Friend says her guru cannot sin

[gmcbroom]

Sufjon is most likely correct. If she asks what you believe tell her the Apostles creed. Its the Catholic belief in a nut shell. If she’s curious she’ll ask to learn more. If she’s not then she won’t. Then you two can keep it civil.

 

[Newbie2]

Sufjon is most likely correct. If she asks what you believe tell her the Apostles creed. Its the Catholic belief in a nut shell. If she’s curious she’ll ask to learn more. If she’s not then she won’t. Then you two can keep it civil.

I’d go more with the Nicene Creed.

 

[phil8888]

Thanks Sufjon, good information. I’m assuming you were (or are) Hindu based on your comments.

 

[Todd520]

My friend is Hindu. We sometimes have religious discussions. Anyway, she follows a guru who she basically compares to a saint in heaven, except that he is currently living on Earth. She prays to him, and see him as a sort of conduit for God. She thinks he can hear her prayers and that if the guru is in a large room of people he starts to feel all their sins.

Anyway, she also believes that he cannot sin, because he has reached enlightenment or something.

What should I say to her?

I think you could have a great discussion with her on what Christians believe. For comparison, her guru has dedicated his life in a similar fashion to a Monk or Priest (relatively low on the sin scale)

 

[Sufjon]

Thanks Sufjon, good information. I’m assuming you were (or are) Hindu based on your comments.

Hi Phil8888: Yes, I am. Our great saints tell us that Christianity is completely compatible with our faith and that Christianity is a perfectly good path. For that reason I just completed 3 years of comparing the 4 Gospels of your Bible verse by verse to my own Bible. I didn’t do this because I questioned that their compatibility was true, but so that I might have a full understanding of how that is so. Having gained an understanding of that reasoning based on reading and comparing, I then started listening to what Christians had to say so that I can continue to learn. This website is a great place for that because there are Christians from lots of denominations here to talk to.

Regarding your friend, if she is working under the direction of a guru, she is probably very busy between studying scripture, doing devotions to God, meditation, physical exercises and breath work. Depending on her level of involvement, she is probably also working on austerities like non-harming, which includes being a vegetarian, celibacy and kindness to all. These are usually part of the program for an aspirant. It is a most difficult path, but I believe it has the same destination as yours. I might suggest if I may that you just have conversations with her to exchange notes, like two travelers who meet up at a junction of two different roads to the same place. My opinion is that you both might benefit from that as long as you both accept the other for who they are. That includes her being mindful to accept you as a Christian. That acceptance is important for both of you. You are both dear to God and whatever path we take, I believe He is just waiting for us to arrive. For Christians that might look like Him waiting for you at the front door, and for a Hindu that might look something like Him waiting for you in the front yard on a swing

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[Godric0001]

The Holy Spirit knows just how to handle this and what He wants you to say and do. Go visit your God, the true God, at the tabernacle in your church and ask him this exact question you posted here for us.

 

[edwest2]

Just ask her how she knows this and why she believes it. You may ask about any books that she has that relates to this. Once you understand where her belief comes from, you may talk further.

Person to person witnessing can be easy or difficult depending on the person. You should ask if she wants to hear about Jesus who is man and God and who does not sin.

This may bring up personal issues she has had with the Catholic Church in the past or whatever Church she was raised in. People prefer authentic truth. Pray for her in any case.

Hope this helps,
Ed

 

[Sufjon]

You should ask if she wants to hear about Jesus who is man and God and who does not.

Hope this helps,
Ed

Hi Friend EdWest: I think your advice is very good and this woman (or anyone for that matter) would be very fortunate to have you as a friend. Just as a point of clarification if I may, being a Hindu doesn’t mean that one doesn’t believe in Jesus. It is very difficult to explain to those outside of Hinduism, but most any Hindu that you would tell about Jesus would be perfectly happy to accept that He was God in human flesh. Many in fact do. For instance, I not only accept Jesus, I also have learned the rosary and say it from time to time, which means I also revere His Mother. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that I will ever consider abandoning my faith. How Jesus fits into what we believe would be straying off topic, but I did want to clarify the issue about Jesus. He is not unknown to Hindus.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[SonCatcher]

Hi Friend EdWest: I think your advice is very good and this woman (or anyone for that matter) would be very fortunate to have you as a friend. Just as a point of clarification if I may, being a Hindu doesn’t mean that one doesn’t believe in Jesus. It is very difficult to explain to those outside of Hinduism, but most any Hindu that you would tell about Jesus would be perfectly happy to accept that He was God in human flesh. Many in fact do. For instance, I not only accept Jesus, I also have learned the rosary and say it from time to time, which means I also revere His Mother. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that I will ever consider abandoning my faith. How Jesus fits into what we believe would be straying off topic, but I did want to clarify the issue about Jesus. He is not unknown to Hindus.

Your friend
Sufjon

Our God tells us that He is a jealous God who will share worship with none other. You say you devote yourself, at least partially, to Jesus. Do not be surprised if He asks you to give up your other devotions.

 

[Sufjon]

Our God tells us that He is a jealous God who will share worship with none other. You say you devote yourself, at least partially, to Jesus. Do not be surprised if He asks you to give up your other devotions.

Thank you SonCatcher: He is the same God.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

If she believes he can hear her prayers, tell her to ask him to tell her what she’s praying.

