tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post5523120717828597005..comments2024-03-19T02:26:22.950-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: Then And NowShravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-73511435290967025492011-12-10T06:24:01.188-08:002011-12-10T06:24:01.188-08:00Hi Bhante,
As I write this I'm in Dharamshala...Hi Bhante,<br /><br />As I write this I'm in Dharamshala up in Himachal Pradesh. Last February I did visit Varanasi, which I found rather edifying in many respects.<br /><br />As you're saying, my concern with all the dead bodies (and feces strewn about) along the river is the public health concerns. People dive right into the water, wash their mouths out and some presumably drink the water, too.<br /><br />Maybe in years past it wasn't such a big deal when the city had a small population and the river wasn't so crowded, but with overpopulation and crowding along the river, it is a health concern. Even raw sewage is pumped straight into the river.<br /><br />I think in general the tolerance for filth and lack of hygiene in India is a recent thing. Historically Indians were noted for their cleanliness in ancient times: using disposable cutlery and dishware, bathing after defecating, burying all waste, etc... but something went wrong and now the result is widespread Hep A + B among other diseases which could be prevented, but the public generally doesn't care enough for health measures to work.Jeffrey Kotykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466850119342584826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-58905072233115034532011-12-10T04:04:24.303-08:002011-12-10T04:04:24.303-08:00Oh ! Actually I didn't know this kind of tradi...Oh ! Actually I didn't know this kind of tradition is prevailing in India. I also feel it more like a health problemසල්ලි ඉතිරි කරන්නා https://www.blogger.com/profile/14889361190749558544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-18707824683603536442011-12-09T23:18:37.832-08:002011-12-09T23:18:37.832-08:00Oh we in the west are so hung up about death and i...Oh we in the west are so hung up about death and in the east it's all so cool, yeah right, I lost my spiritual sensitivity about this place (India) alooooong time ago.<br />Well no, come to think of it The Visuddhi Magga does go on and on and on about Asubha practices, so much easier when you have a corpse floating past I guess.brahmaviharahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03882669862432841797noreply@blogger.com