Letter # 31: "Lighten Up, Fellas!"

Corinthians 2:14 rebukes: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” The Koran makes a reprimand at 4:151: “These are truly the infidels, and we have prepared a disgraceful torment for the infidels.”
I say, “Lighten up, fellas!” Over the years, I have met many atheists who are serene, happy and kind. One broad-minded lady said that she even enjoys going into churches or temples, where the surroundings are so peaceful.
As you will be aware, we have driven away or killed off many who preach peace but that won’t stop them from coming again. Krishna explains, “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendent of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend myself.” BG 4:7.
Just over 2,500 years ago, in India, “descended” Siddhartha, a prince. He lived a protected life until he was a youth. When he first saw suffering and death, he was horrified. He was sickened also by the immense amount of animal killing that was going on the name of holy Vedic injunctions. You will note that the number of slaughterhouses is increasing even now. As you probably know, the Buddha meditated and arrived at new conclusions about the mind, the suffering in life, and how to live – now know as the “middle way”. You might not know that it’s an atheistic way. His coming was predicted in the Vedic texts “I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Dattatraya, who preached impersonalism, to Lord Buddha…” C8:3:12. Atheism is called impersonalism in the Vedas.
Buddha advocated non-violence – “ahimsa”. His mission grew and spread in all directions, even as far as what is now Afghanistan. The existing Vedic priests, who were in power in those days, did not like Buddha ousting them out. “What’s new,” you might ask? So they ousted Buddhism out, and by violence. The Buddhists did not fight back for they believed in ahimsa. So Buddha’s mission in India dwindled, but flourished in the north and east.
History is circular. The Buddha has now been ousted back into India. He lives in India, in the form of the happy, smiling monk, the Dalai Lama. I had the privilege of attending one of his speeches in Vancouver BC, about two years ago. He said that every religion teaches love, patience, tolerance, humility, gentleness, and rejoicing. Therefore, he stipulates, these are not religious values. Instead these are human values. He points out that such human values can only be promulgated by the education of the heart, not of the mind. The education of the mind is the modern emphasis, which is not enough, he says. He advocates education of the heart. Here in Vancouver, BC, we should consider ourselves fortunate that the Dalai Lama has chosen our city as the venue for his Centre on Peace And Education. Click here to see more on the Dalai Lama:
http://www.dalailamacenter.org/vancouverdialogues/2006/index.php



God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008"
“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
Tel: 604 273 6641 (also for fax on request)

http://jasbhopal.com/

References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.