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Re: Questions
>On 17 Dec 1995, Sankaran Jayanarayanan wrote:
> -Question 1- TO ALL HINDUS-
> As you might have noticed, we have been going backwards in
> time while analysing A,B,C,etc.. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO
> INFINITELY BACKWARDS IN TIME IF WE ASSUME THE KARMA LAW-
> i.e., the world has always existed- THERE IS NO CREATION!!
Hindu philosophy asserts that God has become this universe. So since God
has no beginning and no end , the universe has no beginning and no end.
However, sometimes the universe is manifest and sometimes latent. So you
are right. There is no creation. God, however, periodically projects the
universe and then takes it back.
> -Question 2- TO THE ADVAITINS-
> If the world is illusory, why practise anything at all?
> Why renounce the world since that is illusory?
> Why not just have a good time in this world instead of
> practising religion, since they are all Maya anyway?
The word MAYA has been wrongly translated as illusion. It really means
impermanence. So when Advaitins talk of the world as MAYA they mean that the
world is impermanent. Only God is permanent. That is why you should do
spiritual practice and realise God.
> -Question 3 - TO THE VAISHNAVAS
> Assuming Buddha to be God( I think it is mentioned in the
> Srimad Bhagavatam),why do you still believe in Idol-worship?
> (Since Buddha was against idol-worship).
I am not a Vaishnav. However, you seem to have no idea about "idol worship".
Hindus do not worship the idol. You should really call it an image. They
worship the divine through the image. The image of the divine is like the
photo of a near and dear one. Just as a photo of a relative reminds you of
him or her similarly the image helps you to focus your love on God.
> -Question 4 -TO THE HARE-KRISHNAS-
> Shiva is very easily pleased, those who desire rapid
> material advancement for little effort are especially
> interested in worshiping him and Sakti."
You seem to think that Shiva and Shakti are different from Krishna. They are
different names and forms of Satchidananda. They are different aspects of the
same Reality. There are, however, some who prefer to think of Satchidananda
as Shiva and Shakti and some prefer to think of It as Krishna. It is just a
matter of preference.
I hope this helps.
Pradip
