RE: [SJC: Varahamihira] Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy Questions

[Guest guest]

Om Gurave NamahDear Sandy & PhylTry this link for a starter http://www.srath.com/zhinduism.htm I intend to do some serious writing on this afterwards..much afterwards as I have to write the BPHS (2005) and Saravali (2003), Jataka Parijatha (2004) expected dates...But I will keep you all posted with new thoughts and writings.Best Regards,Sanjay Rath71 Vasant Apartments, Mayur Vihar Ph-1, New Delhi 110091, IndiaTel: +91-11-2713201 Web: http://srath.com http://.org Phyl Chubb MA [aboutyou]Saturday, November 02, 2002 11:07 PMvarahamihira Subject: [sJC: Varahamihira] Re: Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy QuestionsDear Sandy, From my perspective your questions are more than valid, but then I too am western born and bred in Christianity although I now practice Chan Buddhism, simply because I can understand these teachings. I have been able to 'go with the flow' with Hinduism because I accept their idea that there is but one God and this God has many faces. Somehow this makes sense to me as it allows for individual freedom in understanding the huge concept of God. Anyway I am certainly looking forward to the answers you will receive. As for Sanjay's book I suggest you get it from India, from Manorama Books. The service is both fast and resonable. Just contact manoramaoccult and you will get whatever you need. Take care.....................Phyllis - Sandy Crowther varahamihira Saturday, November 02, 2002 8:55 AM[sJC: Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy QuestionsDear List, Namaste! My first post…J I am again trying to eliminate some confusion, and sort out (in my mind) the different branches of Hinduism…so please excuse both me, and my questions, if they seem elementary and inappropriate for this list…I am not new to Jyotish, but I am quite new to this list. Jyotish and spirituality go hand in hand, in my mind. When on the path to enlightenment, in order to fully understand and absorb one teaching, I think we also need absolute clarity, with respect to the other. I am just looking to get closer to the Truth. Being born and raised a Roman Catholic girl in the USA, the Eastern teachings are somewhat foreign to my native land of birth, however, none the less totally fascinating to me, and have been for some time. I have danced around over the years between practicing Theravadin Buddhism at Vipassana with S.N. Goenka, to reading about different branches of Hinduism, to following the teachings and Self-Realization Lessons of Paramahansa Yogananda. In my search for both the truth and the secrets, I have gathered books written by several authors on different branches. So I guess what I do not understand, is why Hinduism contains so many divisions? It is very confusing to this westerner, as those of us brought up in Catholicism in the west are taught that there is one God by one name, which is God. And his son is named Jesus Christ. There are saints that can be prayed to, but only one God Almighty. So I remain in square one with respect to attaining clarity over time about branches of eastern religion, and as confused as ever. So I have a few questions if I may… For those of you well versed in the subject, what are your thoughts on the trilogy written by the late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Dancing With Siva, Living With Siva, and Merging With Siva? He passed away last year from cancer – (his birth data is Jan. 5, 1927 8:25 AM, Oakland, CA). Anyway, his voluminous writings are so enjoyable to read from an American’s perspective - as far as an American’s ability to truly understand, in an English manner, the writings and beliefs that Hinduism offers, as English translations to these concepts are readily comprehensible within the writings by this author, and therefore leave the western reader with an ability to both better understand the teachings, and relate. So I guess my question is, are these writings intellectually and spiritually supportive, or at a complete dichotomy, as far as relevance and beliefs to Vaisnaivism? In other words, will the Saivite teachings totally spiritually contradict the teachings of Vaisnaivism, or will they be supportive to learning Hinduism? I have always been confused about the “differences” in branches of Hinduism, and WHY there are even differences and different teachings to Hinduism, and I therefore remain totally confused about what reading material to defer to for the real Truth. And how many names are there for One God? I really also enjoy the writings of Stephen Knapp, as he also has a gift of writing about an Eastern subject with clarity. I realize that much of what I am asking is probably largely based on individual personal preferences, but I am interested in knowing the overall preferences for this list. What about Buddhism, and the teachings of Osho and Eknath Easwaran? And what are the list thoughts on who authors the best translation of the Bhagavad-Gita? Also, would anyone know where I could purchase a copy of Sanjay’s book on Vimshottari and Udu Dasas in the United States? I have checked with several jyotish vendors online, and they don’t seem to carry the title. Thanks… ~ Sincerely ~ Sandy Crowtherhttp://www.jupitersweb.com/ Hare Rama KrishnaArchive:varahamihiraFiles:varahamihiravarahamihira/database

[Guest guest]

Dear Phyllis and Group,

 

Thank you for your comments and your

insights as to where to get Guru Sanjay’s book. I have emailed manoramaoccult

as you have suggested.

 

The reason I have so many questions

on Hinduism versus Buddhism, and the dichotomies apparent in the teachings

practiced by various Easterners as being the paths of Absolute Truth, are many.

