How to read the Vedas (I haven't)
From an introduction to the Vedas:-
[i]The hymns are meant to puzzle, to surprise, to trouble the mind; they are often just as puzzling in Sanskrit as they are in English. When the reader finds themself at a point where the sense is unclear (as long as the language is clear), let them use their head, as the Indian commentators used theirs; the gods love riddles, as the ancient sages knew, and those who would converse with the gods must learn to live with and thrive upon paradox and enigma.[/i]
FURTHER:-
[i]The riddles in the Rig Veda are particularly maddening because many of them are Looking Glass riddles (‘Why is a raven like a writing desk?’): they do not have, nor are they meant to have, answers. They are not merely rhetorical, but are designed to present one half of a Socratic dialogue through which the reader becomes aware of the inadequacy of his certain knowledge.
[/i]
Maybe such thoughts inspired the words of William Blake from the Everlasting Gospel:-
[i]The vision of Christ that thou dost see
Is my vision’s greatest enemy
Thine has a great hook nose like thine
Mine has a snub nose like to mine
Thine is the Friend of all Mankind
Mine speaks in parables to the blind[/i]
Nothing like a good parable to creep past the conscious, logical mind that wants a formula, precise instructions.
And Dogen, the 13th century zen master, said:- Where we do not understand, [i]there[/i] is our understanding.
Anyway, whatever, anyone interested in deciphering a "holy" book has plenty of choice these days. Untold numbers of ancient texts, most in various translations. And translation is very pertinent - you only have to read a few variants to see the problem. Once, for instance, ancient Hebrew has been translated into Greek, then into Latin, then into English, you tend to get a little bit of confusion. It makes me sympathise with a Church of England lady, who said:- "There should be no translations. If English was good enough for St Paul, it should be good enough for all."
Anyway, for me the idea/view/promise that we are "saved by grace lest anyone should boast" is sufficient, the rest is gloss. The idea can be found (sometimes well hidden I admit) in countless texts.
Alas, along comes:- "We are not saved by grace alone, but by works also" and the fireworks start. The professional theologians and other would be saviours of the world step up to the plate and begin to create interpretations that "must be believed" and various sects arise, each self-identifying as "the elect".
The only way to avoid this is if ALL are elected, but this is not an option for most believers, who perhaps like the idea of being "of the elect", which they humbly accept.
[i]The hymns are meant to puzzle, to surprise, to trouble the mind; they are often just as puzzling in Sanskrit as they are in English. When the reader finds themself at a point where the sense is unclear (as long as the language is clear), let them use their head, as the Indian commentators used theirs; the gods love riddles, as the ancient sages knew, and those who would converse with the gods must learn to live with and thrive upon paradox and enigma.[/i]
FURTHER:-
[i]The riddles in the Rig Veda are particularly maddening because many of them are Looking Glass riddles (‘Why is a raven like a writing desk?’): they do not have, nor are they meant to have, answers. They are not merely rhetorical, but are designed to present one half of a Socratic dialogue through which the reader becomes aware of the inadequacy of his certain knowledge.
[/i]
Maybe such thoughts inspired the words of William Blake from the Everlasting Gospel:-
[i]The vision of Christ that thou dost see
Is my vision’s greatest enemy
Thine has a great hook nose like thine
Mine has a snub nose like to mine
Thine is the Friend of all Mankind
Mine speaks in parables to the blind[/i]
Nothing like a good parable to creep past the conscious, logical mind that wants a formula, precise instructions.
And Dogen, the 13th century zen master, said:- Where we do not understand, [i]there[/i] is our understanding.
Anyway, whatever, anyone interested in deciphering a "holy" book has plenty of choice these days. Untold numbers of ancient texts, most in various translations. And translation is very pertinent - you only have to read a few variants to see the problem. Once, for instance, ancient Hebrew has been translated into Greek, then into Latin, then into English, you tend to get a little bit of confusion. It makes me sympathise with a Church of England lady, who said:- "There should be no translations. If English was good enough for St Paul, it should be good enough for all."
Anyway, for me the idea/view/promise that we are "saved by grace lest anyone should boast" is sufficient, the rest is gloss. The idea can be found (sometimes well hidden I admit) in countless texts.
Alas, along comes:- "We are not saved by grace alone, but by works also" and the fireworks start. The professional theologians and other would be saviours of the world step up to the plate and begin to create interpretations that "must be believed" and various sects arise, each self-identifying as "the elect".
The only way to avoid this is if ALL are elected, but this is not an option for most believers, who perhaps like the idea of being "of the elect", which they humbly accept.
