Friday, May 08, 2009
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Buddism...Responding to AS's post...
After reading John Hargen's article in Slate and Daniel Florien's pronouncement that Buddhism needs to be scrapped, I wonder if either of them struck to the literal translations of the teachings of Buddhism and tried to find solace in those. As is always the case with all the religions, the intent of the teacher is misunderstood by his disciples. Sure, they jot down his teachings studiously word by word - but what I have observed and read about many religious books - is that the intent is more important than the meaning of the literal word - because meaning of the word changes over time.
For example, the word "truth" itself had a problem in this introduction to tenets of Buddhism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths
Some may see "truths" as a mistranslation (one author cites "realities" as a possibly better choice: these are things, not statements, in the original grammar.[4]) However, the original Tibetan Lotsawas (Sanskrit: locchāwa; Tibetan: lo ts'a ba), who studied Sanskrit grammar thoroughly, did translate the term from Sanskrit into Tibetan as "bden pa" which has the full meaning of "truth".
But Buddhism is first and best rational attempt to date as an organized religion which takes "God" or "Personal God" out of equation as far as evidence of human history suggests. The foundation is in the philosophy and spritual teachings of Vedic Religion(Hinduism) but without the rituals and trappings of Hinduism. But ultimately it died in India w/o these support of the ritual and social structure. As Swami Vivekananda - a brilliant sage himself put it - the disciples overreached and forgot the intent of the teachings of Buddha.
While Buddhism declared that "desire" is cause of all suffering and wanted people to eschew this trait - it runs contrary to our current popular wisdom that "desire" is what is necessary in today's world. It is not the cause of suffering, but a route to finding happiness by fulfilling this desire. Many philosophers have since analyzed this desire, Schopenhauer being the most famous in the western hemisphere - Apparently he concluded that there is no "end" to this desire.
If John Hargen and Daniel Florien want to accomodate science with Buddhism, they are taking a wrong approach. Buddhism, never tried to explain science or never made an attempt to attribute the unexplainable things to God as other religions do. Apparently they also don't seem to understand "intent" of some of the words in easter religions like "Karma" or "Detachment" which are expoused and treatised by many scholars and philoshophers. But I can see their bafflement with "Reincarnation" - in this modern world it is difficult to understand the very existence of this concept. But 2500+ years ago, it is explained as a vehicle to do some good in this present life so as to achieve a better life in the next incarnation.
On the whole, for me, two lectures from that great Sage Vivekananda made me comfortable on what a religion means. Having grown up in pantheon of gods and goddess in India, along side with monotheistic and atheistic religions - it made me despair until I found what were suitable reasonings to me.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/What_Is_Religion
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/Reason_And_Religion
For example, the word "truth" itself had a problem in this introduction to tenets of Buddhism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths
Some may see "truths" as a mistranslation (one author cites "realities" as a possibly better choice: these are things, not statements, in the original grammar.[4]) However, the original Tibetan Lotsawas (Sanskrit: locchāwa; Tibetan: lo ts'a ba), who studied Sanskrit grammar thoroughly, did translate the term from Sanskrit into Tibetan as "bden pa" which has the full meaning of "truth".
But Buddhism is first and best rational attempt to date as an organized religion which takes "God" or "Personal God" out of equation as far as evidence of human history suggests. The foundation is in the philosophy and spritual teachings of Vedic Religion(Hinduism) but without the rituals and trappings of Hinduism. But ultimately it died in India w/o these support of the ritual and social structure. As Swami Vivekananda - a brilliant sage himself put it - the disciples overreached and forgot the intent of the teachings of Buddha.
While Buddhism declared that "desire" is cause of all suffering and wanted people to eschew this trait - it runs contrary to our current popular wisdom that "desire" is what is necessary in today's world. It is not the cause of suffering, but a route to finding happiness by fulfilling this desire. Many philosophers have since analyzed this desire, Schopenhauer being the most famous in the western hemisphere - Apparently he concluded that there is no "end" to this desire.