 

 

As Westerners, we are not so well

versed in the Veda(s), nor nearly as rich as Easterners in spiritual culture by

virtue of birthright. So to run along a self-initiated spiritual path without

seriously questioning these teachings at some point, may result in stagnating

error. Without coming to the eventual realization (because of the mass amounts of

authors professing authority, and therefore writing on these subjects) or seeking

the opinions from those more experienced for the correct translations via

authorship of the Veda(s), one can spend a lifetime studying the wrong material, and make very little

progress on the spiritual path…if any at all. The Veda(s) are spiritual energy

in the form of sound vibration and clearly speak only to the wise with pure

hearts, so the steps to enlightenment are deep enough without erring for

decades on bad translations and wrong material.

 

I have so many questions on all of it…I

personally believe that we need one religion, and one religion only for the planet,

and believe the eastern culture holds the keys toward the realization of our

true nature and spirituality…I just need to get a hold of the right “keys”…J

 

 

 

~Namaste~

Sandy Crowther

http://www.jupitersweb.com/

 

-----Original

Message-----

Phyl Chubb MA [aboutyou]

Saturday, November 02, 2002 12:37 PM

varahamihira

[sJC: Varahamihira] Re:

Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy Questions

 

Dear Sandy,

 

From my perspective your questions are more than

valid, but then I too am western born and bred in Christianity although I now

practice Chan Buddhism, simply because I can understand these teachings. I

have been able to 'go with the flow' with Hinduism because I accept their idea

that there is but one God and this God has many faces. Somehow this makes sense

to me as it allows for individual freedom in understanding the huge

concept of God. Anyway I am certainly looking forward to the answers you will

receive.

 

As for Sanjay's book I suggest you get it from

India, from Manorama Books. The service is both fast and resonable. Just

contact manoramaoccult

and you will get whatever you need.

 

Take care.....................

Phyllis

 

 

 

-

 

Sandy Crowther

 

varahamihira

Saturday, November 02, 2002 8:55 AM

[sJC: Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy Questions

 

Dear List,

 

Namaste!

 

My first post…J

I am again trying to eliminate some confusion, and sort out (in my mind) the

different branches of Hinduism…so please excuse both me, and my questions, if

they seem elementary and inappropriate for this list…I am not new to Jyotish,

but I am quite new to this list. Jyotish and spirituality go hand in hand, in

my mind. When on the path to enlightenment, in order to fully understand and

absorb one teaching, I think we also need absolute clarity, with respect to the

other. I am just looking to get closer to the Truth.

 

Being born and raised a

Roman Catholic girl in the USA, the Eastern teachings are somewhat foreign to

my native land of birth, however, none the less totally fascinating to me, and

have been for some time. I have danced around over the years between practicing

Theravadin Buddhism at Vipassana with S.N. Goenka, to reading about different

branches of Hinduism, to following the teachings and Self-Realization Lessons

of Paramahansa Yogananda. In my search for both the truth and the secrets, I

have gathered books written by several authors on different branches. So I

guess what I do not understand, is why Hinduism contains so many divisions? It

is very confusing to this westerner, as those of us brought up in Catholicism

in the west are taught that there is one God by one name, which is God. And his

son is named Jesus Christ. There are saints that can be prayed to, but only one

God Almighty. So I remain in square one with respect to attaining clarity over

time about branches of eastern religion, and as confused as ever.

 

So I have a few questions if I may…

 

For those of you well versed in the subject, what are your thoughts on

the trilogy written by the late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Dancing With Siva, Living With Siva, and Merging With

Siva? He passed away last year from cancer – (his birth data is Jan.

5, 1927 8:25 AM, Oakland, CA). Anyway, his voluminous writings are so enjoyable

to read from an American’s perspective - as far as an American’s ability to

truly understand, in an English manner, the writings and beliefs

that Hinduism offers, as English translations to these concepts are readily

comprehensible within the writings by this author, and therefore leave the

western reader with an ability to both better understand the teachings, and relate.

So I guess my question is, are these writings intellectually and spiritually

supportive, or at a complete dichotomy, as far as relevance and beliefs to

Vaisnaivism? In other words, will the Saivite teachings totally spiritually

contradict the teachings of Vaisnaivism, or will they be supportive to learning

Hinduism?

 

I have always been confused about the “differences”

in branches of Hinduism, and WHY there are even differences and different teachings to Hinduism,

and I therefore remain totally confused about what reading material to defer to

for the real Truth. And how many names are there for One God? I really also

enjoy the writings of Stephen Knapp, as he also has a gift of writing about an

Eastern subject with clarity. I realize that much of what I am asking is

probably largely based on individual personal preferences, but I am interested

in knowing the overall preferences for this list. What about Buddhism, and the

teachings of Osho and Eknath Easwaran? And what are the list thoughts on who authors the best translation of the

Bhagavad-Gita?

 

Also, would anyone know where I could purchase a copy of Sanjay’s book

on Vimshottari and Udu Dasas in

the United States? I have checked with several jyotish vendors online, and they

don’t seem to carry the title. Thanks…

 

 

~

Sincerely ~

Sandy Crowther

http://www.jupitersweb.com/

 

 

Hare Rama Krishna

Archive:varahamihira

Files:varahamihira

varahamihira/database

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Sanjay,

 

Namaste!

 

Thank you…I’m on my way.

