All the gods of the Gentiles are devils.
Psalm 95: 5
The following article comes from the experience of a woman who, having finished high school in a Roman Catholic convent, practiced Hinduism for 20 years until finally, by the grace of God, a convert to the Orthodox faith, finding the end of its investigation of the truth in the Russian Church. Now living in the US West Coast. I wish her words serve to open the eyes of those Orthodox who might be tempted to follow the blind "Liberal" theologians who now make their appearance even in the Orthodox Church, and whose response to the attack on neoeidololatrias Church of Christ is to start "dialogue" with sorcerers and worship with them the true gods of the pagans.
1. lures Hindu
I was only 16 years when two events changed the course of my life. I went to Catholic Dominican convent of St. Raphael first met Christianity. In the same year I met Hinduism in the face of an Indian monk, a Swami, who soon became the guru, or my teacher. A fight had started, but I was able to figure it out for nearly twenty years.
The monastery was taught the basic truths of Christianity. Here lies the power of the humble and a snare to the proud. St. James wrote truly: "God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble" (Jas. 4: 6). And how proud I was • not admit the existence of original sin, nor the existence of hell. And I had many arguments against them. A very benevolent nun gave me the key when she said: "Pray for the gift of faith." But the education of Swami had already gained influence over me, and I thought it derogatory to beg someone, even God. Much later I remembered what he had told me. Years later the seed of Christian faith that had been planted in me emerged through an endless sea of despair.
Over time the nature of the books I had brought with me to school, all covered with plain covers, was uncovered. Books like the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, the Vedantasara, the Ashtavakra Samhita ... In part my secret was learned, but nothing specific was said. Without doubt the nuns thought they would pass, as indeed spend most types of intellectual conceit on young girls. But one bold nun told me the truth. It is a true unpopular and rarely hear. She said she would go to hell if I died in the Hinduism, since I had first seen the truth of Christianity. Saint Peter put it this way: "Because of what man has defeated there and has enslaved. If, having escaped the taints of this world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, again entangled in them and are defeated, then the latter have become worse than the first. It would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they knew, to turn their backs on the holy commandment delivered to them "(II Peter 2: 19-21). How contemptible her sister about "intolerance" of. But if he lived today would thank her with all my heart. What he said tortured, as would the truth, and eventually was to lead me to the fullness of Holy Orthodoxy.
The important thing I got the convent was a yardstick, and some day I would use it to find out that Hinduism was fraud.
The situation has changed a lot since I was in school. What it was an isolated case Hinduism developed into an epidemic. Now one must have an intelligent understanding of the doctrines of Hinduism, if we are to protect young Christians from committing spiritual suicide when they encounter Eastern religions.
The charm of Hinduism is wide range • there are blandishments for every charisma and appeals to every weakness, but particularly to pride. And as I was very proud, even in my sixteen years, he was in what protoepesa smooth. The original sin, hell and the problem of pain with stenachorousan. There I had never taken seriously before I came to the monastery. Then, the Swami presented an "intellectually satisfying" alternative for every uncomfortable Christian dogma. Hell was ultimately only a temporary state of the soul that had come from our own bad karma (past actions) in this or a past life. And, of course, a temporary event could have eternal results. The original sin metastoicheiothike marvelously in propatoriki divinity. It was my patrimony, and no act of my will never nullify this glorious conclusion. I was divine. I was God: "The eternal dreamer, dreaming finite dreams."
As for the problem of pain, the Hindu philosophy known as Vedanta (Vedanta) has a really elegant philosophical system to cope. In short, the pain is maya or illusion. There is real substance - and even more, the follower of Advaita Vedanta can claim to prove it!
In another area, Hinduism appeal to very reputable wrong to assume that man is perfectible: through education (with their own terminology, the guru system) and through "evolution" (the constant progressive intellectual development of man) . Also created an argument from the standpoint of cultural relativity • has now hired such respectability that is real sin (for those who do not believe in sin) to disputes of any kind relativity. What would make more sense, they say, than different nations and peoples worshiping God differently? God is God then, and diversity in ways of worship contributes to a general religious "enrichment."
