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Re: ARTICLE : Buddhism and advaita
Giri wrote:
> Sankar Jayanarayanan <kartik@Eng.Auburn.EDU> writes:
>
[..]
> >So the part about "life should be fully enjoyed" can be disputed. Of course,
> >religious texts like the mahabharata are full of stories of enjoyment as well
> >as asceticism. The Mahabharata concentrates on the Kuru clan, and Yudhishthira,
> >a householder, is eulogised. The Ramayana is about Rama, who is a prince,
> >not an ascetic.
>
> Define enjoyment. Enjoyment need not be external, but internal.
> A poor saint can be as happy (or happier) than the richest person in his
> (or her) town.
The Mahabharata doesn't talk of "internal enjoyment" alone. There are
descriptions of the activities of Bheema and Ghatotkacha's mother (what's her
name?) on their honeymoon. There are also some passages which talk about
enticing the husband, etc. Uloopi being attracted to Arjuna and Parasara being
attracted to Satyavati....I can give you more incidents where the description
is very vivid.
That was my point: Mahabharata is *not* only about asceticism. Though it
recommends asceticism, it never (so far as I know) puts down the man who does
his karma well and enjoys (sense pleasures, I mean) its fruits. Of course,
adharma is not tolerated.
-Kartik
