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Re: A few questions
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Subject: Re: A few questions
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From: adep@netcom.com (akilesh deperalta)
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Date: Wed, 12 Jul 1995 18:13:25 GMT
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Apparently-To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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From adep@netcom.com Wed Jul 12 14: 24:24 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
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References: <3tujdt$7j6@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
michael tandy (mpt@mail.utexas.edu) wrote:
: 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
What gives us our initial status in life? This initial status gives an
advantage to you. For instance, an upper-middle class intelligent person
will have a greater chance of understanding god than will a lower-class
stupid person. Is this not unfair?
: 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.
Say again? Why are we not all intelligent, rich, and completely devoted to
god? Also, I have a nasty feeling the Allmighty is not as benevolent as
we think. Correct me please, but if the Almighty put us here, why should
we rever him so we can get out?!
: 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.
We are all part of the Almighty. That should be enough, shouldn't it?
: 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
Now what exactly does this do? How? And as before, why should we revere
our tormentor?(This is just a theory.)
: I have been
: >wondering about this for some time now and am hoping some of you have
: >answers.
: >
: Hope this helps.
It's just caused more questions :)
: -m