But perhaps the most compelling generally attraction is pragmatism. The whole religious edifice Hindu supported by the practical religious instructions given to the student by his guru. With these practices the disciple is invited to verify the philosophy by his own experience. Nothing should be accepted by faith. And unlike the layman perceptions, there are not any mysteries - just a tremendous amount of internal material - so there is just no need for faith. They say: "Try it, and see if it works." This pragmatic approach is great temptation for the Western mind. It seems so "scientific". But almost every student falls into a kind of pragmatic fraud: eg if the practice is working (and actually work), believes that the system is true, and therefore, they are unqualified good. But of course, this is not the next. All you can really say is: if they work, then work. But if we miss this point, easily understand, how a little psychic experience acting with great persuasion to poor student.
This brings me to the last coaxing you mention, which is the "spiritual experiences." These are mental or demonic origin. But who among the practitioners has any way to distinguish illusion from genuine spiritual experience? They have no benchmark. But do not you think that what they see, hear, smell and touch in these experiences is the result of simple intellectual diversion. It is not. It is what the (Russian) Orthodox tradition calls prelest (error). It is an important word, because it refers to the exact condition of a person having Hindu "spiritual experiences." There is no exact equivalent of the word "prelest 'in the English dictionary. It covers the whole range of false spiritual experiences: from simple illusion and deception until actual possession by a demon. In every case the counterfeit is perceived as genuine and the overall effect is an accelerated growth of pride. A warm, convenient feeling of extreme importance stabilizes the person in error, and this compensates for all the discipline and efforts.
In his first letter, Saint John warns the early Christians: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are from God ..." (I Jn. 4: 1)
Saint Gregory of Sinai was careful to guide the monks on the dangers of these experiences: "'' All around, around beginners and strong-willed, the demons tend to spread the nets of thoughts and pernicious fantasies and prepare moats for their destruction ... '' A monk asked him: 'What should a man do when the demon takes the form of an angel of light?' '' 'In this case a man needs great discrimination power to distinguish right between good and evil. Therefore your recklessness, not so quickly seduced by what you see, but keep gravity and tasting everything carefully, accept the good and discard the bad. You must always try and review, and only then think. Know that the works of grace are obvious, and the demon, despite the transformations, can not produce them: namely, meekness, friendliness, humility, hatred of the world, cut off the passions and carnal desires - which are the results of grace. The works of demons are: pride, conceit, intimidation and all evil. From such results will become visible if the light that shines in your heart is from God or Satan. Lettuce like mustard, and vinegar in color like wine • but when you experience the palate discern and clarify the difference between them. In the same way the soul, if discrimination can distinguish the flavor of mind gifts of the Holy Spirit from the fantasies and illusions of satan. "
The misguided or proud spiritual candidate is most vulnerable to error. And the success and durability of Hinduism in time depend tremendously from this false mysticism. What is particularly attractive for young drug users, already initiated in such experiences. The last few years have seen the blossoming and proliferation of Swami. They saw the opportunity for glory and prosperity in this ready market. And they caught.
2. A war doctrines
Today Christianity accepts stab an opponent almost unknown to the faithful. And if you can, nailing it to the heart before reporting his name. The enemy is Judaism, and the war waged war doctrine is.
When missionaries Vedanta (Vedanta societies) established in this country (America) around the turn of the century, the first efforts were directed to argue that there was no real difference between Hinduism and Christianity. Not only there was no conflict, but a good Christian would become a better Christian by studying and practicing the Vedanta • will understand the true Christianity.
In early lectures, the Swamis attempted to show that these ideas seemed exclusive possessions of Christianity - like the Logos and the Cross - really came from India. And the ideas that seemed exclusive possessions of Hinduism - like rebirth, the reincarnation of the soul, and Samadhi (Samadhi or ecstasy) could also be found in the Christian Scriptures - when they are interpreted properly.
This kind of trap caught many sincere but misguided Christians. The initial impetus was against those who could be described "heretical" doctrines in favor of a religion called as "scientific", based on a comparative study of all religions. The main emphasis was always on this: there is no difference. All is one. All differences are on the surface • are apparent or relative, not actual. All this is obvious from published lectures that were given in the early 1900. Today we are in great danger because this effort was so very successful.
