The Many Paths of Hinduism

Aupmanyav

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru.
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Longfellow said:
.. and some concept of ultimate reality play a role in that. Even if you don't believe in any of that,.. :p
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In Hinduism, people believe in Four types of beliefs about 'ultimate reality.

1. There are many Gods and Goddesses, each doing the work they are known for. Of course, they can do other things as well.
2. For some, it is a principal God or Goddess. Other Gods and Goddesses are secondary to him.
2. For others, everything is a part of the Supreme God (Brahman).
4. Every thing is Brahman, which is not a God (that is my belief).

1 Polytheism. 2. Henotheism. 3. Pantheism. 4. Atheism.

What people want:
1. To be near their chosen God. (Dvaita - duality)
2. To return to the Supreme God of which we are a part. (Advaita - non-duality)
3. Since everything is Brahman, the substrate of the universe, I am that, you too are that, there is nothing more to do. When we die, then also we do not cease to be Brahman, what happens is only a change of form. The molecules of my body will disperse in the environment and form new associations. (Strict Advaita, which does not allow even the concept of God).

All these views are valid in Hinduism. Your questions will always be welcome.
 
I thought I'd copy the post over to the Hinduism board to stand on its own in a new thread, as it might make an interesting discussion in itself. :)
 
I have read of some Hindus including somebody from outside the faith, such as Buddha and Jesus, as their "Guru". Is this entirely acceptable within Hinduism, or is considered strange?
 
rocala said:
I have read of some Hindus including somebody from outside the faith, such as Buddha and Jesus, as their "Guru". Is this entirely acceptable within Hinduism, or is considered strange?
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If I'm understanding correctly, Aupmanyav is inviting everyone to be their own guru, which means that as an orthodox Hindu, he is agreeing for anyone in the world to be a guru, so that would include Jesus and the Buddha. Aupmanyav, correct me if I'm wrong. :p
 
rocala said:
You may be right. My question though was more about Hindu attitudes in general rather than Aupmanyav's particular beliefs.
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But he says that apart from being an atheist, he is an orthodox Hindu, which means that inviting everyone to be their own guru is acceptable in orthodox Hinduism. @Aupmanyav , please correct me if I'm wrong. :D
 
Aupmanyav said:
In Hinduism, people believe in Four types of beliefs about 'ultimate reality.

1. There are many Gods and Goddesses, each doing the work they are known for. Of course, they can do other things as well.
2. For some, it is a principal God or Goddess. Other Gods and Goddesses are secondary to him.
2. For others, everything is a part of the Supreme God (Brahman).
4. Every thing is Brahman, which is not a God (that is my belief).

1 Polytheism. 2. Henotheism. 3. Pantheism. 4. Atheism.

What people want:
1. To be near their chosen God. (Dvaita - duality)
2. To return to the Supreme God of which we are a part. (Advaita - non-duality)
3. Since everything is Brahman, the substrate of the universe, I am that, you too are that, there is nothing more to do. When we die, then also we do not cease to be Brahman, what happens is only a change of form. The molecules of my body will disperse in the environment and form new associations. (Strict Advaita, which does not allow even the concept of God).

All these views are valid in Hinduism. Your questions will always be welcome.
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I want to try to explain to you what I’m thinking about gods, avatars, and messengers. I believe in the gods and avatars of Hinduism ss metaphors for a part of nature including human nature where some powers and wisdom come from that people call “divine.” I also believe in the gods and messengers of the Abrahamic line as different kinds of metaphors for that same part of nature.
 
Longfellow said:
But he says that apart from being an atheist, he is an orthodox Hindu, which means that inviting everyone to be their own guru is acceptable in orthodox Hinduism. @Aupmanyav , please correct me if I'm wrong. :D
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As per my view, that is correct. We have the wisdom of our elders in the scriptures, we have the knowledge of modern science, we have our life experiences, we have a brain which is meant for critical analysis. What more do we need? Why cannot we make our own decisions? There may be people who may be misguiding us. It is like what Buddha said in his Kesamutti Sutta:

"Kalamas, when you yourselves know 'These things are good; these things are not blameable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."
en.wikipedia.org

Kesamutti Sutta - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Longfellow said:
I want to try to explain to you what I’m thinking about gods, avatars, and messengers. I believe in the gods and avatars of Hinduism as metaphors for a part of nature including human nature where some powers and wisdom come from that people call “divine.” I also believe in the gods and messengers of the Abrahamic line as different kinds of metaphors for that same part of nature.
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As an atheist Hindu, I think they are folk-stories which have been created for guidance of people. In these stories, when Gods err, people clearly say that it was not correct, and that should not have been done. That is guidance. There is nothing that I will label as 'divine'. I think that is an incorrect path, leading to falsehood. I have nothing to do with or say about Abrahamic God or messengers. It is for those people who believe that way to contemplate.
 
