Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 I agree with u on hinduism. And my grandfather used to say exactly that - Hinduism is not a religion, it is a way of life. In fact he has written a book on it. I tried to go thru' it when i was in 11th, but it was too philosophical for me. For me God is nothing but faith. When all seems to fail, this is the crutch we lean on. Does He exist? I don't know. But the faith in this Something seems to work when nothing else does. And that's enough to make me believe in Him. Anchita (93) On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Ashok Bhaskar wrote : >Hi Venkat, > >This is my 3rd year at Chinmaya Mission. I consider it GOD's blessing that I started going to the mission. It is not a cult as the person who started has passed away. > >One has to be watchful as it is easy to get carried away when you set on the path of spirituality and religion. Then places like Rajneesh Ashram and david Koresh ( Texas) happen. Nonbelievers get even more distanced from spirituality and religion. > >Once one of my friends quoted Karl Marx " Religion is the opiate for the masses " While I first rejected this opinion as scoffed at the plight of Russia as I have thought about it I think it is true statement. But I think it is a necessary opiate fot the well being of any society...can be likened to medical marijuana. > >It seems in the vedic period when science had not yet developed intellectuals would drift towards forests / mountaions like Himalayas and meditate on the meaning of life, purpose of our existence etc etc ....i.e., embark on these spiritual journeys. > >It is in that period from where vedas originated. Science was not developed yet....and hence it took form of mythology.....must have been mere imagination of our forefathers....this imagination is central to all religions and basic principles of all religions are the same. > >Russia's experiment of a GOD less society has failed miserably. America which prides as " One nation under GOD " believes in freedom and equality and tries its best to be a altruistic society has relatively been more successful. > >Moral of the story is " Just follow path of truth ( to the best of one's understanding )...listen to the voice of your conscience...if you think what you are doing is wrong...don't do it ...don't justify it " > >Time and again....history has been testimony that good wins over evil... " Satyamave jayate " > >Why justice is delayed in GOD's court is what I have not understood completely. But then I have lot of questions. There will always be gaps in our understanding ....that doesn't mean it doesn't exist......just like in science. > >Religion doesn't claim to have all the answers....it just attempts to prescribe a way of life for happy living...which is the ultimate goal of every man. > >Nobody ...nobody is in pursuit of " unhappiness " . > >Hinduism was coined by the colonial British.....for all their sins they did pay heavily in World War II. > >Our religion is simply " a way of living " ....hence we never have religious wars where we tried to convert someone forcefully...........the single most important difference of which I am so proud. > >Coming back to what the mission is doing for us. > >People like Renuka don't need it as her extended family was what the mission is to me today. Her maternal grandma who she quotes often was instrumental in her relatively better understanding than me. > >Religion leads to peaceful living at the personal level. If you are completefully peaceful, have no conflicts and are totally happy and your happiness is not dependent on material or worldly things then you don't need religion. > >A psychiatrist colleague once funningly remarked in response to my query " Why in America is their so much consumption of psychiatric services ? (Its nicKnamed Prozac nation ) " > >His answer was " In America the therapist is rented extended family ? " > >The educated here are moving farther and farther away from religion as they want crystal clear evidence like science does for the most part. > >What we need to do is contemporarize religion in the light of our current and changing scientific knowledge ? > >I don't believe that at the end of your spiritual journey you become one with GOD or a godman....you surely become a good man. > >We intellectuals from the scientific community who have blessed should make an effort to reinvent religion for the benefit of the masses rather than shying away from it or having our own private beliefs about GOD ...each individual having his own concept of GOD and his own version of right and wrong !!! > >Lets try to seperate fact from fiction. Personally at this stage I don't believe in after birth and reincarnation. I am not sure if soul is different than the body...I mean if there is something like a soul or is it all our imagination.... then you might question isn't GOD our