Kashmir

ZamanH wrote: I hope this helps. I will send you more links, but i have got to go now. Bye

Thank you Zaman for your concern. I will attempt to read the links you have posted when the time permits. I did not want to get involved in discussions on faith, because I have done it many  times already, and invariably it leads to acrimony and the theme that I am trying to present gets lost. Since, you are so concerned about my well being, I would go out on a limb and explain my stand on religion.

I beleive religion is a very personal matter. Personal, not in the sense that I want to keep it private. Personal in the sense that my communication with God is a very unique and intimate. I choose my own way to realize God. I do not believe God will ever send any other human beings to communicate with me or anybody else. If God is what everybody says IT is, then IT does not need ITs own creations to communicate with us.

For me morality is a human concept. Justice is a human concept. These essentials of humanity are not to be derived from any books or scriptures that were written thousands of years ago. By definition, "holy" books like Quran are static because they are immutable. Such philosophy is not for me. I would like to think that morals change along with times and circumstances and this has borne out by many passages within Quran itself (Prophet marrying more than four wives, prophet marrying a little girl of nine, God tolerating slavery, if not outright approving it).

If there is any reason at all for me to turn to religion, it is the spirituality. Spirituality is what connects us to the others in this world and perhaps God. Historically, saints of all religions made major discoveries regarding our spiritual nature and fortunately or unfortunately their wisdom is hidden in obscure texts and practices. It is my endevour to read those texts and find the true meaning of spirituality, meditation, true nature of self etc.

I totally reject the concept that a man is a sinner by nature. I reject the concept that God keeps account of all the goods and evils that I do and will reward or punish me accordingly on some future date. I believe that God is beyond all such descriptions and human nature. In fact I believe God is not even sentient in the sense that you and I are, but a cosmic consciousness that has always existed and guides the time and space according to some yet to be discovered rules. For the same reasons I reject any rituals that I have to perform in order to reach "Jannat" I must do this or that ritual (such as fasting, pilgrimage, yagya or whatever).

I am not a believer in the idea that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. My reasons for religiousity are different from yours, and that is rightly so. Every individual should seek nirvana in their own unique way. Note that this principle doesn't necessarily sacrifice morals, because I keep morals and justice out of religion. I think this basically makes my ideas totally incompatible with Islam and Quran, because Quran is supposed to have prescriptions all aspects of my life and after-life.

Having said all that, I will still go ahead and attempt to read. I am sure there are some good things I can pick up there. I am sorry if I am unable to see the light that you want to show me, but that's the nature of the beast: spirituality is a light that you must discover on your own.

Regards,

Human

ZamanH wrote: By the way Human, have you read the Quran??

Not much. I have read some verses at random, but it is difficult to read it, because either the translation is not good, or in general such books are boring. I have also tried to read the bible, and every time I try it, I get bored to tears. I guess I need somebody's interpretation which is more interesting and better explains the concepts better.

Human

human wrote: India has welcomed and assimilated many cultures over several millennia. Islam is no exception. Instead of being the bone of contention between India and Pakistan, Kashmir can become the gateway for trade, travel and cultural exchange and for even better things in our life times. I am a die-hard optimist. Human

Let me put it this way - I envy your optimism.