Let us bring in Thiruvalluvar (திருவள்ளுவர்) for a moment:
எப்பொருள் யார்யார் வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள் மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு. ( குறள் 0423)
(To discern the truth in every thing, by whomsoever spoken, is wisdom)
The Bible says:
“Test all things. Hold fast to the good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
Pretty close, eh?
There is a view that Thiruvalluvar was a follower of Jesus Christ and that he drew heavily from the teachings in the Bible in constructing his couplets. So it is no accident that the two images are juxtaposed in YouTube.com picture above! As can be expected, this view is not universally accepted. Any way, we will not enter this debate; this matter falls outside our focus at present.
Be that as it may, the point being made is that we need to return to the TRUTH once again.
Let me explain why. A PDF version of
The Second Coming of Christ
came to my hands recently and this is in 3 volumes as compared with the print version of 2 volumes to which I have been referring. The contents appear to have been differently organized in PDF though the title page claims that it too is from the
“Original unchanged writings of
Paramhansa Yogananda’s interpretations
of the sayings of JESUS CHRIST.”
Further, this PDF seems to be a somewhat condensed version as compared to the print. As against 1565 pages – Vol.1 & Vol.2 put together – all three volumes of the PDF are tucked in, in 401 pages.
Leaving aside all that jazz, what I found particularly striking is that right on the cover page of the PDF, there is a key verse from the Bible, quoting Jesus:
“And ye shall know the truth, And the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
Don’t you think that this is extraordinary? A Hindu Yogi asserting something from the Bible. Was he challenged by குறள் 0423 cited above? Whatever the case, it is clear that PY is going where many a Hindu today fears to tread: right into the Truth of the Bible.
We discussed Truth a little bit in Misc. 48 and Misc. 49 in these Jottings, but the verse above was not cited. However, quoting from the Bible (John 14:6), we said in Misc. 49 that Jesus is the Truth.
We should note here the usage of the definite article “the“that has a specifying or particularizing effect, as opposed to the indefinite or generalizing force of the indefinite article “a“ .
Now, many Hindus will not have any quarrel if we hold that Jesus is a Truth, i.e., one of many truths (something like all roads leading to Rome!). In fact a lot of people do believe that and in evidence they will also point to some photograph or image in their house. This is in consonance with the practice of a myriad god society. There are several truths in the pantheon. And Jesus is also a truth. Acceptable, broad minded, tolerant (typical of the celebrated Hindu tradition).
But quite clearly at least here Paramahansa Yogananda is saying something tectonically different!
Any body listening? He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
Before we conclude this article, I feel the need to apologize to the two persons whose assault I mentioned in Misc. 61 (if you like, I was smitten in my conscience!). The kind of comments and objections they made help clarify issues and redefine our purpose; and so I am actually grateful to them. Instead of recognizing that straightway and welcoming them, I fear I acted in a somewhat presumptuous fashion that (probably) hurt them (I have it on good authority that one of them is planning a sweet revenge!) and discouraged others who might be taking aim. Sorry about that.
In keeping with this regret I should be happy if there are more of these questions, doubts, comments and rebuttals. I should be careful to curb my urge to meet them mid-air like the Israeli Iron Dome Missile Defence System. So, please do feel free to fire away!
Coming back to the discussion of Truth, there is a revealing incident in the Bible, when Jesus tells Pilate – sitting in judgment over him – “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate’s response was a retort; “ “What is truth?” (John 18:38). But he let the question hang in the air as one that is casual and merely rhetoric; he did not wait for the answer but immediately removed himself from the scene.
Could it be the case that he was sparing himself the discomfort of an unsettling answer like Jesus saying:”I am the Truth“?
And like countless Hindus today if PY also was of the position that Jesus is merely one of many truths, why is he teasing us with Truth with the definite article “the“?
This needs to be investigated. I hope you will wait for the answer unlike Pilate didn’t want anything further to do with Jesus and who was in a hurry to wash his hands off .
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