imagination too. Now I have seen evidence for his / her / its existence but I have not seen the same for the soul. So lets see. > >Just like colleges and schools are necessary for education a religious framework is necessary for us to benefit from our belief in GOD. > >Now if you are an atheist and happy you don't need religion. If you are an atheist and unhappy give religion a chance. > >Coming back to the topic of Chinmaya mission....as you can see it is helping to clear my confusion. > >As far as the kids...its giving them effortlessly....something we struggle to give....our culture...foster religious beliefs....and give them a clear sense of right and wrong which we all imbibed from our extended family consisting of wise elders who have see and experienced life. As our kids mature they will still have to do their sorting out but we would have provided them the best teaching they can have which we confused adults cannot do at home. > >Ashok Bhaskar 1984 > >Venkat Yerrabolu wrote: >Ashok, > >Thanks for sharing the family news. Satya (4th grade) and Guna (2nd grade) >started school. Life is cool. Are you going to Chinmaya this year. It's >tough for us to go every week. We may go to Lemont Temple classes since they >have classes every alternative week. Talk to you soon. We should meet soon. > >- Venkat, Pontiac >Home: > > > >From: Ashok Bhaskar > >To: mgims@... > >CC: Anil Bhaskar-PanHealth , ashutosh & anita > >, chandrashekhar kulkarni , > >jbtdrc_wda , Latha , > >Madhavi Yellapragada , Mahesh > >Makam , mohan krishna > >, saket sinha , uncle > >, Venkat Yerrabolu > >Subject: Special Moments ! > >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:09:39 -0700 (PDT) > > > >Thought will share with my friends here at the group some special moments ! > > > >2 weeks ago Renuka started as a consultant / attending pathologist and > >hematopathologist at Mac neal Hospital....45' drive ....a Chicago suburb > >east of us. > > > >Last week Aishwarya started middle school - 6th grade. > > > >Bacche kab bade ho jaate hai patha hi nahi chalta ! > > > >Thats why we all need to slow down...take time out of our hectic schedules > >and savour these special moments ! > > > >This morning I was really excited....Puccho kyon.......Any guesses ? > > > >Scroll down.... > > > > > > > > > > > >Ditto ( Aaditya ) our little guy became a big boy !!!!!! > > > >He started PRESCHOOL _ PRE K ) > > > >He looked cho cute with his bag and the look of anticipation mixed with > >apprehension... > >I got it all on video and can't wait to get home to hear his report !! > > > > > > > > > >Zindagi isi ka naam hi.....may GOD bless us all ! > > > >Ashok '84 > >_________________________________________________________________ >On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to >get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Dear Ashok, That was a good one. I figure out from this writeup that you have faith and you are equally practical. Best wishes Keep Smiling Chetan --- Ashok Bhaskar wrote: --------------------------------- Dear Anchita, I go a little further.... When I see GOD I don't mean literally. Its those near miss situations and out of nowhere help we get in some situations is what I see as GOD's manifestations rather than mere coincidences. That truth eventually prevails and Good always wins over evil is not mere coincidence...there has to be a force that ensures this... As we get older more and more situations accumulate where hind sight is 20/20 and you are thankful that a particular wish didn't come true and that GOD knows what's best for you ! Der hai Ander nahi comes true again and again. GOD does not exist in material form as anything that exists in material form and is living is corruptible..... And there are those unanswered questions - that why bad things are happening to a good person....why a loved one is taken away prematurely... Now if everything was so predictable....then we would be machines / robots...may be on some other planet ) I don't believe in rebirth / afterlife ...lifeso I can't conveniently explain that you are suffering in this precious life because of past janam karma- this doesn't make any sense ??? In my scheme of things you are forgiven the moment you realize your sin and begin repentance....otherwise a murderer could just not look forward to anything positive and be anxious all his life even though he realizes his sin and wants to make ammends and desires forgiveness..... If you commit a sin which we all do at some or the other point in our lives would we be waiting for the rest of our lives waiting to be punished ?? Destiny / Fate / Life inflicts.....GOD delivers..... always helps one who is willing to be helped.....there is NO negativity with GOD ! I do have some theories other than past janam karma to explain misery and grief inflicted upon good people or for that matter anybody......but these ideas have to