I will tell you why I am angry at the New Age and Hinduism.

[Altair]

Originally Posted by ajay00

The point being made here is the philosophical similarities and cultural interactions between the Indians and Greeks which continued during the time of Alexander in the fourth century B.C.

Originally Posted by ajay00

It is hard to verify that India had no contact with rome and greece even at that time with new archaeological discoveries cropping up all the time now.

There was contact because of Alexander's conquest. There is no evidence for contact pre-Alexander.
Why would Pythagoras depend on India to believe in reincarnation? Can't he have come up with it by himself?

Originally Posted by ajay00

Many Greeks in Alexanders time had themselves converted to Buddhism then.

How many? Which 'Greeks', the ones that travelled to the east? Interesting topic by the way.

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Altair

There was contact because of Alexander's conquest. There is no evidence for contact pre-Alexander.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancien...ndia_relations

Originally Posted by Altair

Why would Pythagoras depend on India to believe in reincarnation? Can't he have come up with it by himself?

The third-century AD greek philosopher Philostratus had claimed that Pythagoras also studied under Hindu sages in India.This could be due to the teachings of reincarnation and vegetarianism propounded by Pythagoras, which evidently had an eastern scent.


Modern scholars have also speculated that Plato may have also been to India or studied under Indian sages, due to the similarities between his philosophy and Indian philosophy.

Same goes for the identical similarities between the Shivalingam and the Orphic Egg.

[Altair]

If they had been to India it would’ve been written down. Such a journey would be special in a time where people were relatively new to such faraway places. I also just don’t see why belief in reincarnation and a vegetarian diet (which is debatable) should come from India. Beliefs in creationism didn’t all have to come out of Israel either. You catch my thinking here?

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Altair

If they had been to India it would’ve been written down. Such a journey would be special in a time where people were relatively new to such faraway places. I also just don’t see why belief in reincarnation and a vegetarian diet (which is debatable) should come from India. Beliefs in creationism didn’t all have to come out of Israel either. You catch my thinking here?

As shown in the links there has been references to each other country and traditions in the written scriptures and books.

Also Greece is not that faraway from ancient India, which included Afghanistan in those times both by land route and sea route.

There was strong trade and cultural relations between India and Mesopotamia as well, and this could also have further facilitated cultural and trading links between Greece, Rome and India.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus-...amia_relations


I would say this is a possibility because they were the only civilized nations in those times and probably would have been interested in interacting with each other.

As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together".

[Altair]

Originally Posted by ajay00

As shown in the links there has been references to each other country and traditions in the written scriptures and books.

Yes, because they had contact. This was after Pythagoras. Where is the evidence of Indian food, goods and teachings in Europe, or Greek food and goods in India, before Alexander? Possibly indirectly through Persia as a proxy but nothing grand.

Later on, post-Alexander, Indian culture seem more impacted by Greek culture than the other way around.

[whitelotus]

Originally Posted by Honza

It is because they are so sure that they are God. I don't find it that obvious. I really struggle with the principle. I am much more at peace with it now but it caused great heart ache in the past.

There is this great movement going on in society lead by the New Age, Gnostics and Hindus which claim I AM God. I am like; really? Wait a minute are you sure?

As I said I am much more at peace with the idea now.

As far as I remember there have always been people claiming that they are God irrespective of relegion.
Also,want to add I am Hindu and I am not God.

[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Altair

Yes, because they had contact. This was after Pythagoras.

How can you proclaim for sure this was after Pythagoras when the third-century AD greek philosopher Philostratus had claimed that Pythagoras also studied under Hindu sages in India.

Originally Posted by Altair

Where is the evidence of Indian food, goods and teachings in Europe, or Greek food and goods in India, before Alexander?

I have mentioned about Indian articles like the Shivalingam being exhibited in museums in Rome. Western scholars like Will Durant have speculated on the similarities between Plato's philosophy of the philosopher-king and the Rajarshi ( saint-king) of Indian philosophy.

Originally Posted by Altair

Possibly indirectly through Persia as a proxy but nothing grand.

Persia was a direct land route between India and Greece as well, and the Persians were a great civilization in itself then. This also could have brought about trade and cultural ties with the Greeks and not just the Mesapotamians.

Originally Posted by Altair

Later on, post-Alexander, Indian culture seem more impacted by Greek culture than the other way around.

India gained in terms of sculpture and astrology from the Greeks, and Greeks like the Greek king Menander and others were influenced by Buddhism. Menander is even considered to be a great benefactor to Buddhism on par with Ashoka the Great.

The dialogues between Menander(Milinda) and buddhist monk Nagasena is a great historical work available today as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milinda_Panha

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/milinda.pdf

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by sky123

Live and let live, others beliefs don't bother me at all as long as they don't hurt others. Anger is a waste of energy unless you use it for the good of yourself and others, for example..... standing up for the injustices in the world.

Being at peace with the idea is good but you should question why outside influences are causing you stress which comes from within not without...

Name a belief system that has not hurt others?

The only one that comes to my mind is Jains.

[inavalan]

Long before, Lumanians were vegetarians ...

So India is to blame for the terrible spiritual state the world is in