Guest guest Posted November 28, 2001 Report Share Posted November 28, 2001 Namaste, Since you referred to me, I want to make my stand clear on the issue of ancient knowledge being inaccurate. I am always in favor of analyzing our techniques based on the modern scientific tools and even dedicated a chapter in my astrology textbook to probability analysis etc. However, I will consider myself blessed if I completely understand the teachings of "ancient" maharshis. I have no intentions of "developing further" or improving their teachings. My only goal is to understand their complicated teachings correctly. I am quoting below a couple of paragraphs from an article written by me for the IITMAANA magazine (IIT Madras Alumni Association): "One may wonder why astrology works. I wonder too. Sometimes new phenomena cannot be explained in terms of the known model of the universe. That does not trivialize the study of the phenomena. We can model the correlations between planetary movements and mundane happenings even though we don't understand why they exist. We do it all the time in science. Moreover, `String Theory' shows us that there are more dimensions in this universe other than space and time and it is possible that we cannot explain astrology until we understand some of those dimensions. The next question people normally ask me is how ancient knowledge can be accurate. They wonder if ancient people could measure planetary positions accurately. So they suggest that their theories must be flawed. First, I must say that history isn't a science and what today's history books suggest about ancient civilization could be way off the mark. We cannot make _assumptions_ about the equipment that Maharshi Parasara, for example, possessed. Secondly, these maharshis may have been geniuses with supernatural spiritual powers. In any case, it does not matter. What matters is whether their teachings work. I am not in favor of original researches. My studies and experiences have amply proven to me that we first need to correctly understand the teachings of maharshis and not mess with their teachings. Based on the little that I could understand, they are brilliant." When it comes to history and archaelogy, nothing is laid in stone. It is questionable if the current understanding of when and how civilization evolved is perfect. So don't jump to conclusions on the capabilities of "ancient" people. May Jupiter's light shine on us, Narasimha > Dear Partha, > > Yes, Parasara and Jaimini belonged to ancient times > and world has progressed a lot from their times. > It is a miracle that their views are still getting > applied. At the same time, it is important to develop > the knowledge further. God willing, some of us will > develop newer techniques to supplement the current > methods of prediction. There is nothing like 'final > word' in astrology in my view. > > PVN does a beautiful job of providing scientific basis > in addition to tradition. He is one promising vedic > astrologer who will probably make even an AI based > system to predict! I really love to see the technical > insight he provides to us. I personally request him to > share his modern thoughts on astrology. > Varahamihira infers place of birth from the planets. > Most of us these days are born in Nursing homes. > So we should know what to select and what to avoid. > > While I respect the past, I think we should enrich the > future and not stop with just the ancient knowledge. > > warm regards, > Balaji S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2001 Report Share Posted November 28, 2001 Dear PVN, Thanks for your views. My respect for Parasara is greater as a Rishi than as an astrologer. For our sect, Ramanuja holds Parasara in great esteem. Even the Poorva Bhaga for vishnu sahasranama addresses 'parasara', respectfully. Every thing is a product of time - atleast in the material world. Realization also has its quantums. Yes, Rishi's have their knowledge from realization and not through 'translations' I read. There is nothing wrong in attempting research. This doesn't obviate the old truths. We can 'inherit' the truths and derive further conclusions. My firm conviction is, there is no end to knowledge. Saraswathi herself is still learning - they say. Let me state that I am very ordinary, incompetent and there giants in every area I know. I always liked more enquiry and research in all areas because i sincerely believe there is more to know in every thing. warm regards, Balaji s. --- pvr wrote: > Namaste, > > Since you referred to me, I want to make my stand > clear on the issue > of ancient knowledge being inaccurate. > > I am always in favor of analyzing our techniques > based on the modern > scientific tools and even dedicated a chapter in my > astrology > textbook to probability analysis etc. > > However, I will consider myself blessed if I > completely understand > the teachings of "ancient" maharshis. I have no > intentions > of "developing further" or improving their > teachings. My only goal is > to understand their complicated teachings correctly. > I am quoting > below a couple of paragraphs from an article written > by me for the > IITMAANA magazine (IIT Madras Alumni Association): > > "One may wonder why astrology works. I wonder too. > Sometimes new > phenomena cannot be explained in terms of the known > model of the > universe. That does not trivialize the study of the > phenomena. We can > model the correlations between planetary movements > and mundane > happenings even though we don't understand why they > exist. We do it > all the time in science. Moreover, `String Theory' > shows us that > there are more dimensions in this universe other > than space and time > and it is possible that we cannot explain astrology > until we > understand some of those dimensions. > > The next question people normally ask me is how > ancient knowledge can > be accurate. They wonder if ancient people could > measure planetary > positions accurately. So they suggest that their > theories must be > flawed. First, I must say that history isn't a > science and what > today's history books suggest about ancient > civilization could be way > off the mark. We cannot make _assumptions_ about the > equipment that > Maharshi Parasara, for example, possessed. Secondly, > these maharshis > may have been geniuses with supernatural spiritual > powers. In any > case, it does not matter. What matters is whether > their teachings > work. I am not in favor of original researches. My > studies and > experiences have amply proven to me that we first > need to correctly > understand the teachings of maharshis and not mess > with their > teachings. Based on the little that I could > understand, they are > brilliant." > > When it comes to history and archaelogy, nothing is > laid in stone. It > is questionable if the current understanding of when > and how > civilization evolved is perfect. So don't jump to > conclusions on the > capabilities of "ancient" people. > > May Jupiter's light shine on us, > Narasimha > > > Dear Partha, > > > > Yes, Parasara and Jaimini belonged to ancient > times > > and world has progressed a lot from their times. > > It is a miracle that their views are still getting > > applied. At the same time, it is important to > develop > > the knowledge further. God willing, some of us > will > > develop newer techniques to supplement the current > > methods of prediction. There is nothing like > 'final > > word' in astrology in my view. > > > > PVN does a beautiful job of providing scientific > basis > > in addition to tradition. He is one promising > vedic > > astrologer who will probably make even an AI based > > system to predict! I really love to see the > technical > > insight he provides to us. I personally request > him to > > share his modern thoughts on astrology. > > Varahamihira infers place of birth from the > planets. > > Most of us these days are born in Nursing homes. > > So we should know what to select and what to > avoid. > > > > While I respect the past, I think we should enrich > the > > future and not stop with just the ancient > knowledge. > > > > warm regards, > > Balaji S. > > > GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities./ps/info1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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