After reading the brief autobiographical excerpt from Gopi Krishna, I want you to think about and answer ONE (you can address more, but don't feel obligated to do so) of the following questions:
1.
Gopi Krishna describes going from a naive young believer in "every
impossible and unbelievable incident" (123) to a college student who
became a "full-fledged agnostic, full of doubts" (123). Eventually he
reaches a type of middle ground and states "But science itself, though
extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the
domain where faith holds sway" (125). What does he mean and do you
agree?
2. When Gopi Krishna decides he wants to
practice a certain level of asceticism and yoga, he decides that he
would not leave his family to focus on these spiritual pursuits full
time (cf. 130). Is this a wise choice? Does this continued
attachment to the world hinder his spiritual pursuit? Is he somehow
half-stepping toward his goal? Or is this mode of living a balanced,
healthy way to pursue mystical knowledge and spiritual discipline?
3.
Gopi Krishna has a rather powerful mystical experience when he was 34
years old. He states "I was no longer myself..." (134). After
confirming to himself that his experience was a real mystical awakening
and a brush with the divine, he nevertheless feels sad and scared.
He states "But, why did I feel uneasy and depressed" (135)? What do
you make of these negative feelings Gopi Krishna feels after his
awakening?
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2. In my honest opinion, yes, his clinging to his family and worldly
ReplyDeleteobjects greatly hinders his goal. Gopi Krishna says, "... I was drawn
toward a simple, unostentatious life, free from thirst for worldly
greatness..." In a way, this is the first step to detaching oneself
from the world, but it is a small one. Yes, he is drawn to it;
however, because he is unwilling to give up his family, his attraction
to it means significantly less. In a way, I suppose, it could be
considered a balance, but it would be a balance for
everything--including half way to his goal and never truly
accomplishing it.
2. I agree with Megan, that wanting to keep contact with his family
ReplyDeletedoesn't allow him to completely fulfill his pursuit and it is half
stepping his goal, but I don't think it is an unwise decision either.
Not everyone is able to totally close themselves off from their family
and others in their life. Gopi Krishna decides that what is best for
him, is not to leave his family, which creates a balance for him in
his life. What is best for him, though, might not be the wisest
decision for someone else and it is up to the person to decided what
kind of life he wants to live and to make wise decisions for himself.
1. One of the most interesting things Krishna says is: "But science itself, though extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway" (125). I think that this seems to be a great problem in modern times. Because we know so much about the world around and its creation, it unfortunately contradicts so much of what we are told by the Holy Scripture. For example, the Bible tells of one creation story, yet we are also taught about evolution and the Big Band Theory; what are we to believe? Krishna grew up only reading texts with stories, either holy or secular. However, prior to going to school, he had not heard of ideas such as evolution and scientists belief of the creation of humans and this world. When he learned these things, he immediately began to believe solely in the secular information, almost becoming an atheist. Later he found the true way to believe and how to balance these two schools of idea. I too struggle with these contradicting ideas, which one should I believe? So far I have come to the conclusion that evolution and the Big Bang Theory hold the truth to the creation but that this was all caused by God, the Bible's creation story may not be 100% accurate but it sufficed to answer people's questions.
ReplyDelete2.In my opinion, I believe that Krishna made the right choice not to depart from his family. Yes, he may not have been able to completely fulfill his goal, but he also has an obligation to take care of his family. In accordance with Helena, I also believe that everyone is different, and for Krishna to fulfill his goal he would need to have had peace at mind. He wouldn’t be able to have completed his goal, because he would have been too concerned with the well being of his family. Therefore, he is unable to truly focus on his yoga and meditation. Concluding, yes I think this hinders his spiritual pursuit, but he also made the proper choice for himself, thus creating a balanced lifestyle.