If John Hargen and Daniel Florien want to accomodate science with Buddhism, they are taking a wrong approach. Buddhism, never tried to explain science or never made an attempt to attribute the unexplainable things to God as other religions do. Apparently they also don't seem to understand "intent" of some of the words in easter religions like "Karma" or "Detachment" which are expoused and treatised by many scholars and philoshophers. But I can see their bafflement with "Reincarnation" - in this modern world it is difficult to understand the very existence of this concept. But 2500+ years ago, it is explained as a vehicle to do some good in this present life so as to achieve a better life in the next incarnation.
On the whole, for me, two lectures from that great Sage Vivekananda made me comfortable on what a religion means. Having grown up in pantheon of gods and goddess in India, along side with monotheistic and atheistic religions - it made me despair until I found what were suitable reasonings to me.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/What_Is_Religion
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_1/Lectures_And_Discourses/Reason_And_Religion
Saturday, May 02, 2009
American Political System....
Why is US such a stable and strong nation politically and socially compared to other nations? Throughout its history of just more than 200 years, it seems to me that it is one of the countries with least political and social turmoils especially when compare to most of the nations around the world.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that it has best of all the political philosophies in the world working in tandem. It seems unbelievable yet its true. This co-opting of different political,social and economic systems provide the foundation for the most vibrant society in the world. With the help of these systems, it has progressed to achieve most technological advances during 20th century directly leading to the highest standards of living for most of its population.
Think about it. It has a two party political system which is as close to a communist party political control as possible. It enforces order by forcing its citizens to choose alternatively between the two parties whenever one party overreaches and falls out of popularity. It makes sure that only two mainstream candidates are present most of the time in all political battles - rest of them are trounced in primaries or inconsequential independents - making sure that only best of each side can duke it out.
It has a market based economy(capitalism) which thrives on least path of resistance. Goods are manufactured and services are rendered as efficiently as possible. It drives innovation and growth in the different segments of the economy. The prices are controlled by the market, the procurement and distribution of the materials is done in transparent manner in the open market. Of course, where regulation fails, this philosophy fails. So regulation is the second 'party' to the capitalism. There is a third component to it called "creative destruction" - which makes it necessary to shed the bloated wasted that gathers over a time in the economy.
It has a broad social safety net (socialism). The citizens are guaranteed social security from the government after retirement. They have unemployment insurance to get through the bad times. There are vast programs of different subsidized medical services for older generation. There are food stamp program and federal low-income housing programs that give poor people - a subsidized subsistence.
It also has a strong streak of civil libertarianism through its constitution. It also has strong institutional support for civil liberties in terms of its executive, judiciary and legislative branches of government with enough checks and balances. (Noting Slavery and segregation, it is through this system that these civil liberties were fulfilled and those practices abolished).
Well, there are couple of other models that still exist in the world - monarchy and feudalism - which are definitely out of fashion since the fall of British Empire.
Last but not in any way the least, freedom of press - fourth estate. It is strong and getting stronger through various media. This has been a very strong institution in US and it helped keep its leaders and people in hooked to the realities of the world. It has championed peoples cause, informed them and checked excesses of the leaders.
All in all, it is a remarkable political and social system. It has survived very remarkably - without a figure head in its democracy because of these systems. These systems have been developed over a period of time, culminating in the sixties - launching itself into the modern times as strongest and idealistic nation for the humanity.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that it has best of all the political philosophies in the world working in tandem. It seems unbelievable yet its true. This co-opting of different political,social and economic systems provide the foundation for the most vibrant society in the world. With the help of these systems, it has progressed to achieve most technological advances during 20th century directly leading to the highest standards of living for most of its population.
Think about it. It has a two party political system which is as close to a communist party political control as possible. It enforces order by forcing its citizens to choose alternatively between the two parties whenever one party overreaches and falls out of popularity. It makes sure that only two mainstream candidates are present most of the time in all political battles - rest of them are trounced in primaries or inconsequential independents - making sure that only best of each side can duke it out.
