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Re: World Views: Vedic and Western
Prasad Gokhale (f0g1@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca) wrote:
: Agreed that Shri Raam and Krsihna were persons of extraordinary capacities
: and unparalled genius - somewhat like superhumans. However, this they
: had achieved through rigorous penance and austerities, and also through
: divine grace (yes, as you may say, they were Lord Vishnu incarnate).
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But I'm not the only one who is saying it. This what the spiritual masters
agree upon. It's what the scriptures indicate. They did not achieve their
position through "rigorous penance and austerities." Who told you this?
In what scripture is this indicated? As far as I know, this is nowhere
told in scripture. In Their respective positions in human society, they
were given Vedic education, but They did not become God through some sort
of process; They were the Godhead Himself.
: > I would hope that conditioned souls like Vivekananda are never put on
: >the same pedestal as the Lord. Otherwise, human civilization really is
: >in trouble.
: However, I do not know you object to me including Swami Vivekananda into
: the *possible* list of avatars? Even Balarama (brother of Shri Krishna),
: Sages Vasistha and Vyasa (the last one), Sage Parashar are considered to
: the avatars by some. This is because they fit the definition of what is
: an avatar - a superhuman being. Even Sai Baba, today, is considered to
Considered by whom? Vivekananda was a chain-smoking, meat-eating, atheist.
Do you expect me to believe he is an avataar? And what about Sai Baba?
If these guys are avataars, I would like to see some proof. For example,
do you think Sai Baba can display the Viswaroopa? I think this would be
ample proof of being the Supreme Godhead. Can he lift Govardhan Hill on
his finger?
Lord Krsna is specifically declared to be the Supreme Lord. Balarama is
said to be His expansion. So too is Vyasa. I don't believe the others are
even mentioned in scripture. And they certainly don't posess God-like
qualities. Certainly Vivekananda was short on the "compassion for other
living beings" department, as he was a flesh eater.
: be an avatar. Vivekananda, in my oipnion, was an extremely intellegent
: person - who took to Samadhi at at a very young age (39?). That his
According to another poster, he *died* at that age, of lung cancer.
: writings are oriented towards social aspects, an important attribute
: for the generation of a strong and vigorous society, like education of
: the masses and not alone towards adhyatmic upliftment does not make
: him a ordinary human being. It is possible that a section of the society
: disagrees with his thoughts, but it should be remembered that they are
: many more who follow his teachings devotedly. His teachings are
Religion is not democracy. It does not follow that because so many people
follow a person, then that person must be legitimate. The fact that this
is the Kali Yuga should be a clear indication to all of us that people in
general are not very spiritually intelligent and thus cannot be trusted
on their own to recognize a real spiritual master from a phony.
: undoutedly horatory and inspiring - definitely not mere ramblings of
: a pedestrian. He possessed remarkable capabilities, and therefore,
: I felt like mentioning his name in the list of avatars.
He didn't follow the Vedic teachings. He certainly did not preach love
for God. And any of his remaining social attributes can be found in a
number of other mundane personalities. One might argue that certain
philantrophists were also interested in educating the masses and uplifiting
society. Is Bill Clinton an avatar? What about Ross Perot? Or Mother
Theresa? Where does it end?
: Ofcourse, I have no right and there is no need for justifying what
: Vivekananda was. Time alone will provide the solution.
Why wait? We already know that he is a nonsense. Let's expose him for
what he is rather than allowing time to slur over the details.
Great social worker Vivekananda might have been, but avatar he definitely
was not.
Haribol,
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- Hari Krishna Susarla - "Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, -
- susarla@owlnet.rice.edu - become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me -
- Rice University - and worship Me. Being completely absorbed -
- Class of 1995 - in Me, surely you will come to Me." -
- Biochemistry - -- Bhagavad-Gita 9.34 -
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HARER NAMA HARER NAMA
HARER NAMAIVA KEVALAM
KALAU NASTY EVA NASTY EVA
NASTY EVA GATIR ANYATHA
"IN THIS AGE OF QUARREL AND HYPOCRISY THE ONLY MEANS OF DELIVERANCE IS
CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF LORD KRSNA. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. THERE IS
NO OTHER WAY. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY."
-- Brhan-naradiya purana 38.126