ReplyDelete1. When Gopi Krishna says, “ But science itself, though extremely useful in other ways..was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds way,” he means that there are times when it is better to look at faith for answers to our questions, rather than looking to science. Krishna’s education has given him an appreciation for science; however, he holds religion in a light that should not be overshadowed. The word domain in this quote could have two meanings. One meaning I interpreted it to be is phase in life, such as youth, adolescence, or adulthood. This would mean that science shouldn’t take the place of faith in a persons life during a certain point in their life. Based on Krishna’s and my own experiences, I would say that the time in a person’s life when they are most susceptible to a stronger influence of faith is during their childhood because they have not had much exposure to the diverse world of science. This naivety is what makes this stage of faith so pure. I also interpreted domain to mean the range of topics and questions that only faith can give us the true answer to. Science helps us to understand our being and all of the worldly phenomena, but faith answers our questions about our essence and soul. This quote is similar to when Jesus said to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. Science can be compared to Caesar in that we must give it its credit, but at the same time God or faith is must receive its due as well. I agree with Krishna because I believe that my faith helps me to uncover things that science cannot. Also, this quote clearly defines a good balance between science and faith that can help many people live a life in harmony with both.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helena and Megan that even though Gopi Krishna wanted to practice asceticism and not leave his family at the same time, it hindered him from his spiritual pursuit. Similar to what others has said before me, it is hard to cut off all ties from your family; therefore, Krishna creates his own internal balance by staying connected with his family. However, I believe that even though it creates balance from him he is half-stepping toward his goal, but never completes it.
ReplyDeleteCarolina Herrera 10-2
I find it extremely intriguing that Krishna stays with his family at the end. I think he feels that it his responsibility to provide for his family. Our parents are similar to him in that way. They could leave us and go live in a beach house in the Bahamas. They have a responsibility to take care of us. Even though they would love to go to the Bahamas, just like Krishna wants to leave, they are still attached to us. Their love for their family overpowers their own desires. This is one of the beautiful things of life. Krishna will most likely not achieve Moksha in this life, because he is still attached to worldly things. I feel that there simply is no easy way to liberate ourselves from this world.
ReplyDelete2. I think it was the right decision for Gopi Krishna to not leave his family to focus on the spiritual pursuits, but it did not allow him to get to his goal. His family was keeping him from it, not intentionally it was just the attachment to them that was keeping him from reaching his goal.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good that he decided to stay because it just shows how much he thinks of his family. He puts them before his religion that he also cares so much about.
Its too hard to cut off everyone you love and be alone- just practicing asceticism for the rest of your life.
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ReplyDelete1. When Gopi Krishna stated that, "science itself...[is] not in my view fit to rule the domain where faith holds sway," (125) he was trying to say that science cannot replace religion. Although one may use one to deny the existence of the other, they are similar because both are a way of answering questions one may have about the universe. However, one cannot look to our faith to explain why drops of water fall from the sky, nor can one seek proof of the existence of heaven through science. The two work like yin and yang since they are rivals, but without one or the other, the circle would be incomplete. The result would be a parallel of human life, where a lack of rational thinking would end in child-like innocence and acceptance of everything as the truth, and a lack of faith would cause adult-like doubt without proof. Therefore, we need both science and faith in our lives.
ReplyDelete2. I believe practicing asceticism is selfish and self-centered in a way, even though it is centered on self-denial and submission. However, disappearing from your former life cutting off all ties with the people you’ve known your entire life to meditate in peace is selfish—not only is it hurting you, but it is impacting others in a massive way. I think Krishna did make the right decision to stay with his family, and although he did not reach and completely fulfill his goal, he fulfilled his role as a parent and caregiver, tending to others rather than fulfilling his individual spirituality. Hinduism is a very individual religion—working towards moksha won’t be achieved by tending to your families needs. However, the simple human attachment is hard to resist. Its very shocking to me what is expected in this practice, and almost seems impossible for someone who has built compassion for his or her family. Overall, I think it would take an immense amount of courage, but selfishness as well, to isolate yourself from your former life, and I commend Krishna for making his personal decision.
ReplyDelete3. There are two possible explanations for Gopi Krishna's "uneasy and depressed" feeling after his mystical experience. First, this experience was very new to him; it had never happened to him before. One should think about it like a dream; when one has a dream and he or she wakes up, sometimes that person does not want that dream to be over. So, after Gopi has this experience, his "uneasy and depressed" feeling could mean that he does not understand what happened to him, and he is upset that it was over so suddenly. Second, this mystical experience could have scared him and made him feel these negative feelings. So in other words, he could be sad because his "dream" is over, or he could be sad and scared because his "nightmare" frightened him.
