The Pagan, Buddhist, and Hindu Thread

[Stonetree]

What do you feel you don't understand about which religion?

As I understand it: Hinduism is a blanket term; Some are Theist some are not....Brahman.? is the major God but there are others. Buddhism can converge with Hinduism/don't understand how. I understand Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion that follows a God. When I read @Secret Chief's post I don't follow its meaning. The terms used are foreign to me. I remember Joseph Campbell and his term 'Bliss'. To me, in a way, when you reach your Bliss you lose self, you are above self (selfless). This is over my head.....If any of my terms or words are incorrect, I mean no disrespect.

 

[sayak83]

What, if any, spring time festivals/rituals do you observe?

What are some of the traditions?

What are some of the stories?

And what are some of the foods celebrated? (You can tell I haven't had breakfast yet.)

List of major celebrations by Hindus in spring.
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami - Wikipedia
Holi.
Holi - Wikipedia
Chaitra Navaratri
When is Chaitra Navratri? Why is it celebrated? Date, Time, History, Significance and Importance - Times of India
Ram Navami
Rama Navami - Wikipedia

 

[Subduction Zone]

...anything good under that rug, @SalixIncendium ? I'm fond of chili lime chips, if you see one...

I'm interested in learning more about Buddhist sects. I find its not something I know much about. To the Buddhists on the forum, what sect do you follow, and what makes it unique?

Me too. I am interested in all sorts of sex . . .oh wait. You said sects, didn't you?

 

[Aupmanyav]

What, if any, spring time festivals/rituals do you observe?
What are some of the traditions?
What are some of the stories?
And what are some of the foods celebrated? (You can tell I haven't had breakfast yet.)

We have a very heavy calendar. Festivals/rituals/fasts every second day. See it here: Hindu Festivals and other significant days in April 2023 for Dallas, Texas, United States
Not that every one has to observe them (they could if they like), but it depends upon region and belief that the person is from.
Remembrance of ancestors (Shraddha) is a very important tradition. We have two fortnights in a year for that and charity in their name is given.
Thousands of stories. One is marriage of Shiva with Parvati, the daughter of King of mountains, Himalaya. Now Shiva has demons among his followers. So Shiva too dressed strqngely and went to the marriage hall with his followers. Parvsti's mother started weeping and both the parents fainted. Later they were told that it was all in fun.

Biscuits are certainly out. It could be Puri/Halwa, Doodh/Jalebi, Paratha/Lassi, ETC.

 

[Vinayaka]

What, if any, spring time festivals/rituals do you observe?

What are some of the traditions?

What are some of the stories?

And what are some of the foods celebrated? (You can tell I haven't had breakfast yet.)

It's a great coincidence of the migration of Tamils to colder climates in that Tamil New Year comes on April 14. I use it as a guideline for my personal transition into full landscaping mode. Another coincidence that follows in line with that is October 15, which just happens to be my Guru's Jayanthi.
Of course a near opposite example is Pongal, the harvest festival, celebrating the harvest time, which is in January. Nope, sorry, that one doesn't work.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Me too. I am interested in all sorts of sex . . .oh wait. You said sects, didn't you?

The Joy of Sects.

 

[crossfire]

Mexican food is good on any day...

Are there any other ways you'll observe Vesak?

Likely some meditation. When Vesak falls on a Wednesday, I'll do some psychopomp rituals and/or dreamwork. This year it falls on a Friday, so probably just some meditation.

 

[mangalavara]

What, if any, spring time festivals/rituals do you observe?

I did something new this year: I observed the Śaka New Year. On the Indian National Calendar, which is a solar calendar that I hear is mostly neglected in India, the Śaka New Year occurred on 22 March. Most of the time, it occurs on that date. In a leap year, it occurs on 21 March. I ‘celebrated’ by wearing completely new clothes and shoes that day and the day after. I also began a new sādhanā. Additionally, I might have fasted that day, but I cannot remember. I think I fasted because I don’t recall anything about delicious food and treats. A co-worker who I told about the day wished me a Happy New Year. Coincidentally, the Balinese Hindus also observed the Śaka New Year (Nyepi) this year on 22 March even though their calendar is a lunisolar one.

I like how in the northern hemisphere country that I live in, the Śaka New Year really coincides with the arrival of spring. Within the first few days of the year, flowers have been blooming and trees have been budding.

And what are some of the foods celebrated? (You can tell I haven't had breakfast yet.)

I might have fasted, as mentioned above.

