tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post4764471645475383665..comments2024-02-22T03:17:33.594-05:00Comments on The White Hindu: Westeners choosing different pathsAmbaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-88617924430158899222010-08-10T18:44:15.814-04:002010-08-10T18:44:15.814-04:00corrected version
litrally dharma doesnt mean reli...corrected version<br />litrally dharma doesnt mean religion.<br />religion is a modern and narrow concept when compared to ancient word dharma<br />dharma was the duties assigned to various varnas like brahman did meditation etc,kshatriya were warriors etc<br />so his or her karma became his dharma.<br />in case of a warrior {arjun} his dharm was to do his karma ie to fight<br />hope u understand.<br />kkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-53999709857365321382010-08-10T18:42:39.804-04:002010-08-10T18:42:39.804-04:00correction
"dutirs"--->duties
assigne...correction<br />"dutirs"--->duties<br />assigne-->assigned<br />kkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-78171098841995435222010-08-10T18:39:58.131-04:002010-08-10T18:39:58.131-04:00litrally dharma doesnt mean religion.
religion is ...litrally dharma doesnt mean religion.<br />religion is a modern and narrow concept when compared to ancient word dharma<br />dharma was the dutirs assigne to various varnas like brahman did meditation etc,kshatriya were warriors etc<br />so his or her karma became his dharma.<br />in case of a warrior {arjun} his dharm was to do his karma ie to fight<br />hope u understand.<br />kkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-61098788249634498772010-06-26T21:39:05.016-04:002010-06-26T21:39:05.016-04:00In other of his posts I was startled to find that ...In other of his posts I was startled to find that he makes the argument that if it were Hinduism that had spread like wildfire over the Western world, there would have been no Inquisition or other violence because Hinduism is a tolerant religion.<br />--<br /><br />Emperor Ashoka did send thousands of buddhist missionaries to the Hellenic world<br /><br />There were plenty of Hindu colonies in the Roman Empire<br /><br />The greek mathematician Pythagoras visited India and came back a virtual Hindu. He started a new religion, that had vegetarianism and believed in transmigration of souls<br /><br />The Hindu god Mitra was very popular in the Roman empire and December 25 was the rebirth of Mitra<br /><br />At the time of Constantine, christians were only 2% of the Roman empire<br />Constantines mother Helena was a christian and she converted him to christianity and using the power of the Roman army, Constantine and his descendants eradicated Hinduism in the Roman empire using inquisition type methodsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-21067130562504732292010-05-09T11:31:27.957-04:002010-05-09T11:31:27.957-04:00I do have an earlier post about good and evil in H...I do have an earlier post about good and evil in Hinduism. At least in my branch, it is quite different from the Western perspective.<br /><br />Also, the idea of Holy War is different. You have a point, SM. The war in the Mahabharata might all be a metaphor for the war within our souls (as Krishna said, "You will not have a choice between war and peace...your choice will be between war and another war." Arjuna asks, "Where will this other war take place, on a battle field or in my heart?" Krishna replies that there isn't a real difference). <br /><br />However, people do manage to use stories like this to justify their violence. As in every religion, people who want to be violent find a way to make it look like their religion supports it.Ambaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-54955744378934458382010-05-07T16:24:22.951-04:002010-05-07T16:24:22.951-04:00Basu,
Again, evil in Hinduism is different fr...Basu,<br /> Again, evil in Hinduism is different from the evil in Islam and Christianity. This is again due to the differences in philosophies of the religions. I would urge you to study the concepts of evil in these faiths to understand more fully how the Dharma-Yuddha stated in Geeta is different from the Crusades/Jihad.SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-47820447171205235152010-05-07T11:53:18.295-04:002010-05-07T11:53:18.295-04:00SM,
I am sure muslims and christians also say the...SM,<br /><br />I am sure muslims and christians also say their holy war is a war against injustice and evil. and not to convert people or conquer lands. <br /><br />-basuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-56191462774465109452010-05-07T09:17:18.225-04:002010-05-07T09:17:18.225-04:00The extremism in Hindus is a reaction to a complex...The extremism in Hindus is a reaction to a complex web of political sidelining, terrorist activities and communal acts. This is relatively new in the history of India. <br /> Also, the concept of Holy War or 'Dharma Yuddha' that you mentioned in Hindu scriptures is not the Holy War/Crusades/Jihad of Islam or Christianity. It is the fight for the victory of good over evil. It is fought for the victory of righteousness over injustice and not with the aim of converting people of other failths at the point of sword/gun.SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-38582162337765358092010-05-04T18:17:50.614-04:002010-05-04T18:17:50.614-04:00Missionaries are a bad idea. All through the year...Missionaries are a bad idea. All through the years, they've been using fear and picking on the masses weakness as a way to convert. It's just a numbers game for them. <br /><br />Yes it was unfortunate that someone told me that tilak and incense are evil. The ignorance is bewildering. But at the end of the day I am who I am, an Indian and someone who practices Sanatana Dharma, and no-one can change that. <br /><br />p.s thanks for the reply.<br /><br />DhurgaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-22561637774645029362010-05-03T23:00:18.138-04:002010-05-03T23:00:18.138-04:00Sigh. Yeah, missionaries seem like a really bad i...Sigh. Yeah, missionaries seem like a really bad idea. They help out sometimes, but it's always with a condition. They're going to preach while they're doing it.