dear symlyn, I agree with you at some places. When people ask me my religion I reply, I was born in a Hindu family. I agree with you when you talk about Ram, Indra and Shiva. But I dont know if we should evaluate the whole Hindu religion based on few stories. The stories which I am not sure if I should take them as a false deviation from the original blueprint or they could even have originated because of a purpose of the Guru or seer who told them or wrote them. Infact since I dont know sanskrit and what I know about those stories are that they are translated by some people. How reliable are those people who translated. You can find deviation in stories that are told even about Manthara in Ramayana. Some say she knew it Ram was a god and it was actually Ram who told her to persuade his father to send him away. Yet some other people say she was an evil person. The point I am getting at is, there are definitely flaws we can point out, but what is the probability that we are pointing out the flaws of what we know as Ramayana and not the actual Ramayana written originally. With regard to Hindu philosophy, though I am not completely satisfied with what it has offered me till now, but the solutions to how one should live a good life and understand it I find it best answered by Hindu philosophy. But I have to admit I have only mediocre knowledge of Buddhism and Christianity and none of Islamic religion. So I suggest, before pounding heavily and totally refuting Hindu philosophy, its best to try and understand what it has to offer and take those which make sense to you. If Sankaracharya had fleed to Nepal, let suppose, I think Indian government would have no trouble getting him back. First reason being, Nepal is not in a situation to deny India's demand. Secondly even religiously there are many other institution established like that of sai baba and om shanti, and people are moving towards them rather than the traditional sankaracharya.