This is Heaven - Perspectives from Poets And Philosophers

Common sense should prevail over fantasy until the fantasy can be proven.The concept of heaven seems ridiculous to me. It is like any other superstition -- hard to prove or disprove. 

I would much rather agree with Fyodor Dostoevsky who in his novel The Brothers Karamazov says, "What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.”


I would also much rather agree with Mirza Ghalib who says:

Humko  Maloom  Hai   Jannat  Ki  Haqiqat   Lekin
Dil Ke Bahlaane Ko, 'Ghalib' Yeh Khayaal Achcha Hai

I know the reality of heaven but
it is a good idea to lure the heart

I would also agree with John Lennon who said these unforgettable lines:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

And with Emily Dickinson who found the concept of heaven hopeless:

'Heaven' – is what I cannot Reach!
The Apple on the Tree
Provided it do hopeless – hang
That – 'Heaven' is – to Me!


Marxists may not have gotten everything right, but they did get this right.  Heaven and hell are just tools employed by religious authorities to coax followers into a certain way of life. Even the outcome were good, it is not right to whip and lash people into submission. The premise of good deeds is good, but there are better ways of fomenting good deeds. 

On this issue I agree with atheist Sam Harris who says, "It is rather more noble to help people purely out of concern for their suffering than it is to help them because you think the Creator of the Universe wants you to do it, or will reward you for doing it, or will punish you for not doing it."

The singing of Ekonkar provides a good way out of the debate. Ekonkar, the song of unity is omnipresent -- everywhere in each thing.  There is no difference between the creator and the created.  There is no difference between heaven and hell.  I am thankful to the great guru that gives the gift of ekonkar, this 'prasad'.  'Gurprasad'! I have the most precious gift.  I am now fearless. I am not in wait.  Because I am in union. 




Other Reading: 


BBC
Where is salvation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p003k9lf

Stanford: Plato on Heaven and Hell
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heaven-hell/
Heaven and Hell

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