Drunken eastern stuff

Wickedtruth · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:14 am Post subject: Drunken eastern stuff

"Mukunda, why don't you get an astrological armlet?"

"Should I, Master? I don't believe in astrology."

"It is never a question of belief; the only scientific attitude one can take on any subject is whether it is true. The law of gravitation worked as efficiently before Newton as after him. The cosmos would be fairly chaotic if its laws could not operate without the sanction of human belief.

"Charlatans have brought the stellar science to its present state of disrepute. Astrology is too vast, both mathematically1 and philosophically, to be rightly grasped except by men of profound understanding. If ignoramuses misread the heavens, and see there a scrawl instead of a script, that is to be expected in this imperfect world. One should not dismiss the wisdom with the 'wise.'

"All parts of creation are linked together and interchange their influences. The balanced rhythm of the universe is rooted in reciprocity," my guru continued. "Man, in his human aspect, has to combat two sets of forces first, the tumults within his being, caused by the admixture of earth, water, fire, air, and ethereal elements; second, the outer disintegrating powers of nature. So long as man struggles with his mortality, he is affected by the myriad mutations of heaven and earth.

"Astrology is the study of man's response to planetary stimuli. The stars have no conscious benevolence or animosity; they merely send forth positive and negative radiations. Of themselves, these do not help or harm humanity, but offer a lawful channel for the outward operation of cause-effect equilibriums which each man has set into motion in the past.

"A child is born on that day and at that hour when the celestial rays are in mathematical harmony with his individual karma. His horoscope is a challenging portrait, revealing his unalterable past and its probable future results. But the natal chart can be rightly interpreted only by men of intuitive wisdom: these are few.

"The message boldly blazoned across the heavens at the moment of birth is not meant to emphasize fate the result of past good and evil but to arouse man's will to escape from his universal thralldom. What he has done, he can undo. None other than himself was the instigator of the causes of whatever effects are now prevalent in his life. He can overcome any limitation, because he created it by his own actions in the first place, and because he has spiritual resources which are not subject to planetary pressure.

"Superstitious awe of astrology makes one an automaton, slavishly dependent on mechanical guidance. The wise man defeats his planets which is to say, his past by transferring his allegiance from the creation to the Creator. The more he realizes his unity with Spirit, the less he can be dominated by matter. The soul is ever-free; it is deathless because birthless. It cannot be regimented by stars.

"Man is a soul, and has a body. When he properly places his sense of identity, he leaves behind all compulsive patterns. So long as he remains confused in his ordinary state of spiritual amnesia, he will know the subtle fetters of environmental law.

chookrooter · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:08 am Post subject:

Seems Yogananda make a big impact on you. Cool

Do I believe in Astrology?

NO.

Do I know anything about astrology? I was a practising astrologer for about 10 years.[amateur;Placidean system] Long enough to convince me the practice has no value. The maths are crude (even I can do them) the variables used are limited* and every system of which I'm aware uses a geocentric model of the Solar system

Plus, if true astrology, is also form of precognition, of which I have never seen a convincing example .Imo as a principle pre cognition would also invalidate free will**

* as limited as they are,the possible permutations are staggering and often contradict each other.

**I mention that an aside,not an argument,as my own position is that of hard determinism.

Aupmanyav · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

WickedTruth, who asked you to put your faith in Yogananda (if this trash is from him), if you do that? There are many charlatan hindu gurus in the west. Yogananda is an imposter. Though I would not agree with Chookrooter about free will. I believe in probability and chance. We are creatures of our circumstances; country, religion, education, society, etc. Our response to situations depends on that, we think we are taking an independent decision.
_________________
"Brahma Satyam Jagan-mithya" (Brahman is the truth, the observed is an illusion)
"Sarve Khalu Idam Brahma" (All this here is Brahman)

Wickedtruth · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject:

Wickedtruth · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

chookrooter · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject:

monkeybyte · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

chookrooter · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject:

Wickedtruth · Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

Aupmanyav · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:30 am Post subject:

Chookrooter, that happened with Times of India also. They decided to have an astrolocial column but had not decided on the person. So, a sub-editor copied predictions from other magazines and older dates, and placed them in the column till the person was chosen and given the responsibility (probably to do just the same).

I think palmistry is a better past-time for young men than astrology, because it allows them to hold hands of young women, satisfying to both. Every one does that in India in youth.

Then, we have what is known as 'Bhrigu Samhita' (Samhita, book written by Bhrigu, one of the seven first Vedic sages in India and a son of the creator God, Brahma). The horoscopes of all past, present, and future generations are given. One just has to know the date, time, and place of birth of a person and take out his horoscope and details of life. Of course, it is a fraud.
_________________
"Brahma Satyam Jagan-mithya" (Brahman is the truth, the observed is an illusion)
"Sarve Khalu Idam Brahma" (All this here is Brahman)

chookrooter · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:26 am Post subject:

Aupmanyav · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:43 am Post subject:

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