Aupmanyav said:
As per my view, that is correct. We have the wisdom of our elders in the scriptures, we have the knowledge of modern science, we have our life experiences, we have a brain which is meant for critical analysis. What more do we need? Why cannot we make our own decisions? There may be people who may be misguiding us. It is like what Buddha said in his Kesamutti Sutta:

"Kalamas, when you yourselves know 'These things are good; these things are not blameable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."
en.wikipedia.org

Kesamutti Sutta - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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One thing I'm not sure about: Is your invitation to people to be their own guru, for all people, or only for Hindus?
 
Aupmanyav said:
As an atheist Hindu, I think they are folk-stories which have been created for guidance of people.
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Exactly what I think. But I'm wondering how you feel about that. Do you have any objections to it? I think that it can be used in harmful ways. Do you see it as a good practice if it's properly used? I do. Stories are very good for learning.
Aupmanyav said:
In these stories, when Gods err, people clearly say that it was not correct, and that should not have been done. That is guidance. There is nothing that I will label as 'divine'. I think that is an incorrect path, leading to falsehood.
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I understand that, but I think that some of what people think of as divine power and wisdom are actual power and wisdom from a part of nature that operates outside of our senses and conscious awareness.
 
Longfellow said:
Exactly what I think. But I'm wondering how you feel about that. Do you have any objections to it? I think that it can be used in harmful ways. Do you see it as a good practice if it's properly used? I do. Stories are very good for learning.

I understand that, but I think that some of what people think of as divine power and wisdom are actual power and wisdom from a part of nature that operates outside of our senses and conscious awareness.
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I have learnt from these stories. Yes, they can be used in harmful ways by faith-based believers. Faith sans evidence is not for me.
I do not believe that anything operates outside our sense and conscious awareness. Where is the evidence?
 
Aupmanyav said:
To all people. Why just Hindus? Why should others be unscientific in this 21st Century?
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Okay, so I’m thinking that if anyone can be a guru, and if it’s acceptable in Hinduism for a person to have another person as a guru, then it’s acceptable for that person to be an imaginary Buddha or Jesus. That is contrary to what you would recommend, but not contrary to what can be called “Hinduism.” Even if Jesus and the Buddha made mistakes, that does not exclude them from being gurus. Even when you’re your own guru, your guru makes mistakes.
 
rocala said:
I have read of some Hindus including somebody from outside the faith, such as Buddha and Jesus, as their "Guru". Is this entirely acceptable within Hinduism, or is considered strange?
Click to expand...
I do not consider Buddha, Mahavira of Jains or Guru Nanak of Sikhism as outside Hinduism. I have learnt so much from Buddha. They were part of us and expounded 'Dharma'. In Hinduism, it is considered'Mata' (Opinion) or'Pantha' (Road). 'Buddha Mata', 'Jain Mata' or 'Gur-mat' (the opinion propounded by the Guru in Sikhism or the 'Sikh Pantha', the road of disciples).
 
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Longfellow said:
:eek: You can’t be serious. Or, you aren’t thinking about what you’re saying.
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I am serious and I have said this after thinking about it for years. Yes, there are unknowns, but science is working on that. Are we not aware of relativity, quantum mechanics or uncertainty, though we may not be scientists working on these fields?
 
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Aupmanyav said:
I have said this after thinking about it for years. Yes, there are unknowns, but science is working on that. Are we not aware of relativity, quantum mechanics or uncertainty, though we may not be scientists working on these fields?
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Oh I think I see, you mean potentially. There isn’t anything that can’t be explained naturalistically, even if we haven’t found a way to explain it yet. Not having an explanation doesn’t prove that there can’t be one, and is not a reason to make up impossible stories to explain it.
 
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Aupmanyav said:
I am serious and I have said this after thinking about it for years. Yes, there are unknowns, but science is working on that. Are we not aware of relativity, quantum mechanics or uncertainty, though we may not be scientists working on these fields?
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Agreed.

I'll try again. I don't think that we could have come as far as we have in any science or technology, without using analogies. Can you agree with that?

Or if not, can you agree that there is value and usefulness in using analogies, and no reason not to, if they are used properly, with awareness and understanding of their limitations?
 
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