From: dchatterjee@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: For HINDU eyes only...
Date: 12 Jan 93 15:37:03 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

In article <1993Jan12.184000.13896@sbcs.sunysb.edu>, 
rhassan@libws2.ic.sunysb.edu (Rana Hassan) writes:
>......... (deleted)............
> predictions have come true.  A lot of what is going on today is a sense of 
> what has been predicted over a thousand to two years ago.

 Show me a single prediction *OVER A 2 THOUSAND YEARS AGO* that in no
 *Uncertain* terms dictated:

 (1) Matter and Wave are duals of each other

 (2) Gravitational force, binding the heavenly bodies, is a manifestation of
     the General Theory of Relativity.

 (3) Other physical and biological "revelations" to scientists of the modern
     times - that are numerically over thousand in number.

 Please don't go into citing Arthur C.Clarke or Jules Verne. (That would be a
 rude way of escaping the question).
 
> 	Now I have a question.  I do not want to sound rude in any manner nor
> do I want anyone to take offense in any way (That is not why I have written
> this).  The question is that Hinduism is probably one of the more artistic and
> beautifully sounding religion with intriguing stories from all over BUT I have
> NEVER heard of even one story or event giving this religion any truth or 
> proof of existence as something which is the REAL meaning of life.  


 The point here is that Hinduism *is NOT* a religion. It *is* a culture. One
 need not believe in God, Almighty, Supreme Will, or, Krishna to be a Hindu.
 You can remain a atheist and still be called a Hindu. The point here is that
 REAL meaning of life is basically defined by good and bad deeds. The good
 deeds are those which your conscience tells you. (I hope that the more
 contemporary phrase " qualms of conscience " is acceptable to you ?) One
 need only do the good deeds, as defined above, and remain a Hindu. Faith in
 the inerrancy of the ancient scriptures etc., is *not* a component of the
 Hindu society. You are responsible for what you do. The Hindu philosophy 
 (mostly atheist) says that you will be judged/ rewarded according to the
 deeds you do. Sounds unfair ? IMHO, Hindu philosophy (atheist) preaches 
 that *all* religions are the same. Just as there could be different ways
 of solving the problem, so there are different paths that lead one to The
 Abode of Bliss. The stories that you have mentioned differentiate what is
 a "creed" and what is a "deed". A man is judged by the deeds only. However
 creed oriented you might be, only good deeds will elevate your mortal
 status. Hindu philosophy *DOES NOT* attempt to codify the *real meaning*
 of life because life is uncertain. It is because of this uncertainity that
 scriptures emphasize on the more spiritual aspects of life. 

 The essence that life is uncertain, and, will have different existential
 meanings for every individual/ living beings, *IS* the root cause of not
 putting a uniform code on a class of individuals.

 FYI, the outstanding parable of The Good Samaritan, as told by Prophet
 Jesus Christ (PBUH) to his listeners, is an appropriate example of what
 good deeds are. Nothing beyond this needs to be said. Christ (PBUH) was
 Himself a living example of what good deeds might exemplify.


> 
> 						rhassan@csws3.ic.sunysb.edu



       - regards,

      deb chatterjee
    (a good samaritan)