Kumbhakarna or Vibhishana ?

This is in reply to the mail comments on character of vibhishana Kumbhakarna by M K Subramanian

“There is nothing ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare

From worldly point of view there is much to appreciate Kumbakerna but not from ‘spiritual pursuit’ point of view.

[What I like about Ramayana is that it has depicted 4 distinct types of brotherhood in characterization of Lakshmana, Bharata, Kumbakarna and Vibhishana. Each one is praise worthy from different points. It will take at least 2 hours to talk about them!]

Kumbakarna makes a choice in favour of mundane attachment and gives up on lasting relationship with God(liness) and Everlasting Bliss. So spiritually wrong.

You have used the word ‘Dharma’. so here are some additional points:
What Kumbakarna did was appropriate ‘Saamanya’ Dharma. what Vibhishana did was the right ‘Praadhanya’ Dharma’
‘Obey your father’ can be a good ‘Saamanya’ Dharma but Prahlada is admired for his disobedience because he followed “Praadhanya’ Dharma.
When Hiranya kashipu claimed ‘I am God’ the Lord took an avatar to kill him.But when Aadi Shankara said “I am God’ (Aham Brahmasmi) he is worshipped as Jagat Guru!
So ‘Dharma’ is not a mere word. Context and application of the codes must be discreetly discussed in the light of ‘Nyaya Shastra’ which forms a part of Vedanga!

Karma Theory is a Bane or a Boon? – 2

Contributed by M K Subramanian
This is an adjunct to Karma Theory is Bane or a Boon? -1

We also meet people with simple tastes, interests and aspirations. They are happy where they are, with what they have. It would seem ‘Karma’ has not touched them, or troubled them. The reason for this is that they are shielded by ‘Contentment’! Their aspirations are not high but match with their skill and knowledge. So impact of ‘Karma’ is not conspicuous in their lives. Such people define ‘Success’ in simple terms and achieve it! So they are happy. Lines of Ralph W. Emerson come to mind…

“To Laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one Life has breathed easier because you have Lived. This is to have succeeded.”

If Success’ as defined above is practiced by one, that person would pass over upheavals and enjoy peace of mind. Impact of Karma would be like the small waves in the sea of life and that person has just to take a timely dip – he will not drown!

An attained soul or a Gyani will also not be affected by any hardship inflicted by ‘Karma’. These persons are spiritually advanced. Anything affecting the body will not disturb their tranquillity. Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Ramana Maharshi, Sadashiva Brahmendra and many others belong to this category. They too were affected by some life endangering illness/conditions (possibly due to past Karma). But, in no way did they affect their equanimity, till the end!

There is one more category. Those belonging to this category are distinctly different from any of the above. They are quite attached to life, family and material world. Their wishes are not modest but go beyond their legitimate capacity to acquire them on their own. But they also wish to get free from the bondage of ‘Karma’ for ever! Is there a remedy? That’s the question. – YES! – That’s the answer!

Parikshit (grandson of Arjuna) ruled Bharat Varsh (vast, undivided India) for 30 Years. He was honest, valorous and righteous. But one day he carried out a heinous act. He picked a dead snake and garlanded a saint in deep meditation. Why? Parikshit was thirsty. He pleaded with the saint who remained unmoved. After the king left, Shringi (son of the saint) saw the dead serpent and felt insulted. In anger he cursed, without verification on facts. He said, “The person responsible for the act will die of poisonous snake bite in Seven days (Name of the snake –Thakshaka).” Soon the message reached Parikshit. Immediately he renounced his throne and left for the banks of Ganges. A crowd of renowned saints and sages had already assembled there in anticipation of a great event. Parikshit addressed the assembled saints, “I have only 7 days of life left because of a curse. Please advise what I must do with in this short time for deliverance and to attain beatitude?”. Before any one of them could answer Shri Suka (son of Veda Vyasa) arrived on the scene. He said in reply, “You are fortunate, because you will not die for 7 days. (Who else in this crowd can claim it?). That’s more than enough time to attain Moksha. Just listen attentively to my narration”. ‘Srimad Bhagavata’ was born. After 7 days Parikshit fearlessly gave up his body and merged with God Head. He was benefitted by the ‘external force’ acting on him. He needed only implicit faith and active Listening to bring in the result. The curse (‘Karma’) was a boon! Efficacy of Bhagavata Dharma was established to benefit all humanity!

There is hope for all! ‘Bhagavata’ Dharma is for the current times and for ordinary people!

This is a series of Articles on Hindu karma Theory by M K Subramanian. Refer [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][UR Here]

Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian?

