Hindu-Christian Discussions – Page 17

Hindu-Christian Discussion-16

The vedic scriptures or Gita/Krishna does not expect from us anything. He just advises. The he says, “do as you please.” This does not mean Krishan encourages sins. He has His system of karma, by which the sinners suffer in present or future lives. One cannot fool God. It means God gives maximum freedom of choice to us all. He advises us to make intelligent/wise choices to uplift us spiritually.

Ref. your line: “.. choose who you will give your allegiance. If not to the God of the Bible, then choose whatever gods you desire to follow.”

Pope doe not say so. Christianity is known in the history for killing other cultures. Pope’s operations are going on using billions of dollars and armies of missionaries. It is sad, especially in Bhaarat.

Koran does not give any freedom, not even freedom to think.

Bible says, “this is the only way,” and the infidels know it is not true.

Marriage alliances break for wrong reasons many times.

And there are right reasons to break marriage some times.

Ego (false ego) comes in the way of progressing towards god.

May all live-sin-free.

Jai Sri Krishna!

Hindu-Christian Discussion-15

Ref. your line: < Christianity is a monotheistic faith, as evidenced in the teaching of our bible in Exodus chapter 20, “You must not have any other god but me. You must not bow down to them or worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” >

I would assume that Christians do know that god knows English language very well. Here, the god of bible thinks there are other gods in competition with him. He actually orders readers not to worship others. He does not give freedom of choice. He clearly says he is not tolerant and is jealous.

In contrast, see what Krishna said some 5000 years ago the last time He was on earth in person:

”I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” – Gita 9.29

The western world is mostly Christian thinks that if one is not a friend, then one is enemy only. Bush said it to the world, “If you are not our friend, you are our enemy.” They totally forget or ignore that there are/can be neutrals/ impartial.

Yes, one’s dedication must be for only one deity/god. Krishna says that bhakti (devotion) must be un-adulterated – single pointed to be effective for spiritual progress. He says that there are many demigods who serve Him, and He is not jealous of them. He says that if one worships any demigod, He strengthens one’s faith for that demigod, but actually the benefits given to the devotee are by Him (thru the demigod), and the devotee thinks it is from his chosen demigod whom he mistakenly thinks is the supreme god. So, He says that actually all worship Him only, but indirectly if they worship a demigod. He says, those who worship demigods, go to the demigods, and those worship Him, come to Him.

The above language is plain and simple. No one will ever get a message from bible that god is not jealous and that he is impartial by reading bible.

Now, we can also deduce from Krishna’s message this: Those who worship Hitler and Stalin will become like Hitler and Stalin. Those who worship Bin Laden will become like Bin Laden. Those who worship a jealous god will become jealous people.

An intelligent human could make a choice freely whom to worship, or not worship. One has to re-think whether a choice one made in the past was intelligent. It is never late to move on a right path when one is identified.

May all live sin-free.

Jai Sri Krishna!

Hindu-Christian Discussion-14

The vedic dharma is not a missionary religion. The world never has seen a vedic preacher knocking at the door to preach. Especially, the vedics have no interest to talk dharma with any one who has no interest to know it in a friendly manner.

Yes, the Christianity has spread in bhaarat due to massive and organized efforts of the missionary armies in bhaarat; and that means the Vedics (the poor) failed to realize the value of their dharma, and chose to give it up for Christianity. This is not a spread of the Vedic dharma as you describe.

