On why Sanyasis have double standards

[Krishna]

The basic reason for Sanyasis to have double standards especially when it comes to celebacy has got to do with their role models.

Below are examples of a few such role models

1) Lord Siva

Dasanami sanyasis follow Lord Siva who is shown as a mendicant, sitting on a deer-skin in deep meditation on top of a snow-clad mountain. It is the same Lord Siva who burnt to ashes Kamadeva when the later tried to entice Siva to get attracted to the young and beautiful daugter of Himavan. On the other hand, the conjugal life of the same Lord Siva is described in such beautiful detail in Kalidasa's work, "Kumara Sambhavam".

It's all so confusing - which Siva should the dasanami Sanyasi follow? The guy who meditates on a mountain and gets angry at the mere thought of sex or the guy who has a great time?

2) Adi Sankara

Adi Sankara, who is credited with founding the Dasanami order was a celibate. During his short life time, he is reputed to have defeated many a vedic scholar. One such scholar was a lady named Saraswati. It is said that during a heated debate with her, the discussion veered towards conjugal life. Saraswati immediately challanged Sankara saying, "how can you say anything about conjugal life? You are a celibate, aren't you?". Sankara asked for and was granted a few days time to get the necessary qualification. Legand has it that Sankara's spirit left the body, travelled to Vanga Desha and entered into the body of the King who had died just then. Dwelling for a few days in the body of the King, Sankara's spirit aquired all the necessary experience to qualify him to debate on conjugal life. He then returned to his own body and went on to continue the debate.

Which Sankara should the dasanami sanyasi follow? The celebate? Or is conjugal experience necessary? Confusing, isn't it?

The followers argue that Sankara's own body maintained celebate purity while his mind gathered the necessary experience. This is even more confusing. Is "mental celebacy" not a necessity for a Sanyasi? So is it okey to watch X-rated videos?

3) Sri Krishna

The less said about Sri Krishna, the better. He is said to have had an innumerable number of wives but still maintained "purity". The follower who considers himself to be the lover of Sri Krishna is considered to be the highest / most evolved / most beloved devotee.

Male devotees who consider themselves the lovers of Sri Krishna indulge in cross-dressing, talking, walking and generally behaving in what they think is female mannerism. This is gender confusion - forget about male celebacy! Where will this trans-gender pretention lead the devotee to eventually?

[K. P. S. Kamath]

Sanyasa literally means "throwing down." It was conceived as a counter-force to Kama (selfish desire), which had corrupted Brahmanism during the post-Vedic period (1000-200 B. C.). Upanishadists wanted Brahmins to develop self-control by means of Sanyasa. So, instead of lusting for wealth, cows, gold and the like as the fee for performing Yajnas, Upanishadists told them to detach themselves from these sense objects by means of Sanyasa.

Upanishadists claimed that the mental unrest (Dwandwam) was brought on by mind's desire for, attachment to, and possessiveness of sense objects. Upanishadists did not say that Sanyasis should not marry and have children. Only half-baked Brahmins who have not understood the fundamentals of Vedanta are ignorant about this fact. Almost all Sanyasis in Shrutis and Smritis were married. Some, such as Parasara and Vishwamitra, had illegitimate children. Vyasa was an illegitimate child of Sage Parasara and fisherwoman Satyavati.

The reason why false Sanyasis of modern times are pretending to be celibates is to enhance their prestige as selfless people who have given up all worldly attachments. Hindus have this stupid belief that Sanyasis do no wrong. They also have a tendency to give money to people who claim that they don't want it. So, to make money, they have to practice Sanyasa during the day time. At night they practice Kama. In other words, during day time, they pretend like Shankaracharya. At night they pretend like Krishna.

[astrokid.nj]

(31-Mar-2010, 03:49 PM)Krishna Wrote: The basic reason for Sanyasis to have double standards especially when it comes to celebacy has got to do with their role models.

1) Wow.. Adi shankara's spirit left his body, entered some dead body,... came back full of carnal knowledge.
In my childhood I used to read superman, batman comics and wonder at all the deeds performed by the heroes and villains. I should have also read Hindu texts.. even greater "true events".

2) of course, the reason any organism can not possibly be naturally celibate.. is that biological evolution by natural evolution set it up that way. Out of a pool of 100 individuals, if 50 of them had mostly tendencies to be celibate, and 50 of them were not.. then bye-bye 50 celibates.. you are not going to have any offspring, and hence your traits mostly disappear with you. (It will be just a rare offspring that continues to have the 'celibacy' gene/trait).
Biologically speaking, the purpose-in-life of an organism is to survice till reproduction age, and reproduce and pass on genes. So, the concept of celibacy strikes at the very heart of evolution.

Unfortunately, ours is mostly an uneducated, an uninformed society, and hence most folks dont know evolutionary principles. (I highly recommend 'Evolution: The triumph of an idea' by Carl Zimmer). So "celibate" babas are accepted even today.

[TTCUSM]

(31-Mar-2010, 03:49 PM)Krishna Wrote: It is the same Lord Siva who burnt to ashes Kamadeva when the later tried to entice Siva to get attracted to the young and beautiful daugter of Himavan. On the other hand, the conjugal life of the same Lord Siva is described in such beautiful detail in Kalidasa's work, "Kumara Sambhavam".

Since when is Kalidasa a religious authority?

[Sajit]

(23-Aug-2010, 06:33 AM)TTCUSM Wrote:

(31-Mar-2010, 03:49 PM)Krishna Wrote: It is the same Lord Siva who burnt to ashes Kamadeva when the later tried to entice Siva to get attracted to the young and beautiful daugter of Himavan. On the other hand, the conjugal life of the same Lord Siva is described in such beautiful detail in Kalidasa's work, "Kumara Sambhavam".

Since when is Kalidasa a religious authority?

You consider Rajiv Mahotra as a religious authority right?

[siddharth]

Who decides who is a religious authority and who isn't?