No Beef in vedas refer to

This site has quoted Yajurveda 40.7; Manusmrithi 5.51; Atharvaveda 6.140.2; Atharvaveda 8.6.23; Atharvaveda 10.1.29; Yajurveda 1.1; Yajurveda 6.11; Yajurveda 14.8; Yajurveda 11.83 etc.
Main ideas presented are
All souls are same, Meat eaters are murderers, Eat corns of rice; and wheet, cooked and uncooked meaters should be destroyed; It is sin to kill innocents; Don’t kill protect the animals; Protect ; Ashvamedaha does not mean killing Horses; Do not kill cows and bulls; Rigveda declares killing cow is equal to Manslaughter;
Then he goes about dubious translations and gives examples of misinterpreting words example manasa etc. This is pretty convincing if you do not want to probe further.
Many people do not want to Know so what more proof do you want that there meat eating is prohibited in Vedas and manusmrity etc.
Let us now look into Manusmriti and see what it says.
To start with let us take 5.51 quoted/Translated correctly and killer of animals is called धतकाः ( slayer) but see also
5.41. On offering the honey-mixture (to a guest), at a sacrifice and at the rites in honour of the manes, but on these occasions only, may an animal be slain; that (rule) Manu proclaimed
5.42. A twice-born man who, knowing the true meaning of the Veda, slays an animal for these purposes, causes both himself and the animal to enter a most blessed state.
5.43. A twice-born man of virtuous disposition, whether he dwells in (his own) house, with a teacher, or in the forest, must never, even in times of distress, cause an injury (to any creature) which is not sanctioned by the Veda.
5.44. Know that the injury to moving creatures and to those destitute of motion, which the Veda has prescribed for certain occasions, is no injury at all; for the sacred law shone forth from the Veda
5.45. He who injures in noxious beings from a wish to (give) himself pleasure, never finds happiness, neither living nor dead
5.46. He who does not seek to cause the sufferings of bonds and death to living creatures, (but) desires the good of all (beings), obtains endless bliss.
5.47. He who does not injure any (creature), attains without an effort what he thinks of, what he undertakes, and what he fixes his mind on.
5.48. Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures, and injury to sentient beings is detrimental to (the attainment of) heavenly bliss; let him therefore shun (the use of) meat.
5.49. Having well considered the (disgusting) origin of flesh and the (cruelty of) fettering and slaying corporeal beings, let him entirely abstain from eating flesh
5.50. He who, disregarding the rule (given above), does not eat meat like a Pisaka, becomes dear to men, and will not be tormented by diseases.
5.51. He who permits (the slaughter of an animal), he who cuts it up, he who kills it, he who buys or sells (meat), he who cooks it, he who serves it up, and he who eats it, (must all be considered as) the slayers (of the animal).
5.52. There is no greater sinner than that (man) who, though not worshipping the gods or the manes, seeks to increase (the bulk of) his own flesh by the flesh of other (beings).
5.53. He who during a hundred years annually offers a horse-sacrifice, and he who entirely abstains from meat, obtain the same reward for their meritorious (conduct).
5.54. By subsisting on pure fruit and roots, and by eating food fit for ascetics (in the forest), one does not gain (so great) a reward as by entirely avoiding (the use of) flesh.
5.55. ’Me he (mam sah)’ will devour in the next (world), whose flesh I eat in this (life); the wise declare this (to be) the real meaning of the word ’flesh’ (mamsah).
5.56. There is no sin in eating meat, in (drinking) spirituous liquor, and in carnal intercourse, for that is the natural way of created beings, but abstention brings great rewards.
5.41,42,56 says it is not sin but better to absatain There is no sanctitiy in claiming no one killed or should kill and there is no translation problem etc. only understanding problems.
Nonvegetarian eaters are aware of this and do abstain on occasions and eat for good health and same is the case with drinking also many people drink with control and make best use of drinking parties. They rarely become drunkards.
Many nonsense are told like this under the assumption that nobody will check it (of course nobody is checking it)
For More clarity go through manusmriti
In south Deepawali is a festiwell without Nonvegetarians but many celebrate the next day as Mutton Deepwali.
As tomorrow is Deepawali Happy Deepawali for both vegetarians and Non vegetarians.

What is Avidya or Null point in brain

This is an adjunct to My Philosophy…My Quest

In the previous posting we saw Saibabha’s advice to go in search of Avidya. What exactly is avidya. Let us understand how human brain works. In general we are deemed to be more intelligent than animals. How is that, let us see. In the above picture if a man sneaks to a dog the dog will bark even if the person is known to it. Where as if a man just approaches the dog walking straight the dog will wag its tail. Any number of times the situation is repeated the rection will remain same; Until either of them tires out. But if it is a man somewhere down the line the brain will declare the situation as abnormal and create a null point in the brain. Null point is a situation which is not defined and brain cannot process the data in the null point. This is called Avidya. We saw in posting ‘God is Null’ how it compares with Computer programming.
This is explained by Immanual Kant as ‘apriori’. Apriori means a data that is stored in our brain which is used for understanding the situation. When situation cannot be explained by apriori the software in our brain crashes and null point is created. One example of crashing apriori is death. Brain cannot understand death and death of near and dear one will crash our brain especially if it is unexpected. Brain actually undergoes trauma.

The Brain will immediately try to fill the null point with data and sometimes absurd explanations will be given as fact or cause etc. How we handle our Brain null points will determine our intelligence. Many scientists are called genius as they perceive null points and handle it with logic. Everybody knows apple will fall from the tree. It never was a null point but once it raised curiosity of Newton the data started flowing into his brain and gravitational Theory was born. Same thing happened to Archimedes. When he sat in a bath tub the entire volume weight upthurst principles flowed into his brain and as the story goes it was so thrilling that Archimedes ran naked shouting Eureka. Another such case is of that of benzene. Benzene was found to be a stable compound. But its structure was not easily defined, as in any way it was written, there were unsaturated elements. Friedrich august kekulé a German scientist who was studying this was in deep thought and just when he was getting into a bus the ring shaped formation was conceived and he knew the problem was solved. As the story goes this happened when he was just getting into the bus and had tough time balancing himself else he would have fallen. So once the Null point is created in the brain the answerers will flow to you from various sources. There can be many stories including Buddha under bodha tree. More to follow….