mature... If you did get to the bottom of this page thanks for your interest. Ashok 1984 " Dr.Bhushan Patil " wrote: I agree with u on hinduism. And my grandfather used to say exactly that - Hinduism is not a religion, it is a way of life. In fact he has written a book on it. I tried to go thru' it when i was in 11th, but it was too philosophical for me. For me God is nothing but faith. When all seems to fail, this is the crutch we lean on. Does He exist? I don't know. But the faith in this Something seems to work when nothing else does. And that's enough to make me believe in Him. Anchita (93) On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Ashok Bhaskar wrote : >Hi Venkat, > >This is my 3rd year at Chinmaya Mission. I consider it GOD's blessing that I started going to the mission. It is not a cult as the person who started has passed away. > >One has to be watchful as it is easy to get carried away when you set on the path of spirituality and religion. Then places like Rajneesh Ashram and david Koresh ( Texas) happen. Nonbelievers get even more distanced from spirituality and religion. > >Once one of my friends quoted Karl Marx " Religion is the opiate for the masses " While I first rejected this opinion as scoffed at the plight of Russia as I have thought about it I think it is true statement. But I think it is a necessary opiate fot the well being of any society...can be likened to medical marijuana. > >It seems in the vedic period when science had not yet developed intellectuals would drift towards forests / mountaions like Himalayas and meditate on the meaning of life, purpose of our existence etc etc ....i.e., embark on these spiritual journeys. > >It is in that period from where vedas originated. Science was not developed yet....and hence it took form of mythology.....must have been mere imagination of our forefathers....this imagination is central to all religions and basic principles of all religions are the same. > >Russia's experiment of a GOD less society has failed miserably. America which prides as " One nation under GOD " believes in freedom and equality and tries its best to be a altruistic society has relatively been more successful. > >Moral of the story is " Just follow path of truth ( to the best of one's understanding )...listen to the voice of your conscience...if you think what you are doing is wrong...don't do it ...don't justify it " > >Time and again....history has been testimony that good wins over evil... " Satyamave jayate " > >Why justice is delayed in GOD's court is what I have not understood completely. But then I have lot of questions. There will always be gaps in our understanding ...that doesn't mean it doesn't exist......just like in science. > >Religion doesn't claim to have all the answers....it just attempts to prescribe a way of life for happy living...which is the ultimate goal of every man. > >Nobody ...nobody is in pursuit of " unhappiness " . > >Hinduism was coined by the colonial British.....for all their sins they did pay heavily in World War II. > >Our religion is simply " a way of living " ....hence we never have religious wars where we tried to convert someone forcefully...........the single most important difference of which I am so proud. > >Coming back to what the mission is doing for us. > >People like Renuka don't need it as her extended family was what the mission is to me today. Her maternal grandma who she quotes often was instrumental in her relatively better understanding than me. > >Religion leads to peaceful living at the personal level. If you are completefully peaceful, have no conflicts and are totally happy and your happiness is not dependent on material or worldly things then you don't need religion. > >A psychiatrist colleague once funningly remarked in response to my query " Why in America is their so much consumption of psychiatric services ? (Its nicKnamed Prozac nation ) " > >His answer was " In America the therapist is rented extended family ? " > >The educated here are moving farther and farther away from religion as they want crystal clear evidence like science does for the most part. > >What we need to do is contemporarize religion in the light of our current and changing scientific knowledge ? > >I don't believe that at the end of your spiritual journey you become one with GOD or a godman....you surely become a good man. > >We intellectuals from the scientific community who have blessed should make an effort to reinvent religion for the benefit of the masses rather than shying away from it or having our own private beliefs about GOD ...each individual having his own concept of GOD and his own version of right and wrong !!! > >Lets try to seperate fact from fiction. Personally at this stage I don't believe in after birth and reincarnation. I am not sure if soul is different than the body...I mean if there is something like a soul or is it all