Buddhist Theists vs Buddhist Atheists

Buddhist Theists vs Buddhist Atheists Jul 28, 2018 9:35:58 GMT clusium likes this

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Post by Aj_June on Jul 28, 2018 9:35:58 GMT

Jul 28, 2018 8:32:37 GMT Arlon10 said:

Jul 28, 2018 3:06:58 GMT Aj_June said:

Hare Krishnas are idiots. The religion itself has very little to do with traditional Hinduism. The entire Vaishnavite Hindus believe that Krishna was an incarnation of Vishnu but HK believe that Vishnu was incarnation of Krishna. But I don't think they proclaim themselves to be intellectuals. They come across as delusional people rather than people pretending to be intellectuals.

   There are people in many disciplines who follow traditions without fully understanding them. It can become more important to them that their tradition is the ultimate arbiter of truth rather than a mere tool to discover the ultimate truth. There are many western Christians like that.

   Following traditions without understanding them is not usually a bad thing. Many good children do that. It saves a lot of needless repetitive experimentation, heartache and loss. Of course it might become a terrible thing if the people who have charge of the traditions, the adults in the room, fail to understand them and fail to guide the children properly.

   I suspect the Hare Krishna disciples you met are the novices.

I have claimed it before that I believe that all religions have certain common goals. The goal is to drive the adherents towards what they perceive is the ultimate truth or ultimate destination. Even if I do not believe in religions, I do not discriminate between religions (and to be honest even you are fairly respectful of different traditions) and believe whether it is Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism or Zoroastrianism they all mean well. That said there is always a chance that over the years religions will develop traditions that are not so good. Feudalist mentality in medieval Japan, Europe or India were in certain ways (even if indirect ways) encouraged by religions. I would respect religions more if they have ability to re-examine their traditions and customs and constantly search for truth. The Hare Krishna people that I have met are often sure of their stance and unwilling to re-examine their opinions of other faiths. In Sanskrit the word Ishwara has traditionally referred to Shiva. The other meanings of Shiva is the auspicious one or the one that has no birth and no death. There is a misconception that Shiva represents death (as in physical death). According to Upanishads Shiva represents the death of ego and the death of physical form. For that reason Shiva is also the formless one according to Upanishads. The one who has reached the state of consciousness in which one has no ego, greed, desire or lust.

As human civilisation progressed people created gods with physical forms. It was because the Hindu saints thought an illiterate person who works in field all day and has no means to study cannot understand the philosophical depths of teachings of Upanishads. Thus were born the Krishna and Shiva with forms. As you see in pictures. There is nothing wrong in believing in gods with forms. What is wrong is in believing that what you believe is the only truth. This is where HK people and even HK elders make things go wrong. They should at least have courtesy to respect traditional Hinduism. They don't. They even refer to the oldest god of Hinduism (Shiva) as a demi-god. Even though I was born in a Vaishnavite family I find it extremely hypocritical that HK people are so derogatory towards people of other faiths. Almost all other Hindus not only give respects to other sects of Hinduism but also hold religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam in a very high regard. Giving respect to other faiths is the primary Hindu value which people like M.K.Gandhi, Vivekananda and other great people had reiterated time and again. Because HK people do not believe in such values I find it difficult to give them any respect.