Post by kingcobra on Oct 5, 2007 17:21:17 GMT -6
The cosmic wheel is symbolic of karma. What goes around comes around. The agents of karma are the grahas (planets) in Hindu astrology. Although it is supposed to be a blind impersonal law of cause and effect, on the other hand those effects are meted out with a personal touch, since each of those grahas has a devatA (minor deity, and in the case of the sun, a major deity as an expansion of Vishnu). Ultimately, the deity of death, Yama, decides the fate of the jIva at the end of life.
So, what about the moral imperative based on the consequences of pApa (sin) and puNya (benevolent acts)? CV does not view karma yoga as a very lofty path. In fact, it is considered to be essentially a waste of time. What does it say about someone if they only act out of fear of the consequences or in hopes of the rewards of their actions? It does not demonstrate true compassion for other jIvas as sparks of brahman. Even mokSa (liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth) is considered to be inferior to eternal bhakti. For other religious traditions, karma or its equivalent (in Christianity there are the consequences of sin) plays a major role. From an ethical standpoint, CV stands apart for that reason. If there is a case for superiority of CV, it could be made on that basis, among other reasons. That combined with the ideals of bhakti has earned CV the respect of those outside the CV community. They will respect CV, even if they do not feel they need to take to that path.
So, what about the moral imperative based on the consequences of pApa (sin) and puNya (benevolent acts)? CV does not view karma yoga as a very lofty path. In fact, it is considered to be essentially a waste of time. What does it say about someone if they only act out of fear of the consequences or in hopes of the rewards of their actions? It does not demonstrate true compassion for other jIvas as sparks of brahman. Even mokSa (liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth) is considered to be inferior to eternal bhakti. For other religious traditions, karma or its equivalent (in Christianity there are the consequences of sin) plays a major role. From an ethical standpoint, CV stands apart for that reason. If there is a case for superiority of CV, it could be made on that basis, among other reasons. That combined with the ideals of bhakti has earned CV the respect of those outside the CV community. They will respect CV, even if they do not feel they need to take to that path.