The Vedics dharma is a type of living per the spiritual science given in the vedic literature – especially the Bhagavad gita. The aim is to uplift spiritually each individual and the society as a whole. In Gita God/Krishna describes Himself how He is, How is His abode, where He is, what He does, etc. One who understands Krishna will realize that He is not a jealous god (as He says it directly,) as the god described in bible as jealous. The supreme god has no competition; (the bible says Satan competes with god.) And therefore He cannot be jealous of any one. Such is Krishna. Considering that, why a Vedic would think of believing a jealous god? Is it a good proposal to tell an infidel, “Please give up worshiping a merciful and non-jealous god and believe in this jealous god?” You see, if a vedic has some understanding of dharma/gita, he/she has difficulty accepting Christianity. For this reason, the missionaries target only the poor and ignorant in bhaarat. I or any vedic with some knowledge of dharma is willing to accept something better if one could convince it is better than the vedic dharma. So, far no missionary has succeeded in convincing me despite my willingness to listen and discuss. I am not bragging, just telling how it is. Sure, come to convert me, but convince me intellectually. Just as it is impossible to convince that 2+2 is 5 and not 4, it is impossible to convert one who knows spiritual science.

As I said in my last e-mail: While the vedics will say that Abdul Sattar Edhi, a Muslim, will go to haven, a Christian will say he will go to hell simply because he is not a Christian. You have lost your freedom of free thinking and will say as the Christians say, I guess. An intellectual should think – what is in gita that makes one know that even a non-vedic (who does not know gita) could go to haven as well.

Vedic is not a “religion” in the sense others are. It is living per the spiritual science. It is not acceptance of a set of belief or a history of a short time and you become a Christian or a Muslim. It is not man-made either. It is not 2k years old baby either.

It is nice you are not forcing others to become Christians. However, you are not happy that there are infidels. And I think it frustrates you that some ordinary guy like me cannot accept Christianity despite all your friendly efforts. What one should worry, however, is if a religion takes away one’s freedom of thought and reasoning- rationality, or compassion to the living beings. When bible says “animals have no soul,” the bible does not know what a soul is. Per Krishna, all living begins have soul, and only the humans have well developed intelligence. That does give the humans right to kill animals and eat cows who give men milk like their mothers give.

< Another area that I am interested in is your mention of a sin-free life. Is that possible? >

Yes.
< How does Hinduism define sin? >

As I have said, sin is something you do that pulls you away from realizing god, or putting you more into the cycles of births and deaths among a variety of spices. Krishna, when on earth, was a cowboy, a protector of cows. He said “protect cows, love cows, do not kill or eat cows.” So, if we kill and eat cows, then it is sin. This is just one example. Why no compassion to cows?

< What do you do to cleanse yourself from sin? >

Sin happens knowingly or unknowingly. One has to repent it, and do more karma that outweighs the sins done, if any. Living in ways per instructions of the spiritually advanced persons or vedic scriptures helps one live sin-free.

< Do all people sin? >

No. An innocent child does not sin no matter what it does. Pope does, if he eats meat and drinks alcohol.

< Can you go to your ultimate destination if you have sin in your life? >

Not unless they are washed away, or forgiven by god or god’s representative – a highly advance saint.

< How do you live a sin free life? >

One who lives to satisfy the senses to the maximum as the goal of life sins. Lust, anger and greed lead one to do sins. Meat eating, intoxication, gambling, and indulging in illicit sex are sins and they lead one to do more other sins.

God has given man intelligence so that man can understand god and go back to Him. Instead, some use the intelligence to invent sophisticated machines and facilities to kill animals and eat the animals. What a misuse of intelligence! No one becomes a less Christian by not eating cows or not drinking alcohol.

To those who still insist on eating meat, I tell this:

“You and cow came to this earth necked and without any weapon. So, go and kill a cow with your bare hand, and then eat it if you can kill a cow that way.”

Now, I wonder, how many Christians will have heart to kill a cow in their kitchen or backyard, and eat it. My guess is very few heartless ones. The meat industry is propagating sin, making the society do sins. It is easy to buy from store and eat. (TV tells all the time to eat meat and drink and use Viagra, or go hunting.) Out of sight out of mind. Per the vedic literature, all who are in the meat business sin. All: those who raise cows to be sold for meat, those who kill cows, those who transport meat, those who buy/sell, those who cook, and those who eat. The society is falling down spiritually.

May all live sin-free.