<br /><br />I'm so sorry someone told you tilak and incense are evil, Dhurga. That just seems so insane to me. People just seem to get very afraid of other ways of life. Why it would be a threat to her I can't imagine. Thank goodness I didn't get called out for my bindi at the Catholic church!Ambaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-72096786543523523712010-05-03T19:21:05.190-04:002010-05-03T19:21:05.190-04:00Like someone mentioned, read Swami Vivekananda'...Like someone mentioned, read Swami Vivekananda's materials. It's Hinduism in a nutshell. Unfortunately I have to echo with Western Hindu's sentiments regarding the Western world's perception of Hinduism. They all think of us as snake charmers and what not. Even more saddening is the attitude of the christian church. <br /><br />While there are fundamentalists in every religion, one has to question why they are the way they are. I'm not knowledgable enough with the Abrahamic religions but for Hinduism and this is purely my opinion, perhaps it could be because of the past, colonialism. If you read Marco Polo's travel about what he had to say about India, he paints a beautiful picture about the country. But when the western invaders came in, they stipped the land bare. Missionaries came in as wolf in sheep's clothing. When your very core being is attacked, people react in undesirable ways.<br /><br />I'm Indian Hindu by the way, and I was visiting a church, one of the older women told me that wearing a tilak on the forehead and burning incense at home is pure evil. That was absolutely devastating to hear. <br /><br />Anywhoo...well done on the blog. You write very well and your thoughts are interesting. Wish you well. <br /><br />DhurgaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-83675528457775032302010-05-03T16:10:27.069-04:002010-05-03T16:10:27.069-04:00Wow, thank you everyone for the links. More mater...Wow, thank you everyone for the links. More material to chew over. I do like that!<br /><br />Good point, Tandava, about karma. That should deter people from violence! Also, I think you have smarta right. I can't explain how the lack of qualities and lack of thought makes sense to me. Maybe at some point I'll be able to put that into words!<br /><br />Here's hoping that India can make it through the dark period of learning how to rule itself. I would hate to see the world divide into countries for particular religions only. We all benefit from diversity, from discussing our viewpoints, and thereby better understanding ourselves.Ambaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-79413329130933785462010-05-03T13:26:24.758-04:002010-05-03T13:26:24.758-04:00Interesting thoughts Amba...Have you read Swami Vi...Interesting thoughts Amba...Have you read Swami Vivekananda's writings? Perhaps you can try some...I have been reading some online resources of late and trust me its pure magical:).<br />I have shared a link below, which might be useful @http://www.vivekananda.net/PROSE/EastWest.htmlIndrasishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249375852188015077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-73542207308675615052010-05-03T12:54:23.731-04:002010-05-03T12:54:23.731-04:00there are indeed extremist hindus in india. and th...there are indeed extremist hindus in india. and they are not only running riots but also ignorant and intolerant. but i believe that it was originated from pre-partitioned india and as a reaction to the communal conflicts of that time. <br /><br />because i don't hear any historic stories of violence against other non-hindu communities in india. jains, buddhists , zoroastrians , jews, even early muslim traders didn't face any violence or persecution. <br /><br />so, may be if europe was hindu then inquisition wouldn't have happened . but other sorts of violence would have. <br /><br />since you are discussing west and hinduism this article may interest you - <br />http://www.newsweek.com/id/212155<br /><br />- basu<br /><br />and thanks for commenting on hell .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-38756238798489907752010-05-03T12:28:04.659-04:002010-05-03T12:28:04.659-04:00Namaskar Aamba,
I have started reading your blog w...Namaskar Aamba,<br />I have started reading your blog with great interest since you posted a comment on mine. Perhaps I am naive thinking that Hinduism promotes peace more than Christianity. I know that there will always be extremists, but Hinduism does a lot to discourage it.<br /><br />The lack of conflict between very different Hindu sects in India contrasts greatly with the conflicts within Islam and Christianity (Sunni-Shia, Catholic-Protestant, etc.). Hinduism fosters respect for other beliefs, whereas Islam and Christianity foster disrespect, with the "my way is the right way and all others are wrong" attitude. <br /><br />Also, look at the various heresy trials within these religions. Compare this with the number of Swamis with differing philosophies and teachings within Hinduism and you will again see how Hinduism's inclusiveness avoids conflict.<br /><br /><br />Secondly, every Hindu knows that they will be responsible for their Karma, so a terrorist act which kills innocents will have dire consequences on their future life. Contrast that with Christianity, where it will be completely forgiven, or Islam, where if committed in the name of the religion it will be rewarded.<br /><br />On the matter of Smarta seeing God as impersonal, it is possible that I did not fully understand the teachings but this is what I understood of it. Though the Brahman pervades all, it is a force without qualities. Part of the aim of Smartism was to realise that our own nature is without qualities, the dualism of emotions and thoughts does not exist. The aim of moksha was to reach samadhi, a state of pure bliss (ananda) without thought.<br /><br />By the way, the Chinmaya Mission West e-vedanta course is a fine and informative course. I don't think this path was right for me, but I am sure that for many people it will be.<br /><br />I look forward to reading more of your blog. Aum Shivaya<br /> TandavaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com