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Trial by fire: Difference between revisions
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The trial by fire is an initiation that comes to everyone. The words of [[Saint Paul]] outline the tests of the trial by fire we will face in this life.</blockquote> | The trial by fire is an initiation that comes to everyone. The words of [[Saint Paul]] outline the tests of the trial by fire we will face in this life.</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | <blockquote> | ||
For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | |||
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; | |||
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. | |||
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. | |||
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: But he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. | |||
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? | |||
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.<ref>I Cor. 3:11–17.</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
== Karma and initiation == | == Karma and initiation == | ||
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Deprived of his rightful kingship, Rama is forced into a long exile with his wife, Sita. During their exile, Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana. She is forced to live in the evil king’s house. Rama vows to annihilate his enemy and commands the intervention of heaven. He wages a mighty war and rescues his beloved. Swami Prabhavananda summarizes the next episode from the Ramayana: | Deprived of his rightful kingship, Rama is forced into a long exile with his wife, Sita. During their exile, Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana. She is forced to live in the evil king’s house. Rama vows to annihilate his enemy and commands the intervention of heaven. He wages a mighty war and rescues his beloved. Swami Prabhavananda summarizes the next episode from the Ramayana: | ||
<blockquote>In the very moment of their triumph, Rama and Sita had to face a new ordeal. Murmurs were heard among their followers touching Sita’s virtue. “How do we know,” they questioned, “that Sita continued pure during all the time she lived in the household of the demon king?” To this Rama replied, simply: “Sita is purity and chastity itself.” | <blockquote> | ||
In the very moment of their triumph, Rama and Sita had to face a new ordeal. Murmurs were heard among their followers touching Sita’s virtue. “How do we know,” they questioned, “that Sita continued pure during all the time she lived in the household of the demon king?” To this Rama replied, simply: “Sita is purity and chastity itself.” | |||
But the complaints of the people were not stilled. “We want the test,” they cried. Finally, to meet their demand, Sita plunged into sacrificial fire. No sooner did this happen than from out the flames there rose up the god of fire himself, bearing on his head a throne—and there, seated upon the throne, was the slandered Sita, unharmed.<ref>Swami Prabhavananda, ''The Spiritual Heritage of India'', p. 84.</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
Hindu lore calls this Sita’s “Ordeal by Fire.” Her virtue and purity sealed her from harm. The light and fire already in her aura was her saving grace. | Hindu lore calls this Sita’s “Ordeal by Fire.” Her virtue and purity sealed her from harm. The light and fire already in her aura was her saving grace. | ||