By: Anil

Anil — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:11:00 +0000

FYI: I am a hindu and would like to note that the picture shown is that of a Hindu temple. Not a ‘monsatry’ in the sense of the word used for Buddhism. A temple has a central deity placed in its core – and the basic architecture of a hindu temple is in fact ‘inspired’ by anatomy of a woman. The central core is called “Garbhaagaar” in Sanskrit (literal meaning – “womb-room” also, “core-room”). A temple is not a monsatry at all. In fact it’s a celebration of the deity’s BEING. (supposedly the deity lives/eats/sleeps there and has daily routine bath…please visit a nearyby temple in USA and you will see these beautiful ceremonies.) Nothing “ascetic” at all in the sense the word is used in western-religions. Temple is NOT a place where you go to “deny” life to yourself but to in fact “accept life as gift from the deity” ..the philosophy of “Darshan” in Hinduism where a devotee can go and simply “look lovingly” in the deity’s eye and fill herself with “life” is completely different than that typically interpreted by western interpreters..in one word – they got the basic spirit of it pretty wrong…IMHO.

Comments on: Implications of the Ascetic Ideal on Knowledge and Truth

By: Anil