Quote:
Originally Posted by Turn Prophet
I highly doubt the reliability of such a study. Our teeth and gut flora make it abundantly clear that we evolved as an omnivorous species, and there is copious evidence to suggest that an increase in meat consumption was correlated with brain development in our ancestors. It's actually rather difficult for humans in most of the world to get sufficient nutrition from an all plant-based diet (it would be basically impossible outside of temperate belts). Incidentally, India and parts of South Asia are rich in plant foods that would allow fairly diverse vegetarian diets that would satisfy nutritional requirements. That vegetarian religion developed there and not in Scandinavia shouldn't be a big surprise.
Point taken. As I said, I wasn't sure of this study, didn't see/read it 1st hand, heard it from someone else.
There is no *first* life cycle. Hindus (along with many non-Judeo-Christian cultures) see time as both eternal and cyclical.
In any case, it's very difficult to describe uniform "Hindu" practices, since traditions and beliefs vary so much from region to region. There is very little agreed-upon body of core beliefs or practices as there are in Judaism, Islam (both orthopractic religions) or Christianity (an orthdoxic religion). In fact, attempts at creating a uniform religion with a set of core practices drawn from central texts is an invention of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British imperialism, as they encouraged their Indian subjects to adopt this type of religion (which more closely models the Western understanding of what constitutes "religion";
a set of dogmas and prescriptions written down in some ancient text... Eastern religions don't fit that kind of mold).[/QUOTE]
I agree with this also. It is hard to try and say that "this is the way" and not "that". However, I wouldn't go so far as to say the British were responsible for it becoming what it is today. I "credit" that to people just flat-out being complacent and losing the true thoughts/purposes of so many of the beliefs and rituals they do today. They do them because in their minds they are doing something "for God", and He will "like it". In the most basic/primitive of senses, this is true. However, this is sort of the tactic that is used to gives kids and less advanced people something to believe in. To advance further than that most basic of steps, one must realize what the meaing behind things is. Sort of like in poker, you might 3b oop w/ a crappy hand, because you saw someone else do it, or u "heard" its the right play. You could very well get away with this and benefit (short-term), but w/o knowing the "why" behind our 3b, we are not actually advancing/maturing.
Also, all of Hinduism/Vedic culture is derived originally from the Vedas, which is the oldest known text in existence, religious or otherwise. The word "veda" can be loosely translated into "knowledge". It is an eternal text, that was written over generations, and with the intent of being applicable in all times, all conditions, etc.* This is not meant solely for Hindus, it does not differentiate between one religion over any other, it is meant for any/all human beings. This is also the same w/ the Bhagavad Geeta, considered to be equivalent to the Hindu "bible" or "qu'ran". Never once in this text is the word Hindu mentioned, or anything saying that one must convert and prove his/her faith to this religion before being accepted as "one of us." It truly can be picked up by anyone from any walk of life, in any time period, in any predicament, and be of great use. Some saying I've heard, something like: "It is not the book of Hindus, it is the book of Humanity."
*For example, just recently scientists have begun to understand more in depth one of the "sections" of the Vedas, known as "Ayurveda". This can be loosely translated to mean "longevity knowledge." Basically it consists of medical/health knowledge. They are discovering that many of the remedies and/or treatments listed actually have an effect in today's world. Just one general example; there are many which I'm not on point with at the moment.