 

 

~Namaste~

Sandy Crowther

http://www.jupitersweb.com/

 

-----Original

Message-----

Sanjay Rath [srath]

Saturday, November 02, 2002 2:00 PM

varahamihira

RE: [sJC: Varahamihira] Re:

Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy Questions

 

 

 

Om

Gurave Namah

Dear Sandy &

Phyl

Try this link for a

starter http://www.srath.com/zhinduism.htm I

intend to do some serious writing on this afterwards..much afterwards as I have

to write the BPHS (2005) and Saravali (2003), Jataka Parijatha (2004) expected

dates...But I will keep you all posted with new thoughts and writings.

Best Regards,

Sanjay Rath

 

71 Vasant

Apartments, Mayur Vihar Ph-1, New Delhi 110091, India

Tel: +91-11-2713201

Web: http://srath.com

http://.org

 

 

 

Phyl Chubb MA

[aboutyou]

Saturday, November 02, 2002 11:07 PM

varahamihira

[sJC: Varahamihira] Re: Varahamihira]

Hindu Dichotomy Questions

Dear

Sandy,

 

From

my perspective your questions are more than valid, but then I too am western

born and bred in Christianity although I now practice Chan Buddhism, simply

because I can understand these teachings. I have been able to 'go with the

flow' with Hinduism because I accept their idea that there is but one God and

this God has many faces. Somehow this makes sense to me as it allows for

individual freedom in understanding the huge concept of God. Anyway I am

certainly looking forward to the answers you will receive.

 

As

for Sanjay's book I suggest you get it from India, from Manorama Books. The

service is both fast and resonable. Just contact manoramaoccult and you

will get whatever you need.

 

Take

care.....................

Phyllis

 

 

 

-

 

Sandy Crowther

 

varahamihira

Saturday, November 02, 2002 8:55 AM

[sJC: Varahamihira] Hindu Dichotomy Questions

 

Dear List,

 

Namaste!

 

My first post…J

I am again trying to eliminate some confusion, and sort out (in my mind) the

different branches of Hinduism…so please excuse both me, and my questions, if

they seem elementary and inappropriate for this list…I am not new to Jyotish,

but I am quite new to this list. Jyotish and spirituality go hand in hand, in

my mind. When on the path to enlightenment, in order to fully understand and

absorb one teaching, I think we also need absolute clarity, with respect to the

other. I am just looking to get closer to the Truth.

 

Being born and raised a

Roman Catholic girl in the USA, the Eastern teachings are somewhat foreign to

my native land of birth, however, none the less totally fascinating to me, and

have been for some time. I have danced around over the years between practicing

Theravadin Buddhism at Vipassana with S.N. Goenka, to reading about different

branches of Hinduism, to following the teachings and Self-Realization Lessons

of Paramahansa Yogananda. In my search for both the truth and the secrets, I

have gathered books written by several authors on different branches. So I

guess what I do not understand, is why Hinduism contains so many divisions? It

is very confusing to this westerner, as those of us brought up in Catholicism

in the west are taught that there is one God by one name, which is God. And his

son is named Jesus Christ. There are saints that can be prayed to, but only one

God Almighty. So I remain in square one with respect to attaining clarity over

time about branches of eastern religion, and as confused as ever.

 

So I have a few questions if I may…

 

For those of you well versed in the subject, what are your thoughts on

the trilogy written by the late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Dancing With Siva, Living With Siva, and Merging With

Siva? He passed away last year from cancer – (his birth data is Jan.

5, 1927 8:25 AM, Oakland, CA). Anyway, his voluminous writings are so enjoyable

to read from an American’s perspective - as far as an American’s ability to

truly understand, in an English manner, the writings and beliefs

that Hinduism offers, as English translations to these concepts are readily

comprehensible within the writings by this author, and therefore leave the

western reader with an ability to both better understand the teachings, and

relate. So I guess my question is, are these writings intellectually and

spiritually supportive, or at a complete dichotomy, as far as relevance and

beliefs to Vaisnaivism? In other words, will the Saivite teachings totally

spiritually contradict the teachings of Vaisnaivism, or will they be supportive

to learning Hinduism?

 

I have always been confused about the “differences”

in branches of Hinduism, and WHY there are even differences and different teachings to Hinduism,

and I therefore remain totally confused about what reading material to defer to

for the real Truth. And how many names are there for One God? I really also

enjoy the writings of Stephen Knapp, as he also has a gift of writing about an

Eastern subject with clarity. I realize that much of what I am asking is

probably largely based on individual personal preferences, but I am interested

in knowing the overall preferences for this list. What about Buddhism, and the

teachings of Osho and Eknath Easwaran? And what are the list thoughts on who authors the best translation of the

Bhagavad-Gita?

 

Also, would anyone know where I could purchase a copy of Sanjay’s book

on Vimshottari and Udu Dasas in

the United States? I have checked with several jyotish vendors online, and they

don’t seem to carry the title. Thanks…

 

 

~

Sincerely ~

Sandy Crowther

http://www.jupitersweb.com/

 

 

Hare Rama Krishna

Archive:varahamihira

Files:varahamihira

varahamihira/database