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From: radams@cerritos.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: RE: Some Questions
Message-ID: <1991May30.050658.20828@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 30 May 91 05:06:58 GMT
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Organization: Cerritos College, Norwalk CA
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Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov

moorthy@hctdemo.leis.bellcore.com (moorthy) writes:

>	What do different Buddhistic schools say about the next Avatar?
>	(Is there a concept of Avatar in Buddhism?)
>	
>	Is there an authentic account of "Kalki" Avatar ( the next Avatar) in 
>	Hindu scriptures?
>	/moorthy

What is an avatar? A divine incarnation.  In a sense, we are all avatars
since the divine is incarnated in all beings - sentient and insentient.
An avatar, as it is described in the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI by Paramahansa
Yogananda, is a fully liberated soul, who became liberated in a previous
incarnation, and who returns to this physical dimension to help yet unliberated
souls to also be free.  The AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI describes in detail what
an avatar is, what are some of the traits an avatar has, and names some of
them including some who were still around at the time of the writing of this
book.  This seems to indicate to me that there is no such thing as THE AVATAR
or THE NEXT AVATAR except in certain sects or religions.


	Roger Adams

	radams@cerritos.edu               To those in whom love dwells,
	Cerritos College                  the whole world is one family.
	11110 Alondra Blvd                             A Hindu Proverb
        Norwalk, California 90650
	USA
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