ReplyDelete2. I believe Gopi Krishna’s choice not to abandon his family was a smart and caring one. By the time he makes this decision, his father has already left his mother to pursue a life of meditation. Because of this, Gopi’s mother is suffering financially, and Gopi knows if he left she would be completely ruined. While Gopi’s continued connection to things of the world may make his spiritual pursuit seem half hearted, I believe it makes it more genuine and personal. He is not just following the norm. Instead, he is finding his own path to spirituality so he can achieve it in a way that does not hurt the ones he loves. Gopi’s deviance from the usual path to mystical knowledge reveals him to be a truly brave and caring person.
ReplyDeleteKelsey makes a good point referring back to his father. His father's seclusion had not only a serious negative economical impact on his family, but Gopi Krishna says that his father didn't even speak to either of his three children. While, as Krishna's father thinks, reclusion is admirable and seeking spiritual fulfillment is important, one cannot simply ditch their family for it. While it might be considered not whole heartedly reaching for his goal, I don't think this hinders his ability to focus on yoga and asceticism, but rather enhances it. It makes the effort for full focus more admirable and more fulfilling, as I see it. By maintaing both a spiritual and worldly life he is able to more consciously move towards his goal. What I mean is because he stays his family, he doesn't run away from the world. It affirms his decision to pursue yoga because he has to option to recede back into a worldly life if he wants, because it is at his fingertips as opposed to being shut out. It confirms that this pursuit is really what he wants and that he truly has the focus to stay on that path. This distinguishes him from the average person seeking spiritual fulfillment because he has to balance both lives.
Delete3. I think Gopi is right to feel scared by these mystical experiences. He should be scared because he has had an 'out of this world' experience, and many people are scared when they experience something new. It has the same effect as a nightmare on a small child- except the child is only truly scared for a few days, while Gopi is scared and affected for the rest of his life. He stands up and is numb, the same way a child gets up and is numbed by a strong nightmare. He has just come in contact with the divine however, so I think he should be immensely happy because he has attained one of a Hindu's lifelong goals, or he could even be just a small bit happy. Gopi is obviously a different man for the rest of his life, but I think he would have enjoyed life more if he had looked past the fact that he was scared and recognized his contact with divinity as more of a positive thing, rather than be so negative.
ReplyDelete2. Maybe it is not the wisest choice in light of his pursuit of God, but it is definitely the morally correct choice that he decides not to leave his family to focus on these spiritual pursuits. This continued attachment to the world does not hinder his spiritual pursuit some and he is not half-stepping toward his goal; as the reader sees at the end of the text, Gopi Krishna does attain enlightenment. He does find a balanced, healthy way to pursue mystical knowledge and spiritual discipline- he doesn't abandon his family and become a hermit, yet he still becomes enlightened.
ReplyDelete3. I can understand why Gopi Krishna feels so frightened by his experience. At first, he feels just shocked, as when anything so intense happens it is understandable to feel overwhelmed. Once he gets used to the idea and confirms its existence, he feels “uneasy and depressed.” He has worked most of his life and devoted so much time to his spirituality, one would expect him to feel happier. To an extent, this could be the case, but a brush with the divinity is frightening. He is physically affected by it after both experiences, feeling numb and having a bitter taste in his mouth. He is stretched out during his revelation as well, so he may have had a feeling of insignificance, which can be compared to feeling like a drop in the river he experienced. It also feels unnatural to have strived so far in spirituality and to finally get a taste of it. He does not even understand his experience fully, other than it’s affect on him and it’s importance. If anything, this has raised more questions for him than answers. He cannot receive any closure in all of this, which just makes him feel even more depressed.
ReplyDelete1. What I believe that Gopi Krishna means by this statement is first, that he accepts what science says about religion – he accepts that science says that religion cannot prove that it is an “infallible source of all wisdom” (125). He also is saying that science is not convincing as an explanation of the two questions that he asks “Who am I” and “What does all this mean” (122). Science explains concrete facts and so it gave him a “rational and realistic picture of the world” (123). It taught him to question his world, so he is “full of doubts and questions,” but science cannot explain the “mystery” of life (125) or the fact that life is an “infinitely complex creation” (125). I think that he is saying that science and rational thought are not useful in explaining who he is or what the world is about because they are too limited. He compares science as way of understanding to a mirror that can only reflect outside reality, it can’t tell us about deeper truth: “it is as irrational an endeavor to solve the riddle of the universe as it would be to judge the appearance of an object with the aid of a mirror” (125). Personally, I disagree with the idea that spirituality or religion should be explained rationally with science or intellect. I think that God has to be felt to be believed and that we have to accept our feelings as a way of knowing the world and as a source of truth.
