From: prasanth@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Ravi K. Prasanth)
Subject: Re: For HINDU eyes only...
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 23:34:16 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.184000.13896@sbcs.sunysb.edu>, rhassan@libws2.ic.sunysb.edu (Rana Hassan) writes:
> are stories told by the prophets and by the Son of God (Christianity)
> which talk about the future and what it has in store.  A lot of those
> 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.

IMO, that predictions made in that past have consistently come 
true has no rational justification. Many believe in prophecies,
but that is just faith.

> 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.

I do not fully understand your question. Religious practice
requires some amount of faith which invalidates giving objective
definitions to such terms as "truth", "proof", "existence" etc.
Now, if your question had to do with what Hinduism says about
the purpose of life, that can be answered. The purpose of any
life is to do its Dharma. Dont ask me what your Dharma is. It
is for you to decide.

> about it, there are many things in Hinduism which a young child might
> believe  to deem true about the world yet this child might believe and
> have no evidence.  When I was a kid, I used to look at the world and 
> think that I would someday die and become an > animal of the forst/jun
> gle.  But think about it, where is the proof that this is to occur.  
> How many times has animal ever given the sense  that they were once a
> human who has now become this animal. 

I will take evidence/proof to mean scientific evidence/proof.
The law of Karma (rebirth/reincarnation) is not a demonstrable
theory and in many branches of Hindu philosophy, especially
Advaitha, it has the status of mere fiction. That a theory is
not demonstrable doesnot necessarily imply that it is false.
Therefore, "cats and dogs havent told me that they were human
once" doesnot disprove the law of Karma.

The law of Karma does provide a plausible explanation (probably
not very scientific) to some observable phenomena, namely the
great miseries that some children undergo while others dont, etc.

> religion of the world, I would need some stronger proof of it. I mean
> look at the caste system, a lot of Hindus do not like the idea of the
> caste system, as from some who I have spoke to. 

I believe that caste system is against the basic tenets of Hinduism.

> When one goes to India, different tribes have 
> different beliefs and different languages for the religion.  Where has
> Hinduism's unity gone? 

I suppose that we are talking about people. No two persons are
alike. So why should there be only set of beliefs/language. Chaos
is beautiful.

To understand unity, you must first look at duality which is a
recurring theme in  Hinduism. Hindus have the standard God (the
one which is omnipotent, etc- Saguna) and its dual the Nirguna 
(indeterminate qualityless God). But there is only one God (if
there is any). In fact all the millions of Gods that Hindus
have are really different forms of the same God. But, what is
visible is Hindus praying to several Gods and so are cast as
polytheists, etc. Similarly, when you look at all the beliefs,
languages, etc, you dont see unity. Dig a little deeper, you
will find it.

> Another thing is that Hinduism came from the Aryans of the Middle East
> how in the world were one of the Gods born in India?  I really don't 

I dont believe in Gods taking birth.

> get a lot of the religion. Every single Hindu has a different aspecti
> of the whole truth.

That every Hindu has a different view should be a cause for joy
because that is precisely what we are - different human beings.

> the true meaning of this religion please do so because it is a highly
> critizized religion by many and by me.
>

Hinduism doesnt choke some beliefs down your throat. If you are
sufficiently motivated, you should be able to find out what your
Dharma is. And when you practice your Dharma, you will become a
Hindu. 

I would suggest books by S. Radhakrishnan and writings by
Swami Vivekanada to know more about Hinduism.

> 						rhassan@csws3.ic.sunysb.edu
> 

RKP