Brahman and Reincarnation

[Ravi500]

I have tried to explain it in my post http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/3662724-post18.html

Also see this http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/3661578-post20.html. This was posted on the day when you became a member of this forum.

I appreciate your second thread.

It is mainly because of these lower caste sages like Guru Ravidas, Namdev, Narayana, that most lowercaste hindus chose to stay in the Hindu fold rather than converting to other religions during the medieval times.

If it weren't for these shudra saints, Hinduism would have been an extinct religion or otherwise reduced to a minority religion in India.

And for that reason, I would say that the teachings of these sages, should be put on par ( if not more sacred ) with the vedic teachings, and should have authority of their own in Hinduism .

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I think , perhaps, the issue is the "I" over here. The intellect and the ego usually go together.

I really appreciate your endeavour to expand my 'conscious awareness' and thank you for that. Here is some help from my side as well. We are all learning and trying to evolve.

If the English ever do come up with any other way of referring to persona other than through the use of pronouns, 'I'm' sure we'd already know about it.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Ravi500]

If the English ever do come up with any other way of referring to persona other than through the use of pronouns, 'I'm' sure we'd already know about it.

Om Namah Shivaya

Yes, I'm sure we'd already know about it.

Thank you for your points.

 

[Runewolf1973]

God as a substratum is confirmed in scripture:

"There is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread." BG 7.7

"By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them." BG 9.4

And various other places as well... Universal intelligence requires a principle intention for creation. Therefore, the source or subtratum that the material energy rests on, must be consciousness. The vedas describe the unmanifest Brahman as sat(truth)-cit(counsciousness)-ananda(bliss).

"Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [nontruth] there is no endurance and of the eternal [truth] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both." BG 2.16

Thus the temporary material world is like a dream and is non-true, in the sense that it has no endurance. It rests on the real substratum, which is non-changing and eternal.

This is excellent! I like that "...as pearls strung on a thread."

Each pearl in a way represents each individual soul that is reincarnated yet is still ultimately connected to that same thread.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Yes, I'm sure we'd already know about it.

Thank you for your points.

That's okay, and thank you kindly for yours.

Aupmanyav is more of an 'Agnostic Hindu' than an Atheist one - a point I have personally made on more than one occasion.

It's like he's torn between his head and heart - between impartiality and devotion and I've caught him out before.

It's difficult to balance faith and belief, experience and knowledge, so I have learned to make certain 'concessions' in his case.

I don't know if it is possible to be an Atheist Hindu, when there are many schools....I don't know if it is possible when theoretically, a Monotheistic Hindu such as myself shouldn't exist according to Sruti.

What I lack in humility, I make up in honesty - especially self-honesty, so it's all good.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Ravi500]

....I don't know if it is possible when theoretically, a Monotheistic Hindu such as myself shouldn't exist according to Sruti.

I don't know of any sruti which states that a monotheistic Hindu should not exist.

The dvaita philosophy itself is monotheistic, as opposed to the monistic advaita and pantheistic vishistadvaita.

Sufi masters have attained the enlightened state being monotheistic itself.

What I lack in humility, I make up in honesty - especially self-honesty, so it's all good.

Om Namah Shivaya

Okay, then . I understand now.

It is natural for those who are honest to be blunt , while the civil and diplomatic are usually dishonest or self-dishonest.

I am also trying to create a healthy balance between honesty and civility.

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

I don't know of any sruti which states that a monotheistic Hindu should not exist.

The dvaita philosophy itself is monotheistic, as opposed to the monistic advaita and pantheistic vishistadvaita.

Sufi masters have attained the enlightened state being monotheistic itself.




Okay, then . I understand now.

It is natural for those who are honest to be blunt , while the civil and diplomatic are usually dishonest or self-dishonest.

I am also trying to create a healthy balance between honesty and civility.

When I was new to these fora, much like you are now, I was also put 'through the mill' by MV, JS and Aup, much like what is happening to you now...but anyway...

In a few threads, where people were trying to get me to worship Lord Ganesha, or Lord Murugan or even Kali Ma along with Lord Shiva because I was a Shaivite and I wouldn't even go there (although I do worship Devi in my own way), but anyway, I was told that; 'The concept of a Monotheistic Deity is a Western/Abrahamic one' and 'It goes against Sruti to only believe in one God...Hinduism is a Pantheistic religion' and even 'You are not a Hindu if you only worship Siva, but no other God'.

I could find all those threads, but it would take me forever, so I am basing everything on this...my own experience, as just about everything is.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Okay, then . I understand now.

It is natural for those who are honest to be blunt , while the civil and diplomatic are usually dishonest or self-dishonest.

I am also trying to create a healthy balance between honesty and civility.

Not so much that either, but whenever I try to be civil and diplomatic, it tends to create confusion...so I settle for respectful and friendly. You're only new, but you'll get how things work here.

I'm really enjoying reading your posts and contributions so far though. Keep up the good work. *frubal

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Ravi500]

'The concept of a Monotheistic Deity is a Western/Abrahamic one' and 'It goes against Sruti to only believe in one God...Hinduism is a Pantheistic religion' and even 'You are not a Hindu if you only worship Siva, but no other God'.

Not necessarily. The Arya Samajis are monotheistic, worshipping OM as God. The other deities do not figure for them.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I appreciate your second thread. And for that reason, I would say that the teachings of these sages, should be put on par ( if not more sacred ) with the vedic teachings, and should have authority of their own in Hinduism .

They are. Don't worry about that. Who does not know the saying of Ravidas (Man changa to kathauti mein ganga)? Kindly note that it was a shudra, Vedavyasa, who compiled the Vedas, and wrote Brahmasutras, SrimadBhagawat Purana, and seventeen other puranas. And if you are aware a lot of Azhwars and Nayanars also were shudras. I am also told that one of the Azhwars was not even Hindu.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Aupmanyav is more of an 'Agnostic Hindu' than an Atheist one - a point I have personally made on more than one occasion.

It's like he's torn between his head and heart - between impartiality and devotion and I've caught him out before.

It's difficult to balance faith and belief, experience and knowledge, so I have learned to make certain 'concessions' in his case.

You are not very correct, NYK. As I have already said many a times, I am a hard-boiled atheist, as strong as they come; and I do not have to balance faith and belief, since I follow science and strict advaita, and have none of the two. I am not torn between my head and heart, I am in one piece (not Rahu and Ketu).

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

You are not very correct, NYK. As I have already said many a times, I am a hard-boiled atheist, as strong as they come; and I do not have to balance faith and belief, since I follow science and strict advaita, and have none of the two. I am not torn between my head and heart, I am in one piece (not Rahu and Ketu).

I was just reading a very detailed post about your beliefs in another thread and thank you for outlining them. They make for a very useful understanding and 'reference tool', so I apologise for my judgmental attitude and I shall also take this opportunity of reserving it.

Om Namah Shivaya

 

[Aupmanyav]

Oh, no problem at all. I take all such misunderstandings in my stride.