Sunday, May 13, 2012

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

All major religions acknowledge the commandments given by the Creator to Moses on Mt. Sinai c/1466 B.C, toward the end of the Bronze Age. According to the Hebrew, Christian and Muslim Bibles, Moses was a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet to whom the authorship of the Torah (Judaism)-Pentateuch (Christianity)-Tawrat (Islam) is traditionally attributed. He is the most important prophet in Judaism, and is also considered an important prophet in Christianity and Islam, as well as a number of other faiths. One of the most important commandments, was:

The 5th Commandment:

And he [Moses] wrote on the tablets, according to the first writing [of God], the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." - Exodus 20:12

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Proverbs 31:28-31 says about the godly woman:

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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In Christianity, Jesus said unto his disciples:

"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.:" - Matthew 15:4

"For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:" - Mark 7:10

"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother." - Luke 18:20 

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." - John 19:26-28

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The Islamic Quran states the following about Mothers:  

"And revere the wombs that bore you, for God is ever watchful over you." (4:1)

The Prophet Mohammed once stated:

"Stay with her [mother], for Paradise is at her feet." 
 
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The Buddhist's Perspective of Motherhood:

Motherhood is viewed in Buddhism as a position of high responsibility as well as of respectability. If a woman goes through her household life honouring the responsibilities cast on her as a mother, she can lay claim to honour and respectability in commensurate with the degree of sincerity she has displayed in discharging those responsibilities. It was by highlighting this responsible and respectable position as the mother of man that the Buddha raised the status of women in society.

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Hindu Woman's role as a Mother:

The Hindu mother is an object of reverence. The saying 'Matri devo bhava' ('mother is divine') is apt. According to Hinduism, God creates, maintains and destroys the universe but the power with which he performs these functions is called Shakti (universal energy) and this takes a female form. This Shakti or power is worshipped alongside God as the Divine Mother. This is the origin of mother worship and thus the idea that the human mother is worthy of reverence and worship just as the Divine Mother or Shakti.

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"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”     - Washington Irving

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