Hindu Vishnu

[bluess]

We constantly talk about Christianity because that's the biggest noisiest lot in America.

I recently read an article in India Abroad written by an Indian Christian who was dismayed by the Hindu bias shown by the government when a statue of the goddess of knowledge was installed in front of a new library. How to deal with this?

The stories are a lot more fun - I've not come across one yet where someone gets tortured eternally for making a goof. Just back down the life ladder you go.

As an ex-Hindu who went to all sorts of other religions' functions during high school, I assert that Hinduism has just as much illogic, magical thinking and gender bias as Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Oh, and don't forget that its ok to rape or murder someone of the untouchable class. After all, they must have done something terrible to be born in that caste.


-- Sigh, just a bit of a rant --

 

[Johnny Pneumatic]

As an ex-Hindu who went to all sorts of other religions' functions during high school, I assert that Hinduism has just as much illogic, magical thinking and gender bias as Islam, Christianity or Judaism.

It wouldn't be a religion without it.

 

[Vikram]

As an ex-Hindu who went to all sorts of other religions' functions during high school, I assert that Hinduism has just as much illogic, magical thinking and gender bias as Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Oh, and don't forget that its ok to rape or murder someone of the untouchable class. After all, they must have done something terrible to be born in that caste.

Unfortunately, that is true. I wonder if there's any religion in the world that preaches AND practices principles of justice and ethicality - such a religion would come close to being an ideal religion. (I, of course, believe that the best state of affairs is the absence of any religion, but just for the sake of argument...) Does Buddhism fulfil this criterion?

 

[Piscivore]

Unfortunately, that is true. I wonder if there's any religion in the world that preaches AND practices principles of justice and ethicality - such a religion would come close to being an ideal religion. (I, of course, believe that the best state of affairs is the absence of any religion, but just for the sake of argument...) Does Buddhism fulfil this criterion?

A religion cannot practice anything; only its adherents can.

Considering that I know of no persecutions or holy wars started in the name of Buddhism, I'd say they come closest.

 

[bluess]

SNIP
Does Buddhism fulfil this criterion?

Nope. American Buddhism is the 'lite' version. It leaves out the various hells and things like - if you step in the shadow of a tulku, even unknowingly, you are cast into hell. A tulku is a re-born saint.

 

[wittgenst3in]

....if you step in the shadow of a tulku, even unknowingly, you are cast into hell. A tulku is a re-born saint.

Good grief!

How do the tulkus feel about it? They can't be happy that just by going out to get a pint of milk they just sentenced several people to a lower realm.

Does this remind anyone else of the kids rhyme "step on a crack and break your mothers back"?

 

[Piscivore]

Nope. American Buddhism is the 'lite' version. It leaves out the various hells and things like - if you step in the shadow of a tulku, even unknowingly, you are cast into hell. A tulku is a re-born saint.

Rather, Tibetan Buddhism is the Byzantine version. That sort of thing doesn't appear in the Japanese Zen tradition I studied.

 

[bluess]

The Dalai Lamai announced a while back that this American woman living in Baltimore, MD is a tulku - there is a book about her, the title of which I cannot remember. Her husband and children prostrate themselves at her feet every morning. (Wait, this might be good!) The monks/nuns must maintain all of the Buddhist rules (veg, etc.) but she doesn't need to do so since she is already a saint.

 

[Piscivore]

The Dalai Lamai announced a while back that this American woman living in Baltimore, MD is a tulku - there is a book about her, the title of which I cannot remember. Her husband and children prostrate themselves at her feet every morning. (Wait, this might be good!) The monks/nuns must maintain all of the Buddhist rules (veg, etc.) but she doesn't need to do so since she is already a saint.

Heh, nice work, if you can get it!

 

[epepke]

I asked a similar question of a Hindu friend of mine a couple of years ago. He said that, once you account for regional and household manifestations, the same manifestations with different names, etc. one Hindu may have around 20 to 30 manifestations.

I'm using "manifestations" instead of "gods" because opinions differ as to whether they're different gods or slices of some godhead pizza or something.

 

[Atlas]

I'm using "manifestations" instead of "gods" because opinions differ as to whether they're different gods or slices of some godhead pizza or something.

Would it be considered a derail if at this point I ask what toppings would be on Godhead Pizza if the advert had Jesus, Buddha and Vishnu all reaching for a nice cheesy piece?

 

[epepke]

Would it be considered a derail if at this point I ask what toppings would be on Godhead Pizza if the advert had Jesus, Buddha and Vishnu all reaching for a nice cheesy piece?

Given the history of religions, I imagine it would be slices of Jesus, Buddha, and Vishnu.