Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: What is Islam? [Re: vinaire] #16338 - 05/16/02 08:33 AM Edit Reply Quote

Haha, Vinaire, actually I learn the most here, from you and others. And I also learn to formulate my thoughts into words, besides also presenting some of the very basic Vedic data. Actually the best way to learn any work is to be one with the essence of that work. It takes much effort of for instance the Vedas to examin: a. the basic data: chapters, etc. b. the character of the work c. the timeline and setting d. the author(s) or editors e. the basic commentaries f. relation to other works For Indian works we see case after case that the works we have now are the endproduct: It contains a very old core, which may be obvious or hidden in the embellished and interpolated parts. Sometimes as in the case of the epics and the Pur�nas the works themselves give data for the growth of the works. The tendency of growth is that the first and the last parts of the works are the latest to be added (not necessarily the youngest in spirit, but mostly moulded in a later language form). So the B�laK�nda (first) and the UttaraK�nda (last) of the V�lmik�ya R�m�yana are the latest addition to that work. The very word "uttara' denotes that it is "later', as 'p�rva' means 'earlier'. (adverbial words for direction used also for time, but also indicating the direction from where the Arya came: the p�rva!). This same principle may be applied to the non-Indian works in the sense that earlier thoughts are intertwined with later additions. The language stage and poetry form can be a key to unveil that, besides scarce historical references.