Monday, November 28, 2005

Just read my book all day. Heavenly. Which brings me to...

Q2. What about...Heaven and Hell ?
Judeo-Christianity/Islam. Heaven: meant to be a hot ticket; exact nature undisclosed but aspirations vary from floating on a small cloud playing a harp (Christians) to having your own harem (indoctrinated young Muslim terrorists). General consensus that, even if not much goes on, it beats going to Hell, where you have to watch reality TV and cookery programmes all day and night. And no ad breaks.
Hinduism. 37 Heavens, where activities range from sitting around contentedly, to endless cavorting with willing apsaras (irressistable females who provide endless sensual pleasures). Not clear whether you get to choose which option, or whether women can opt for male apsaras if they want, or even if they can get in. Yama, the God of Judgement, with the help of his 2 assessors Dharma and Chutrayupta, make the call, but kings, nobles etc get a free pass to aspara Heaven. Haples sinners are hurled through a trapdoor to one of 32 alternative Hells where the punishments fit the crimes. Confusingly, reincarnation is also allowed.
Buddhism. There is no Heaven, and no Hell. There is even no soul that could go to either place. Life is supposed to be suffering, and to escape it is the aim. Nirvana, the mind-boggling state of nothingness, comes if-and-when you achieve enlightenment and escape the cycle of rebirth and death. So one way of looking at it would be that we are in Hell already. On the whole, Buddhists seem a pretty happy bunch though, here in Hell...

2 comments:

Unknown said...

'If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.' Francis Bacon.

Thwack, 15 All...

Unknown said...

Anybody in particular in mind? Personally I tend to go with Voltaire: 'Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.'