queries and suggestions

[Guest guest]

two topics today:

1. Regarding Acharams and beliefs, the replies were

intelligent.

Ocean-crossing was justified because Rama did it or

flying does not pollute. But I am sure there are still

a number of SriVaishanvites who do not excuse it. So

one can say we are enlightened to discard such notions.

The reason for our enlightenment or justification is

that we have done it.

Similarly we have handled the Vadagali Thengalai

sampradayams and scorn at the people who took the matter

to the privy council when the British ruled the land.

Hence is there not a reason to question all our

sampradayams? What we accept and reject depends on

our own actions. Sometimes one does regret and asks

for prayas-chittam. If I compare it to dispensions in

the Catholic church some of you may be offended. Martin

Luther rebelled and many of the Tenali Rama stories

are of the same class. Kapilar was another who wrote

critcal poems on such matters. Personally, I have

rejected many of them, may be my mistake. But my

life would be miserable if reject and confess and

get prayas-chittam for all of them or accept my

way of life as the most rational. I have chosen the

latter.

This does not in anyway remove my desire to learn

about my forefathers.

2. The above is a digression from my main suggestion.

I am quite impressed and my at the level of scholarship

and knowlege of Vaishanvism discussed here. Inmany

ways, some of you may qualify to be Acharyas. I feel

that a positive contribution can be made if a good

introductory text that is stimulating to our kids can be

written. I suggest that you look at the style of the

two books I have come across.

i. Philosophy for beginners by Richard Osborne.

It is a cartoon type book, tracing the growth of

the Western Philosophy from the Greeks to the

present. It is enjoyable to read and stimulates one

to look up more.

ii. Introduction to Hinduism by Hermann

What is impressive is that each chapter ends with

a short summary table: Goal, Purpose and Method,

as he discusses Gyana, Karma and Bhakti Margas,

using Raman, Ghandhi and BhaktiVedantha Swami

as the practioners.

An intersetin book on theslines on the Alwars may

stimulate a novice to look for more. Both the books

are in Paperback and probably available in local

libraries or can be browsed thru at Borders or

Barnes and Noble.

With apologies, if I cause any misunderstanding,

 

Krishna Praba