Jahnu
2019-06-04 03:18:18 UTC
In Bhagavad Gita, God describes various dharmas or duties people must
follow, in order to live a good life. Krishna doesnt require us to
believe in Him, He simply requires us to follow the rules for moral
and ethics, He has outlined.
As an atheist one can follow such rules without necessarily believing
in God. Following Gods arrangements for material nature is an
absolute necessity if one wants to maximize the enjoyment of life and
minimize the suffering.
What we choose to follow in life is ultimately up to us, God gives us
that choice, but whatever we choose to do, we must suffer or enjoy the
consequences. So our activities in life are what defines us, not what
we believe in. So even out of pure self-interest, and regardless of
our beliefs, we should follow the laws of God.
We suffer in the material world because we cause suffering to other
living entities. Existential suffering comes from being ignorant of
ones real self.
Three types of miseries assault humans - suffering from the body and
mind, like disease, insanity etc. Suffering from other living entities
- murder, rape, sharks, mosquitos etc. And suffering inflicted upon us
by nature - floods, hurricanes, famines etc.
Suffering is an inherent part of human existence. Life in a material
body, without exception, ends in suffering, because everything ends in
disease, old age and death.
Most people dont even know who they are, and why they are here. They
think, life is meant to enjoy a body - a dead machine -which is the
cause of all their suffering, in the first place. There is some
enjoyment to be had from the body, but mostly what comes from the body
is misery.
The fact is, we are here in the material world to enjoy and suffer
according to our activities. Karma and reincarnation explains
suffering in a rational way - how we are the cause of our own
suffering and enjoyment.
By understanding the law of karma, one can begin to make sense of
ones suffering, process the suffering, rather than being a victim of
ignorance and lamentation.
The vast majority of people go through their lives lamenting over the
bad that happens to them, and rejoicing over the good. But life gets
so much more simple when we understand the law of karma. It so
simplifies ones outlook on the world.
Karma is a law of nature. Everything that happens in the universe is
arranged by the Supreme's material energy. The universe lasts for one
breath of Maha-vishnu - 311 trillion years - which means that one
exhalation and inhalation of God lasts 311 trillion solar years.
That's the first thing to discover about God - how great He is.
But that's only a preliminary understanding of God. Higher than
worshiping God in awe and reverence is to relate to Him as friend or
parent or lover. This becomes possible when one begins to understand
the real purpose of existence.
Every material interaction, right down to the movement of each and
every atom and molecule in the universe is arranged by Krishna in His
form as Paramatma, the Supersoul.
What that means is we dont have to lament over anything, because no
matter what we did or didn't do, it was destined to happen. And
whatever happens is being carried out by material nature.
Krishna says:
The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks
himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by
the three modes of material nature. (Bg 3.27)
--but, but it's all random. What you experience in life is nothing
more than fluctuations of atoms and molecules.
Its a funny how atheism so proudly proclaims that its better to not
know. In atheism, existential ignorance is considered better than
existential clarity. I wonder why anyone would willingly choose such
an ignorant outlook on life. You see, rather than being peaceful and
happy in the knowledge that everything that happens is inevitable
karma, people like to bitch and moan non-stop about all the things
that went wrong.
However, when you know that every atom is controlled by Krishna, you
feel completely secure in surrendering to Him. Why would one not want
to surrender to someone who is in complete control? It's a natural
inclination to surrender to and rely upon someone in control. People
throughout all times have surrendered to some supreme power, either in
the form of nature or some supernatural beings in the universe.
--but, but I don't need nobody to to tell me what to do. No god is
gonna tell me how to live my life.
I actually have a theory about that. I am convinced that modern
Christianity and Islam were invented by atheists to ridicule and scorn
God. By erasing reincarnation from their teachings, theyve made God
into some old bastard sitting in heaven, and whimsically throwing one
soul down to earth to a life of glory and another soul down to a life
of misery.
--but, but now a days, we know the universe popped out of a point,
just like that, poof, for no reason at all. The only rhyme and reason
about life, I invent myself. I don't need nobody to define my values
for me. I'll figure that out for myself, thank you very much.
