Comments on: New Hinduism Today Issue on Balinese Hindus

By: nmk

nmk — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:16:54 +0000

@Sam

Please, don’t tell me all those revisionist stories of how Hindus didn’t kill animals for food. If its not dominant amongst vaisnavas, then so be it. Why should saivas and shaktas bear with it?

We are not forcing anyone to become meat eaters and we expect the same in return. As for the influences of Jainism and Buddhism, what does that even have to do with this topic? If Jaina and Bauddha influences have corrupted Hindu ethos then they need to removed and not followed blindly just because they happened to occur.

vaisnavism is a far recent recent addition to the Hindu schools of thought anyway, saivism followed by shakta tradition are the most ancient schools of thought and hence the premise on which you base your argument fails.

If you want to be a veggie fanatic then do so, but don’t tell me that my sastras make it incumbent on me to be one.

BTW, what’s your opinion on abortions? You like most other fanatical veggies don’t seem to have a problem on the critical issue of baby killing that I raised, or maybe the life of a goat is more important to you than that of a human hindu baby.

By: Felipe Lobe

Felipe Lobe — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:56:49 +0000

Thanks for the details on Today at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, 2/26/2012: New Hinduism Today Issue on Balinese Hindus, it’ll be really useful.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:32:34 +0000

@nmk
Animal sacrifice has NOT been COMMON in the general Hindu population for millenia. Even the likes of the horse sacrifice was only undertaken under severely restricted situations. Animal sacrifice has long been peripheral, shaktas in Bengal and Assam, Nepal, but not in the heartlands and certainly not amongst the dominant Vaishava traditions.
It might be news to you, but Hinduism absorbed alot of Buddhist and Jain content centuries ago.
It is controversial because the dominant Hindu stance is against such practices.

By: nmk

nmk — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:48:03 +0000

//And how do Hindus inside and outside of Bali understand their tradition of animal sacrifice? //

May I be told what is controversial about this practice of offering sacrifice to the Gods? Sacrifice or Bali is a fairly common practice that was in vogue in most parts of India amongst Hindus till fairly recently.
Al thought the Indian govt. has placed severe restrictions on animal sacrifice (as far as Hindus are concerned), the practice still exists in many parts. Being scholars, you people should concentrate on issues that really concern Hindus globally and not attack our ancient practices which have very good reasons for their existence.
BTW, why don’t you do a series on the stupidity of Hindus of India who have no problems in killing the unborn, when this is one of the biggest sins and crimes as described by the dharmashastras or the fact that a large number of Hindu women are forsaking their natural duties of taking care of the home and hearth for ‘corporate” jobs. These are the issues that really concern Hindus and not the ones you’re mentioning.