Expert: Justin Choo - 12/10/2008

Question
I have a problems in life. I think that the ultimate goal of life to achieve liberation.  A person would continue to work toward liberation, but what happen if they fail to achieve liberation?  A person life when full of calamities and miseries is because of one Karma.  One should try to elevate to higher consciousness toward liberation, but what do one do about the miseries and calamities that one faces in life when one wants to not suffer at all.

In addition, I read the Bhagavad-Gita, but I have difficulty  in the process of going about studying it because I am not Hindu since I am Asian and I am from the United States.  It seems not a good idea to study other people religion perhap.   However, if I go about studying Hinduism to achieve liberation, is there is any crime from it.  Also, how do one know if one is liberated in this life or the next?  

Finally, people establishes empires.  Some people established empires to destroy another empire.  How do one go about studying religion and trying to achieve liberation when the head or people of another empire demand that you not study religion?

Also, among the four world main religion: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, what is the heirarchy of Gods.  I mean, if one wants to study religion, he/she should follow a religion that is worth following.  Which religion is better, and which is God is the most respected?

Answer
Hi Henry,

I have problems too.  Not one in this world has no problem.  It is the very nature of existence.  This is the first of the Four Noble Truths.  

People "come and go".  Empires triumph and fade into oblivion.  This is the cycle of birth and death.  This is the first of the three characteristics of existence...impermanence.  

Because of the uncertainties in life, it is important that one is born in the right place at the right time.

<<Which religion is better, and which God is the most respected?>>

If you asked a Christian, you would be told that Christianity is best, and Jesus is the only saviour.

If you asked a Muslim, you would be told that Islam is best, and Allah is the saviour.

If you asked me, I would tell you to go study the religions that you are interested in; then you decide for yourself.

Take care.

Justin Choo


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