I get a good deal of the deeper theological aspects of Hinduism from irl Sanskrit scholars who are Hindu practitioners. A number of these have studied at Ivy leagues and/or in Indian Sanskrit academies. I asked them about their view on the below episode regarding Supreme Godhead.

They point out the Bhagavad Gita as a pivotal moment in all of Hindu theology. And I wonder if others agree with their postulation:

The Bhagavad Gita was a moment when Paramatma (Absolute Supreme Godhead) spoke directly to Arjun, thereby classifying it as Shruti vs Smriti.

Some sects believe Krishna is Paramatma himself. Others say it's Vishnu so he was speaking through Krishna always. Others say Paramatma is completely nirgun and even the Trimurti only capture aspects of Paramatma, so avatars couldn't capture his full glory. Other interps too...

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The Emissary

@TheEmissaryCo

21 Dec 20

After all this time (& contracting it myself), I really don't have a set opinion on Covid itself tbh.

I have hardened opinions on:

-Need for a more direct/reformed social safety net
-More distrust of elites
-Megacorps win
-Geopolitics in below article

theemissary.co/the-consequenc…

The Swedish model's collapse was eye-opening to see, especially as people propped it up as another Nordic godsend.

OTOH CV death rate seems abysmally low yet still has the potential to overwhelm hospitals at a terrifying scale if virality spikes.

I just don't know what to think

Lockdown is something I've accepted (I don't mind remote work and my gym is open so idc). But I know it can be crushing for some people, especially small biz owners and workers. Which is why I am much more empathetic towards relief and hate the dilly-dallying in Congress.

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The Emissary

@TheEmissaryCo

20 Dec 20

I've come across this notion multiple times: that all Indian-Americans are the progeny of immigrants who came to America with silicon laced gold bricks in their mouths and a platinum high-caste thread around their shoulder.

Being Gujarati, this is a patently hilarious notion.

I've watched people in my Gujarati-American community (Overwhelmingly not Brahmin but also including Brahmins) slave away doing menial jobs at restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, etc...

From scrubbing dishes to counting dollar bills and in between the same day.

From "may I take your order" to ordering fully loaded Teslas all within 5 years. Busting their ass in between + maintaining family life.

Woke Diaspora don't know shit about the hustle of the West & will find any & every excuse to put down their own.

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The Emissary

@TheEmissaryCo

13 Dec 20

Thread #4 Quatre: The Adventure of Arabs

Based off my notes of my favorite book of the year; just wanted to share my notes and a preview of a great read and 3000 years of a fascinating culture and civilization.

amazon.com/Arabs-000-Year…

Let's set the stage: In this map, you'll find our journeys & destinations. "Arabs" are an amalgamation of several groups of ppl who coalesced into one. Initially, they were the "other" by settled folk, but these tribal and nomadic "other" would soon define the settlers themselves

In 853 BCE, Assyrian King Shalmaneser III declares victory over a Levantine coalition aided by "Aribi." This is where the word and identity is first attested.

Tribal and savage nomads from the desert wastelands, their mentioning becomes more frequent among settled Mesopotamians.

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The Emissary

@TheEmissaryCo

11 Dec 20

In the US, despite screeching from avocadollenials, entrepreneurs are viewed in a highly positive color.

I think that's in part that many of the most famous ones, have drastically changed American society for the better or are pushing innovation (Jobs, Gates, Musk, Bezos, etc..)

In India, is this really true with the biggest entrepreneurs? Jio is the exception to the rule.

But many of India's big entrepreneurs don't capture that same spirit of adventure and innovation as the American crop of the last 40 years.

For a second, they kind of remind me of "The Men Who Built America" - Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, Ford.

But even then, they really don't seem as "value add" as much as old US industrialists. Not even close on second thought.

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