The Pagan, Buddhist, and Hindu Thread

[Aupmanyav]

Kumbh at Haridwar, at Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Prayag means confluence of two (or more) rivers. Ganga and Yamuna (not forgetting Saraswati, which is supposed to have disappeared) meet at Prayag (Allahabad). This is one of the most revered place of plgrimage in India for Hindus.

 

[SalixIncendium]

You mentioned meditating daily, I think. And at one point mentioned going about your day in a state of "words I can't pronounce/remember".

I'm curious as to what that was again. What you meant. And how that impacts your daily life.

Edit: It might have been "Satcitananda", but I could be very wrong too. @SalixIncendium

I'm sorry, @The Hammer. I wasn't sweeping you under the rug. I missed this post last night.

Yes, I meditate each morning immediately after waking and showering.

The word is unimportant, but satcitananda (existence/consciousness/bliss) would be a good way to describe it. I may have also said "samadhi." I don't recall the exact discussion. What is important is the state of being the word implies.

I participate in and interact with the world around me with this body/mind complex, but I am not this body/mind complex and am unattached to worldly things.

The result is liberation from suffering.

 

[SalixIncendium]

How do Hindus feel about pagans worshiping deities such as Kali and not knowing much about Hinduism? I've heard of some pagans worshipping her and other Hindu deities and I'm kinda curious how Hindus feel about it.

Leave our deities alone! You have your own!

Of course, I kid. Many consider Hinduism to be a pagan religion.

I don't mind if you worship our deities. I doubt any other Hindus would mind much either.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I wonder if we've anyone on here that's taken part in the Kumbh Mela...

I have not, ever. Indian crowds are huge, huge, huge, millions upon millions at such gatherings. Dusty, not very clean. I do not even enter a temple if there is a large crowd and waiting lines (as I found in Badrinath). I can have my pow-pow with the imaginary God even outside the temple, sitting in a chai-shop. But then I am not the normal kind of Hindu.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I’ve heard of Wiccans worshiping Shiva and Shakti as their God and Goddess. Personally, I have no problem as long as their attributes are kept intact and they’re not turned into something they’re not. There’s a saying, and Sri Ramakrishna also said it, “In whatever way one imagines God, in that way God appears”.

Try turning a god into something they're not. Let me know how that works for you.

 

[SalixIncendium]

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?

As I understand it, good and evil are still concepts, but how the views on how good and evil impact people and the world around them differ, because eastern views have more to do with causality than reward and punishment.

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?

I'm not sure I understand the question. I think it's a rare occasion where you'll find a follower of an eastern religion trying to validate their worldview to another that doesn't follow an eastern religion.

 

[SalixIncendium]

"hoovered"

Is this really a verb over there?

 

[Aupmanyav]

How do Hindus feel about pagans worshiping deities such as Kali and not knowing much about Hinduism? I've heard of some pagans worshiping her and other Hindu deities and I'm kinda curious how Hindus feel about it.

I have a brotherly feeling to all pagan religions of the world since Hinduism also is a pagan religion, a religion without a messenger, a religion from times immemorial. As for European pagan religions, we have the exact counterparts of many of their deities in Hinduism, brought to us by migrating Indo-Aryans. Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Varuna (Ouronos), Ashwins (Diós-kouroi, Ašvieniai, Dievo sūneliai, Dieva dēli) are not originally Indian.

 

[Secret Chief]

Is this really a verb over there?

It most certainly is. We have a Dyson vacuum cleaner, and like everyone else, we say things like "Where's the hoover?" and "Have you hoovered?"
If you said "Have you dysoned?" people would look at you like you'd gone out. (Is that a saying over there? )

 

[Aupmanyav]

That’s what I forgot to add... cultural context is important. Hellenic and Norse deities are offered meat and alcohol, though it’s optional. I worship Thor, but Thor is a chow hound and likes anything and everything. So I offer him veg. items, because that’s what I offer the Hindu deities. I would tell a Hellenic polytheist that it’s fine to worship Krishna, as long as it’s in the Hindu context of veg. offerings.

I am a Kashmiri brahmin and we traditionally offer meat to Shiva and Goddesses in worship. My family Goddess Jwala (lit. Flame), does not mind non-veg. offering. Even to one considered a strong vegetarian, Sharika, the Goddess worshiped by my in-laws.

 

[Jainarayan]

Try turning a god into something they're not. Let me know how that works for you.

I can paint all kinds of scenarios, usually ending with the person whining that the gods don’t pay attention.

 

[SalixIncendium]

It most certainly is. We have a Dyson vacuum cleaner, and like everyone else, we say things like "Where's the hoover?" and "Have you hoovered?"
If you said "Have you dysoned?" people would look at you like you'd gone out. (Is that a saying over there? )

It depends on what area of the country you're in.

In Illinois, where I grew up, it was called a "vacuum," and we "vacuumed the floor."

In Ohio and West Virginia, it's a "sweeper," and we "run the sweeper."

The only think we can think of that is generally called by a brand name is Kleenex. Unless you go down south, where all soft drinks are "Coke." If you order a Coke down there, they'll ask you what flavor.

