Proper Understanding of Religion

Philosopher Sam Harris says that we should ditch religion, that we should abandon it. The problem with these atheists and even many theists is that they do not understand the real meaning of religion. They do not understand religion as the science of reconnecting oneself with the source of one's existence. Whether we are theists or atheists we all come from the same origin. Just as a light bulb has no value when it is not connected with the electrical powerhouse, our situation becomes problematic both individually and collectively when we are not connected in a harmonious relationship with our origin. When religion is properly understood in this way as reconnecting with our origin everyone will naturally agree to practice religion because religion simply boils down to being your original, natural self. After all, who would want to be in a discombobulated state of consciousness when they can instead be in a blissful, loving, enlightened state of perfect harmony with the source of all existence and with all of existence?

After a Cold, Dark, Icy Cruise Across the Gulf of Finland..(view from ship window of ice in the water)

a Cold, Dark, Icy Cruise Across the Gulf of Finland

An Ecstatic Warm Arrival-27 March 2010
Tallinn, Estonia

An Ecstatic Warm Arrival of Sankarshan Das, Tallinn, Estonia

Answers According to the Vedic Version

Question: Does Buddhism Contradict Krishna Consciousness?

Are there contradictions between the teachings of Buddhism and the teachings in Krishna Consciousness? If yes, why?

Sunil

Answer: Only Superficially

Although Lord Buddha, as was predicted in the Srimad Bhagavatam long before his advent, was an incarnation of Lord Krishna, he taught a philosophy that was opposed to the teachings of Lord Krishna. Because the people of his day were using a misinterpretation of the Vedic literatures to justify cow slaughter, Lord Buddha denied the Vedas and the existence of God altogether and taught the principles of karma and non-violence teaching the people to follow him instead of the Vedas. This was a temporary teaching for the purpose of freeing the people from the heinous sin of cow killing so that later on they could be brought back to the full and proper understanding of Lord Krishna's teachings. So although there is a difference between the teachings of Lord Krishna and Lord Buddha, the ultimate purpose of both of them is the same, to bring the conditioned soul to complete surrender at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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