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Re: Sin.
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: Sin.
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From: mpt@mail.utexas.edu (michael tandy)
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Date: 29 Jun 1995 23:26:56 GMT
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From news@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu Thu Jun 29 19: 15:19 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
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References: <3smshq$55d@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
In article <3smshq$55d@babbage.ece.uc.edu>, Anshuman Pandey <apandey@u.washington.edu> says:
>Sin is supposed to be a deed done contrary to what is good, or simply, a
>bad deed. So, if an individual commits an act which he is not taught is
>bad and does not view it as a sin sin, but society as a whole views the
>deed as bad and as a sin, then is the deed the individual committed a
>sin?
>Also, another perspective: sin is something which is wrong, and if what
>is wrong to others is not wrong to you, then is it still a sin?
The existence of relative values does not mean that there isn't
an absolute standard, or even that they are, inconcieveably, one
and the same. My understanding is that punya and papa can only
be assessed in accordance with one's sva-dharma; this is what
makes these relative, for everyone's sva-dharma is to some extent
unique. This is where the dharma-sastras have to be considered;
they are invaluable because as even the Gita acquiesces, the
intricacies of action and reaction are essential unfathomable.
They must also be accepted under the guidance of a qualified guru.
But ideally, one's sva-dharma is seen as a function of sanatana
dharma, or sad-dharma, which is the same for all living beings.
"Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam." Sanatana-dharma ultimately
simply means to follow the order of God, which is why He dispenses
with all sva-dharmas in the Gita (18.66). One who has fully
realized this is no longer bound by varna and asrama dharmas; he
is a nitya-mukta. Of course, that is a high attainment. In the
highest (and absolute) sense, therefore, "sin" can be defined as
anything which obstructs one's perfection of sanatana-dharma, or
surrender to Krsna.
-m
