Despite changes of the modern age, and the fears of terrorism, Buddhists (et al) have stuck to their peaceful ways. It is so refreshing to see a religion that is not dangerous or threatening. Perhaps there is hope for peace in the world, after all. However, it seems that the warmongers rise to the top, and the peacemakers are marginalized. Usually it is not the meek who inherit the earth.
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The Pagan, Buddhist, and Hindu Thread
- Thread starter JustGeorge
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Despite changes of the modern age, and the fears of terrorism, Buddhists (et al) have stuck to their peaceful ways. It is so refreshing to see a religion that is not dangerous or threatening. Perhaps there is hope for peace in the world, after all. However, it seems that the warmongers rise to the top, and the peacemakers are marginalized. Usually it is not the meek who inherit the earth.
I am intrigued by your Egyptian symbol of a monkey, and its significance in the early Egyptian religions (circa 4,000 BC). It is thought that Egyptian kings and Gods could be transmografied into monkeys. Monkeys were kept as pets, though often malnourished.
I assume that the crescent moon hat of the monkey intimated that it was a God of the moon.
The Baboons and Monkeys of Ancient Egypt
The website above discusses many of these issues.
I'm sorry.
I didn't answer because they weren't directed at me, but if you have a more general question (or if you want to ask something of me in particular), I'll (try to) answer!
It's ok, I didn't direct anything towards you specifically.
. But since I have your attention, can you give me the "elevator spiel" of your beliefs? (The short run down
).
Vinidra
Jai Mata Di!
It's ok, I didn't direct anything towards you specifically.
But since I have your attention, can you give me the "elevator spiel" of your beliefs? (The short run down
Of course!
Well, like I said earlier, I am a Shakta. The Goddess in all her forms is supreme, to me. In theory, this includes ALL forms because I am a soft polytheist, but in practice, I focus on Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati in my worship. I also worship the Greek Goddesses Aphrodite, Athena, and Hera, which I realize is kind of a random assortment, lol.
I think the universe and everything in it emanated from Adi Para-Shakti, and I also think one day, everything will return to Her.
I believe that She appears to each devotee in the form that will appeal to them most, so I believe she's also Vishnu and Shiva, just in different forms.
I believe in karma and reincarnation. I don't remember any of my past lives, but I think it's fascinating to listen to people who do.
There's probably a whole bunch of stuff I'm missing here, but I tried!
What's koans and mondo?
I think @Jainarayan summed it up pretty well.
I think its fine, when respect is paid to the traditions they come from. I think most Pagans try to do that with their own deities, as well. The ceremony for a Celtic deity would probably look different from that of a Greek one.
Yeah, and got a heck of a headache.
firedragon
Veteran Member
I am really looking forward to peoples contributions. I am very interested in Hinduism. Hindus generally are not marketing Hinduism like the other religions, especially Abrahamic religions. Also Pagans are similar in my opinion. So good thread.
Its true; none of us really seem to be marketers.
I do believe the Hare Krishnas proselytize a bit, and I think the Arya Samaj are said to, but I've never experienced it from either group. Heck, I've never met a follower of Arya Samaj.
I did meet a Pagan author once who came across as kind and understanding in her books, but if you didn't follow her branch of Paganism, you were bad, bad, bad(in her book). However, that was the only time I encountered that attitude from a Pagan.
Never met a Buddhist who proselytized, either.
Kumbh Mela: Hindu festival, held every 12 years at 4 locations in India, to bathe in the Ganges and Jumna rivers. (Source: Oxford Dictionary) It's origin is from the 8th century philosopher Shankara.
Kumbaya is a pidgeon English or an African plea to God to "come by here," from Gullah of islands near South Carolina and Georia, and Jamaica, according to Wikipedia. First known use was in 1926.
Since England conquered India at one point, could Kubh Mela and Kumbaya be related? The Gulla might have picked up some Indian culture, since it is near Africa.
Samael_Khan
Qigong / Yang Style Taijiquan / 7 Star Mantis
Awesome! The religions I am delving in at the moment!
I have questions:
The west has a concept of good and evil, a dualistic morality. How do eastern religions view this concept of morality? Is it something that is non existent, or do they view it in a different light, or is it the same?
What role does rationality play in these religions? I am used to religions that try and use rationality to validate their worldview. Do Eastern religions have a different approach?
firedragon
Veteran Member
Buddhists proselytise a hell of a lot in my opinion. Even very militantly. Maybe you are not in the vicinity.
There are fringe Hindu groups who do proselytise a lot. But that's so small in number. Hindus being a huge number in the world. Hope you understand.
