[nukkad] 11 questions about Hinduism.

["Dr.M.C. Gupta" <>]

[This message contained attachments that have been removed.]


**
*I shall be glad to have comments on the following from the knowledgeable
ones on the list, especially Dr. Vasudevan.*
**
*[These questions were put to MCG in a series of e-mails by a foreigner from
a different faith on 16 and 17 May 2008. MCG's answers are given below each
question].*
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*****

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*a) Does God play games with the innocent ones also? If so, is it just
because of past life karmas?*

*How about the present life; what if it is led in pureness, to its best?*

* *

*>> God does not play games with anybody. He sends the pure soul along with
an intellect, a mind and a body, in that hierarchical. Karma are done
through the body. When the body works under the dictation of intellect or
Buddhi, the Karma are pure and good. When done under the influence of the
mind, they are likely to be sullied, impure and bad. God has given intellect
to man, but not to animals, so that man may decide for himself whom to
follow. What he does is through his own free will. Nobody is playing games
with him. God has already given his word to man in every religion.It is up
to man to follow or not to follow that word. If one leads the present life
in purity, one does not carry the bag of bad karma with him when he dies.
Hence, he attains salvation easily.*

* *

*b) How does one apply God in medicine and law? How does a lawyer or a
doctor put aside religious believes when practicing their profession?*

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*>> Whether in medicine or law, it is the professional and moral duty of the
service provider to help the one who seeks relief. Relief depends upon doing
the professional job properly. Religion does not come anywhere in his
calculations while doing professional work.*

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*M C Gupta*

*16 May 2008*

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*=====================*

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*c) Is it possible for anyone; even the most religious, the most
disciplined, the most loyal, the purest; in this present world to lead a
sinless life?*

* *

*>> Yes. It is possible. It is not easy. But, the effort is not lost. A
person who has lived a pure life but still needs more purity will be reborn
in an enlightened family to enlightened parents who would further motivate
and enable the child towards more purity, till, through a few bierth cycles,
salvation is reached and no rebirth occurs.*

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*****

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*d) Is it possible in this chaotic world for people to lead their life
without a single karma, especially if it is circumstantial? *

* *

*>>> Yes. It is possible in a way. Karma has got to be done by the body, if
nothing else, then for the sake of the body. What matters is the attachment
to Karma. If one carries out the Karma without being attached to it, merely
as a part of duty, without bothering about the consequences, then the Karma
does not attach. The answer to the previous query is relevant here also.*

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****   *

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*e) Aren't these circumstances also considered the written fate? *

*That these may be God's answers or guidance to overcome "chronic"
dispositions and situations where the sufferings are never ending?*

* *

*>> Circumstances are part of fate. Whatever the circumstances, man always
has intellect / discretion / conscience / sense of right and wrong. Using
that discretion, if man chooses not to be attached mentally to the
circumstances and not to be affected by them, persevering on the righteous
path irrespective of those circumstances, he will sail through.*

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*M C Gupta*

*16 May 2008*

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*===============*

*f) However, when a human being is conscious about karmas, they might not
even want to perform their duties that have karmas attached to it. Yet, it
is said that these are unattached karmas.*

* *

*How about those in dire circumstances, that sometimes after prayers to God,
the karma linked solution appears in front of them? Do they still put a
strong front against these karmas, in believe that their answers to the
troubles will appear one day?*

* *

*>> The proper lies not in shunning karmas but in being not attached to them
while doing karmas that ought to be done as duty. Deeds can be of two
types—those done for duty; those done for pursuit of pleasure or desire. Do
the former without motive of desire; karma won't attach to you. Do the
latter, karma is attached. This is the essence of verse 47 of Gita, the
revered Hindu scripture where God / Lord Krishna himself speaks. You can
refer to this verse at the footnotes to my poems {item:726296};
{entry:357267}; {item:1369032} and {item:1371607}. You may also view the
links provided therein. This will clarify your concepts.*

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*****

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*g) How can mere humans not be affected or attached to severe problems in
life?*

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*>> By remembering that whether he has severe problems or sunny happiness,
at all times his duty is to follow the path of duty and not deviate from it.
*

