truthNhonour 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2005 I sometimes do not understand or get frustrated when so many posts here seem to say the solution to any problem is chanting the Lords name. At least explain how that will DO anything. Isn't the Gita about action and against inaction? Please let me know if this is not the case and I will apologize. Hindus and in particular Indians need a more pragmatic approach to reaching the truth. Every religious Hindu person I've met since childhood never made any sense to me. It was all too vague and they seemed to be too consumed in their pride of expertise in religion. I guess I am crying out for help in understanding my own religion. I always thought religion was a personal thing but sometimes it seems to be just another form of preimitive herd or groupism. The word religion is sometimes a curse on my country when I think as an Indian. However, it is not religion it is the people who use the religion card. Why is practising religion equivalent to chanting shlokas in a language I don't use or understand. How is that my religion then? Just to keep things in perspective: Here is what I am not saying. I am not saying the Hare Krishan movement does not DO anything. I appreciate their efforts and many works that help the underprivileged. I am basically asking for help and direction. I am asking for a thread that young (born) Hindu can follow to join the mainstream religion and become a real Hindu. And such has a thread has to say ACT not show the other cheek. May be later in life, following the thread I will end up preaching Haribol. But without anything like that I see myself (and many youths) drifting away from Hinduism simply because it does not make sense after repeated tries. I hope this will not be pushed away as a rant of an ignorant. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcp1982 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2005 Jai shree krishna. You are not ignorant, the others who say chant and everything will be ok are. To say chant and everything will be ok, is non-sense. Chanting is good but it does not help us solve our problems in life today. Arjuna was in a Chaotic condition, Lord Krishna didn't tell him to chant and everything will be ok. Lord Krishna gave him knowledge that helped him get through the difficult situation he was in (war). If Arjuna had just sat down and chanted, would he have solved anything? Absolutely not. The conclusion of the Bhagavad-gita is that learned devotees should explain the Bhagavad-gita to others, not to make them sit and chant. We are in so much ignorance, we first need knowledge. When Maharaj Pariksit was told he had 7 days left to live, he didn't sit down and chant for 7 days. He listened to the Srimad Bhagavatam, thus he wanted knowledge. Chanting is good, but first you have to understand who you are and who is God and why things are the way they are and so on. Once you have become self-realized with full knowledge then you can sit and down chant, not otherwise. Visit www.gitamrta.org, the only site where you can listen to the Bhagavad-gita in 6 languages and also read articles which explain the Bhagavad-gita in a simply and practical way as it would apply to us today. Learn the teachings of the Vedic scriptures from a practical view point and not just theory, from a household devotee who is going through the same problems as the average householder. The site will answers most questions you have on everything, but if it does not, just send an email. www.Gitamrta.org bg@gitamrta.org Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted November 21, 2005 "Once you have become self-realized with full knowledge then you can sit and down chant, not otherwise." And what makes you think that just reading philosophy will make you self realized. Philosophy and chanting go hand in hand. We purify ourself by chanting and read the philosophy to understand why we are chanting. Krishna did not ask Arjuna to chant because the need of the hour then was to fight. But that does not mean "us" people who are not self realized (unlike Arjuna) are to not chant. This also does not mean we do not perform duties. But again, both performance of duties and chanting go hand in hand. And why we chant: ceto darpana marjanam To cleanse the mirror of our minds (hearts) to understand the philosophy better. So please stop misleading people into thinking that chanting is not needed. Philosophy is necessary, but not a sufficient condition for Bhakti. Hare Krishna. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kcp1982 0 Report post Posted November 21, 2005 Hare Krishna. Arjuna was in a war like situation, and so are we. His enemies were the soldiers on the other side and his own mind. Our enemy is our mind which is covered with lust, greed, anger, desires, ignorance. What helped Arjuna get through his war is what will help us get through our war. Why should I bother with the Bhagavad-Gita? How does it apply to me today? What is the Bhagavad-Gita? The Bhagavad-Gita is the only word of God in person. It is the conversation between a man called Arjuna and God himself in the human form, Lord Krishna. The conversation took place in Kurukshetra (India), more than 5000 years ago. Arjuna was a typical person in the material world. He was in a dilemma as he was forgetful of his real duties in life. Therefore Krishna spoke the sacred teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita for the upliftment and purification of Arjuna and all humanity. Life is a War This world is full of suffering for everyone, either today or tomorrow, know-one can escape pain and suffering. Ignorance, materialism, lust, greed, and violence, represents the soldiers on the opposing side in our war. Everyone is experiencing turmoil and confusion in their lives, the result of which is living a lusty, materialist, and ignorant life, a wasted rare human birth. Everyday we are faced with decisions in our lives Shall I do this or do that? Will he/she be ok? Shall I buy now or wait? How much shall I spend? When will I do it? When will I go? Which should I choose? Who should I choose? When will I retire? Will it work out? And so on….. The real enemy of Arjuna was his mind rather than the soldiers on the other side. We are faced with the same situation. Our own mind is the greatest enemy, which is constantly tricking us into thinking that life is all about material enjoyment and sense gratification. Everyday we are faced with decisions, which will affect our future. Thus everyday is a battle with ignorance, materialism, lust, greed, and anger. If we can win the daily battles for some time then we have entered into spiritual life and the war over ignorance, materialism, lust, greed, and anger has been won. And at the end of this life we will enter into the kingdom of God with eternal spiritual life. In order for us to win our war, we need the same knowledge that Arjuna was given by Lord Krishna. The Bhagavad-Gita. By understanding the Bhagavad-Gita, the decisions we make in everyday life will alter our lives for the better and the result will be peace and happiness even in this life. And after this life there is guaranteed eternal peace for those who understand and practice the Bhagavad-Gita. If we don’t have the knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita than all our decisions are simply based on speculation and thus the result will be speculative. Sometimes the decision we made earlier will turn out to be correct, and sometimes incorrect. More often our speculative decisions will turn out to be wrong and we will continue with a life of ignorance, materialism, lust, greed, and anger. At the time of death if we have a materialist mindset then we will once again have to go through this hellish life with all the problems. We may even fall down again into the animal kingdom and then have to go through 8 million births before we get another human birth. By understanding and practicing the principles outlined in the Bhagavad-Gita we can minimize the affects, control, and avoid some of the problematic situations in our life. The Problems in Our Lives Your spouse may be cheating you Your spouse may not be happy Your marriage may end at any time You may lose your job at any time Your business may go down at any time You may be kicked out of your house at any time Your savings will run out at any time Your health may deteriorate at any time You may develop cancer at any time You may catch AIDS at any time Your children may become diseased at any time Your loved one may die at any time And so on.. The above list of decisions and problems are real and affects everyone. The Bhagavad-Gita can truly help us all overcome the complexities of material life. What Difference Will The Bhagavad-Gita Make? Whether you understand and practice the Bhagavad-Gita or not will make a significant difference to your current lifestyle and the next. If you think life is all about mating, eating and enjoying, then your next body will be in the animal kingdom and then your life will be to simply eat, sleep, mate, and defend. If you like exposing your body to others then your next body will be that of a tree and you will be able to stand naked in one place for thousands of years, exposed to all. If you eat anything and everything then your next body will be that of a hog who eats anything and everything including stool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
harshad 0 Report post Posted November 21, 2005 You can try reading the book Civilization and Transcendence by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada by clicking on the Hare Krishna Books Link above. Download the book (and the fonts required to view the book) and then read the book. It discusses some of the issues in traditional asuri varnashrama dharma (also known as Hinduism) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
