02-25-2005, 06:29 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hell fire and heavenly-mist are very real for Christians.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We have had this discussion on interpretation of 'real'. Your definition of reality seems to be tied with assertion or deep belief. According to this, even delusion can be considered reality, which in the vedantic sense - or any other sense - is simply wrong.
A few weeks ago, my friend raised a question... "Let's say a man TRULY believes that jihad will lead him to heaven, if he has 100% faith, will he be lead to Salvation?" The answer is an emphatic NO. Ignorance is absolutely no excuse to commit crimes. If someone believes that hating others can lead to good things, it is not sanctioned by the Shruthi, and definitely does not go with the laws of Karma.
Valmiki (Rathnakara) sincerely believed that robbing was his Dharma, and he would incur no sins. When Naradha Muni told him that he WOULD incur sins, he justified by saying that his sins would be shared by his family. When his wife wisely explained that Karma cannot be shared like bread & butter, he attained Intense Vairagya.
The point is, believing itself will not make things happen. Just because I believe I can perform lobotomy does not make me a doctor. I should have the KARMA (work experience) and the GNANA (know how) to get the CONFIDENCE.
In no uncertain terms, Bible is not Shruthi. Thus it is not a pramaana. Hence hell cannot be "REAL".
We have had this discussion on interpretation of 'real'. Your definition of reality seems to be tied with assertion or deep belief. According to this, even delusion can be considered reality, which in the vedantic sense - or any other sense - is simply wrong.
A few weeks ago, my friend raised a question... "Let's say a man TRULY believes that jihad will lead him to heaven, if he has 100% faith, will he be lead to Salvation?" The answer is an emphatic NO. Ignorance is absolutely no excuse to commit crimes. If someone believes that hating others can lead to good things, it is not sanctioned by the Shruthi, and definitely does not go with the laws of Karma.
Valmiki (Rathnakara) sincerely believed that robbing was his Dharma, and he would incur no sins. When Naradha Muni told him that he WOULD incur sins, he justified by saying that his sins would be shared by his family. When his wife wisely explained that Karma cannot be shared like bread & butter, he attained Intense Vairagya.
The point is, believing itself will not make things happen. Just because I believe I can perform lobotomy does not make me a doctor. I should have the KARMA (work experience) and the GNANA (know how) to get the CONFIDENCE.
In no uncertain terms, Bible is not Shruthi. Thus it is not a pramaana. Hence hell cannot be "REAL".