If I had to choose to believe in a god, it'd be a coin toss between Ganesha and Athena ─ why not both indeed!
And I'd be silly to leave out Aphrodite.
(The Zoroastrians aren't usually regarded as pagans, but their concept of an eternal conflict between light and darkness sounds sensible too.)
Sorry, I didn't get a notification for this. Santa must be eating the cookies.
I became a koan junkie, and I'm still a recovering koan junkie to this day. This helped me to understand the concept of attachments (addictions) in Buddhism. While I'm resolving my other attachments/addictions, I think I'll keep the koan addiction as a reminder.
As for the other practices--"recognizing" them for what they were also greatly helped me to "recognize" other states of mental absorption I naturally practiced since childhood. (Hindsight is 20/20, so it is said.) I think my sensei's teaching style was quite beneficial to me in this respect. There was no overthinking--just recognition--a continual chain of *doh* moments. Once the realizations started coming, I was then able to apply to develop my own meditative tools to gain insight into other areas. For example, I did a 2 year meditative study into the nature of PMS and was able to recognize hormonal triggers and how they influenced my mind and moods.
I believe my training was perfectly tailored to me, and I am grateful for it to this day.
That is Thoth (associated with the moon) as A'an, god of equilibrium/equanimity offering the Eye of Horus (symbol of equilibrium and stability) to the Eye of Ra (winged serpent with the solar disc.) A'an is the form Thoth took in the Duat, and the Eye of Horus is often found on the solar bark (ship) which travelled through the Duat to provide stability to the ship.
A mondo is a dialog between teacher and student used as a training tool. A koan is a contemplative riddle--a couple of classic examples being "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" and "What was your Original Face before your parents were born?"
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
Perhaps what distinguishes it in terms of formal practice is the emphasis on objectless meditation, usually called zazen or shikantaza. ( rather than koans as referred to by @crossfire )
ajay0
Well-Known Member
The festival is traditionally credited to the 8th-century Hindu philosopher and saint Adi Shankara, as a part of his efforts to start major Hindu gatherings for philosophical discussions and debates along with Hindu monasteries across the Indian subcontinent.
Kumbha Mela still has hundreds of thousands of people attending it, and it has great significance as a platform for philosophical discussions and dissemination of culture.
The old tradition still exists and we can see a lot of hermits and yogis coming up from the hills and forests and ashrams to the pilgrimage centre.
And at the same time, it is a bit of contrast to the modern India with its skyscrapers, metro and bullet trains, space rockets and satellites, supercomputers and mobile towers, super-highways and bridges across rivers and road/rail tunnels passing through huge mountains.
Somehow we have fused the ancient civilization that is India with modern science and technology. It is a work in progress.
I have seen Gurus and yogis using telepathy to communicate with people along with the mobile phone . They didn't find this combination odd though initially it did to me. But I suppose what matters is to use that which works to get the job done.
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Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Why do you feel like that? Hindu members respond energetically in topics here. Of course, since the majority of members are Christians, there will be more topics about Abrahamic religions.
Yes, Buddhist and Sikh participation has dwindled and there is hardly any about Jainism.
Zazen is a wonderful practice!
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
When was the last time you hoovered under this rug?
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Kumbh (and Ardha Kumbh, half-Kumbh, held every six years between two main Kumbhs) IS NOT for learning anything new (from yogis coming out from ashrams in the hills and forests, there are hardly any now, most sect headquarters are in various cities). People have their own understanding of Hindu religion, some are members of sects. It is basically a reiteration of faith, for sadhus as well as laity. It is fun and it is big business. Kumbh is distributed over the country, Haridwar in North, Ujjain in near-West, Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Central India and Nashik in near-South India. So every one gets a chance. Big temporary cities are established, festivities go on for more than two months. It is big inland tourism.
With better facilities provided by the government, the attendance at Kumbh festivals is increasing every time. Please note that Kumbh is not the only such festivals. Similar festivals are held every year at many places around the country in the Hindu month of Magha which entail a dip in various rivers and water bodies (Magha Melas - January/February).
To give you some idea of the assemblage, I quote from Wikipedia: "The Kumbh Mela authorities said that the largest one-day attendance at the Kumbh Mela was 30 million on 10 February 2013, and 50 million on 4 February 2019."
From a link given by Vinayaka:
"Kumbh 2021 would be spread over 150 sq. KM and divided into 41 sectors. This will be one of such event in India which will organize bathing on the main river front of holy Ganga by developing temporary ghats, riverfronts and barricades."
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