Danpbphoto wrote:
He has renounced the worldly life and for that he can be thankful!
Great Charles!
Dan
Perhaps not the place to discuss this, but I feel that's a bit heavy handed. Worldly life is filled with both good and evil and in my mind the goal is to renounce the evil and keep the good of life. Renouncing it completely to me is like killing the patient along with the cancer.
cbass wrote:
Perhaps not the place to discuss this, but I feel that's a bit heavy handed. Worldly life is filled with both good and evil and in my mind the goal is to renounce the evil and keep the good of life. Renouncing it completely to me is like killing the patient along with the cancer.
Hi. Actually, I have been living in India for several years, and my understanding is that a major tenet of Hindu belief is that the world is an illusion, a dream, a maya. Both good and bad are just part of that illusion. And in fact, the good parts are more dangerous because one can easily become attached to them. Renunciation means detachment from worldly desires and involvement.
I think where I often trip up is when I apply my Judaeo-Christian viewpoint to something which is completely foreign to that. For instance, at the Kumb Mela (the largest religious gathering in the world), a sadhu asked me for money. Sadhus live a spiritual life and depend on others to supply their basic needs. You get a blessing whenever you offer to help them. Instead, I gave money to a poor mother and child who were sitting at the side of the road. The sadhu was shocked. He had devoted his life to reaching God, and he expected encouragement and respect. Why would I give money to a poor woman whose past life karma it was to be poor? I had applied my Judaeo-Christian values, and in India, such behavior would be seen as bizarre, and even offensive.
I don't know if this addressed your point, but I appreciate the level of this discussion, and thank you for bringing it up.
cbass wrote:
Perhaps not the place to discuss this, but I feel that's a bit heavy handed. Worldly life is filled with both good and evil and in my mind the goal is to renounce the evil and keep the good of life. Renouncing it completely to me is like killing the patient along with the cancer.
Actually if you read the definition of Charles' subject, sandhu, that is exactlty what he is defined as. Not sayin it is right or wrong. If the "worldly life" is as you state, good v evil, (which I believe is a good premise)then he has "disowned" himself from that conflict. The fact that this person dedicates his life to that religious philosophy has earned my respect and admiration.
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
Actually if you read the definition of Charles' subject, sandhu, that is exactlty what he is defined as. Not sayin it is right or wrong. If the "worldly life" is as you state, good v evil, (which I believe is a good premise)then he has "disowned" himself from that conflict. The fact that this person dedicates his life to that religious philosophy has earned my respect and admiration.
Dan
In that case I will change my statement from seeing despair to seeing detachment in his eyes.
