Definition of Sin

[dattaswami]

Definition of Sin

A soul is beaten in the hell and the servants of Yama say “why have you done this deed which is not liked by God?” They will not say “why have you done this sin?” Anything that is not liked by God is a sin. By itself a sin is not a sin, because it is a feeling, which is a wave of awareness and is completely unreal. Hurting any soul, especially a believer in God is the basis of sin according to God. Punishment with an attitude to change the soul is exempted from this concept. There should be no trace of revenge in punishment. If the soul is realized and changed, do not think of revenge. Jesus told that if you punish others for their sins, God shall punish you also for your sins. Punishment of a student by a teacher is not a sin, because it is for his change and upliftment only. The same aim exists when God punishes the souls.

 

The Lord says in the Gita that the divine Knowledge alone pleases Him (Jnaya Yajnena…). He says that it is greater than Svadhya yajna and Dravya yajna. Svadhyaya yajna means simple recitation of hymns without any enquiry into their meaning. Dravya yajna means sacrifice of wealth. But the Gita praises that sacrifice of wealth or fruits of work (Karmaphalatyaga ...) is highest (Dhyanat Karmaphalatyagah…). There is no clash here. Dravya yajna represents sacrifice of wealth to undeserving or improper receiver or putting wealth in fire which is foolishness as stated by Kapila in Bhagavatam. Donating to temples based on the statues is climax of foolishness because the priests and management are not even the scholars of the Vedas and Shastras.

 

The priest is for his livelihood like a labourer and the management spends for unnecessary items and wastes the wealth due to lack of complete spiritual knowledge. The Government is taking that wealth and is using for social services, which are to be done by the public revenues only. The statue is not enjoying even an iota of your wealth. The temple should be a place of propagation of divine knowledge and devotion. The scholars and devotees should be maintained by such donated wealth to prorogate about God. But theses temples have become business-centers to solve the problems of devotees. Ofcourse, it is inevitable in the beginning stage (Sarvarambhahi…Gita) but the propagation of right divine knowledge should be the main program of temples, which should be run by scholars only.