Jai Sri Krishna!

—

From: P

To: S

It has been some time since I last wrote you and wanted to get back in the groove.
Christianity is a missionary religion as is Hinduism. Both have experienced consistent growth in the past twenty years, even though the methods are different from each other. I know you have concerns over some of the coercive actions of some Christian zealots, as I do too. It is not in the spirit of Christ that there are efforts to force people to become Christians. I abhor any type of action to try to make people Christians. We see this happening often among Islam but it has no place in the Christian faith. I believe in the Christian faith and wish that all people would become Christians, including you. However that will not happen but all we can do is to share the teachings of our faith, as you do, and then the people make the decision who they will believe in. I respect you and your faith, as I respect others who have different beliefs other than my own. There is no way I can force my convictions upon another person.

Another area that I am interested in is your mention of a sin-free life. Is that possible?
How does Hinduism define sin? What do you do to cleanse yourself from sin? Do all people sin? Can you go to your ultimate destination if you have sin in your life? How do you live a sin free life?
Thanks.
-P

Hindu-Christian Discussion-13

I think I have answered your questions in our previous e-mails.

I will try again.

Hindus do not go out to convert. Therefore they do not like armies of missionaries who come to convert.

The Christians and the Muslims go out to convert, and they send a lot of money there for it. Both these people have gone in Bhaarat and forced their religion there on the Hindus. No Hindus could say it is a welcome thing. Christianity has shown that they have killed pagan cultures. Hindus do not want such a religion in Bhaarat.

Humanitarian or philanthropic activities are a part of all religions. These activities, however, should not be used with the aim covert pagans. The Christians do it to convert. If rich people of one faith want to help the poor people of another faith, they should contact the humanitarian institution institutions of another faith and give them money or supplies.

Recently I came to know about the Edhi Foundation in Karachi, Pakistan. It is a purely humanitarian corporation established and run by Mr. Abdul Sattar Edhi and his wife Bilquis. Mr. Edhi, born in 1928 in Bhaarat, has not passed even high school and has not read Koran. However, he believes the only duty of a Muslim is to serve the humans of any race or religion or nationality. He and his wife work selflessly, almost 24/7, since 1947 or so. He sleeps on a bench on street.

They beg on street and collect donations, and use money to expand their humanitarian service corporation. Edhi provides free services, and gives receipts for any donation with a guarantee for full refund if the donor asks for refund any time. These couple does not spend a penny for their personal comfort or use.

When some rich people offered large sums of money to them for their personal use, they immediately declined to take the money. They do not convert any one. They do not discriminate any one in any manner.

One of their services is to transport dead or injured bodies, and bury the dead. Even if the dead bodies are rotten, stinky, worms infested, both of them have personally handled many such bodies and have transported them even long distances.

Edhi’s food and dress is like a street poor man’s. He has no time to go to movies, see TV or listen to music. He identifies himself as an Amin – a trustee in God. He prays regularly like other Muslims. His Muslims sect is called Memon, not a mainstream Muslim.

Krishna in gita says:

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga.”

Edhi does not know this, but he has followed this to the extreme.

I thought you will find it interesting. Google search will give some links for more info about Edhi.

As I say: vice and virtue, or righteousness and un-righteousness is no one’s monopoly.

The Christians still would say Edhi will go to hell.

Hindus will say he and his wife surely will go to god/haven.

May all learn to live sin-free.

-S

—–Message—–

From: P

To: S

Subject: RE: This just in from India Special Prayer request

Good morning. Trust you and your family had a good holiday season. I enjoyed being with my two sons and three grandchildren who all live in Albuquerque.

Why are you so insistent about Christianity being out of India? Christianity has been in India since the first century (St. Thomas came then and there is his grave and a church in the city of Chennai-which I visited).

