Unconvinced

 How do you convince some one something which you do not completely believe in? You have thousands of doubts, questions and disagreements?

That is what happens when I write about vedanta - the Indian philosophy. Do I believe in religion? I don't know. Do I believe in Atma - soul? I don't think so. Do I want a moksha - freedom from rebirths? No. Because I don't believe in rebirth. 

I have a bigger issue to pick - let us say after lot of hard work, I achieve some kind of self realization. How does it help any one else? How does it help me? As a concept - as a creation of man religion is nice - it is helpful to many different people in different ways. But do I believe everything it says - the anachronistic  teachings, the outright casteism and sexism. Of course not. 

But as a form of literature it is good. May be I should move to stories instead - vyoma online school has a few lessons on Ramayana and Mahabharatha which I am immensely enjoying. Because I am able to use the difficult grammar I have accumulated to learn the story which is well known.

But again there are some videos on these upanishads by vedanta society of newyork which are quite good. And a very good cooking companion. But are so long that I rarely finish one episode. 

And Bhagavadgita - don't want to offend millions of people, but I don't agree with the concept. Such great advice, such preaching about eternal soul, non-permanent body etc. etc. to convince a good man that he should fight a war. Against his elders and cousins and teacher and kill them all. Not because they are bad, but because they are on the side of adharma. And this coming from the God himself. No, not my cup of tea.

Says the lady who has been attending the class religiously for the past few months to repeat the words, not even the meanings. 

On my defense, I get to sing. In a quite off-key manner, with mistakes in pronunciation. 

It's all about community.  

Something interesting happened. I asked this same question to chatgpt -" how is the entire work justified". Strangely chatgpt did not agree with me. Did not say, yes, you are correct- it is completely wrong. Instead gave a long convoluted argument like a spokesperson in our TV debates.  Aha, even AI is afraid of the rulers.