our imagination.... then you might question isn't GOD our imagination too. Now I have seen evidence for his / her / its existence but I have not seen the same for the soul. So lets see. > >Just like colleges and schools are necessary for education a religious framework is necessary for us to benefit from our belief in GOD. > >Now if you are an atheist and happy you don't need religion. If you are an atheist and unhappy give religion a chance. > >Coming back to the topic of Chinmaya mission....as you can see it is helping to clear my confusion. > >As far as the kids...its giving them effortlessly....something we struggle to give....our culture...foster religious beliefs....and give them a clear sense of right and wrong which we all imbibed from our extended family consisting of wise elders who have see and experienced life. As our kids mature they will still have to do their sorting out but we would have provided them the best teaching they can have which we confused adults cannot do at home. > >Ashok Bhaskar 1984 > >Venkat Yerrabolu wrote: >Ashok, > >Thanks for sharing the family news. Satya (4th grade) and Guna (2nd grade) >started school. Life is cool. Are you going to Chinmaya this year. It's >tough for us to go every week. We may go to Lemont Temple classes since they >have classes every alternative week. Talk to you soon. We should meet soon. > >- Venkat, Pontiac >Home: > > > >From: Ashok Bhaskar > >To: mgims@... > >CC: Anil Bhaskar-PanHealth , ashutosh & anita > >, chandrashekhar kulkarni , > >jbtdrc_wda , Latha , > >Madhavi Yellapragada , Mahesh > >Makam , mohan krishna > >, saket sinha , uncle > >, Venkat Yerrabolu > >Subject: Special Moments ! > >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:09:39 -0700 (PDT) > > > >Thought will share with my friends here at the group some special moments ! > > > >2 weeks ago Renuka started as a consultant / attending pathologist and > >hematopathologist at Mac neal Hospital....45' drive .....a Chicago suburb > >east of us. > > > >Last week Aishwarya started middle school - 6th grade. > > > >Bacche kab bade ho jaate hai patha hi nahi chalta ! > > > >Thats why we all need to slow down...take time out of our hectic schedules > >and savour these special moments ! > > > >This morning I was really excited....Puccho kyon.......Any guesses ? > > > >Scroll down.... > > > > > > > > > > > >Ditto ( Aaditya ) our little guy became a big boy !!!!!! > > > >He started PRESCHOOL _ PRE K ) > > > >He looked cho cute with his bag and the look of anticipation mixed with > >apprehension... > >I got it all on video and can't wait to get home to hear his report !! > > > > > > > > > >Zindagi isi ka naam hi.....may GOD bless us all ! > > > >Ashok '84 > >_________________________________________________________________ >On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to >get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Dear Ashok, That was a good one. I figure out from this writeup that you have faith and you are equally practical. Best wishes Keep Smiling Chetan --- Ashok Bhaskar wrote: --------------------------------- Dear Anchita, I go a little further.... When I see GOD I don't mean literally. Its those near miss situations and out of nowhere help we get in some situations is what I see as GOD's manifestations rather than mere coincidences. That truth eventually prevails and Good always wins over evil is not mere coincidence...there has to be a force that ensures this... As we get older more and more situations accumulate where hind sight is 20/20 and you are thankful that a particular wish didn't come true and that GOD knows what's best for you ! Der hai Ander nahi comes true again and again. GOD does not exist in material form as anything that exists in material form and is living is corruptible..... And there are those unanswered questions - that why bad things are happening to a good person....why a loved one is taken away prematurely... Now if everything was so predictable....then we would be machines / robots...may be on some other planet ) I don't believe in rebirth / afterlife ...lifeso I can't conveniently explain that you are suffering in this precious life because of past janam karma- this doesn't make any sense ??? In my scheme of things you are forgiven the moment you realize your sin and begin repentance....otherwise a murderer could just not look forward to anything positive and be anxious all his life even though he realizes his sin and wants to make ammends and desires forgiveness..... If you commit a sin which we all do at some or the other point in our lives would we be waiting for the rest of our lives waiting to be punished ?? Destiny / Fate / Life inflicts.....GOD delivers..... always helps one who is willing to be helped.....there is NO negativity with GOD ! I do have some theories other than past janam karma to explain misery and grief inflicted upon good people