ReplyDelete2. Gopi Krishna’s choice on remaining with his family is very wise, selfless, and a caring choice. Even though he is not reaching a level of spirituality, Gopi Krishna is finding a balance within his life. He says specifically, “I was determined to live a family life, simple and clean, devoid of luxury, free from the fever of social rivalry and display, permitting me to fulfill my obligations and to live peacefully on the fruit of my labor, restraining my desires and reducing my needs, inorder to have ample time and the essentially required serenity of mind to pursue calmly the path I had chosen for myself.” This shows the reader how he has a spiritual life, yet still being connected with the world and living a rather simple life. I also feel that this life choice is just modifying, not hindering, his spiritual pursuits. Gopi Krishna is being spiritual and striving to reach his goal, but he is doing it in a modified, new way that allows him to be in contact with his family.
ReplyDelete1. Gopi Krishna describes his wavering beliefs and thoughts on religion as he grew older and became more educated. He eventually reaches a happy medium and says, "But science itself, though extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway" (125). I think Krishna means that, although science and religion may contradict one another, neither one has all of the answers. There are still mysteries that neither religion nor science can explain. For example, Krishna says that science has “no satisfactory explanation to offer for my individual existence or for the infinity of complex creation around me” (125). While religion poses many questions, science does also. The more that knowledge is advanced, the more that these questions and mysteries are deepened because there must first be a question for the search for knowledge to begin. I think that Krishna is trying to say that religion and science are two different entities, but in a sense, they work together. Both are necessary to have a balanced life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Krishna decision, and believe that it was a wise choice to stay with his family. Although this does obstruct his goal, his reasoning is understandable. He loves and cares his family so much that he can not even think of leaving them. He says “ If God is the embodiment if all that is good, noble, and pure how can He decree that those who have a burning desire to find Him, surrendering themselves to His will, should leave their families, to whom they owe various obligations, by virtue of the ties He has Himself, forged in the human heart...” I agree with Helena, that this is not the decision for everyone. This decision created balance in the pursuit of mystical knowledge and spiritual discipline, for Khrisna.
ReplyDelete1. Gopi Krishna writes about his perception of the relationship between religion and science. I have always felt conflicted when confronted with these two overpowering influences that seem to greatly juxtapose each other. My religion has been with me since my birth, and when I began to learn about science, I became confused over what to believe. Was the Earth created through the Big Bang, or by God over a period of seven days? Were humans once gorillas, or were we created from dirt? I didn’t know what to believe. To this day, I haven’t come up with a definite decision; however, science has influenced my religious views and vice versa. Gopi Krishna, contrastingly, has regarded science but has seemingly chosen not to let it influence his religious beliefs. Krishna acknowledges that science can be useful in many ways, but that it doesn’t have a place in his religious beliefs. He finds that religion satisfies his need for an answer to why things are more than science. Gopi somewhat criticizes science by saying that increased knowledge just leads to more questions. Gopi seems to be satisfied with religion to a certain extent, as his prominent and sole expository influence.
ReplyDelete2. Like several of my classmates, I believe that Gopi Krishna's choice to aspire for the condition of consciousness and a life of asceticism without severing his ties to his family is correct. Because he does not want to bring pain to his mother, who has devoted herself to the well-being of her children, he decides to lead a simple family life devoid of luxuries and materialism. He believes that he can "fulfill his obligations" and pursue the path of mystical knowledge and spirituality. However, I think that if his wanted to be fully committed to this lifestyle of asceticism, it would be wiser to cut himself off completely from the material world, so as not to be distracted from his aspirations. Nevertheless, as Renata states, Gopi does achieve enlightenment, so one can conclude that he found a balanced, healthy way to be connected to his family and fully committed to his goals.
ReplyDeleteI think Krishna realizes that even after reading and researching in many books on the subject of faith, there will always be mystery or something that cannot be answered completely, which is okay. Just because you don't have the answer to every question pertaining to faith, doesn't mean that you should question it. However, knowledge of our faith, whatever knowledge we have of it, helps us to understand it better and practice it more fully. I agree with Krishna when he says that science is useful, but not when it comes to faith. Many things in science reject some of our beliefs. Science is based on facts and proof. However, religion doesn't always have the proof needed to justify some of our beliefs, we just believe it.