There are 25 million Christians living in India and they are not out to convert by force but by love, as witnessed by the thousands of hospitals, clinics in villages, leper colonies, orphanages, and thousands of other medical and social agencies. Why do the Hindu extremists have to pass laws restricting religious freedom for Christians and permit persecution? What are they afraid of? In America we don’t ask Hindus to return to their countries but we grant the freedom to worship for all faiths. Rather inconsistent.

-P

————– message ———————-

From: S

> A Christian power (the brits) have caused the constitution of bhaarat

> Anti-Vedic, meaning anti- majority. The gov. that came in power after

> 1947 is also anti-majority. The fools elected the Christian lady as

> the head of the currently ruling party. These two facts are being

> taken advantage of by the foreign missionaries under the leadership of

> Pope who aims to harvest a billion of souls from the vedic land. You jointed him too.

> Why not they stay home and work locally? That will solve the problem.

> A Vedics could say this, becaue they never went out to convert by force.

> In contrast, the Christians and the Muslims do have converted by force

> in the Vedic land and elsewhere.

> Those who really have the itch to help at the other end of the globe,

> I could show ways how.

> The western military’s aim is global reach. Same for the missionaries.

> It does not have to be that way for the missionaries.

> Regards,

> -S

> From: P

> To: S

> Subject: FW: This just in from India Special Prayer request

> Another reminder of militant and zealous believers in all religions,

> including Christianity.

> -P

Hindu-Christian Discussion-11

Yes, the only son of god per bible; however the vedic scriptures do not support that idea as I have talked about it before. Still all have freedom to think it so if they want to.

May all learn to live sin-free.

Regards,

-S

—–Message—–

From: P

To: S

Subject: RE: Brit kids clueless on why we celebrate Christmas – Yahoo! India News

It is certainly true that Christmas has been greatly commercialized, not only in Great Britain but also in America. A failure of the Christian churches and also the parents of these children. It is also true that Jesus was not born on December 25 but more than likely in the spring. The important thing is that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, the only begotten Son of God.

-P

————– message ———————-

From: S

> Here is the article form another source.

> Source:

> http://www.topnews.in/light/brit-kids-clueless-why-we-celebrate-christmas-21

> 8501

> Brit kids clueless on why we celebrate Christmas

> Submitted by Kiran Pahwa on Fri, 10/24/2008 – 11:24. London Christmas

> London, Oct 24 : A new survey has revealed that less than three quarters of the kids in Britain know that Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

> Some kids even believe that Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, was born on the December 25.

> The survey led by www. youngpoll. com has revealed that 11 per cent of the

> youngsters believe that it was the birthday of Father Christmas.

> Another six per cent thought December 25 was set aside just so they could get some presents.

> Almost a quarter of youngsters did not know the reason for celebrating

> Easter.

> Three per cent thought it to be the invention of chocolate, and nine per cent believed it was the Easter Bunny’s birthday.

> However, 77 per cent knew it was to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

> “It’s shocking to think that so many children aren’t aware about the reasons

> behind Christmas and Easter,” the Daily Express quoted spokesman for http://www.youngpoll. com, as saying.

> “But for children nowadays, Christmas is about receiving presents, having a nice family dinner and decorating the house, while Easter is about how many

> chocolate eggs they get,” he added.

> The poll of 2,000 children, aged eight to 15 showed that almost 42 per cent

> had no idea that Christ died on Good Friday. (ANI)

> =

> May all choose to live sin-free.

> Regards,

> -S

Hindu-Christian Discussion-10

This should worry the Christians/Americans as much as seeing a tsunami coming while on the beach.

Regards,
-S

—

From: Act for America [mailto:actforamerica@donationnet.net]
Subject: Muslim Day Parade

Muslim Day Parade
New York City, October 12, 2008

Dear S,

The website Atlas Shrugs contains pictures, video and commentary from the recent Muslim Day Parade in New York City.

There you will see pictures and video of Muslims carrying an American flag – with the stars in the box replaced by the Islamic star and crescent.

You will see New York City police officers, in uniform and apparently on duty, stopping to pray.