Tamil New Year comes on April 14. I use it as a guideline for my personal transition into full landscaping mode.

I like what you do there.

 

[JustGeorge]

As I understand it: Hinduism is a blanket term; Some are Theist some are not....Brahman.? is the major God but there are others. Buddhism can converge with Hinduism/don't understand how. I understand Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion that follows a God. When I read @Secret Chief's post I don't follow its meaning. The terms used are foreign to me. I remember Joseph Campbell and his term 'Bliss'. To me, in a way, when you reach your Bliss you lose self, you are above self (selfless). This is over my head.....If any of my terms or words are incorrect, I mean no disrespect.

Hinduism is absolutely a blanket term. Brahman isn't so much a deity... Brahman is. @Aupmanyav or @SalixIncendium might be better ones to explain Brahman than I(especially as I am still wiping sleep from my eyes).

Its true that there are theistic and nontheistic Hindus. And of the theists, most pick a favored deity or two to focus on rather than trying to integrate them all.

Buddhism does seem to focus on philosophy a lot, but there are some religious aspects as well. It is generally non-theistic. Perhaps @Secret Chief can explain a bit more(his post was pretty deep and left a lot to ponder on )

List of major celebrations by Hindus in spring.
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami - Wikipedia
Holi.
Holi - Wikipedia
Chaitra Navaratri
When is Chaitra Navratri? Why is it celebrated? Date, Time, History, Significance and Importance - Times of India
Ram Navami
Rama Navami - Wikipedia

I missed the Holi celebration this year... Due to the weather the temple we go to shifted the date a few times. That doesn't work well when you don't have weekends off, and have to request a day in advance.

Me too. I am interested in all sorts of sex . . .oh wait. You said sects, didn't you?

Some sects involve sex.

We have a very heavy calendar. Festivals/rituals/fasts every second day. See it here: Hindu Festivals and other significant days in April 2023 for Dallas, Texas, United States
Not that every one has to observe them (they could if they like), but it depends upon region and belief that the person is from.
Remembrance of ancestors (Shraddha) is a very important tradition. We have two fortnights in a year for that and charity in their name is given.
Thousands of stories. One is marriage of Shiva with Parvati, the daughter of King of mountains, Himalaya. Now Shiva has demons among his followers. So Shiva too dressed strqngely and went to the marriage hall with his followers. Parvsti's mother started weeping and both the parents fainted. Later they were told that it was all in fun.

Biscuits are certainly out. It could be Puri/Halwa, Doodh/Jalebi, Paratha/Lassi, ETC.

I've noticed that some have the marriage of Shiva and Parvati on Mahashivaratri, and others place it on Panguni Uthiram(which, if I understand right, celebrates the marriage of several deity pairs).

You show me such delicious pictures before breakfast!

It's a great coincidence of the migration of Tamils to colder climates in that Tamil New Year comes on April 14. I use it as a guideline for my personal transition into full landscaping mode. Another coincidence that follows in line with that is October 15, which just happens to be my Guru's Jayanthi.
Of course a near opposite example is Pongal, the harvest festival, celebrating the harvest time, which is in January. Nope, sorry, that one doesn't work.

No, that one in January doesn't fit... I remember you saying your temple still celebrates outside, and I remember being very impressed with their resilience...

Likely some meditation. When Vesak falls on a Wednesday, I'll do some psychopomp rituals and/or dreamwork. This year it falls on a Friday, so probably just some meditation.

Why the difference in activity based on the day?

I did something new this year: I observed the Śaka New Year. On the Indian National Calendar, which is a solar calendar that I hear is mostly neglected in India, the Śaka New Year occurred on 22 March. Most of the time, it occurs on that date. In a leap year, it occurs on 21 March. I ‘celebrated’ by wearing completely new clothes and shoes that day and the day after. I also began a new sādhanā. Additionally, I might have fasted that day, but I cannot remember. I think I fasted because I don’t recall anything about delicious food and treats. A co-worker who I told about the day wished me a Happy New Year. Coincidentally, the Balinese Hindus also observed the Śaka New Year (Nyepi) this year on 22 March even though their calendar is a lunisolar one.

I like how in the northern hemisphere country that I live in, the Śaka New Year really coincides with the arrival of spring. Within the first few days of the year, flowers have been blooming and trees have been budding.



I might have fasted, as mentioned above.



I like what you do there.

I hadn't heard of the Saka New Year. Can you share some on the Saka calendar; where it was used, and by whom?

I like the way you observed it.