ReplyDelete1. When Gopi Krishna stated that “science itself, though extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway” (125), he was saying that it is not possible for science and religion to be completely harmonious, but be only partially, and I agree with him. Science, while useful in producing concrete facts and other tangible answers, can not fully replace religion. Religion gives the answers to questions such as “What is my purpose in life?”; science can give no such answer. However, religion and belief is often “put to the test” when science is able to give explanations to events that have been accredited to faith (such as when it was proven possible to part the Red Sea without the help of God). If people were to completely ignore one or the other, gaps would develop because the other would not be there to fill them. So, when Krishna says that science is “extremely useful in other ways,” the “other ways” he is referring to are the gaps that religion produce.
ReplyDelete3. After experiencing a mystical awakening, one would except to feel enlightened, fulfilled, and exhilarated. However, Gopi Krishna did not feel this way this after his mystical awakening; he felt depressed and uncomfortable with himself. Gopi Krishna was not expecting to react to his awakening this way. On page 135, he states: "But, why did I feel uneasy and depressed? Instead of feeling exceedingly happy at my luck and blessing my stars, why had despondency overtaken me/ I felt as if I were in imminent danger of something beyond my understanding and power, something intangible and mysterious, which I could neither grasp nor analyze." This "mysterious" and "intangible" figure that Gopi Krishna speaks of is the divine. After his awakening, Gopi Krishna is worried and scared; for the first time, he has communicated with something that is greater than him, something that he will never be able to understand. Like Angie said, Gopi Krishna probably would have benefited more from his mystical awakening if he had embraced it, rather than shying away from it in fear.
ReplyDeleteLike others have previously stated, I too believe that Krishna’s choice of remaining with his family is a wise choice. I believe that if he was not ready to leave his family, and was forced to, it would result in his resenting of his spiritual pursuits. I believe that because Krishna was still isolated within his own home, and because he still accomplished his goals that his continued attachment did not hinder his spiritual pursuit. I do not believe staying at home should be considered as ‘half-stepping’ because everyone moves at their own pace, how should we know that by staying with his family it didn’t make easier to achieve his goal. Maybe by staying with his family it allowed Krishna to not worry about their well-being, therefore making it a more attainable goal. I believe that staying home, but not engaging in the material world balanced between comfort and a new experience. By not pushing himself too far out of his comfort zone Krishna creates a more healthy way to pursue his mythical knowledge.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
Delete1. Gopi Krishna experiences a stage in life where he considers himself a young, gullible believer and another part of his life where he is matured, but full of doubts and questions. Eventually Krishna assumes a middle-ground stance where he believes, "But science itself, though extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway" (125). In this statement, Krisha acknowledges that science has the power to influence the lives of people in incredible ways. For example, science can allow people to make great advances in architecture, engineering, and mathematics. However, trying to explain the cosmos or even the universe is beyond human comprehension, that to seek answers to these types of theories, one must turn to their faith. Even though the beliefs of a major world religion, may completely contradict what seems possible, a person can rely on them, because it is a part of their faith. This implies that the person can trust it, because if one one has been loyal to something their entire life, why should they stop short when they are looking for an answer the cannot find? Why not rely on something that has been a part of them since the second that they were born? If someone were to look to their own beliefs to answer these concepts, they would constantly find themselves questioning their belief, however with a faith, because of the divine aspect, and/or the excuse of loyalty one can trust explanations. A person can rely on the fact that there is someone unexplainable divine essence in the world that understands the cosmos and the universe, and therefore knows the answer to these questions, or if not, someone can rely on the fact that they would not be the ones to blame if their faith was faulty. Someone could say that they were simply loyal to their faith, and therefore, it is not their fault that there was a mistake, it was only the faith that they chose to follow.
ReplyDeleteIn the present day and age, I agree with Krishna, because even though scientists can answer a countless number of questions now that they could not answer when Krishna was alive, there are still so many concepts that cannot be explained by scientists, and perhaps are even beyond the comprehension of scientists to predict and make theories about. For example, the concept of existence is questionable. Surely we can accept the Big Bang theory, but how did that even become into existence? What is the purpose of all of life? Why is Earth the planet to be blessed with the gift of life and the ability to sustain and support life? It is the answers to these kinds of questions that Krishna was referring to when, in his middle-ground state of life, he sought his faith to answer. I do believe that it is possible, considering how many and how quickly advances have been made in science that in the future, people may not have to rely on faith for answers. However, I also believe that it is equally possible for people to continue the need to rely on a faith for even new questions that human life has not even begun to ponder.