You will see an intense confrontation between a Muslim and a Jewish woman. The Muslim crosses a barrier to confront the woman, eventually calling her a “whore.”

These are just a few examples of the troubling and unsettling pictures, video and commentary. We caution you — there is some profanity and at times the scenes are intense.

The person covering the parade states:

“I have been covering these things for three years now and as I have recently said, there ha s been a palpable change. It is getting uglier, more aggressive – violent even.”

To log on to the website and see coverage of the parade, click here.

——————————————————————————————-

ACT for America
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
www.actforamerica.org

====

Thanks for sending this information. It is alarming.

-P

Hindu-Christian Discussion-9

Wanted to pass on this information from my friend in India, a native Pastor.

-P

—

Dear … ,

For your kind prayers, I wish to send the below report of the present situation in Orissa state. We prayerfully take effort to do some relief work, support victims and to reconstruct the church buildings.

We request your prayers for protection of Christian community in India, especially in the state of Orissa now.

Yours in Him

-G

1) NUN BURNT ALIVE: A nun was burnt to death on 25th, Monday, after an orphanage was torched in at Phutpali in Bargarh district in Orissa during a bandh called by Hindu nationalist parties. Twenty children, who were at the orphanage, managed to escape but a priest suffered serious burn injuries in the attack.

2) RASANANDA PRADHAN TORCHED ALIVE: Another person, Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death when his house was set ablaze at Rupa village in Kandhamal district.

3) INFLAMMATORY SPEECHES TARGET CHRISTIANS: During the bandh inflammatory speeches spreading hatred against the Christian workers and the community were given by the VHP leaders. To gain the mass support, the activists have also carried the body of Swamiji throughout the town.

4) CHURCHES BURNT ALL ACROSS ORISSA STATE: Churches were attacked in Khurda, Bargarh, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Boudh, Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal districts as also in the state capital, police sources said, adding 40 houses were set ablaze in Phulbani town.

5) BUSES AND VEHICLES TORCHED: Mr. Mishra Digal was beaten up, while the motorcycles of Mr. R. K. Digal and Jitendra were burnt. Several buses at Gee Udaigiri in Baliguda were burnt.

6) PULBANI CHURCH RANSACKED: The Church at Phulbani, and several other churches at Phiringia were attacked and ransacked. Pastor D. Tatson’s house was vandalized and his property burnt.

7) KAKRIGUMA CHURCHES VANDALISED: Churches in Kakriguma have been targeted by the mob that reportedly damaged the Assembly Of God Church and the Philadelphia Church.

8) WORLD VISION STAFF FLED FOR SAFETY: World Vision India office ransacked and the Staff has also fled to jungle for protection.

9) CHRISTIANS TAKE SHELTER IN FOREST FOR PROTECTION: A police camp at Barakhama was also attacked by the Hindu fundamentalists. With several houses being burnt down and people being made homeless, many Christians, particularly from Nua Sahi, Munda Sahi and Suna Tonga have fled into forests for their lives.

10) NUN RAPED: A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed.

11) SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED: Fr Thomas, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire.

12) BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN: On 24th August 2008 evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel dam aging the properties.

13) CHRISTIAN BOYS HEADS TONSURED: The mobs in Balliguda caught hold of two boys of the Catholic hostel and tonsured their heads.

14) PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED: On 25th august 2008 morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town.

15) MOTHER TERESA BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED: Mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers’ residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients.

16) BHUBANESWAR BISHOP’S HOUSE ATTACKED: On the morning of 25th August 2008, violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop’s house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop’s House, damaging windows.

17) DUBURI PARISH: Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing.

18) Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his property damaged, vehicle looted and burnt.

19) A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged.

20) Christian institutions like St. Arnold’s School (Kalinga Bihar) and NISWASS report some damage.

21) BOUDH DISTRICT [Adjoining Kandhamal]: Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe.