or for that matter anybody......but these ideas have to mature... If you did get to the bottom of this page thanks for your interest. Ashok 1984 " Dr.Bhushan Patil " wrote: I agree with u on hinduism. And my grandfather used to say exactly that - Hinduism is not a religion, it is a way of life. In fact he has written a book on it. I tried to go thru' it when i was in 11th, but it was too philosophical for me. For me God is nothing but faith. When all seems to fail, this is the crutch we lean on. Does He exist? I don't know. But the faith in this Something seems to work when nothing else does. And that's enough to make me believe in Him. Anchita (93) On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Ashok Bhaskar wrote : >Hi Venkat, > >This is my 3rd year at Chinmaya Mission. I consider it GOD's blessing that I started going to the mission. It is not a cult as the person who started has passed away. > >One has to be watchful as it is easy to get carried away when you set on the path of spirituality and religion. Then places like Rajneesh Ashram and david Koresh ( Texas) happen. Nonbelievers get even more distanced from spirituality and religion. > >Once one of my friends quoted Karl Marx " Religion is the opiate for the masses " While I first rejected this opinion as scoffed at the plight of Russia as I have thought about it I think it is true statement. But I think it is a necessary opiate fot the well being of any society...can be likened to medical marijuana. > >It seems in the vedic period when science had not yet developed intellectuals would drift towards forests / mountaions like Himalayas and meditate on the meaning of life, purpose of our existence etc etc ....i.e., embark on these spiritual journeys. > >It is in that period from where vedas originated. Science was not developed yet....and hence it took form of mythology.....must have been mere imagination of our forefathers....this imagination is central to all religions and basic principles of all religions are the same. > >Russia's experiment of a GOD less society has failed miserably. America which prides as " One nation under GOD " believes in freedom and equality and tries its best to be a altruistic society has relatively been more successful. > >Moral of the story is " Just follow path of truth ( to the best of one's understanding )...listen to the voice of your conscience...if you think what you are doing is wrong...don't do it ...don't justify it " > >Time and again....history has been testimony that good wins over evil... " Satyamave jayate " > >Why justice is delayed in GOD's court is what I have not understood completely. But then I have lot of questions. There will always be gaps in our understanding ...that doesn't mean it doesn't exist......just like in science. > >Religion doesn't claim to have all the answers....it just attempts to prescribe a way of life for happy living...which is the ultimate goal of every man. > >Nobody ...nobody is in pursuit of " unhappiness " . > >Hinduism was coined by the colonial British.....for all their sins they did pay heavily in World War II. > >Our religion is simply " a way of living " ....hence we never have religious wars where we tried to convert someone forcefully...........the single most important difference of which I am so proud. > >Coming back to what the mission is doing for us. > >People like Renuka don't need it as her extended family was what the mission is to me today. Her maternal grandma who she quotes often was instrumental in her relatively better understanding than me. > >Religion leads to peaceful living at the personal level. If you are completefully peaceful, have no conflicts and are totally happy and your happiness is not dependent on material or worldly things then you don't need religion. > >A psychiatrist colleague once funningly remarked in response to my query " Why in America is their so much consumption of psychiatric services ? (Its nicKnamed Prozac nation ) " > >His answer was " In America the therapist is rented extended family ? " > >The educated here are moving farther and farther away from religion as they want crystal clear evidence like science does for the most part. > >What we need to do is contemporarize religion in the light of our current and changing scientific knowledge ? > >I don't believe that at the end of your spiritual journey you become one with GOD or a godman....you surely become a good man. > >We intellectuals from the scientific community who have blessed should make an effort to reinvent religion for the benefit of the masses rather than shying away from it or having our own private beliefs about GOD ...each individual having his own concept of GOD and his own version of right and wrong !!! > >Lets try to seperate fact from fiction. Personally at this stage I don't believe in after birth and reincarnation. I am not sure if soul is different than the