Heaven and Hell - earlier - why we need to pray to GOD

[Guest guest]

Namaste shri Narayana ji , jayramji and all

narayanaji- Reference to your question, I believe jayaramji has

conveyed the perspective nicely. Your question has provoked a train of

thoughts and

let me present them with an open-mind.

 

Even outside of Advaita,the concepts of Dharma, karma etc. are common

across most schools of hinduism. There is only action and reaction

and cause and effect. Good and bad,virtuous act and sinful acts,

pleasure and suffering are labels applied by us according to most

schools.

 

On BG you refer to ,bhagwan Sri Krishna at one point says that those

steeped in Tamas only go down further in evolution- one could become

an animal or a stone.I do not recollect any verse that speaks about

deadly suffering in hell.

 

The only description of heaven and hell i can recall is from

mahabharatha. In mahabaratha, towards the end, Yudishtira is taken

through a place which i believe is described as hell where he finds

his brothers undergoing a bit of expiating experiences . The

description of the place as having abominable stench, wailing soulds

etc.- sounds a lot like hell!

 

Otherwise I grew up being told that heaven and hell are in this life

only!. The condition of a person with extreme illness or that of

someone who is buffeted severely by misfortunes can be construed as

experience in hell? These again can be related to cause - effect

relationship that jayramji talks about.

 

thanks for some interesting nudging- it has gotten me thinking that

much more

Many namaskarams to all

sridhar

 

advaitin, "Jayaram Thiagarajan"

<jayaram_t> wrote:

>

>

> Namaste Sri Narayana,

>

>

> Hinduism appeals more as a way of life than as a religion.

> Practically, one can lead a very righteous life using the Bhagavath

> Gita without wearing the outlook of a Hindu in any manner. Hinduism

> is very flexible and adaptable. The Manusmrithi and the bhavath gita

> are about enough scriptures for someone to lead a very righteous,

> civilized life.

>

> Regards,

> Jayaram

>

> advaitin, "narayana_kl_71"

> <narayana_kl_71> wrote:

> >

> > Sridhar-ji,

> >

> >

> > You say -

> >

> > > One reason why I was drawn to the spiritual approach of hinduism

> is

> > > that there is no labelling of the aspirant as a confirmed sinner

> > with

> > > hellfire and damnation awaiting him from a 'god' 'out there'

> > > alternatively 'rewarding' and 'punishing'.

> >

> >

> > What you said above is mostly true for advaita vedAnta and some

> > other hindu schools, but not for hinduism in general. There is a

> > vivid description of various kinds of hells, punishments, and

> > rewards in some hindu scriptures. Even the bhagavad gIta talks of

> > eternal damnation in one of the verses, though I dont know what

> > exactly is

 

advaita's explanation of this verse.