A thread on Caste

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by DaShi


Dude, you posted the link.

It appears there has been a communication gap. "Arse-pedia" refers to the compendium of human information which can be pulled out of one's arse.

First of all, there is no such thing as "evangelism" in Hinduism (the Hare Krishnas have declared themselves to be non-Hindu). He is not trying to convert anybody or bring about a Hindu nation. The programmes he holds are once in the morning and once in the evening. This is so that the people watching them can actually do the exercises he performs sitting in front of their television. The message he sends out is, "Get off your bum and do yoga, do pranayama! If you don't know how, just follow me as I do it." His programmes are how-to manuals with a live demo, not preaching.

Secondly, he is a perfectly legit Swami. He has formally studied Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, along with Yoga, before becoming the TV personality he is. Note that he is not just a TV personality - he has set up a university to conduct research into Yoga, he has set up a massive Yoga centre, along with a lot of other stuff. Rumours about him claim (this is hearsay, and I cannot say whether or not they are accurate) that he was paralysed in the left side of his body, but he overcame and cured that. I don't know whether or not something like that is even possible, but if ever it could be done, it could be done by him. Just looking at his physical fitness is an inspiration.

Some photos (you don't get the full effect until you see the video, but these will do for now):





He will probably outlive us all.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by DaShi



How do you know that there aren't still cases of this in the countryside?

Because it would get a hell of a lot of publicity if it did happen. The last time there was a controversy, the laws were tightened so much that even passive witnesses to the act were culpable. Even in older times, it didn't really happen very much.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by aneeshm
He will probably outlive us all.

Somebody should donate him a digestive system - he looks pretty empty without one

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by TCO
What's the dot for?

It signifies the point of the agna chakra - the mind chakra. It is worn at the centre of the eyebrows.

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison


Somebody should donate him a digestive system - he looks pretty empty without one

Those are photos of him doing an asana - a yoga position. It does look unreal, doesn't it? He looks perfectly normal when he is not doing that.

[Datajack Franit]

[DaShi]

Originally posted by aneeshm


It appears there has been a communication gap. "Arse-pedia" refers to the compendium of human information which can be pulled out of one's arse.

First of all, there is no such thing as "evangelism" in Hinduism (the Hare Krishnas have declared themselves to be non-Hindu). He is not trying to convert anybody or bring about a Hindu nation.

Yes, he's trying to convert people to his way of thought. He's the kook who told people to stop drinking coke because he was too ignorant to understand the product.

The programmes he holds are once in the morning and once in the evening. This is so that the people watching them can actually do the exercises he performs sitting in front of their television. The message he sends out is, "Get off your bum and do yoga, do pranayama! If you don't know how, just follow me as I do it." His programmes are how-to manuals with a live demo, not preaching.

Fine, but he's still preaching.

Secondly, he is a perfectly legit Swami. He has formally studied Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, along with Yoga, before becoming the TV personality he is. Note that he is not just a TV personality - he has set up a university to conduct research into Yoga, he has set up a massive Yoga centre, along with a lot of other stuff. Rumours about him claim (this is hearsay, and I cannot say whether or not they are accurate) that he was paralysed in the left side of his body, but he overcame and cured that. I don't know whether or not something like that is even possible, but if ever it could be done, it could be done by him. Just looking at his physical fitness is an inspiration.

So a lot of TV evangelists have degrees from divinity schools and pursue other interests, although related to their teachings. Ramdev is still a TV evangelists.

Some photos (you don't get the full effect until you see the video, but these will do for now):





He will probably outlive us all.

He looks severely malnourished. That can lead to dementia, you know.

[Ecthy]

It's his dharmic duty to do that.

Also, "arse-pedia"

[DaShi]

Originally posted by aneeshm


Because it would get a hell of a lot of publicity if it did happen.

Not if no one outside the village knows or cares. Is every village in India monitored like a police state? If so, India has far surpassed China in this regard.

[RedFred]

Aneeshm, you have given a broad outline of the different castes. But aren't there a bunch of subgroupings within each caste?

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by DaShi


Not if no one outside the village knows or cares. Is every village in India monitored like a police state? If so, India has far surpassed China in this regard.

No, this would actually be a big, big deal. Funerals are big things, people talk, etc., and pretty much every village has a police station.

[Jon Miller]

The woman being suicidal is a sign of social pressures.

JM

[aneeshm]

Originally posted by RedFred
Aneeshm, you have given a broad outline of the different castes. But aren't there a bunch of subgroupings within each caste?

Yes, there are. Sub-castes are numerous.