body...I mean if there is something like a soul or is it all our imagination.... then you might question isn't GOD our imagination too. Now I have seen evidence for his / her / its existence but I have not seen the same for the soul. So lets see. > >Just like colleges and schools are necessary for education a religious framework is necessary for us to benefit from our belief in GOD. > >Now if you are an atheist and happy you don't need religion. If you are an atheist and unhappy give religion a chance. > >Coming back to the topic of Chinmaya mission....as you can see it is helping to clear my confusion. > >As far as the kids...its giving them effortlessly....something we struggle to give....our culture...foster religious beliefs....and give them a clear sense of right and wrong which we all imbibed from our extended family consisting of wise elders who have see and experienced life. As our kids mature they will still have to do their sorting out but we would have provided them the best teaching they can have which we confused adults cannot do at home. > >Ashok Bhaskar 1984 > >Venkat Yerrabolu wrote: >Ashok, > >Thanks for sharing the family news. Satya (4th grade) and Guna (2nd grade) >started school. Life is cool. Are you going to Chinmaya this year. It's >tough for us to go every week. We may go to Lemont Temple classes since they >have classes every alternative week. Talk to you soon. We should meet soon. > >- Venkat, Pontiac >Home: > > > >From: Ashok Bhaskar > >To: mgims@... > >CC: Anil Bhaskar-PanHealth , ashutosh & anita > >, chandrashekhar kulkarni , > >jbtdrc_wda , Latha , > >Madhavi Yellapragada , Mahesh > >Makam , mohan krishna > >, saket sinha , uncle > >, Venkat Yerrabolu > >Subject: Special Moments ! > >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:09:39 -0700 (PDT) > > > >Thought will share with my friends here at the group some special moments ! > > > >2 weeks ago Renuka started as a consultant / attending pathologist and > >hematopathologist at Mac neal Hospital....45' drive .....a Chicago suburb > >east of us. > > > >Last week Aishwarya started middle school - 6th grade. > > > >Bacche kab bade ho jaate hai patha hi nahi chalta ! > > > >Thats why we all need to slow down...take time out of our hectic schedules > >and savour these special moments ! > > > >This morning I was really excited....Puccho kyon.......Any guesses ? > > > >Scroll down.... > > > > > > > > > > > >Ditto ( Aaditya ) our little guy became a big boy !!!!!! > > > >He started PRESCHOOL _ PRE K ) > > > >He looked cho cute with his bag and the look of anticipation mixed with > >apprehension... > >I got it all on video and can't wait to get home to hear his report !! > > > > > > > > > >Zindagi isi ka naam hi.....may GOD bless us all ! > > > >Ashok '84 > >_________________________________________________________________ >On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to >get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Yes i did get to the bottom of the page. talking about hindsight and the gratitude that " a particular wish did not come true " i always give this example to everyone and anyone who is depressed with the way things are turning out. u see, my husband Bhushan flunked in his final year, which is no big thing in a professional college, but nevertheless it hurts. and it hurt him , his family and of course me really badly. but we could do nothing to change it. Then came the time for PG admissions, and with the 2 years rural service thing, he wasn't eligible to apply with the regular batch. He belongs to the NT (nomadic tribes category) and that year we had a Medicine seat reserved for NT. MEDICINE!!! but he could not apply, and it passed on to the general category. he felt crushed. 6 months later, hardly any seats degree seats left for mid-term. So he chooses the only one available, and that is ENT. Now comes the hindsight. He always wanted a surgical branch, but felt Gen. surgery had not much scope without super-specialisation. anyway gen.surgery was not there when he applied. But he was never interested in medicine not as PG (read as career for a lifetime)[and i'm sorry Kalantri sir, but that is the truth].And as he read his ENT, he grew to love it. Everyone says his hand at surgery is beatiful, so much so that Raizada sir has advised him to try for Plastic surgery! And he turned out to be one of the best PGs the department has had! But imagine if he'd cleared his final year in the first attempt .... he would've done Medicine and probably hated evry minute of it. The memories still hurt, but you see the logic and say, thank God! Anchita (93) On Thu, 02 Sep 2004 Ashok Bhaskar wrote : >Dear Anchita, > >I go a little further.... > >When I see GOD I don't mean literally. > >Its those near miss situations and out of nowhere help we get in some situations is what I see as GOD's manifestations rather than mere coincidences. > >That