In this passage Krishna is saying that he does not believe that science and religion can be joined. His main reason for this is that religion tries to help people find a meaning to life, to give people a purpose. In Krishna’s case to help him figure out the reason for why we (people, the universe, basically everything) are here; why we exist. Krishna says that science does not answer these questions; this is a statement that I agree with. Science explains how we exist, and tries to explain what exists; however, not why. At first, when reading this I had to think about it for a little bit because that fact never occurred to me. Frankly, the question had never occurred to me either. This is maybe because I had always been told simple answers that satisfied my curiosity. For example, I had always been told what to do and that the reason to do it was to help me get to the next thing and then the next. In this cycle it is hard to break out and look at a bigger picture. After I look at a bigger picture though I do agree with Krishna. That religion answers these questions better than science. I believe this because religion help guide us, it gives us rules and instructions to fallow to help us getter to a separate destination. Religion gives us task like help others, for example, which help giver us meaning for our lives. This is because we are now needed; our purpose now is to help all those other people out there. Religion supplies meaning to peoples lives, as well as instructions to help us live them.
ReplyDeleteIn saying that science “was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway,” Krishna is basically saying that although science can widen one’s views, one should not view faith from a scientific perspective. Initially, growing up in a religious family, Krishna had little to contradict his steady faith. However, his introduction to science proves a bit too overwhelming, and shatters all his previous views of faith. He learns that in order to believe in world of science and reason, he must disassociate it with faith, as the two only contradict each other. I agree that it is hard to interweave both faith and science, although it is very possible have beliefs in both. A while back I read an interesting article in the NY Times, which connected to this point. The article was about a long-term medical study that was testing the power of prayer. The results were incredibly mixed, with a key problem being that many perhaps became more anxious at the thought they were being prayed for. In my opinion, it seems difficult to impossible to test something spiritual with scientific means.
ReplyDelete3.Well, with knowledge come consequences. In Gopi Krishna’s case, his consequences were dealing with this mystical experience, especially without help or guidance from anyone. In addition, once he had been enlightened, he had to deal with the feelings that came with it. Moreover, these mystical experiences were probably so draining for him the first couple of times because his body was not use to having these out of body experiences. Lastly, these negative feelings could even have to do with the fact that with knowledge and experience comes maturity and responsibility, so he could have been feeling that burden, along with deal with the new mindset that he had due to his enlightenment. I think though that his negative feelings mostly steamed from fear due the fact that this was all new for him, not unlike how most people react when something new and unexpected happens. We have seen it throughout the ages that new things can lead to fear which can lead people being prejudice, but in this case we see that Gopi was able to over come his fears and embrace his new mystical enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteI think that Krishna makes ultimately the right decision in staying with his family. Although it might have not let him complete his goal completely, it allows him to balance his spiritual devotions and his family devotions. It is hard to just move on from your own family and devote the rest of your life to your religion. I also think that it takes discipline and dedication to balance yourself in this way. You do not want to do one more than the other. Again, i think this was the right decision because ultimately he got the best of both worlds.
ReplyDelete1. As children, our beliefs are usually centered around those of our parents. We don't agree with their beliefs because we think the same thing, we just take on their beliefs and practice them because we assume we have to. When we get older and can think and learn for ourselves, it becomes much harder for our parents to make us think a certain way. I think Krishna is trying to tell us that as we get older, we learn more, and with knowledge comes curiosity. The more we learn about a certain thing, the easier it becomes to dislike or disapprove of it. As Krishna learned more about things he had believed his whole life, he began to question these beliefs. To this day, science and religion provide us with many different explanations for occurrences on Earth. Krishna's exposure to a more scientific way of thinking leads him to believe that science and faith must be two completely separated from each other. As Pia said, we are taught about both the creation story and the Big Bang Theory, and it can be hard to know which to believe. I think Krishna is saying that we can believe both what science and religion have to say about certain subjects, and even though they contradict each other quite often, our job is to find the happy medium between the two. I agree with Krishna. It can be extremely difficult to strongly believe both religion and science, because they are so different, but it is very possible to believe both.