Ok, so how do you know what rules to live by in life? Who defines your
values?
-- Uh duh, welcome to the entertainment industry. It's called
Hollywood. Hollywood defines how I live my life.
Really? You mean to say, people other than yourself define your
values?
--no, no I have my own values.
Oh, you mean the values you grew up with in the global Culture that
rules the world at present? How do you know those values are more
correct or unassailable than, say, the values of another culture?
--but, but we try to export our way of freedom to the rest of the
world. It's called globalization. All research shows it's beneficial
for the economy to consume as much as possible. That's why us
Westerners deem it imperial to subject the rest of the world to our
way of life... Why do you think the West is called the free world?
Yes, I get that, but how do you know that Western democracy, based as
it is, on consumption and exploitation of natural resources, is the
best way of life?
--but, but that's obvious. The sales of anti-depressants have shot
through the roof in later years. How is that not good for the economy?
Do you realize how much money the pharmacy industry makes, how much
they contribute to tax and BNP and how many jobs they create all over
the world?
Yes, but how do you measure that a life of consumption is the best way
of life? There is only one way to do that, and I'll tell you how. The
real measure stick of life is happiness, how happy something makes
you
By measuring the over all happiness and distress obtained from your
activities, it's possible to scientifically determine the best way to
live. And it is a scientific fact that we become more happy and
satisfied living with Krishna in our lives, than living a life without
Krishna. Its as simple as that.
It's not a matter of faith, it's a demonstrable, scientific fact.
Krishna says:
In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth
generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Vishnu, and
blessed them by saying, Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice]
because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for
living happily and achieving liberation. Bg 3.10
The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and
thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign
for all. Bg 3.11
In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being
satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], will supply all
necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them
to the demigods in return is certainly a thief. Bg 3.12
The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because
they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who
prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin. Bg
3.13
All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from
rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and
yajna is born of prescribed duties. Bg 3.14
Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are
directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Consequently the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in
acts of sacrifice. Bg 3.15
My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of
sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of
sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person
lives in vain. Bg 3.16
follow, in order to live a good life. Krishna doesnt require us to
believe in Him, He simply requires us to follow the rules for moral
and ethics, He has outlined.
As an atheist one can follow such rules without necessarily believing
in God. Following Gods arrangements for material nature is an
absolute necessity if one wants to maximize the enjoyment of life and
minimize the suffering.
What we choose to follow in life is ultimately up to us, God gives us
that choice, but whatever we choose to do, we must suffer or enjoy the
consequences. So our activities in life are what defines us, not what
we believe in. So even out of pure self-interest, and regardless of
our beliefs, we should follow the laws of God.
We suffer in the material world because we cause suffering to other
living entities. Existential suffering comes from being ignorant of
ones real self.
Three types of miseries assault humans - suffering from the body and
mind, like disease, insanity etc. Suffering from other living entities
- murder, rape, sharks, mosquitos etc. And suffering inflicted upon us
by nature - floods, hurricanes, famines etc.
Suffering is an inherent part of human existence. Life in a material
body, without exception, ends in suffering, because everything ends in
disease, old age and death.
Most people dont even know who they are, and why they are here. They
think, life is meant to enjoy a body - a dead machine -which is the
cause of all their suffering, in the first place. There is some
enjoyment to be had from the body, but mostly what comes from the body
is misery.
The fact is, we are here in the material world to enjoy and suffer
according to our activities. Karma and reincarnation explains
suffering in a rational way - how we are the cause of our own
suffering and enjoyment.
By understanding the law of karma, one can begin to make sense of
ones suffering, process the suffering, rather than being a victim of
ignorance and lamentation.
The vast majority of people go through their lives lamenting over the
bad that happens to them, and rejoicing over the good. But life gets
so much more simple when we understand the law of karma. It so
simplifies ones outlook on the world.
Karma is a law of nature. Everything that happens in the universe is
arranged by the Supreme's material energy. The universe lasts for one
breath of Maha-vishnu - 311 trillion years - which means that one
exhalation and inhalation of God lasts 311 trillion solar years.