truth eventually prevails and Good always wins over evil is not mere coincidence...there has to be a force that ensures this... > >As we get older more and more situations accumulate where hind sight is 20/20 and you are thankful that a particular wish didn't come true and that GOD knows what's best for you ! > >Der hai Ander nahi comes true again and again. > >GOD does not exist in material form as anything that exists in material form and is living is corruptible..... > >And there are those unanswered questions - that why bad things are happening to a good person....why a loved one is taken away prematurely... > >Now if everything was so predictable....then we would be machines / robots...may be on some other planet ) > >I don't believe in rebirth / afterlife ...lifeso I can't conveniently explain that you are suffering in this precious life because of past janam karma- this doesn't make any sense ??? > >In my scheme of things you are forgiven the moment you realize your sin and begin repentance....otherwise a murderer could just not look forward to anything positive and be anxious all his life even though he realizes his sin and wants to make ammends and desires forgiveness..... > >If you commit a sin which we all do at some or the other point in our lives would we be waiting for the rest of our lives waiting to be punished ?? > >Destiny / Fate / Life inflicts.....GOD delivers..... always helps one who is willing to be helped.....there is NO negativity with GOD ! > >I do have some theories other than past janam karma to explain misery and grief inflicted upon good people or for that matter anybody......but these ideas have to mature... > >If you did get to the bottom of this page thanks for your interest. > >Ashok 1984 > > > > > > " Dr.Bhushan Patil " wrote: >I agree with u on hinduism. And my grandfather used to say exactly that - Hinduism is not a religion, it is a way of life. In fact he has written a book on it. I tried to go thru' it when i was in 11th, but it was too philosophical for me. >For me God is nothing but faith. When all seems to fail, this is the crutch we lean on. Does He exist? I don't know. But the faith in this Something seems to work when nothing else does. And that's enough to make me believe in Him. >Anchita (93) > > >On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Ashok Bhaskar wrote : > >Hi Venkat, > > > >This is my 3rd year at Chinmaya Mission. I consider it GOD's blessing that I started going to the mission. It is not a cult as the person who started has passed away. > > > >One has to be watchful as it is easy to get carried away when you set on the path of spirituality and religion. Then places like Rajneesh Ashram and david Koresh ( Texas) happen. Nonbelievers get even more distanced from spirituality and religion. > > > >Once one of my friends quoted Karl Marx " Religion is the opiate for the masses " While I first rejected this opinion as scoffed at the plight of Russia as I have thought about it I think it is true statement. But I think it is a necessary opiate fot the well being of any society...can be likened to medical marijuana. > > > >It seems in the vedic period when science had not yet developed intellectuals would drift towards forests / mountaions like Himalayas and meditate on the meaning of life, purpose of our existence etc etc ....i.e., embark on these spiritual journeys. > > > >It is in that period from where vedas originated. Science was not developed yet....and hence it took form of mythology.....must have been mere imagination of our forefathers....this imagination is central to all religions and basic principles of all religions are the same. > > > >Russia's experiment of a GOD less society has failed miserably. America which prides as " One nation under GOD " believes in freedom and equality and tries its best to be a altruistic society has relatively been more successful. > > > >Moral of the story is " Just follow path of truth ( to the best of one's understanding )...listen to the voice of your conscience...if you think what you are doing is wrong...don't do it ...don't justify it " > > > >Time and again....history has been testimony that good wins over evil... " Satyamave jayate " > > > >Why justice is delayed in GOD's court is what I have not understood completely. But then I have lot of questions. There will always be gaps in our understanding ...that doesn't mean it doesn't exist......just like in science. > > > >Religion doesn't claim to have all the answers....it just attempts to prescribe a way of life for happy living...which is the ultimate goal of every man. > > > >Nobody ...nobody is in pursuit of " unhappiness " . > > > >Hinduism was coined by the colonial British.....for all their sins they did pay heavily in World War II. > > > >Our religion is simply " a way of living " ....hence we never have religious wars where we tried to convert someone