--- In [email protected], "llundrub" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > -----It obviously touches some nerves though. My own belief, > and I do believe this, is that there are universal deities > which are perceived through the apperceptual bias of the > culture but those deities in no way whatsoever are changed, > or diminished by their being worshipped through all cultuires, > though all cultures are not understanding that they are > worshipping the same impulses. Of course I'm talking about > the pagan religions and not the monistic religions.
For the record, I have no problem with this whatsoever. You're being honest about the yagyas being *worship* of *deities*. What I think is a little hilarious are the people who pay money to have yagyas performed for them and then pretend they're doing so for "scientific" or rational reasons. It's *OK* to be superstitious; they don't have to hide it. > Yeah, basically I don't have time to do 125,000 mantras > for this deity or that so I will pay for it for the benefit. > I think that's cool. Maybe others think that sucks or that > the Vedas are misguided but that's their limitation. I wouldn't say "limitation." That's their belief. It's *all* about belief in this situation. Those who don't believe in deities are no more "limited" than those who do, and tend to have more cash in their pockets that they're not paying to those who claim they can get the gods to do favors for them. :-) > I also like having pujas done at www.monlam.org and other > places. Give the spiritual a job. That's great! i wish I > could have had a spiritual job, or been a TM teacher, > unlike most of you fucking ingrates but they wouldn't > have me. Again, that's fine, *as a belief*. I have a different one. I think that the thing that has fucked up spiritual practice and religions more than anything else is the establishment of teachers or a priest class who are paid for their services. The "cleanest" religions and spiritual traditions I've found in history are those who didn't allow this, and expected their teachers -- *including* the primary teacher or guru -- to work for a living just like everybody else, and do their teaching for free. If I were ever to win the lottery, I would establish a trust to help people teach basic meditation. But to qualify for funds from that trust, the teachers in question would have to agree to use the funds only for teaching materials, advertising, and room rental for the talks and classes themselves. Not one penny could be used to pay for their personal food, rent, or expenses. That way, you'd have teachers who were "in it for the right reasons," not looking to find an alternative to getting a job. It's a question of intent, and keeping that intent clean. It's also Just My Opinion...