22) MUNIGUDA: Muniguda Catholic Fathers and Nuns’ residence have been damaged.

23) SAMBALPUR: HM Sister’s residence (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage.

24) PADANPUR: One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital. Hostel boys and the in charge have moved away from the place.

25) MADHUPUR: Madhupur Catholic Church currently under attack.

26) SMALL CHURCHES: Attempted violence on small churches in various districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Balliguda, Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda.

27) VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED: Houses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.

28) KALAHANDI DISTRICT: Houses burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed.

29) PASTORS’ HOUSE BURNT: Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt in Bhawanipatna.

30) KHARIHAR: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up.

31) AAMPANI: Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away with their families.

32) NAKTIKANI: Mob surrounds village to attack Christians.

The government has sent forces, it is reported. A delegation of Christian leaders under the leadership of Archbishop Vincent Concessao, the President of National United Christian Forum of CBCI, NCCI and EFI, met the Home Minister Shri Shiv Raj Patil and submitted a memorandum. The Home Minister assured the delegation all necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace and harmony and protect the innocent. He also expressed his helplessness by stating that police protection cannot be given in all villages.

===

Like a potter who prepares his own vessels through Fire, even God too prepares His own chosen vessels through fire in order carry out the fire of God!!! Isa. 43: 2.

—

It really is not necessary to send the armies of missionaries and billions of $s to harvest the Hindu souls there. The Pope and the missionaries’ leaders do not seem to understand it yet. The media is biased and is not helping the majority, unfortunately. The mission of converting the whole world, and go out in far corners of the foreign lands to do it is considered aggression or violence by some and by the Vedic dharma. Islam, the brutal competitor of Christianity is spreading right in US at home. The need is to stop that first before going out in the world.

That said, I wish that no person does any sin. Pray that all stop sinning.

Regards,
S

Hindu-Christian Discussion-8

During the month of June I visited the countries of Japan and China and it was a most remarkable experience. We met in Tokyo with people from churches around the globe and were able to visit some of the Christian churches, where Christianity is a very small minority, only about 5% of the population. The primary religion is Shintoism and Buddhism, but in actuality over 80% claims no personal religion.

During our visits in several cities in China, we encountered many evidences of Buddhist shrines and learned that Buddhism and Daoism were the dominant religious groups. Communism sought to eliminat4e all religious groups during their takeover but discovered it is easier to place controls over their practices. Christianity was forced to go underground and today there are many “house churches” in all the provinces but still their numbers are small, but much larger than in Japan.

-P

—

Going to convert the people who are following the eastern religions is a waste of time and resources in my view. The reason is simple: None of them are out to convert the whole world, and they never want to convert anyone against his/her will. So, they are not any threat to Christianity. Therefore, I wish and pray that the Christians engage all their missionaries to convert all the Muslims wherever they are, and none else.

If any group has friendly interest to know the Vedic dharma, let me know, and I would be happy to share.

Jai Sri Krishna!

-S

Hindu-Christian Discussion-7

Here are my answers after the questions.

1. Does Hinduism have Temples or places of worship beside the shrines?

A: Shrines are in the memory of great saints and spiritual masters. Usually they are at a sacred place where a temple could be around. We in Bharat have many temples for a lot of devas and devis and god in different forms and names as given in the Vedic scriptures. The non-Vedics think we worship stones there. Mostly, they never inquired what we are worshipping, and how it works. Or, they do not have enough intelligence to understand it. Or, they hate it simply because it is not allowed in their Books.

2. If you do have Temples, is it for individual worship or do you have corporate times of worship when believers congregate or come together?

A: The whole world is a temple for the Vedic people. However, temples have been built at nice naturally beautiful and clean places like river bank, ocean shore, mountain top, etc. No temple is made by ordinary common people. They are built by the leadership and inspiration of some great saints or gurus. Common people then help as they could to build it. The soul of the temple is this saint/guru and his disciples after he/she departs. A temple is a dharma infrastructure for the society. It helps all to advance spiritually. Almost every one in Bharat will tell that just going to a temple and just sit there gives them peace. It is my experience as well.