 

[Aupmanyav]

.. both demand peace in their respective religions, ..

I have my doubts about that.

 

[Aupmanyav]

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.

No chance, Kumbha means a pitcher containing nectar which came out of the churning of ocean (Sagar Manthan) by Devas and Asuras, that is how the legend goes. It is not a deity.

 

[Aupmanyav]

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?

Hindus do not have a concept of Satan. Evil is because of ignorance. Remove the ignorance and every thing is good. What exists is to follow our duty and engage in righteous conduct (that is dharma, an in my opinion, the most important thing in all Indic religions, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism). You can arrive at morality by study of mythology, history. Belief in God/Gods/Goddesses promotes it. With knowledge, wisdom, evil will turn into good, God or no God, that is your choice (since I am an atheist).

 

[VoidCat]

I'm visiting my dad soon. He's accepting of my beliefs if not 100% sure on what they are. He told me for when I visit a friend found a crystal shop where I could find crystals I could use in witchcraft. I don't tend to use crystals in my practice. I didn't tell him that didn't want to burst his bubble... But maybe they might have occult books perhaps some on paganism. Or I might find something for a deity.

 

[Vinayaka]

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?

There is no right answer to these general questions, as the dharmic faiths have many sects and variations. We can only guess as to what fits generally, usually biased by our own opinions, and sure to be called out by someone saying 'I don't believe in that'. The vastness is likened to a large university with many faculties. Does the beginning student try to learn it all, or does he enter a single faculty?

So I'll try, but please keep what I just said in mind.

I think that generally morality is seen as gray, not as black and white or good/bad in eastern faiths. There is always overlap between good and bad, within action.

Rationality really varies, but from what I've seen, it's mostly a scholarly pursuit. Many dharmic faiths have scholars, and they can have right at the analysing, debating, hypothesizing, etc. But the general populace ... nope. Their approach is more of good conduct, intuition, improvement of character, and that sort of thing.

 

[Secret Chief]

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?

I think the focus (in Buddhism) is on the causes of our behaviours and so we can then possibly address the unwholesome / unskilful ones. The main roots of these are considered to be ignorance, greed and hatred.

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?

Rationality certainly has a role to play. For example, the Four Noble Truths are offered as a rational assessment of dukkha (usually translated as suffering) and Buddhism accepts the role and value of science. Rationality is not the be all and end all of the lived human experience though, which is what Buddhism essentially tries to address. Humans are very much oftentimes irrational!

 

[Clara Tea]

Personally, I don't believe very many, if any aspects of Hinduism have outlived purpose. The Kumbh Mela celebrates an astrologically significant time. The person whom I knew who went, went from Mauritius, walked the 10 miles in, did his dip, and exited on the same day. That kind of sacrifice and commitment builds will. There has to be a massive sannidhya to the crowd itself.

Kumbh Mela is about Gods fighting over a pot (kumbha) of amrita

In another thread, I told someone I feel that us Buddhists, Pagans, and Hindus get swept under the rug around here.

So, I'm making a thread devoted to these three(very vast) worldviews. Any and all may participate, but this thread may not delve into discussions of Abrahamic viewpoints, scriptures, or their God.

Anyone have anything interesting to share or ask?

Homeless deaths broke records last year (2020), and are on track to break last years record this year (2021).

Narcotics and insanity are blamed for the homeless problem.

But, where is concern from any religion? Do I see any post about the homeless from any religion? The Christian religion is supposed to tend to the homeless, and their churches are not supposed to lock their doors to the homeless (but they do). What about the other religions....how do they deal with it?

I've see Religious Forum discussions about how Santa Claus might be evil and Christmas is a Pagan holiday. Well, this string is about Pagans...merry Christmas.

I've seen discussions about how Easter is a Pagan holiday, and discussions about how the Easter Bunny is Pagan.

Well, as we worry about the evils of Santa and the Easter Bunny, do we consider that those beliefs are the things that keep our little kids happy, and we are still distracting ourselves from the central issues that most religions should focus on.

Are all religions about us? About how we can make it into heaven? About how we can improve our karma?--And, somehow forget that our karma could improve if we help others.

Congratulations on breaking records, everyone....grim as the news is.

 

[Clara Tea]

There is no right answer to these general questions, as the dharmic faiths have many sects and variations. We can only guess as to what fits generally, usually biased by our own opinions, and sure to be called out by someone saying 'I don't believe in that'. The vastness is likened to a large university with many faculties. Does the beginning student try to learn it all, or does he enter a single faculty?

So I'll try, but please keep what I just said in mind.

I think that generally morality is seen as gray, not as black and white or good/bad in eastern faiths. There is always overlap between good and bad, within action.

Rationality really varies, but from what I've seen, it's mostly a scholarly pursuit. Many dharmic faiths have scholars, and they can have right at the analysing, debating, hypothesizing, etc. But the general populace ... nope. Their approach is more of good conduct, intuition, improvement of character, and that sort of thing.

I would imagine that in a large university, professors teach.

I think that everyone has points of commonality, and points of diversity.