Cultures and our lifestyles..

[Guest guest]

Jai Guru Datta.

 

One example Appaji pointed out recently in San Jose is of particular

relevance here. Appaji talked about the role of both Karmendriya’s

(senses that impact our actions) and Jnanendriya’s (senses related to

knowledge) in our daily activities. As always, Appaji used a very

simple example to explain his point. The Jnanendriya looks at a laddu

(a traditional south indian dessert usually served as prasadam in

temples) and thinks “oh that looks delicious”. Immediately the

Karmendriya’s go for not one but ten laddus resulting in an upset

stomach (aka health issues). Then who is to be blamed for this upset

stomach? Jnanendriya’s for telling me a laddu is delicious or

karmendriya’s for not having discipline ? Jnanendriya’s never asked me

to eat a laddu leave alone 10 laddus. So how can I blame those senses?

So at the end it is my fault for not having control on my

karmendriya’s

 

Here ends Appaji’s example.

 

So if we can’t even blame our thought senses in this case, how can we

blame external forces such as other cultures, traditions, lifestyles?

It’s like blaming ours mother for everything that goes wrong with our

lives (I am just referring to the common media trend now a days).

 

My personal opinion is no one culture is better than the other and

that all cultures/traditions are equal. If we all are HIS children and

all are equal then aren’t the cultures/traditions we were born into

also HIS creation and hence equal?

 

The fact that we still have plenty of ancient cultures both in the

East and West still in existence tells me that there is no basic

weakness in one culture or obvious strengths in other. The practices,

tradition, and diet in each culture are customized such a way as to

allow people to survive and prosper in the environment they live in.

At the same time they are some positive things and negative things in

every culture and it is our job to execute control and steer away from

the negative things.

 

Now in this modern world, lot of things changed for good or bad. We

have no other option but embrace it. But as humans, we have the

ability to make smart choices and adapt to these changes.. No one can

take that ability from us. For eg, in the past people walked to

schools, markets probably because they didn’t have too many

transportation options or probably because they were health conscious.

But given the zillion options we have now, I have definitely became

lazy. So who is to blame ? The proliferation of technology also meant

that we do less physical labor at work than our ancestors.. By

comparing it to Appaji’s example from above, I believe it not the

fault of improved transportation or latest technology but it is my

personal fault for becoming lazy and not compensating the lost

exercise with some other activity.

 

 

 

SGD,

Hari