Purpose

rsrowland · February 12, 2008

Namaste all,

Real quick...what, according to your own sampradaya is the purpose behind creation, the general view of physical life, and our own role in it all. To show you what I am looking for, let us take a look at Christianity and Buddhism. In Christianity the purpose of creation is for Yahweh's own self-aggrandizement and glory, the view of life is that it is inherently sinful and bad, and our role in it is to live according to the law of God and humble ourselves and believe in the sacrifice of Christ in order to be "saved" and go to Heaven. In Buddhism, there is no inherent purpose to life but rather the important thing to take note of is that we exist and that this is special but more or less they leave speculation of origin to science. The view of life is more or less similar to Christianity although it is not life itself which is bad, but how we react to life that is usually bad or "unskillful". Our role is to live compassionately and help make the world better for our being here and somewhere in the mix of it all seek enlightenment. So, what say you?

Murali_Mohan_das · February 12, 2008

What is the purpose of a sunrise?

gHari · February 12, 2008

Do we have to be cynical to play?

suchandra · February 12, 2008

Namaste all,

Real quick...what, according to your own sampradaya is the purpose behind creation, the general view of physical life, and our own role in it all. To show you what I am looking for, let us take a look at Christianity and Buddhism. In Christianity the purpose of creation is for Yahweh's own self-aggrandizement and glory, the view of life is that it is inherently sinful and bad, and our role in it is to live according to the law of God and humble ourselves and believe in the sacrifice of Christ in order to be "saved" and go to Heaven. In Buddhism, there is no inherent purpose to life but rather the important thing to take note of is that we exist and that this is special but more or less they leave speculation of origin to science. The view of life is more or less similar to Christianity although it is not life itself which is bad, but how we react to life that is usually bad or "unskillful". Our role is to live compassionately and help make the world better for our being here and somewhere in the mix of it all seek enlightenment. So, what say you?

"Kāruṇikāḥ means very compassionate. Just like Gosvāmīs. Nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau sad-dharma- saṁsthāpakau lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau. The devotee’s business is he’s always thinking of how to do good to the people in general, how they will accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Simply twenty-four hours thinking, making plan. Therefore kāruṇikāḥ. Although personally they are in so many inconveniences—tolerating. But that planning, Kṛṣṇa planning, is going on. Kāruṇikāḥ: how the people of the world will be happy. Titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ. Why they are planning like…? Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. They are not selfish, “Now I have become Kṛṣṇa devotee. That’s all right. Let others go to hell.” No. They want to see that everyone becomes a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore they are real friend. That is, he is real friend. Lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau.The Gosvāmīs, ideal. They left their comfortable position as ministers, went to Vṛndāvana, and became a mendicant. Kaupīna- kanthāśritau. Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati- śreṇīṁ sadā tucchavat. Because they were ministers, their associates, their friends, their companions were all rich men, aristocratic. Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati. Maṇḍala-pati means “great leaders of aristocratic family.” He gave up. Gosvāmīs, Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, they gave up this association of big aristocratic families. Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśeṣa-maṇḍala-pati-śreṇīṁ sadā tucchavat. Tucchavat means “There is no necessity. It is most insignificant. We don’t want it.” Tyaktvā tūrṇam aśesa."