It has a market based economy(capitalism) which thrives on least path of resistance. Goods are manufactured and services are rendered as efficiently as possible. It drives innovation and growth in the different segments of the economy. The prices are controlled by the market, the procurement and distribution of the materials is done in transparent manner in the open market. Of course, where regulation fails, this philosophy fails. So regulation is the second 'party' to the capitalism. There is a third component to it called "creative destruction" - which makes it necessary to shed the bloated wasted that gathers over a time in the economy.
It has a broad social safety net (socialism). The citizens are guaranteed social security from the government after retirement. They have unemployment insurance to get through the bad times. There are vast programs of different subsidized medical services for older generation. There are food stamp program and federal low-income housing programs that give poor people - a subsidized subsistence.
It also has a strong streak of civil libertarianism through its constitution. It also has strong institutional support for civil liberties in terms of its executive, judiciary and legislative branches of government with enough checks and balances. (Noting Slavery and segregation, it is through this system that these civil liberties were fulfilled and those practices abolished).
Well, there are couple of other models that still exist in the world - monarchy and feudalism - which are definitely out of fashion since the fall of British Empire.
Last but not in any way the least, freedom of press - fourth estate. It is strong and getting stronger through various media. This has been a very strong institution in US and it helped keep its leaders and people in hooked to the realities of the world. It has championed peoples cause, informed them and checked excesses of the leaders.
All in all, it is a remarkable political and social system. It has survived very remarkably - without a figure head in its democracy because of these systems. These systems have been developed over a period of time, culminating in the sixties - launching itself into the modern times as strongest and idealistic nation for the humanity.
Monday, April 27, 2009
What is
the most important and revolutionary book ever written, be it religions, sciences, philosophies, economics and arts?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Why Tolerance?
Holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if any body dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance : "Help and not Fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not Dissension."
-Swami Vivekananda,27th Sep,1893 at Chicago World Fair.
-Swami Vivekananda,27th Sep,1893 at Chicago World Fair.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Lost Horizon
"Lost Horizon" by James Hilton is a remarkable and intriguing novel. It seems as though the very place called "Shangri-La" has been invented in this novel before it has become synonymous with the ever-lasting relaxation the major luxury resort chain offers in various parts of the world. One would be very hard pressed not to try and think more about this wonderful place after reading this novel. Even though the setting of the novel is in the early 30's - the reading offers a narrative which compels the reader in any age to desire - to find a place of ever-lasting youth and long death-defying life.
Who wouldn't want to live in such a place? If indeed such a place exists is for user's imagination to comprehend or possibly try and set out to find such a place - which I think had been already done by thousand of people (I guess by the people after this novel is published) - the underlying narrative in the novel itself is very much a self contemplation of oneself.
After reading the novel, it would be probably hard for any one not to think vicariously. What does a place like Shangri-La means to you? Would you like to be in such a place at all? What is your personal Shangri-La? Are you willing to spend such a long time in your Shangri-La and be bound there and die there whenever the time comes?
Who wouldn't want to live in such a place? If indeed such a place exists is for user's imagination to comprehend or possibly try and set out to find such a place - which I think had been already done by thousand of people (I guess by the people after this novel is published) - the underlying narrative in the novel itself is very much a self contemplation of oneself.
After reading the novel, it would be probably hard for any one not to think vicariously. What does a place like Shangri-La means to you? Would you like to be in such a place at all? What is your personal Shangri-La? Are you willing to spend such a long time in your Shangri-La and be bound there and die there whenever the time comes?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Insight Bowl and New Year Party
Hey,
Here are the pictures from Insight tailgate party, Insight Bowl and Insight Fiesta Block Party (New Year party) in Tempe.
Here are the pictures from Insight tailgate party, Insight Bowl and Insight Fiesta Block Party (New Year party) in Tempe.
Cactuses on SouthMountain - Phoenix.
On a recent hike one of the SouthMoutain Trails, I had the pleasure to capture many of the different shapes that cactus can grow. By no means it is a complete list of shapes, nevertheless I am intrigued by it.
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