Don't the Hinduism (Dharmic) people need a concise Scripture?

[atanu]

Vedas indeed constitute the esoteric heart of Sanatana Dharma. And one cannot be casual with the Heart.

Vedas are not secular books for casual reading. In the Vedas itself and in Smriti and in Puranas, it is explained that the sound (shabda) and the knowledge (jnana) of the Vedas is the all pervading body of Param Atman, Ishwara, Lord, that constitutes the Self, the infinite whole.

The four books serve different functions and the different sections within each Veda signify different kinds of knowledge. Appreciating the shabda of the Vedas as the very body of Paramatman, is beyond most of us.

But I appeal to so called secular Hindus and likes of Parr to atleast not be so casual regarding the Vedas. If I do not understand Quantum Mechanics, I should not start to offer my comments on it. Eventually, I will be known as a charlatan, as a fool, as a cheater, as a poser.

 

[Vinayaka]

Let's be thankful he's not somebody with money or someone with someone else's money to back it. Right now, AFAIK, he's one chap on a forum with no real resources to walk the talk, and an audience of maybe 4 semi-interested people. So from that POV, it's not much of a deal. Compared to Max, Wendy, etc. his sphere of influence is zero. Max, the Reverend Pope, and others have had lasting influence, that we're still trying to eradicate.

 

[SomeRandom]

Let's be thankful he's not somebody with money or someone with someone else's money to back it. Right now, AFAIK, he's one chap on a forum with no real resources to walk the talk, and an audience of maybe 4 semi-interested people. So from that POV, it's not much of a deal. Compared to Max, Wendy, etc. his sphere of influence is zero. Max, the Reverend Pope, and others have had lasting influence, that we're still trying to eradicate.

Forgive my ignorance, but who are Max and Wendy?

 

[Vinayaka]

Forgive my ignorance, but who are Max and Wendy?

Max Meuller, and Wendy Doniger. Max did his number on us in the late 1800s, and Wendy is more current, probably still writing. They are both, (among many others) controversial figures in non-Hindu 'scholarship' of our faith. Both are well known in the academic anti-Hindu circles.

 

[SomeRandom]

Max Meuller, and Wendy Doniger. Max did his number on us in the late 1800s, and Wendy is more current, probably still writing. They are both, (among many others) controversial figures in non-Hindu 'scholarship' of our faith. Both are well known in the academic anti-Hindu circles.

There are "academic anti Hindu" circles?

Also I googled Wendy, a rebellious academic with a controversial approach?
Sorry for being a traitor, but I'm now hella curious to see what she has to offer. But I like it when traditions are shook up a bit. Makes things interesting. I mean we do like to prattle on about our inclusive approach to differing opinions and interpretations right?

 

[Aupmanyav]

The statistics here are skewed as our one atheist is quite vocal. Still, for the record, I don't think he is an atheist, just atheistic towards the Abrahamic God.

Always doubting my integrity, Vinayaka? That is not fair. Just because I am not an anti-religious atheist, and was born and raised in a religious theist Hindu brahmin family (and my family remains that way even now)? Yeah, I know the stories (and some scriptures) fairly well. .

 

[Aupmanyav]

Compared to Max, Wendy, etc. his sphere of influence is zero. Max, the Reverend Pope, and others have had lasting influence, that we're still trying to eradicate.

I am not sure of Wendy'a research before she turned into a Freudian, but I do not consider Max as a villain. He did tremendous good work. Theory of Aryan migration will never go away however hard one may try. It has evidence to support it.

 

[Vinayaka]

There are "academic anti Hindu" circles?

Also I googled Wendy, a rebellious academic with a controversial approach?
Sorry for being a traitor, but I'm now hella curious to see what she has to offer. But I like it when traditions are shook up a bit. Makes things interesting. I mean we do like to prattle on about our inclusive approach to differing opinions and interpretations right?

Of course, go explore to your heart's content. There is a lot to read. Here's a summary. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vamsee-juluri/the-propaganda-war-against-hindus_b_9751824.html
If you google 'anti-Hinduism' you'll get stuff from all sides.

 

[Vinayaka]

I am not sure of Wendy'a research before she turned into a Freudian, but I do not consider Max as a villain. He did tremendous good work. Theory of Aryan migration will never go away however hard one may try. It has evidence to support it.

I do think the sands of time will lessen the importance scholars put to the theory. In 200 years few people will care at all. I think there is general shift away in consciousness from the past, to the now.

 

[SomeRandom]

Of course, go explore to your heart's content. There is a lot to read. Here's a summary. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vamsee-juluri/the-propaganda-war-against-hindus_b_9751824.html

Hmm I don't know about HuffPo these days. They like being political **** stirrers sometimes.

 

[Vinayaka]

Hmm I don't know about HuffPo these days. They like being political **** stirrers sometimes.

There is much to choose from, from both sides. It's only of mild interest to me, but I do like to see our religion portrayed accurately. The California textbook issue was the practical side to all this. We can let the scholars debate all they want, but when it filters down to grade school textbooks resulting in kids bawling on the way home because of what they read about their religion, then it gets more real.

