Ashok Kara

And the Thunder Said DA

Stories of Dharma in the Mythology, Philosophy, and Religion of India.

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Prajapati, the Creator, had three kinds of offspring: gods, men, and demons. They lived with Prajapati as brahmacharins (celibate students) practicing austerities. At the end of their term, the gods requested him saying: "Please instruct us, Sir." Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: "Have you understood?" The gods replied: "Yes. You have said to us, control yourselves (Damyata)." Prajapati responded: "Yes, you have understood." Then men spoke to him: "Please instruct us, Sir." Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: "Have you understood?" The men replied: "We have. You have said give (Datta)." Prajapati responded: "Yes, you have understood." Then the demons spoke to him: "Please instruct us, Sir." Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: "Have you understood?" The demons replied: "Yes. You have said to us, be compassionate (Dayadhvam)." Prajapati responded: "Yes, you have understood." That very thing is repeated by the celestial voice in the form the thunder that speaks to us: "Da, Da, Da" which means, "control yourselves," "give," "be merciful." In other words, writes Kara, the instruction to comprehending the ultimate mystery begins from an ethical injunction. He who is self-controlled, charitable, and merciful is given proximity to the gods. Ethics takes precedence over epistemology and ontology.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: iUniverse
• Seitenzahl: 428
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. Oktober 2008
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 30mm
• Gewicht: 859g
• ISBN-13: 9780595491100
• ISBN-10: 0595491103
• Artikelnr.: 25467941