ReplyDelete2. Krishna Gopi's decision to not leave home certainly held him back from fully immersing himself in asceticism, however, keeping ties with and supporting his family was certainly the better choice for him at that point in his life. Had his family been more financially stable or had his dad still been with the family, leaving home for a life of solitude may have been the better choice. While leading a simple and clean life allowed him some level of spirituality, he was never able to fully achieve the most desirable level of enlightenment because he still did have attachments to the material world. Although the religious role was not fully met, he did fulfill his duties as a caregiver and family member, which brought him different levels of enlightenment that would have been unobtainable through a life of solitude.
ReplyDelete2.) Even though Gopi Krishna stayed with his family for good reasons, he is not fully fulfilling his goal. According to the HIndu tradition, one must completely detach from his worldy possessions in order to complete asceticism. However, the devotion to his family is respected. Gopi Krishna obviously is very attached to them so he could not leave them during asceticism, which some could argue it proves he was not fully ready to take it on. But if I was in his position, I do not think I would be able to leave my family.
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2. Like Regina and others may have said, I think that Gopi was right in choosing to follow his spiritual goals and ascetic life while staying connected to his family. He can have a simple and clean family life that would not hinder his spiritual pursuit. Gopi can still be on the right, direct, path towards his goal. I think it is also a great disciplinary practice to control his wants and temptations of the world.
ReplyDelete2. Agreeing with Kelsey, I believe that Gopi Krishna made a self-less, loving decision by not cutting all the ties with his family. Gopi Krishna said that he wanted to, "find a happiness that would endure, and had not to be purchased at the cost of the happiness of others" (129). By not leaving his family, he adhered to his own wishes and beliefs. Although somewhat contradictory, by not leaving his family to pursue a deeper study, he advanced significantly because it was a challenge of will. He knew that his family was relying on him, especially his mother, and he spared them all great pain by sacrificing his own happiness. Part of finding his enduring happiness was making sure his mother and sisters were happy, so honestly I think he made a very intelligent and thoughtful decision.
ReplyDelete3. I think these negative feelings are the results of dealing with such a mystical, divine experience in a worldly environment. It’s obvious that Gopi Krishna has had a unique, somewhat unfathomable experience, although he’s still unsure of its true meaning. After years of somewhat fruitless meditation, to return from such an inexplicable, abstract state of being born out of meditation to his usual, concrete lifestyle, must be somewhat disheartening. Gopi Krishna has had a mythical experience, yet he realized that the only thing that has changed is himself and that the world is just going to keep on turning. His main goal, to gain success with Yoga, is in a state of limbo between achievement and indifference, for he isn’t quite sure if he has indeed succeeded. This causes him to feel a bit lost, for he’s without his core ambition. To be without a dream is a very dangerous thing, for dreams are what keep us alive. However, to be in a state of undecided dreams is even worse, for the undecided has the power to eat us alive. I think this is why Gopi Krishna is feeling so negative.
ReplyDelete2. I believe Gobi Krishna's choice to stay with his family was a very wise choice. His father leaving in the past heavily impacted his family in a negative way. Gobi had to grow up without a father and his mother carried a large burden for many years. If Gobi had left, it would've only been another burden for his poor family to endure.
ReplyDeleteGobi Krishna's decision to stay with his family while still conservatively practicing meditation and Yoga was a difficult one because he would never become fully unattached from the outside world; however, his courage to stick it out and still support his family says a lot. He put his loved ones first while still taking flight to moksha/kundalini.
Moreover, one of the basic practices and beliefs in Yoga is balance. It's important to find your balance--your standing ground--where you feel whole. Gobi Krishna was able to balance the relationship between his family/the real world and his meditation, which, I believe, signifies a true Yogi.
He didn't desert his other half (family) to chase after another (moksha/kundalini). He put two and two together and winded up whole.
1. When Gopi Krishna says "But science itself, though extremely useful in other ways...was not fit in my view to rule the domain where faith holds sway," he means that science cannot replace faith. Science can give you answers to so many questions on so many different levels--from the cosmic level to the micro level--, but the fact is, it simply cannot answer them all. Inexplicable things happen in life, and sometimes we need something mysterious to turn to--something that gives us hope. Because faith doesn't necessarily answer our questions, but gives us hope that there are answers out there--answers that are within our reach. Gopi Krishna is saying that whether you like it or not, faith is a necessity in each of our lives. Science holds a place in the world, and faith holds another--we cannot choose to take the path of one or the other, they mix to create the ground beneath our feet.
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