Avinash

For example, while VR states that Ravana grabbed Sita when he abducted her, Kamban finds even this thought repulsive. So, in KR, Ravana doesn't even touch Sita. I don't think Valmiki did anything wrong in writing that Ravana had grabbed Sita. If Ravana had really done that, then it was quite correct on the part of Valmiki to mention that. As an example, terrorist attacks are bad. But, if some terrorist attack happens somewhere, then there is nothing wrong if it is reported in some newspaper. Facts are not always sweet.

If you worship natural things like trees, mountains etc. or if you worship created things like statues thinking that God is exactly the same (in looks, power etc.) as these objects, then you are in darkness. But if you are using these for the sake of concentration, then I do not find anything wrong in it. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to concentrate without some object to concentrate upon.

Dear Vinay, If you read Bhagwatam, then there are 36 incarnations mentioned in it. It all boils down to which incarnations you are going to consider. According to one criterion, you are also an incarnation.

Dear Vinay, If you read Bhagwatam, then there are 36 incarnations mentioned in it. It all boils down to which incarnations you are going to consider. According to one criterion, you are also an incarnation.

If you are the former Animesh, how come you are only a "junior" member ? What happened ? I was hoping that jndas ji would make me senior member. I was even ready to bribe him with chocolates. I don't know why he did not like that offer. May be that chocolates will spoil his teeth and then he will not be able to eat prasadam. Now I have to wait till I become senior member based on the no. of posts I make. I don't know how long I have to wait.

Vinay, The answer to your question depends on which incarnations we are considering.

Vinay, The answer to your question depends on which incarnations we are considering.

I have read many news articles that show that FBI is trying to prove as many people as anti US as they can esp. the people who are south Asians (like Indians, Pakistanis etc.). Avinash (formerly Animesh)

I have read many objections against Hindu scriptures that these scriptures are obscene etc. etc. If we just read only a few sentences of the scriptures, then these objections seem to be correct. But if we read the books in totality, then we find that we were wrong. Irrespective of who wrote these books or when they were written, these are real classics. These books show both the literary mastery as well as greatness (as human beings) of those who authored these. As an example, just read in Ramayana, the dialogues between Rama and Sita, between Rama and Bharata and many other dialogues. All of these are full of great teachings. Also, the metaphors used in the shlokas are such that there is sublime poetic beauty in them. Those who have mastery over Sanskrit will appreciate this beauty more than others.

I have read many objections against Hindu scriptures that these scriptures are obscene etc. etc. If we just read only a few sentences of the scriptures, then these objections seem to be correct. But if we read the books in totality, then we find that we were wrong. Irrespective of who wrote these books or when they were written, these are real classics. These books show both the literary mastery as well as greatness (as human beings) of those who authored these. As an example, just read in Ramayana, the dialogues between Rama and Sita, between Rama and Bharata and many other dialogues. All of these are full of great teachings. Also, the metaphors used in the shlokas are such that there is sublime poetic beauty in them. Those who have mastery over Sanskrit will appreciate this beauty more than others.

If somebody does not do something bad, then there are two reasons for it: - (1) His conscience prevents him (2) He is afraid of being caught. I think that conscience is more important than fear. This is because if I am not doing something because I am afraid of punishment, then I will do it once I find out some way to get away with it. But if my conscience prevents me from doing it, then I will not do it even if I know that I will not be caught. It is well known that habits instilled in childhood days have much stronger effect on a person than those instilled latter. There may be various ways of instilling good habits, e.g. telling stories that teach morales. But we are seeing that in present world, it is difficult for a person to survive if he is very nice. So, what qualities should be instilled in children? Should they be taught not to do anything unethical and illegal even if they are facing problems? Or, should they be taught to go along with the rest of the world?

In the "autobiography of a yogi", it is written that kriya-yoga is the meditation technique that is mentioned in Geeta. It is said to regulate one's breathing.

jndas ji, There is another thread with the same title. Can the response in this thread be put into the other one and this thread deleted?

He instructed his disciples that no one should go hungry for 10 miles around his temples. I consider it as praiseworthy with whole of my heart (of course, assuming that I have a heart ). I am talking about the program under which you are feeding poor children.

The shlokas you have mentioned say that charity should be given to deserving aand not to unworthy. It is not written in Gita that it should be given only to brahmanas and not to defavoured.

Khsatriyas whose duty is to protect humans, are allowed to hunt. Their work may call for killing human beings. If they have never killed even an animal, will they be able to kill humans? I just said that it is nowhere written in Ramacaritmanas that Rama used to hunt deer and give to his father for eating.

Not only television, movies etc., but even people known to a child teach him many wrong things. One of these is giving too much of importance on how we pretend to be rather than what we really are. Example: If you invite others to your house, go to their houses, give them gifts on various occasions, ask about their family members, then you will be called as social even if in reality you are not at all concerned about them. But if you help people when they need and you do not do such frmalities, then no body will call you as social. I am not trying to say that formalities are bad. These are part of culture. But it is not sufficient to show to people that we care for them. Rather, we should really care for them. If we only pretend to be concerned about somebody, then we will severe ties with him, if his conditions are not good. I feel that a person should be taught to be compassionate from his childhood.

How much security is there in these temples? Note: For some reason I was not able to use Internet for the last few days. I used to post earlier in a different user name. I don't have any intentions of confusing people by using two user names. Now I will not be using my previous username at all. jndas ji, Please make me senior member fast.