Brahman=Logos?

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by ajay00

EXCERPT Hence Ashoka legislated laws of heresy to protect the new faith, and implemented it firmly, and even gave out capital punishments in this regard.
If it weren't for Ashoka's protection and patronage, Buddhism would have died out or would have ended as a small minority religion like Jainism.

In this regard, Christianity later fell in the same pitfall as Buddhism did.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

In this regard, Christianity later fell in the same pitfall as Buddhism did.

Exactly. It is interesting that you should mention that as I am currently taking an online course offered by the University of Barcelona on Magic/Witchcraft and the Inquisition. Christianity did indeed fall into the same pitfall as the Buddhist King Ashoka relevant to the manner in which "heresy" was addressed.

By the way, this class is literally SCARY. It is well said that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

By the way, this class is literally SCARY. It is well said that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

A little off topic but as you mentioned Witchcraft, one of my distant Aunts Isabella Rigby was hung in Lancaster Prison in 1666 after being accused by another Family member of Witchcraft. I've actually been in the Prison Cell where She and two others were held prior to their Hanging, the small wood door holds their nail scratches to this day it made my stomach turn....

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

EXCERPT Christianity did indeed fall into the same pitfall as the Buddhist King Ashoka relevant to the manner in which "heresy" was addressed.

But then, I look at King Ashoka who made Buddhism popular thru his progressive agendas, was very similar to Saint Paul (the Apostle Paul) who brought Christianity to the non-Jews while also having a progressive agenda. Without these two men, their religion which they were associate with, might have been 'lost'.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by sky123

A little off topic but as you mentioned Witchcraft, one of my distant Aunts Isabella Rigby was hung in Lancaster Prison in 1666 after being accused by another Family member of Witchcraft. I've actually been in the Prison Cell where She and two others were held prior to their Hanging, the small wood door holds their nail scratches to this day it made my stomach turn....

To bring this back to the Hinduism theme of this thread, it is interesting to note that these witchcraft inquisitorial-type trials did not seem to exist in Hinduism (or in Buddhism or in other eastern religions) as sages from these wisdom traditions were well-aware of the siddhis (powers) that arise naturally in meditation.

It seems as if witchcraft concerns were primarily with the Abrahamic religions and were not really present in the wisdom traditions of the east.

That would be an interesting topic for a separate thread.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

But then, I look at King Ashoka who made Buddhism popular thru his progressive agendas, was very similar to Saint Paul (the Apostle Paul) who brought Christianity to the non-Jews while also having a progressive agenda. Without these two men, their religion which they were associate with, might have been 'lost'.

It is generally accepted that Ashoka did send missionaries forth to bring Buddhism to the world as did Paul of Tarsus with Christianity. One can definitely give credit to Ashoka for his efforts in propagating and preserving Buddhism.

[BigJohn]

Paul wrote the most scriptures that got preserved as the New Testament whereas Ashoka, probably the greatest contributor to Buddhism, brought about the preservation of the Buddhist scriptures.

[BigJohn]

Paul shaped Christianity thru progressive changes just as Ashoka did the same for Buddhism. I would say what we know of Christianity and Buddhism today has been shaped and molded respectively by these two men.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

EXCERPT

To bring this back to the Hinduism theme of this thread, it is interesting to note that these witchcraft inquisitorial-type trials did not seem to exist in Hinduism (or in Buddhism or in other eastern religions) as sages from these wisdom traditions were well-aware of the siddhis (powers) that arise naturally in meditation.

It seems as if witchcraft concerns were primarily with the Abrahamic religions and were not really present in the wisdom traditions of the east.

Siddhis, as you mentioned, has shaped our beliefs. From my perspective, Siddhis seems to be a 'dirty word' in the eyes of many but it does harmonize a lot of diverse beliefs.

[FallingLeaves]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

From my perspective, Siddhis seems to be a 'dirty word' in the eyes of many but it does harmonize a lot of diverse beliefs.

god pretty much ordained that for people who weren't believing siddhis impossible, they would devalue siddhis greatly. Something about how much worse life would be if we had leaders that act as our current ones do, but could also directly manipulate the physical reality of their followers outside the constraints that have been put upon it.

It is bad enough now when you don't know what to believe about the images you see around you, lol, would be much worse if physical reality could also be manipulated as readily.

Incidentally he did it by penning people into the thought patterns other people have. Since everyone wants to share their thought patterns with everyone else, it is easy to pen people into a thought-corral and people will go willingly and not even fight or throw a tantrum about not getting their own way!

In the case of something like siddhis you are either in bucket a where you take it at face value it is impossible because the vast majority of others think that (implying you'll have nothing to do with it), or in bucket b where you hear for years and years of your development that you shouldn't value them(again implying you'll have nothing to do with it). So of course virtually noone takes siddhis seriously... some know about them, some even do them sometimes, but noone takes them seriously.

Which from my POV is just as well, if people could decide to have siddhis then use them the way they use other tools it would just be more unruly children throwing a tantrum and doing what they could to get their own way...

sigh...