OT:
You know, Yogananda supposedly could read and know every single one of his disciples’s thoughts. Go figure.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Hi Friend EdWest: I think your advice is very good and this woman (or anyone for that matter) would be very fortunate to have you as a friend. Just as a point of clarification if I may, being a Hindu doesn’t mean that one doesn’t believe in Jesus. It is very difficult to explain to those outside of Hinduism, but most any Hindu that you would tell about Jesus would be perfectly happy to accept that He was God in human flesh. Many in fact do. For instance, I not only accept Jesus, I also have learned the rosary and say it from time to time, which means I also revere His Mother. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean that I will ever consider abandoning my faith. How Jesus fits into what we believe would be straying off topic, but I did want to clarify the issue about Jesus. He is not unknown to Hindus.

Your friend
Sufjon

To be honest, Sufjon----

And you MUST know this----

There are Legends in India and elsewhere that Jesus visited India before the start of his Ministry. Talked with the Gurus and the Priests and all of that.
Some (mostly “Alternate, Theosophist”) sources say he also may have received Spiritual Training in Egypt as well, under The Great Pyramid.

To make it clear, BTW------
I do NOT believe this personally. I used to be “open” to it when I was in my “New Age” days, but not anymore.
I was just reminded of the information when Sufjon was talking about Jesus not being Unknown to Hindus.

I know believe in the ONE truth of Christianity and my Melkite Catholic Faith.

 

[Sufjon]

To be honest, Sufjon----

And you MUST know this----

There are Legends in India and elsewhere that Jesus visited India before the start of his Ministry. Talked with the Gurus and the Priests and all of that.
Some (mostly “Alternate, Theosophist”) sources say he also may have received Spiritual Training in Egypt as well, under The Great Pyramid.

To make it clear, BTW------
I do NOT believe this personally. I used to be “open” to it when I was in my “New Age” days, but not anymore.
I was just reminded of the information when Sufjon was talking about Jesus not being Unknown to Hindus.

I know believe in the ONE truth of Christianity and my Melkite Catholic Faith.

Hi OrdinaryMelkite: Thanks for sharing. I have heard those legends as well. I have also heard that they are recorded in ancient Tibetan texts, but I have not seen those texts, so I really can’t say either way. I do know that I see continuity between one faith and another. Having compared each verse of the four Gospels to my own Hindu Bible, they seem to me to compliment one another quite well. Whether or not Jesus ever visited India is an interesting idea, but His teachings look like they stand pretty well on their own.

Thanks again for sharing that information.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[rtved]

Thank you SonCatcher: He is the same God.

Your friend
Sufjon

Sorry Sufjon,

Your views are incorrect with the Hindu idea of God.

God is not jealous as per hinduism.

The saint you are referring to must be Ramakrishna and you should be familiar with his disapproval of “old testament” idea of God.It should also be noted that the saint is not a learned one and relies more on what he was told and tends to get emotional.

 

[cooterhein]

My friend is Hindu. We sometimes have religious discussions. Anyway, she follows a guru who she basically compares to a saint in heaven, except that he is currently living on Earth. She prays to him, and see him as a sort of conduit for God. She thinks he can hear her prayers and that if the guru is in a large room of people he starts to feel all their sins.

Anyway, she also believes that he cannot sin, because he has reached enlightenment or something.

What should I say to her?

She has a guru; you have Mary? There might be some points of comparison there.

 

[Sufjon]

Sorry Sufjon,

Your views are incorrect with the Hindu idea of God.

God is not jealous as per hinduism.

The saint you are referring to must be Ramakrishna and you should be familiar with his disapproval of “old testament” idea of God.It should also be noted that the saint is not a learned one and relies more on what he was told and tends to get emotional.

Hi Friend Rtved:

-You are right, we do not see Him as jealous. I was referring to the fact that there is only one God. He is the Self. There is only one Self in all of creation. He is that which makes the eye to see but cannot be seen. He is that which makes the ear to hear but cannot be heard. He is not someone other than you. Throughout all creation there is only He, taking on many and every form. Howsoever it is that someone sees Him, it is only He. If a Christian understands that to be a jealous God, then that is how they see Him, but truly there is only He. He is the beginning, the middle and the end of every creature. He is the the seer and the object which is seen. Christians see Him as the jealous God of Abraham -the synapse in the mind that sees Him in this way is not other than He, and exists not outside of Him therefore it is He.

-As for Ramakrishna, in 1866, Govinda Roy initiated Ramakrishna into Islam. In 1873 he started the practice of Christianity. He declared his approval of Christianity and Islam, called himself a Muslim and a Christian, and then of course returned to being a Hindu. He did this to show that all faiths are paths to God. I never said that he approved of the Old Testament. He did not consider the Old Testament to be God inspired, but it was easy for him to relate to Jesus being a Mahavatar.

I hope I have been able to clarify what I meant.

Always your friend
Sufjon’

 

[roelblomsma]

My friend is Hindu. We sometimes have religious discussions. Anyway, she follows a guru who she basically compares to a saint in heaven, except that he is currently living on Earth. She prays to him, and see him as a sort of conduit for God. She thinks he can hear her prayers and that if the guru is in a large room of people he starts to feel all their sins.

Anyway, she also believes that he cannot sin, because he has reached enlightenment or something.

What should I say to her?

First define ‘sin’. What is a ‘sin’? Then verify if this guy has commited any (which probably is the case.) Then you have an answer.

 

[Sufjon]

Sorry Sufjon,

Your views are incorrect with the Hindu idea of God.

God is not jealous as per hinduism.

The saint you are referring to must be Ramakrishna and you should be familiar with his disapproval of “old testament” idea of God.It should also be noted that the saint is not a learned one and relies more on what he was told and tends to get emotional.

Hi Friend Rtved: I forgot to mention that you are also right that Ramakrishna was not a learned one. He was just a saint.

Your friend
Sufjon