[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: A few questions
-
To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
-
Subject: Re: A few questions
-
From: mpt@mail.utexas.edu (michael tandy)
-
Date: 9 Jul 1995 02:32:18 GMT
-
From news@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu Sat Jul 8 22: 20:39 1995
-
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
-
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
-
References: <3ti2qk$43c@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
In article <3ti2qk$43c@babbage.ece.uc.edu>, adep@netcom.com (akilesh deperalta) says:
>
>Since this is the group for Hinduism, I suspect there are many
>knowledgeable devotees that can help me out. I am not any expert, so I
>am relying on the fact that some of you are.
>One of the core concepts of Hinduism is the concept of Moksha, or
>salvation from the cycles of rebirth. The reason we are reborn is the
>fact that we still have Karma on our souls, and this needs to be taken
>care of before we are done with the mortal world. Also, out initial
>stature in the world(intellect, family, disposition, environment in
>general) is determined by the type of Karma we had on our souls last time
>we were here. Correct?
It might be more accurate to see that our karma is but the
instrumental cause of our bondage in samsara, and that the
original cause is our own desire, which at first precipitates
and is later perpetuated by karma. This explains why even though
one sins and is later somehow expiated through skillful allegiance
to the karma-kanda processes of the dharma-sastras, the root
cause of material desire and entanglement remains. That root
cause is envy, and it is born of our minute independence. We may
have some initial attraction to the notion of existence
independent of God, and misusing our minute independence (being
after all, eternally finite jivatmas) we become enmeshed in false
ego, which requires a material ('independent') birth. Thus the
cycle of repeated births and deaths begins. The analogy of someone
acting upon an attraction to needless intoxication is close to
accurate. Once one acts upon that desire, he or she gets addicted
and suffers.
>However, in the very FIRST cycle of rebirths, when we were first put on
>here, did we not start out with a clean slate?
I think we've dealt with this.
If there was no Karma at
>that time, why were we on the planet in the first place. If there was
>good Karma on our souls at that time, did we not all start out smart and
>devoted to god? If ALL of us were like that, I see no reason why anyone
>would tilt to the other side. If we started out with bad Karma, why?
>Isn't god benevolent?
Yes; without giving us independence, He would be a slavedriver.
Love is voluntary.
Also, why were we put on the world in the first
>place?
Because we cannot fulfill our unrealistic aspirations in
the reality of the spiritual realm.
What's the purpose of our lives?
To eradicate the original infection of envy by chanting:
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
I have been
>wondering about this for some time now and am hoping some of you have
>answers.
>
Hope this helps.
-m
>
>
>
>
>ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
>Alt.hindu is a moderated group for discussion related to Hindu dharma
>(including, philosophy, religion, culture etc.), Hindu issues, current events
>and announcements. This newsgroup is edited by several people, administrative
>enquiries may be directed to Ajay Shah, editor@rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu
>WWW Archives: http://rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu:8080/alt_hindu_home.html
>
>
