters have also described Brahman to be self-luminous.

In Islam, Allah has 100 name's, and one of them is Alnoor ( the Light).

“God is light,” says  Jesus Christ ( 1 John 1:5 ), in the Bible in Christianity.

In Judaism, Psalm 76:4 says of God, “You are radiant with light.”

So this correlation between God and light, is a common denominator in these four major world religions.

Imo, the fire worship in Zoroastrianism may be illustrating this correlation between God (Ahura Mazda ) and light as well, light being emitted by the fire.

I would say this may provide more proof that the major world religions are identical in their core, with only superficial differences on the outside creating cause for extremism and conflict. If you find any further proofs or evidences in this regard in Sikhism, please do share it here.

Thanking in advance. 😀
Ajay.
 

Self Percept (Atam Updesh)

Why are you so engrossed in worries? Why are you afraid of some one? Who may kill you? The soul is immortal; it neither dies nor takes birth.
The present is here and now, the past is irrecoverable and the future will be good. Don't fret over the past and don't be worried about the future. The present is going on.

Why do you cry? What did you lose? When you were born, what did you bring along, which has been lost? What did you produce which has been perished? It is here that you gained and it is here that you lose. The man comes to; and goes from world, empty handed.

What you own today was not yours yesterday and will not be yours tomorrow. It does not and will not belong to anyone. You consider it your own and rejoice. This happiness of possession leads you to utter grief.

Yours is this world. Start from where you feel to; stay where you desire and wind up where you want to. It has no beginning and no end. You don't fear anyone, but yourself. You are the fright and also the frightened.

Change is the truth of life. What you consider as death is life in reality. In a moment a multi-millionaire is turned pauper. Give up the feeling of possession, great & the mean; differentiation of friend & foe. Then all is yours and you for everyone. Your corporeal being is a product of air, water, fire ,sky and earth and it merges into the same leaving behind neither blood nor bones. Still yours existence remains the same. Then ponder over what you are.

Wake up! and become the eternal sons of the Almighty. You are the great and unique manifestation of Nature's power. All the divine powers are possessed by you, like a tree hidden in the seed.

In fact you don't fear anybody; you don't have any worry, suspicion, pain or grief. You are His dear ones. Surrender yourself completely to Him.

Always, remember the "Waheguru" (God) to achieve salvation. Let your life be guided by the saying "Whatever God wills, is good". Be content with the will of God. Remember Him both in pleasure & pain.


Compiled by His Holiness Sant Isher Singh Ji Maharaj