That's the first thing to discover about God - how great He is.
But that's only a preliminary understanding of God. Higher than
worshiping God in awe and reverence is to relate to Him as friend or
parent or lover. This becomes possible when one begins to understand
the real purpose of existence.
Every material interaction, right down to the movement of each and
every atom and molecule in the universe is arranged by Krishna in His
form as Paramatma, the Supersoul.
What that means is we dont have to lament over anything, because no
matter what we did or didn't do, it was destined to happen. And
whatever happens is being carried out by material nature.
Krishna says:
The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks
himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by
the three modes of material nature. (Bg 3.27)
--but, but it's all random. What you experience in life is nothing
more than fluctuations of atoms and molecules.
Its a funny how atheism so proudly proclaims that its better to not
know. In atheism, existential ignorance is considered better than
existential clarity. I wonder why anyone would willingly choose such
an ignorant outlook on life. You see, rather than being peaceful and
happy in the knowledge that everything that happens is inevitable
karma, people like to bitch and moan non-stop about all the things
that went wrong.
However, when you know that every atom is controlled by Krishna, you
feel completely secure in surrendering to Him. Why would one not want
to surrender to someone who is in complete control? It's a natural
inclination to surrender to and rely upon someone in control. People
throughout all times have surrendered to some supreme power, either in
the form of nature or some supernatural beings in the universe.
--but, but I don't need nobody to to tell me what to do. No god is
gonna tell me how to live my life.
I actually have a theory about that. I am convinced that modern
Christianity and Islam were invented by atheists to ridicule and scorn
God. By erasing reincarnation from their teachings, theyve made God
into some old bastard sitting in heaven, and whimsically throwing one
soul down to earth to a life of glory and another soul down to a life
of misery.
--but, but now a days, we know the universe popped out of a point,
just like that, poof, for no reason at all. The only rhyme and reason
about life, I invent myself. I don't need nobody to define my values
for me. I'll figure that out for myself, thank you very much.
Ok, so how do you know what rules to live by in life? Who defines your
values?
-- Uh duh, welcome to the entertainment industry. It's called
Hollywood. Hollywood defines how I live my life.
Really? You mean to say, people other than yourself define your
values?
--no, no I have my own values.
Oh, you mean the values you grew up with in the global Culture that
rules the world at present? How do you know those values are more
correct or unassailable than, say, the values of another culture?
--but, but we try to export our way of freedom to the rest of the
world. It's called globalization. All research shows it's beneficial
for the economy to consume as much as possible. That's why us
Westerners deem it imperial to subject the rest of the world to our
way of life... Why do you think the West is called the free world?
Yes, I get that, but how do you know that Western democracy, based as
it is, on consumption and exploitation of natural resources, is the
best way of life?
--but, but that's obvious. The sales of anti-depressants have shot
through the roof in later years. How is that not good for the economy?
Do you realize how much money the pharmacy industry makes, how much
they contribute to tax and BNP and how many jobs they create all over
the world?
Yes, but how do you measure that a life of consumption is the best way
of life? There is only one way to do that, and I'll tell you how. The
real measure stick of life is happiness, how happy something makes
you
By measuring the over all happiness and distress obtained from your
activities, it's possible to scientifically determine the best way to
live. And it is a scientific fact that we become more happy and
satisfied living with Krishna in our lives, than living a life without
Krishna. Its as simple as that.
It's not a matter of faith, it's a demonstrable, scientific fact.
Krishna says:
In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth
generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Vishnu, and
blessed them by saying, Be thou happy by this yajna [sacrifice]
because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for
living happily and achieving liberation. Bg 3.10
The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and
thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign
for all. Bg 3.11
In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being
satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], will supply all
necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them
to the demigods in return is certainly a thief. Bg 3.12
The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because
they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who
prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin. Bg
3.13
All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from
rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and
yajna is born of prescribed duties. Bg 3.14
Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are
directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Consequently the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in
acts of sacrifice. Bg 3.15
My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of
sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of
sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person
lives in vain. Bg 3.16