 

[mangalavara]

I hadn't heard of the Saka New Year. Can you share some on the Saka calendar; where it was used, and by whom?

The Śaka era is ancient but the solar ‘Śaka Calendar’ was created for the new nation of India in the past century. It is a little more fixed than observational. The calendar’s 12 months align with the 12 signs of the tropical zodiac instead of the sidereal one. The first month begins with Mesha/Aries the day after the northern hemisphere’s vernal equinox most years. It begins on the same day of the equinox on leap years. The names of the months are the same as the Vikrami Calendar except Bhadrapada is called Bhadra, and Margashirsha is Agrahayan. Chaitra, the first month, has 30 days; the second to sixth months have 31 days; and the remaining months have 30 days. If it is a leap year, Chaitra has 31 days. I like this calendar because it is very easy to follow, it is rooted in our religion and the subcontinent, and it is scientific. It is similar to the Iranian Calendar, by the way. In Bali, they have the Balinese Śaka Calendar. It is lunisolar but uses the Śaka era.

I like the way you observed it.

Thank you. What I did was influenced by the customs surrounding Nowruz as well as one of the practices surrounding Nyepi in Bali.

 

[crossfire]

Why the difference in activity based on the day?

Wednesday is the day of Mercury.

Names of the days of the week - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I am a Western Buddhist and a Jungian, after all.

 

[crossfire]

As I understand it: Hinduism is a blanket term; Some are Theist some are not....Brahman.? is the major God but there are others. Buddhism can converge with Hinduism/don't understand how. I understand Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion that follows a God. When I read @Secret Chief's post I don't follow its meaning. The terms used are foreign to me. I remember Joseph Campbell and his term 'Bliss'. To me, in a way, when you reach your Bliss you lose self, you are above self (selfless). This is over my head.....If any of my terms or words are incorrect, I mean no disrespect.

Let me put part of the Genjo Koan into western terms: you recognize your Jungian complexes for what they are when they manifest, so you can consciously deal with them. The bliss of Jhana is one way to break ingrained habits/addictions/attachments. (Just don't get attached to the bliss of Jhana and become a bliss junkie.) In Jungian terms, the Self is an archetype representing the center of the psyche. How can you know the center when the psyche is always changing and you don't know the boundaries? It becomes more of a tether for a leash than anything.

 

[metis]

Biscuits are certainly out. It could be Puri/Halwa, Doodh/Jalebi, Paratha/Lassi, ETC.

Dang, I just drooled all over my keyboard!

 

[Vinayaka]

 

[JustGeorge]

View attachment 74316

Let's eat!

 

[SalixIncendium]

As I understand it: Hinduism is a blanket term; Some are Theist some are not....Brahman.? is the major God but there are others. Buddhism can converge with Hinduism/don't understand how. I understand Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion that follows a God. When I read @Secret Chief's post I don't follow its meaning. The terms used are foreign to me. I remember Joseph Campbell and his term 'Bliss'. To me, in a way, when you reach your Bliss you lose self, you are above self (selfless). This is over my head.....If any of my terms or words are incorrect, I mean no disrespect.

Hinduism is absolutely a blanket term. Brahman isn't so much a deity... Brahman is. @Aupmanyav or @SalixIncendium might be better ones to explain Brahman than I(especially as I am still wiping sleep from my eyes).

Its true that there are theistic and nontheistic Hindus. And of the theists, most pick a favored deity or two to focus on rather than trying to integrate them all.

Buddhism does seem to focus on philosophy a lot, but there are some religious aspects as well. It is generally non-theistic. Perhaps @Secret Chief can explain a bit more(his post was pretty deep and left a lot to ponder on )

Brahman is no deity.

Putting it simply, Para Brahman (Nirguna Brahman) is the highest principle and is devoid of qualities or attributes...the Absolute Reality.

Saguna Brahman is an appearance of the form of Brahman.

Nirguna = without attributes/qualities; saguna = with qualities/attributes.

Saguna Brahman would be what Hindus would call "God(s)" in whatever forms.

 

[JustGeorge]

How would you all say your religion has influenced your diet?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Me too. I am interested in all sorts of sex ..

That does not please YHWH or any other God. There are limits all the time.

 

[JustGeorge]

That does not please YHWH or any other God. There are limits all the time.

I don't know about that.

Aphrodite seems like she'd be okay with it.

 

[Subduction Zone]

That does not please YHWH or any other God. There are limits all the time.

That is not quite true. Quob minds his own business when it comes to such matters.