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I am reposting PaulHoule's (flagged) comment because it was a very good one: > *I have wondered if the high Asian population is one reason why San Francisco ha

I am reposting PaulHoule's (flagged) comment because it was a very good one: > *I have wondered if the high Asian population is one reason why San Francisco has such conspicuous homelessness. Western religion has some egalitarian ideas such as “The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” > On the other hand if you think a person's fortune now depends on karma they got from past lives then you might think it is a virtuous thing to perpetuate people's misery.

hikingsimulator 4y ago
It's not a very good one. Western philosophies and religions can definitely show this type of bias. Some branches of protestantism do believe in predestination. It's also common to see (bad) Christian takes that suffering is a challenge from god (often backed by Job's trials) and thus a thing that may not need changing. I believe Max Weber also covered this concept sociologically in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
- jackling 4y ago
  Isn't the idea that all suffering is a challenge of god key to Abrahamic religions. I always hear it from anyone religious when discussing that rational of why there is suffering the world when God can end it. And from my quick read of Job's story, it seems that it does exemplify that.
  - georgia_peach 4y ago
    While the loving Father metes out punishment as a correction to his wayward children, the Son has authority on earth to forgive sins, and has given very specific instructions to those who would be his followers: > If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven > He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Whereas per the great Eastern religions, the material world is Maya, all is the Self (tat tvam asi), righteous action is its own reward, and the Abrahamic concepts (despite many overlaps) seem rather peculiar. Or to quote Sadhguru: If you take in too much input from everywhere, the karmic process becomes very complicated. And the strategy evolved for your karma will not work if you keep mixing it up with someone else’s all the time. Why some who are in serious sadhana withdraw into a solitary cave or the like is because they do not want to complicate things. They understood the complexity of their own karma and do not want to complicate it anymore. That is why you do not step over anyone. You can go around them. It is also a mark of respect. And apart from that, it would disturb that person if you step over them. If you disturb their energy body, they may not immediately wake up, but internally, it disturbs them. All this comes from a fundamental understanding about life. No matter what you were doing – you were running a business, you were married, bearing and raising children, fighting a battle – for anyone who was born in this land, there was only one goal – ultimate liberation. Mukti was the only goal. The whole culture was structured around this. Many strategies were evolved so that you do not trip over someone else’s karma. You do not want to acquire anything new because you know the complexity of what you already have. If you undo your own puzzle, it is good enough. You do not want to complicate it.
- georgia_peach 4y ago
  Two intellectuals, three opinions. Jesus was impeccably clear in his orders. Even (or, especially) the communists, who deny Him, understood Him. "perpetuate people's misery" may have been sloppy & incendiary editorial work, but the theological structure of PaulHoule's argument is sound.

hikingsimulator 4y ago

It's not a very good one. Western philosophies and religions can definitely show this type of bias. Some branches of protestantism do believe in predestination. It's also common to see (bad) Christian takes that suffering is a challenge from god (often backed by Job's trials) and thus a thing that may not need changing. I believe Max Weber also covered this concept sociologically in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

jackling 4y ago
Isn't the idea that all suffering is a challenge of god key to Abrahamic religions. I always hear it from anyone religious when discussing that rational of why there is suffering the world when God can end it. And from my quick read of Job's story, it seems that it does exemplify that.
- georgia_peach 4y ago
  While the loving Father metes out punishment as a correction to his wayward children, the Son has authority on earth to forgive sins, and has given very specific instructions to those who would be his followers: > If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven > He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Whereas per the great Eastern religions, the material world is Maya, all is the Self (tat tvam asi), righteous action is its own reward, and the Abrahamic concepts (despite many overlaps) seem rather peculiar. Or to quote Sadhguru: If you take in too much input from everywhere, the karmic process becomes very complicated. And the strategy evolved for your karma will not work if you keep mixing it up with someone else’s all the time. Why some who are in serious sadhana withdraw into a solitary cave or the like is because they do not want to complicate things. They understood the complexity of their own karma and do not want to complicate it anymore. That is why you do not step over anyone. You can go around them. It is also a mark of respect. And apart from that, it would disturb that person if you step over them. If you disturb their energy body, they may not immediately wake up, but internally, it disturbs them. All this comes from a fundamental understanding about life. No matter what you were doing – you were running a business, you were married, bearing and raising children, fighting a battle – for anyone who was born in this land, there was only one goal – ultimate liberation. Mukti was the only goal. The whole culture was structured around this. Many strategies were evolved so that you do not trip over someone else’s karma. You do not want to acquire anything new because you know the complexity of what you already have. If you undo your own puzzle, it is good enough. You do not want to complicate it.
georgia_peach 4y ago
Two intellectuals, three opinions. Jesus was impeccably clear in his orders. Even (or, especially) the communists, who deny Him, understood Him. "perpetuate people's misery" may have been sloppy & incendiary editorial work, but the theological structure of PaulHoule's argument is sound.