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*****

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*h) How does one evaluate right and wrong? What is poison to one , maybe
amirth to another.*

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*>> Ask your own conscience. What it tells is right. If sometimes there is
doubt, apply the litmus test: {item: 1427153} , which can also be viewed at
http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1427153*

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*****

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*i) Why can't the theory of unattached karmas be applied to these poor souls
too? Wouldn't it be too late to save them before we decide that unattached
karmas are applicable to them too?*

*Especially if these karma linked solutions are put forward before them
after a prayer to God?*

* *

*>> No soul is poor. All souls are equal. Each is a part of God and, on
salvation, merges with Him. It is the mind that is enveloped by desire,
which taints karma. Karma without desire, only for duty, is pure,
unattached. Everyone must earn his or her salvation. However, even if a
person has bad karmas, if he truly surrenders to God and changes himself, he
can attain salvation even in a single go. That is the beauty of dedication,
prayer and surrender to His will.*

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*******

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*j) Aren't those who commit karmas or face karmas usually linked to their
past karmas as well?*

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*>> All karmas accumulate. From all lives.*

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*****

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*k) And based on this, again it will be said that these people who endure
severe problems have to face their karmas and try to endure it in this
lifetime, so that it doesn't carry forward too much into the next life.*

* *

*>> Yes.*

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*M C Gupta*

*17 May 2008*

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*l) ) As a child, we were warned about being thrown into torture chambers
for mischieves and as an adult, the undying wish not to have another life.*

* *

*>> Children should not be threatened about imaginary fears. They should be
told to live good lives, that's all. The results of bad life are usually
seen in this life itself. One should not be afraid of another life. Another
life means another chance to reform ourselves.*

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*****

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*m)  It is difficult and confusing to lead a peaceful life when the thoughts
of karma are always there subconsciously, at the top of our minds.*

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*>> There should not be any difficulty. Karma is like life's bank balance.
If you have a bank account, won't you like to know how much balance you
have?*

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*n) Is Hinduism really a way of life as some put it? If so, weren't all
these believes created as rules and regulations for humans to follow in
order to live a chaos free life?? For example, if I remember accurately; the
Aryans were banned from eating beef as the cows were depleting fast? Is this
a rule for a way of life??*

* *

* *

*>> Yes, Hinduism is a way of life. There is no rigid ritual system or dogma
in Hinduism. It is not simply a belief system. It is a deep philosophical
approach that is totally logical. No Hindu is required to believe in
anything by force. He chooses what he wants to believe and practice and in
what manner. Judge P B Gajendragadkar[later, Chief Justice of India], in a
1966 Supreme Court judgment [In Shastri v. Muladas], has stated as
follows:"Beneath the diversity of philosophical thoughts, concepts and ideas
expressed by Hindu philosophers, who started different philosophical
schools, lie certain broad concepts which can be treated a basic. The first
among these basic concepts is the acceptance of vedas as the highest
authority in religious and philosophical matters. This concept necessarily
implies that all the systems claim to have drawn their principles from a
common reservoir of thought enshrined in the vedas. …………….The other 
basic
concept which is common to six systems of Hindu philosophy is that all of
them accept this  view of the great world rhythm, vast periods of creation
maintenance and dissolution  follow each other in endless 
succession…………it
may also be said that all the systems of Hindu philosophy believe in rebirth
and pre-existence."*

* *

*You would note here the vast flexibility of Hinduism in that it does not
even require a Hindu to believe in God. An atheist can still be a Hindu.*

* *

*As regards cow worship and not eating beef, your statement is correct that
it is a way of life. However, I have nowhere read or heard that at any point
of time in India, cows were depleting fast. I don't think that is true. *

*****

*o) I am sure any conscious person has no intentions of committing sins but
this does not make life any easier either.*

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*>> Well. Life is NOT easy:)*

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*M C Gupta*

*17 May 08*


-- 
Prof. M C Gupta
MD (Medicine), MPH,  LL.M.,

Advocate & Health and Medico-legal Consultant

mcgupta44@gmail.com
www.writing.com/authors/mcgupta44
http://mcgupta44.blogspot.com/

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The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or 
religion 
but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often 
forget this fact, non-Westerners never do. - Samuel P. Huntington 
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