Hindu orthodox vs Western catholic

Move Series – Orthodox vs Modern Catholic liberal Debate


In Astrology, to my great discomfort, I often find, that the prediction part,-regardless of the best intuitive and deductive logic- have this tendency to go extremely awry. Equally annoying is the realization that a similar set of planetary combinations in two different charts, may not always lead to same or even comparable outcomes.

The probable reason for this is that, with a variety of characteristics attributed to a set of data, to attempt a prediction based on any one of them, without a clear idea which one will act at that particular time, is extremely difficult. Divine intervention, in aiding you to see them, therefore, seems an inescapable conclusion, especially to an orthodox mind-set. This, kind of, reinforces faith in the orthodox Hindu belief, of a repeated birth –death cycle, and the present birth being a result of many actions exercised in absolute free-will, in one’s previous births. Thus without knowing the precise cause-effect details, predictions can only come with Grace.

However when I hear the compellingly mesmerizing arguments by the urbane/modern/catholic western philosophers (summed up by Gulpa/Ambu as I find it, not easy to read the originals myself), such as “ask, receive, believe”, “law of attractions” kind of great stuff, and speak of our own truisms of “aham brhmaasmi” with consummate ease, it is impossible not to be tempted into accepting them lock stock and barrel. This is especially appealing as there are no apparently invisible baggage, no previous/future birth kind of “poochandis” threatening you, and with the gen-next obviously loving it, it’s difficult to be, and remain outside of the main stream.

As I reflect on these, I discern a carried-forward stubbornness acquired over repeated births plus the upbringing in the current one, which simply refuses to accept anything other than the faith, which bars any one from this pursuit, till he has purified himself with vedic prescribed daily rituals, and till His Grace is received. Perhaps, there is also this inability to come to terms with a possibility that, lured by a tantalizingly great language, any and every one of today, can easily grasp the profound truisms, without being constrained by rigors of qualifications etc, and gallop much faster and reach that ultimate “nirvana”.. Added to this, is the unrestricted access to simultaneous enjoyment of material bliss, that today’s technology can offer you, which is akin to saying that “kandathe kaatchi, kondathe kolam” kind of laissez-faire, does not affect in any way, one’s path to total nirvana.

Why is it then, that my mind does not wholeheartedly get swayed by this profound concept, and easily merge into the bandwagon and join the mainstream? The answer is simple; I still find a huge merit in the rebirth etc concept, and which, methinks, probably explains the rationale for the (a) ubiquitous poverty that abound amongst us (b) pain and suffering I am witness to in fellow human beings,(c) scandalous disregard of the leaders to environment as if there is no next generation, etc and the presence of all of which, must have some relevance .

As against this, to my mind ( I may be wrong) it appears, the western concept confining itself to a single life span, apparently, brushes all of us, in one canvas. To revert to “law of attractions” and the “ask, believe receive” concepts; I am not very clear, as I have not read the original books, but let me attempt a rough summary, based on Gulpa/Ambus briefs.

I am told when a man is in pain, by constantly thinking of pain, he is in fact attracting more of it. Instead if he were to constantly mull over the fact that he is well and hearty, he will just be that. Similarly when in need, one has only to ask, and have belief, you have no choice but to receive it.

The orthodox view would appear to be just the same; but with these caveats, (a) You need not ask, as He knows what you want and (b) the moment you desire something, since it has to be received, you are making sure of another birth as it may not be possible to get it in this birth cycle.

Which brings me to the “law of attraction”, the orthodox view. One of the many names of the Lord is “Krishna” and one of the meanings of the word is “to attract”. If one were to constantly think of Krishna, He will be so attracted as to redeem you from the cycle of birth-death, and take you into His abode.

I am also reminded of a final verse in one of our odes to Durga, it roughly goes like this

“Oh Mother, I have in the preceding verses offered a full shodasa upachara puja, and if you find even an iota of Bhakthi in one of them, I would plead that you be pleased and bless me, as even that can come only with your Grace.”

Reverse law of attraction? You need only to think of Her/Him and you will be delivered……. I am hooked with this concept, folks. And in the immediate present, all that I ask, is the resilence in this and other births, to be able to bear all the privations, and yet think of Him constantly.

Love

Vichu