Heaven and Hell
I was in Bangalore recently and visited a Shiva 'Temple', built adjoining the Kemp Fort shopping mall on Airport Road. I put 'Temple' in quotes because it all seemed like a scam to me, a way to earn money from tourists.
There is an exhibition of tableaus depicting the 12 Jyotirling. You have to pay 10 Rs. to get in and see it. Each one (about the size of an average aquarium) has a sculpture of the idol at the respective temple and a plate describing the 'importance' of the place. The first tableau, on Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, states that 'Visiting this temple guarantees that you will attain Moksha and go to heaven.'
This statement got me so angry I barely paid attention to the rest of the tableaux. 'Heaven'? 'Hell'? What kind of foolishness is this? How can any logical-minded person believe that there are two vast worlds, with enough space for everyone who has ever lived, populated by other beings intent on keeping all who live there happy or tortured for all eternity? I personally cannot think of anything that would keep me happy for all eternity. I'd get bored of being unable to die in a few hundred years or so.
There is a much more logical explanation of Heaven and Hell. Assuming that we agree to the basic thesis that there is something within a living body that does not die with the physical body, we need to think of a place where this eternal component could go to. If you don't, of course, this discussion is stillborn.
As I mentioned before, the idea of having a omniscient, all-knowing being in a white beard, who makes decisions of whether a person should go to Heaven or Hell is ridiculous. This stuff is more suited to describing Santa Claus. So then, what happens when you live a 'good' life? [We'll come back to the definition of a 'good' life later] Or, what consequences do you suffer on living an 'evil' life? Let us skip the bit about the 'deciding factor' for now, let's just say that the sorting happens somehow.
The best definition of 'Heaven' that I can come up with is : A happy life. That is, if you live the 'good' life, when you start your next one, you will get a generally happy life. You will marry the girl of your dreams. Your kids will drink Glucose-D and bring home Athletics prizes. Your boss will appreciate the work you do. And you will always reach the junction when there is a green light.
And a definition of 'Hell' : A miserable life. If you lived an 'Evil' life, then when you're born, your face will turn the midwife sick. No shampoo will cure your dandruff. Your wife won't know how to cook. Your kids will leave you in your old age. And you will keep trying your luck at the Employment Exchange all your life, with no result.
This is pretty much all there is to it. You always have a chance to improve your life. An intelligent person could potentially turn his 'hellish' life into heaven, and vice versa.
And whether you are in 'Heaven' or 'Hell', there is always a higher state to go to - that of not existing at all. 'Moksha'. Or rather, of aligning your consciousness to the Supreme Being, the 'VishwaPurush', so closely that you stop existing as a separate individual. That is the only goal worth striving for.
There is an exhibition of tableaus depicting the 12 Jyotirling. You have to pay 10 Rs. to get in and see it. Each one (about the size of an average aquarium) has a sculpture of the idol at the respective temple and a plate describing the 'importance' of the place. The first tableau, on Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, states that 'Visiting this temple guarantees that you will attain Moksha and go to heaven.'
This statement got me so angry I barely paid attention to the rest of the tableaux. 'Heaven'? 'Hell'? What kind of foolishness is this? How can any logical-minded person believe that there are two vast worlds, with enough space for everyone who has ever lived, populated by other beings intent on keeping all who live there happy or tortured for all eternity? I personally cannot think of anything that would keep me happy for all eternity. I'd get bored of being unable to die in a few hundred years or so.
There is a much more logical explanation of Heaven and Hell. Assuming that we agree to the basic thesis that there is something within a living body that does not die with the physical body, we need to think of a place where this eternal component could go to. If you don't, of course, this discussion is stillborn.
As I mentioned before, the idea of having a omniscient, all-knowing being in a white beard, who makes decisions of whether a person should go to Heaven or Hell is ridiculous. This stuff is more suited to describing Santa Claus. So then, what happens when you live a 'good' life? [We'll come back to the definition of a 'good' life later] Or, what consequences do you suffer on living an 'evil' life? Let us skip the bit about the 'deciding factor' for now, let's just say that the sorting happens somehow.
The best definition of 'Heaven' that I can come up with is : A happy life. That is, if you live the 'good' life, when you start your next one, you will get a generally happy life. You will marry the girl of your dreams. Your kids will drink Glucose-D and bring home Athletics prizes. Your boss will appreciate the work you do. And you will always reach the junction when there is a green light.
And a definition of 'Hell' : A miserable life. If you lived an 'Evil' life, then when you're born, your face will turn the midwife sick. No shampoo will cure your dandruff. Your wife won't know how to cook. Your kids will leave you in your old age. And you will keep trying your luck at the Employment Exchange all your life, with no result.
This is pretty much all there is to it. You always have a chance to improve your life. An intelligent person could potentially turn his 'hellish' life into heaven, and vice versa.
And whether you are in 'Heaven' or 'Hell', there is always a higher state to go to - that of not existing at all. 'Moksha'. Or rather, of aligning your consciousness to the Supreme Being, the 'VishwaPurush', so closely that you stop existing as a separate individual. That is the only goal worth striving for.
posted by Sudarshan at 3:05 AM
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