 

[Vinayaka]

Always doubting my integrity, Vinayaka? That is not fair. .

I have no response. Mystics don't argue.

 

[SomeRandom]

There is much to choose from, from both sides. It's only of mild interest to me, but I do like to see our religion portrayed accurately. The California textbook issue was the practical side to all this. We can let the scholars debate all they want, but when it filters down to grade school textbooks resulting in kids bawling on the way home because of what they read about their religion, then it gets more real.

What Hindu kid relies on a textbook to inform them of their family religion?
Also portray us accurately? How exactly? There's everything from animal sacrifice to atheism to philosophy to multiple iterations of theology found in Hinduism and all of them kind of argue with each other. To portray all of that effectively would take 10 libraries!

 

[Vinayaka]

What Hindu kid relies on a textbook to inform them of their family religion?
Also portray us accurately? How exactly? There's everything from animal sacrifice to atheism to philosophy to multiple iterations of theology found in Hinduism. To portray all of that effectively would take 10 libraries!

You'd have to research the California textbook controversy. Again, there were two sides to every story. Personally, I just remember how inaccurately our earlier textbooks when I grew up, portrayed the First Nations people of Canada. I presume American portrayal was similar.

One example of inaccuracy was a textbook that stated the Vedas were written in Arabic. Here's the wiki summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_textbook_controversy_over_Hindu_history

We're getting away from the OP though. So maybe a new thread?

 

[SomeRandom]

You'd have to research the California textbook controversy. Again, there were two sides to every story. Personally, I just remember how inaccurately our earlier textbooks when I grew up, portrayed the First Nations people of Canada. I presume American portrayal was similar.

One example of inaccuracy was a textbook that stated the Vedas were written in Arabic.

Oh well there are no textbooks about this stuff where I live so I guess it doesn't bother me. Also lol Arabic.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do think the sands of time will lessen the importance scholars put to the theory. In 200 years few people will care at all. I think there is general shift away in consciousness from the past, to the now.

Well, the aricle was too long for my taste and had no paragraph headings. It is a pain to read such texts. However, I point at one word - 'invasion'. There was no invasion. RigVeda does not mention any war untill much later - the Battle of Ten Kings. By that time Aryans were well settled in India. Therefore, it was a slow migration over a few Centuries.

Yeah, Vedas in Arabic. Vedas are of little use to them. 93 people killed in Quetta yesterday in a hospital blast. Let them be busy with guns and bombs. I am sure, we will hear of another blast tomorrow in an Islamic country. But removing Aryan migration will be totally against history. I have not followed the California controversy. I hear a few things from Hindus were accepted.

I have no response. Mystics don't argue.

As you know, that is generally disappointing to a Hindu. What is life without a discussion?

 

[Vinayaka]

Certainly there was movement across cultures. That's just common sense. The extent as to how much one culture affected another is where there is debate. I think DNA is more useful for anthropologists than linguistic conjecture. But there is nothing new here. You and I have watched this movie together before.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yeah, all in the works. Nothing concluded. DNA picture also is not very clear. We have the so-called Aryan strains even among the tribals - Chenchus or Todas.

 

[paarsurrey]

Forgive my ignorance, but who are Max and Wendy?

Max Müller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Müller

Wendy Doniger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendy_Doniger
Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Vedas indeed constitute the esoteric heart of Sanatana Dharma. And one cannot be casual with the Heart.
Vedas are not secular books for casual reading. In the Vedas itself and in Smriti and in Puranas, it is explained that the sound (shabda) and the knowledge (jnana) of the Vedas is the all pervading body of Param Atman, Ishwara, Lord, that constitutes the Self, the infinite whole.
The four books serve different functions and the different sections within each Veda signify different kinds of knowledge. Appreciating the shabda of the Vedas as the very body of Paramatman, is beyond most of us.
But I appeal to so called secular Hindus and likes of Parr to atleast not be so casual regarding the Vedas. If I do not understand Quantum Mechanics, I should not start to offer my comments on it. Eventually, I will be known as a charlatan, as a fool, as a cheater, as a poser.

I am not casual on Vedas. I am a student of Revealed Religions. I have read Quran the last book of revealed religions on the vertical axis. Quran is an Imam/leader that guides one perfectly, one aspect of it is that its language , the Arabic is a living languages while other revealed books are in languages that have died or almost died. Even Hebrew used in Torah is not written or spoken or truly understood now. Gospels is in Latin and or Greek, it is not in the language that Jesus spoke and wrote. Zoroaster spoke and or write in Old Avestan language that is no more spoken and or written. Buddha did not write anything in Magadhi Prakrit. Vedic Sanskrit is not spoken or written by masses as should be done even in India now.
The true approach of followers of Vedas is that whenever and where-ever I give a quotation from Yajurveda that I have read, but not finished yet, to give the Sanskrit Veda and as many as possible from other translations of their own denominations to alleviate or mitigate the effect of what has given by me. Right? Please
It is a lot more practical. Right? Please
Regards