Just putting a moorti (the idols as the non-vedics call it) does not make the place a temple. The Vedas provide a process of invoking life-force of the deity in the moorti. After that ceremony, called praaNa prathishThaa, the moorti is no more a stone. It is the deity in person.

Usually temples are open most of the time of any day. One could go individually or in groups any time. On some holy days, celebrations occur at the temples, then a large mass of people gather and participate.

Last month a Christian university invited me to give an educational talk on the Hindu dharma. They had given me two hours. They kept listing me for more than 3-hours, and still they were interested to know more. So, if any group/church you know has friendly interest to know the Vedic dharma as it is in the scriptures let me know. I will be pleased to come and talk. We do not share info about dharma with those who hate it.

Hope this helps you.

Jai Sri Krishna!

Hindu-Christian Discussion-6

We wish merry Christmas …

God has come (incarnates) on this earth and other planets many times, and will keep coming. He (Krishna) says why as follows:

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion–at that time I descend Myself. In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium. -Gita 4-7, 4-8

The world needs to appreciate that the Vedic dharma tells humans to not shake (loosen) other’s faith, whatever it is. Only in friendly and rational debase the Hindus support the Vedic or challenge other’s faith.

However, when on earth, His body is always spiritual, but appears to the humans as like any other human. His acts however are superhuman or miraculous to the extent needed to serve His purpose of incarnation (avatar).

The Vedic people have no problem of Mary being virgin. Srimad Bhagavatam describes a number of ways how at some times children were produced without sex. Brahma had produced children out of his mind. Kunti was made pregnant by the Sungod without engaging in sex. A great king died without a son, and the rishis produced his son by rubbing/shaking his thigh. Etc.

A few days ago I was flipping TV channels and stopped at a movie about Jesus. In a gathering he says, “eat my blood and flesh.” To a Vedic person, eating other human is sin, and eating or injuring a godly person is a very big sin. A godly person can benefit humans more by being alive than dead. Not killing any animals or humans for food is always beneficial for spiritual advancement. Additionally, in the vast Vedic literature, there is no example of anyone (an avatar or a godly person) telling others like that (eat me). God already has given plenty of foods to eat to mankind (except in deserts.) A serious Vedic person (except kshatriyas class) would prefer to die of hunger than eat flesh or blood of any animal or man. On can also argue, if eating Jesus is okay, then eating any human being should also be okay. However, Jesus also says, “Thou shall not kill.” So, killing or eating Jesus does not suit to the Vedic people.

Regards,

-S

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Christmas is a special holiday for Christians around the world as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is unfortunate that it has become such a commercial extravaganza but the business enterprise always looks for ways to advance their financial endeavors. However my focus is on Jesus Christ and I simply want to share some key elements that are related to his birth.

Since Christians are by definition believers in and followers of Christ, our understanding of Christ is central and determinative of the very character of the Christian faith. Our faith rests on Jesus actually being God in human flesh, and not simply an extraordinary human being.

The Bible indicates in John 1:1,14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus Christ came into the world in human flesh. By coming into the world as a man, He voluntarily set aside the independent use of His divine attributes and took on the form of a man. He was fully human, a man in every way, except He was without sin. This teaching is referred to as the “incarnation.”

The word “incarnation” means “in-flesh-ment”. When we speak of the incarnation of the Son of God, Christ Jesus, we mean God in the flesh – God manifest in the flesh. At His birth, Jesus was fully God and fully man. He was born of a woman, the Virgin Mary and he grew in stature and wisdom as a normal boy. He had human emotions, thirst and hunger and had a body like any other human person. His mother Mary’s pregnancy was like any other pregnancy, with the important exception that she was a virgin when Jesus was born.

-P

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Jai Sri Krishna.