whenever I see Ramas post I feel he has hidden agenda to convert. Maybe am being paranoid but Ramas let's have a discussion about religion. This is the second time am requesting you.

@ramas

Lama Surya Das is a great guy. One of few American lamas who could explain things very well.
Robert Thurman is yet another American (former) lama who is just as great.

By the way, why don't people trust ramas ?

I never said here trust me. Trust your inner voice.
Just because I quoted some Bible verses, I'm being vilanized in here. This place is called Sajha, which means inclusive or common. But it feels like as long as it suits them, some people are all about freedom of speech, and as soon as someone writes something contratry to their belief, then they are all up and arms about it.
It seems "discussion" for some people means verbal WWE or UFC match. If you present your views I will listen to it, but when all you do it name calling, then it becomes harassing.

Up with arms re. You have your freedom of speech other's don't? I have debated with many people here but no one says we are threatening. Easy to play victim Ramas. Shame on you.

@ramas

Why should anyone be discouraged from quoting a verse from the Bible at all ? At least I feel no hesitation to quote from वज्रच्छेदिका प्रज्ञा पारमिता सूत्र (The Diamond Sutra) or from Book of Exodus when the prevailing context fits the verse or sayings from either of religious/philosophical traditions.

Anyone who do not learn or at least attempt to understand something, if not many things, from outside one's own tradition(s) or value(s) or norm(s) is a colossal and unfortunate missed opportunity for oneself.

Aside from awakening to the fact that there are realities outside one's own comforts, as an added bonus, anyone who attempts to and hopefully succeeds in understanding traditions aside from one's own is almost always at a tremendous advantage over those who don't. Or, at least this has been my experience so far.

Expand your understanding whenever you have an opportunity. It's a tremendous source of happiness. Happiness is never coated with color of any religion or faith group. At least, I find it pretty ridiculous and absurd for anyone to be unhappy at someone just because someone else does not strictly adhere to a particular line of tradition. It's rather fantastically irrational to make one's own tradition a source of disappointment and unhappiness.


By the way, why people do not trust ramas ?

Well,

For Ramas trust your inner voice means sell your soul to bible. That's it

Anyone can quote from any text book such as bible. I do not consider bible as a holy book because it is just what 1500 or given 1800 yrs book. Before bible was written there was a democratic republic society within the region that covers Europe Middle East and upper region of Africa. But look at our culture and religion British couldn't break Hinduism out of India when they were there for 500 years. I know direct rule was only from 1858 but these people were there from long before. Islam couldn't de story it for like what 1000 years give and take but since these Finnish Danish embassy are giving money and taking advantage of these innocent people. The first and only claim they have to convert people is to say look at bahun and Chhetri. They hide what Christians did in U.S. See thanks giving when native welcomed them with open arms they massacred them. Now the natives are in minority. Look at Tasmania Australia not a single native ces from them they were lined up and killed. Why Henry VIII had to disconnect from papal state? So as long as you know the value of your ancestors you wouldn't convert listening to crafty people. Those who leave their culture to adopt the text book such as bible .bible an

@many

It's quite natural for any particular religion to rise, develop and decline at any particular place in the world. Indonesia had a rich, dominant and colorful life of Hindu and Buddhist past. Indonesia today is left with only the heritage of Hindu and Buddhist past with less than 10 percent people still adhering to these traditions.

Americans moving away from religion ?

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Khaobadi bro
Nah. It's not true. A Christian country cannot be a true liberal. When Obama became president or presidential candidate they were questioning about his religion and the debate was in the national networks. So I do not buy it. I don't know if you have mingled with Indonesian or not though the country is official Muslim the people name their kids taking the name from Sanskrit or Hinduism. I have many friends and all their kids are called with avimanyu Arjun Radha Greta etc. please double check about Indonesia and not only that but when I was working with African Muslim he was my manager 5 years back we use to discuss religion and he used to tell me his culture is destroyed either by Arabs or French they have only Arabic or Christian name. They long forgot what their name would have been if French didn't have invaded their country. Now these country who were colonial are the spokesman for democracy and freedom of speech.

@UJL, lu ja daha le marna lagyo, hahaha, ta chahin kun chahin sadhu paris? Hahahaha, @stallon, say it 99 more times....just say it..

@divorceguy, i was right, u r born out of asshole...

@LoperThapa: I realized that you took that passage about the misuse of the word God from "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle ;). BTW I liked reading that book. It is one of the books which inspired me to think outside the box, that is not adhere to one closed concept which a religion would profess.
Now with regards to Idol worship,you can basically think that it causes us to be shortsighted or even blind towards God. How would you satisfy God by putting laddu or peda on the mouth of a statue? How would that status hear anything? see anything? God is in you rather and is in the creation, yet when we focus our reverence to an idol we fall into that trap where we seek to please God by bribing God. Now religions as man perceive them fall into this same trap even though they may say they are against idol worship. I have had disagreement with a pastor in this regard. Personally I think love is the tool or vehicle of worshipping God. We can use all the sweet words we want, but if our heart is not quickened by love then our 'worship' becomes futile or in vain.

What is GOD? Gold Oil Diamonds.

I still LMAO when GOD comes to Moses and says that Moses can only see GOD's back or ASS in Exodus. What kind of GOD shows ass to his bhakta? No wonder, these Popes and the exorcists love ass, from children to old....Oops, Poor Jesus, and his GOD, has to walk around recruiting his followers........

@many

You seem to be pointing at a particular strand of Christianity or a particular interpretation of Christianity. In other words, conservative strand (interpretation) of Christianity. Guys from conservative strand tend to be the most vocal and at times the most outrageous like Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, James Dobson, Ben Carson etc.

Just because these guys are the most vocal and at times the most outrageous does not mean they are the most convincing. They don't seem to be the most admirable bunch either. I find these guys pretty hilarious at times. Great for entertainment value and not much beyond it.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to interpretation by each individual. Anything can be interpreted in any particular way depending on one's own likings or fears or ambitions or depending on one's scope of knowledge or depending on combination of these factors.

When one interprets a religion (any religion) in  perverted ways this is what happens.

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I see the Bible as a poem not as a scientific document. It will be rather absurd to interpret poetic illustrations of things in the Bible as literal truths. It will be unfortunate to not be able to differentiate between a poem and a scientific document.


A Creationist (people who believe that the earth is only 6000 yeas old based on Biblical interpretation) finds a 60 million year old fossils. - http://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2015-05-29/routine-basement-excavation-uncovers-important-fossil-discovery

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Lol! Loved the above video. Kudos Khaobadi bro

Ramas can you come with the opposition debate on upper video. I would love to see it.

Why do I have to debate on the Young earth (creationist) theory or old earth theory?
As the names suggest they are theories and not facts or true.
I think you mistake me for a Bible thumping pastor. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not like that. I'm for the priceless pearls in the scripture. (Matthew 13:45,46 - The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.)

Kingdom of heaven concept is stolen from Hinduism and Hebrew. Selling every possession for one pearl now that is not economics friendly.
If you look at the video carefully and listin every words that are spoken maybe you will seek the truth my frien. Earth is 6000 years old what a rubbish. We have Indus Valley civilization that has been dated back to 10,000 years old even if you read Egypt history it takes you to 10,000 years behind.

@Many - Care to back it up with scripture of what you just said? I was curious, I want to know fact. I'm not saying you are not right, I would like to know the truth. thanks