forcefully...........the single most important difference of which I am so proud. > > > >Coming back to what the mission is doing for us. > > > >People like Renuka don't need it as her extended family was what the mission is to me today. Her maternal grandma who she quotes often was instrumental in her relatively better understanding than me. > > > >Religion leads to peaceful living at the personal level. If you are completefully peaceful, have no conflicts and are totally happy and your happiness is not dependent on material or worldly things then you don't need religion. > > > >A psychiatrist colleague once funningly remarked in response to my query " Why in America is their so much consumption of psychiatric services ? (Its nicKnamed Prozac nation ) " > > > >His answer was " In America the therapist is rented extended family ? " > > > >The educated here are moving farther and farther away from religion as they want crystal clear evidence like science does for the most part. > > > >What we need to do is contemporarize religion in the light of our current and changing scientific knowledge ? > > > >I don't believe that at the end of your spiritual journey you become one with GOD or a godman....you surely become a good man. > > > >We intellectuals from the scientific community who have blessed should make an effort to reinvent religion for the benefit of the masses rather than shying away from it or having our own private beliefs about GOD ...each individual having his own concept of GOD and his own version of right and wrong !!! > > > >Lets try to seperate fact from fiction. Personally at this stage I don't believe in after birth and reincarnation. I am not sure if soul is different than the body...I mean if there is something like a soul or is it all our imagination.... then you might question isn't GOD our imagination too. Now I have seen evidence for his / her / its existence but I have not seen the same for the soul. So lets see. > > > >Just like colleges and schools are necessary for education a religious framework is necessary for us to benefit from our belief in GOD. > > > >Now if you are an atheist and happy you don't need religion. If you are an atheist and unhappy give religion a chance. > > > >Coming back to the topic of Chinmaya mission....as you can see it is helping to clear my confusion. > > > >As far as the kids...its giving them effortlessly....something we struggle to give....our culture...foster religious beliefs....and give them a clear sense of right and wrong which we all imbibed from our extended family consisting of wise elders who have see and experienced life. As our kids mature they will still have to do their sorting out but we would have provided them the best teaching they can have which we confused adults cannot do at home. > > > >Ashok Bhaskar 1984 > > > >Venkat Yerrabolu wrote: > >Ashok, > > > >Thanks for sharing the family news. Satya (4th grade) and Guna (2nd grade) > >started school. Life is cool. Are you going to Chinmaya this year. It's > >tough for us to go every week. We may go to Lemont Temple classes since they > >have classes every alternative week. Talk to you soon. We should meet soon. > > > >- Venkat, Pontiac > >Home: > > > > > > >From: Ashok Bhaskar > > >To: mgims@... > > >CC: Anil Bhaskar-PanHealth , ashutosh & anita > > >, chandrashekhar kulkarni , > > >jbtdrc_wda , Latha , > > >Madhavi Yellapragada , Mahesh > > >Makam , mohan krishna > > >, saket sinha , uncle > > >, Venkat Yerrabolu > > >Subject: Special Moments ! > > >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:09:39 -0700 (PDT) > > > > > >Thought will share with my friends here at the group some special moments ! > > > > > >2 weeks ago Renuka started as a consultant / attending pathologist and > > >hematopathologist at Mac neal Hospital....45' drive ....a Chicago suburb > > >east of us. > > > > > >Last week Aishwarya started middle school - 6th grade. > > > > > >Bacche kab bade ho jaate hai patha hi nahi chalta ! > > > > > >Thats why we all need to slow down...take time out of our hectic schedules > > >and savour these special moments ! > > > > > >This morning I was really excited....Puccho kyon.......Any guesses ? > > > > > >Scroll down.... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Ditto ( Aaditya ) our little guy became a big boy !!!!!! > > > > > >He started PRESCHOOL _ PRE K ) > > > > > >He looked cho cute with his bag and the look of anticipation mixed with > > >apprehension... > > >I got it all on video and can't wait to get home to hear his report !! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Zindagi isi ka naam hi.....may GOD bless us all ! > > > > > >Ashok '84 > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > >On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to > >get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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