[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: How can I get involved?
-
Subject: Re: How can I get involved?
-
From: asharma@csc.com (Anil Sharma)
-
Date: 9 Oct 1995 18:31:14 GMT
-
Approved: srh <srh@rbhatnagar>
-
Article: 354 of soc.religion.hindu
-
Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
-
Organization: Computer Sciences Corporation
-
References: <4359ao$mcp@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <43t2f2$cp5@babbage.ece.uc.edu> <44qkkd$fej@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
Suyog.Mahadeo.Bhobe@att.com wrote:
: In article <43t2f2$cp5@babbage.ece.uc.edu>,
: Anil Sharma <asharma@csc.com> wrote:
: >Start with simple things, remember that Hinduism is a way of life
: >and not a religion. For example:
: >
: Anil, I am somewhat distressed by your statement that Hinduism
: is not a religion but a way if life. How do you distiguish
: between the two?
What exactly makes up a way of life? What we do every day? Births?
deaths, eat, drink, learn, work, etc. If one studies the Vedas carefully,
one finds that it is a book of knowledge, of science, of day to day
living. Even the word means knowledge. What does "Hinduism" stress
most? Is it going to temples or is it duty towards all other peoples.
When I think about religion, statements like "If you don't believe
in XYZ you will go to hell." Or "Path ABC is the true path to happiness,
God etc.". This way of thinking is indeed different from that of
classic Hinduism which says that there are many paths to God and
happiness.
: Hindus believe in reincarnation of soul. The believe that
: "moksha" or "mukti" (freedom from the cycle of birth and death)
: is the ultimate goal of the soul. Hindu scriptures suggest
Moksha Mukti means freedom. Freedom from what. from life or is it
from the temptations of life. When you think about this you must
take a step back and look at the ultimate goal. Moksha is attained through
one's actions and/or deeds. Through self-lessness, kindness, performing
all of one's earthly duties. Attending a temple is not a requirement.
Think of the many Rishis who may have attained Moksha and review
their life history. Think of it this way: Until one can leave all
of one's earthy bonds, how can one be free?
: various methods one may use to attain Moksha. Hindus believe that
: periodically God appears on Earth as an incarnation to
: establish Dharma. We believe that there is God in all beings -
God is everywhere and everywhere is God. So name a place where
God is not.
Every soul, indeed everyone, is in one way an incarnation of God.
God is everywhere and everywhere is God. Right?
: we don't see it because we are covered with "Maya" or illusion.
Maya or "Mo maya" is not illusion but refers to our weaknesses.
It is also called "chakraview" by many. What are our weaknesses?
Think of what happened in the MahaBharat. Who represents "Mo and Maya"?
To many Maya consists of things like our emotions, greed, arrogence,
and the like. These are also our earthly bonds and until one breaks
all of these bonds one cannot be free.
: We believe that the Vedas and Bhagavada Gita are "Apourusheya" -
: i.e., they are divine revealations and not written by any human.
: These are the central tenets of Hinduism. How can you say
: that Hinduism is not a religion?
The books you refer to describe ways of life. Vedas and
Apourusheya - General
scientific, historical and social knowledge. Gita - The nature
of man and an how to book on obtaining freedom.
: < .... some stuff deleted ... >
: >- Accept nature's truths. If you have children you know they will
: > have sex someday. (This one is hard if you have a daughter :-)).
: This one really threw me off. Can you tell me which Hindu
: scripture talks about acceptance of pre-marital (I am assuming
: you are refering to premarital sex above) sex by your children?
Sorry about that. I was not refering to premarital sex, I was
just trying to point out a situation that I have observed to
be awkward for all. A lot of people, specially Hindus of today,
really have a hard time accepting some of nature's truths. They
forget about youth, love, desire and consiquently have a very
difficult time dealing with their children who desperatly need
their guidence.
: Your statement above is contrary to the teachings of Hinduism. Hinduism
: doesn't encourage hedonism or gratification of senses, but rather
: detachment from sensual pleasures. Sri Krishna has clearly said
: that the only reward for attachment to sensual pleasures is
: rebirth.
: >
: >As you may see, these are very similiar to other religions
: >( the basics anyways). These are also things that you are
: Fundamentals of Hinduism are quite different from Abrahamic religions,
: especially Islam.
This really depends on what you define as being the fundamentals. But
all religions have a similiar concept of what is good and
what is bad. The Ten commandments, Gita, etc are fairly similiar.
Also keep in mind that all Religions are creations of man and thus
usually reflect man's thought processes at the time.
: >already familiar with. In short there is nothing magical about
: >Hinduism. It's strength and weakness is the fact that it is so
: >diverse. So my advice is that you not look for a "put it into
: >practice" method. I believe that you are already practicing the
: >core aspects of a way of life called Hinduism. (Probably more so than
: >I am.)
: If he wants to become a "practising Hindu", my advice would be that
: he should go the temples as often as he can and worship with
: other Hindus. Reading Hindu scriptures, worshipping at home,
: attending classes conducted by various temples, etc. would also
: help.
Again for me it is way of life and thus there is no need for
rituals but knowledge and the constant search of knowledge is
"practising Hindu" for me.
Read, Study, Search for knowledge. Ultimately the search will
payoff and you will see a little more of God's thruths.
: Suyog
: --
: -----------------------------------------------------------------------
: Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
: Administrivia: srh-request@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
: Archives: http://rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu:8080/soc_hindu_home.html (Soon!)
--
-------------------------------------------
* ALL opinions/statements are my own. *
Anil K. Sharma
Computer Sciences Corporation
System Engineering Division
asharma@csc.com
-------------------------------------------
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Moderator: Ajay Shah Submissions: srh@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Administrivia: srh-request@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu
Archives: http://rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu:8080/soc_hindu_home.html (Soon!)
References:
