Comments on: Is this too much to ask? http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/ Dedicated to "Bharat" and "Dharma" Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:15:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Bharat Sharma http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-82622 Bharat Sharma Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:17:13 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/#comment-82622 Dear Shantanu, I was very regular devotee at the Laxmi Narayan temple (Birla Mandir) in New Delhi. The temple was opened to public in 1937. On a number of places, the inscriptions say very clearly that all Hindus (including Buddhist / Jain / Sikh), irrespective of the caste have the right to pray in the temples. I personally believe that this issue is more made up than it exists in reality. Regarding RSS / VHP, perhaps you might be aware that VHP runs training programmes for priests where in all Hindu children irrespective of their caste are trained to become priests. http://vhp.org/category/pujari-works/ Dear Shantanu,

I was very regular devotee at the Laxmi Narayan temple (Birla Mandir) in New Delhi. The temple was opened to public in 1937. On a number of places, the inscriptions say very clearly that all Hindus (including Buddhist / Jain / Sikh), irrespective of the caste have the right to pray in the temples.

I personally believe that this issue is more made up than it exists in reality.

Regarding RSS / VHP, perhaps you might be aware that VHP runs training programmes for priests where in all Hindu children irrespective of their caste are trained to become priests.

http://vhp.org/category/pujari-works/

]]> By: Shantanu Dey http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-64452 Shantanu Dey Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:45:18 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/#comment-64452 Caste system over many thousands of years has been suitably exploited by priestly classes and rich nobles to their advantage for keeping ignorant masses away from challenging them. The basic purpose of caste system or Chatur Varna was two fold - 1) Societal, whereby a division of labour is established in the society so that people perform duties according to their abilities and willingness 2) Character building - in that caste supplements the three Gunas - Sattva, Raja and Tama and the the three Gunas determine the character. A Brahim is one who is learned and wise, i.e. presence of Sattva Guna to a high extent, a Skhatriya is one who has a high amount of Raja Guna, i.e. a person who is willing to die to protect others, and Vaishya where the Raja and Tama Guna are evenly balanced, and Sudras, where Tama is the dominant. Tama Guna, contrary to as widely perceived, is not necessarily bad because it determines humility, fellow feeling and also gives a shrewd idea about how to use material things. Thus every person is either a Brahmin, or a Shatriya or a Vaishya or Sudra depending on his or her inclination, character. Nobody is born Brahmin etc. So as per true Hinduism there is no Dalit, only our politicians and corrupt bureaucrats deprived of all Gunas and full of Tama Gunas can be considered Dalit. Its high time we spread and propagate this message of Vedanta and Gita and dont let the priestly class destroy all goods done by sages like Ramakrishna and their disciples like Vivekananda. Caste system over many thousands of years has been suitably exploited by priestly classes and rich nobles to their advantage for keeping ignorant masses away from challenging them. The basic purpose of caste system or Chatur Varna was two fold – 1) Societal, whereby a division of labour is established in the society so that people perform duties according to their abilities and willingness 2) Character building – in that caste supplements the three Gunas – Sattva, Raja and Tama and the the three Gunas determine the character. A Brahim is one who is learned and wise, i.e. presence of Sattva Guna to a high extent, a Skhatriya is one who has a high amount of Raja Guna, i.e. a person who is willing to die to protect others, and Vaishya where the Raja and Tama Guna are evenly balanced, and Sudras, where Tama is the dominant. Tama Guna, contrary to as widely perceived, is not necessarily bad because it determines humility, fellow feeling and also gives a shrewd idea about how to use material things. Thus every person is either a Brahmin, or a Shatriya or a Vaishya or Sudra depending on his or her inclination, character. Nobody is born Brahmin etc. So as per true Hinduism there is no Dalit, only our politicians and corrupt bureaucrats deprived of all Gunas and full of Tama Gunas can be considered Dalit.
Its high time we spread and propagate this message of Vedanta and Gita and dont let the priestly class destroy all goods done by sages like Ramakrishna and their disciples like Vivekananda.

]]> By: David http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 David Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:21:52 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/#comment-1223 I was born Catholic, but out of my own initiative and lots of hardship I became a follower of my ancient forefathers who were Hindus, so it took me seventeen long years to study Hinduism and to understand the meaning of Vedanta. Once I approached a Hindu and told him I want to become a Hindu, he asked me what my relegion was and I told him I was Catholic, he told me, just go and become a good Catholic! This is the mind set of existing Hindus. They have no pride in their faith and belief and the worlds best philosophy or the greatest philosophy! Its so easy to become or convert to Christianity or Islam, even the books and literature is cheap; to become a Hindu or to convert to Hinduism is a uphill task, literally nobody is there to help you or to console you! Even the commentaries of Hindu Swamis is so expansive to purchase, as high as $500.00! sometimes. Now coming to the main point. How to unite a divided Hindu society. Only a unitied Hindu society can save India! and Hinduism itself. So, its time for the upper caste and so called pundits, some are totally uneducated, still they want to be called learned Brahmins, they eat meat, drink, dont know the scriptures and have done nothing to promote Hinduism, but they want to be leaders! And these same ignorant buffons constantly parrot that, "all relegion are same". Hinduism is the only relegion based on examination of the inner self and finding devinity within oneself. Where as other relegions are based on revelations and blind faith, even a mad man can get revelations! Its time dalits should be allowed to be priests and pundits and perform pujas, learn sanskrit, and Hindu samaj/society should be accepting of them with open heart and mind and with love and pride. Just immagine if all these so called dalits and lower caste leave Hindu society and convert to other faiths who are waiting for them with open arms, specially Islam and Christianity. According to Vedanta all are devine, all and everything is part of Brahman, the all encompassing and all can be Brahmin through the study of scripture, the Vedas and Upanishads. Brahmin and upper caste by birth is a fallacy, and distortion of Vedas. Anyone who desires to be a Brahmin or Shatriya or Vaishya can become so, by employing the proper methods of study and practice. So, I plead to my Hindu brothers and sisters, lets unite. In unity there is collective strength. And through this reform Hinduism we can build a new India that is Bharat and liberate the whole world too. Think about it, spare a moment. Before saying the whole world is a family be nice to your fellow Hindus, your poor Hindu brothers and sisters, help them, donate your time, your money. Thus charity begins at home. Openly proclaim to be a Hindu, even wear a tilak, if Jews and Muslims can wear skull cap and Christians, a cross, why not we. Lets be proud of being Hindu. OM (AUM) Vedanta, the greatest and most pure knowledge. David aka Vivek Bharat I was born Catholic, but out of my own initiative and lots of hardship I became a follower of my ancient forefathers who were Hindus, so it took me seventeen long years to study Hinduism and to understand the meaning of Vedanta.

Once I approached a Hindu and told him I want to become a Hindu, he asked me what my relegion was and I told him I was Catholic, he told me, just go and become a good Catholic! This is the mind set of existing Hindus. They have no pride in their faith and belief and the worlds best philosophy or the greatest philosophy!

Its so easy to become or convert to Christianity or Islam, even the books and literature is cheap; to become a Hindu or to convert to Hinduism is a uphill task, literally nobody is there to help you or to console you! Even the commentaries of Hindu Swamis is so expansive to purchase, as high as $500.00! sometimes.

Now coming to the main point. How to unite a divided Hindu society. Only a unitied Hindu society can save India! and Hinduism itself.

So, its time for the upper caste and so called pundits, some are totally uneducated, still they want to be called learned Brahmins, they eat meat, drink, dont know the scriptures and have done nothing to promote Hinduism, but they want to be leaders!

And these same ignorant buffons constantly parrot that, “all relegion are same”.

Hinduism is the only relegion based on examination of the inner self and finding devinity within oneself. Where as other relegions are based on revelations and blind faith, even a mad man can get revelations!

Its time dalits should be allowed to be priests and pundits and perform pujas, learn sanskrit, and Hindu samaj/society should be accepting of them with open heart and mind and with love and pride.

Just immagine if all these so called dalits and lower caste leave Hindu society and convert to other faiths who are waiting for them with open arms, specially Islam and Christianity.

According to Vedanta all are devine, all and everything is part of Brahman, the all encompassing and all can be Brahmin through the study of scripture, the Vedas and Upanishads.

Brahmin and upper caste by birth is a fallacy, and distortion of Vedas. Anyone who desires to be a Brahmin or Shatriya or Vaishya can become so, by employing the proper methods of study and practice.

So, I plead to my Hindu brothers and sisters, lets unite. In unity there is collective strength. And through this reform Hinduism we can build a new India that is Bharat and liberate the whole world too.

Think about it, spare a moment. Before saying the whole world is a family be nice to your fellow Hindus, your poor Hindu brothers and sisters, help them, donate your time, your money. Thus charity begins at home. Openly proclaim to be a Hindu, even wear a tilak, if Jews and Muslims can wear skull cap and Christians, a cross, why not we. Lets be proud of being Hindu. OM (AUM) Vedanta, the greatest and most pure knowledge.

David aka Vivek Bharat

]]> By: B Shantanu http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 B Shantanu Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:47:10 +0000 http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/07/02/is-this-too-much-to-ask/#comment-1224 I posted the following in response to some comments on this article at DesiCritics.Org http://desicritics.org/2007/07/02/085935.php I think they are relevant for this discussion: *** Anamika: In fact my next post is on the subject that Tavleen has mentioned in her article - there is a need to clarify what is the essence of Hinduism, what does it mean to be a Hindu etc... I am, in turn, amused and frustrated by the misunderstanding about Hinduism in most people's minds. I consider this value system one of the rarest in the world in that it gives you the choice, the freedom and the luxury of beliefs that is un-afforded in any other extant value system or religious beliefs. One of the core tenets of Sanatan Dharma is the one-ness of all life...which professes that in spite of diversity and external dissimilarity, all beings are one, all life is sacred and all creatures are part of one eternal truth. Hinduism is one of the earliest religion/tradition/culture that had articulated and defined the concepts of tolerance and mutual respect even as most of mankind was still deep in the hinterlands of cultural and spiritual enlightenment. I hope that answers your concern about the "flaw" in Hinduism - and if I have come across as saying that Sanatan Dharma is the only acceptable form of Hinduism, clearly I have been misunderstood. I am a firm believer in freedom and liberty of thought and belief...and who am I to say who is a "true" Hindu and who is not? All I wanted to say was that lets get back to basics - lets accept that all beings are one. Lets accept that diversity of thoughts and beliefs is actually enriching; lets accept that there can be no basis for discrimination; lets accept that there is no universal set of practices/or rituals that a Hindu "must" adhere to or avoid...It was openness and tolerance that made the religion so rich - lets not forget that. *** 05:47 AMSujai: Hopefully my remarks above clarify what I meant. I am not sure what you are discarding... You say that "We want to follow our own version and still be considered 'true Hindus' (if such a term does exist)" - I agree with that except if your version of being a Hindu means intolerance towards others or discrimination towards a fellow human being just because of their birth or colour of the skin, I have to disagree with that. Of course you don't need to know Sanatan Dharma, or follow it to be a true Hindu...but you cannot be a Hindu and practice, defend or encourage caste based divisions or discriminations - that was my point. There is a point in revisiting the scriptures - because distortions and misinterpretations need to be corrected. The idea may sound retrograde but unless we have the courage to face the past, we cannot look at the future... That's of course my personal opinion - and you are free to ignore, disagree or disregard it completely. In any case, thanks for your comments and contributing to the debate. All of you may find these posts interesting: http://satyameva-jayate.org/2005/11/14/excerpts-from-word-as-a-weapon/, http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/03/01/hinduism-not-monotheism-in-disguise/ and http://satyameva-jayate.org/2006/05/30/excerpts-from-the-dangers-of-monotheism/ I posted the following in response to some comments on this article at DesiCritics.Org http://desicritics.org/2007/07/02/085935.php

I think they are relevant for this discussion:

***
Anamika: In fact my next post is on the subject that Tavleen has mentioned in her article – there is a need to clarify what is the essence of Hinduism, what does it mean to be a Hindu etc…
I am, in turn, amused and frustrated by the misunderstanding about Hinduism in most people’s minds.

I consider this value system one of the rarest in the world in that it gives you the choice, the freedom and the luxury of beliefs that is un-afforded in any other extant value system or religious beliefs.

One of the core tenets of Sanatan Dharma is the one-ness of all life…which professes that in spite of diversity and external dissimilarity, all beings are one, all life is sacred and all creatures are part of one eternal truth.

Hinduism is one of the earliest religion/tradition/culture that had articulated and defined the concepts of tolerance and mutual respect even as most of mankind was still deep in the hinterlands of cultural and spiritual enlightenment.

I hope that answers your concern about the “flaw” in Hinduism – and if I have come across as saying that Sanatan Dharma is the only acceptable form of Hinduism, clearly I have been misunderstood.

I am a firm believer in freedom and liberty of thought and belief…and who am I to say who is a “true” Hindu and who is not?

All I wanted to say was that lets get back to basics – lets accept that all beings are one. Lets accept that diversity of thoughts and beliefs is actually enriching; lets accept that there can be no basis for discrimination; lets accept that there is no universal set of practices/or rituals that a Hindu “must” adhere to or avoid…It was openness and tolerance that made the religion so rich – lets not forget that.

***
05:47 AMSujai: Hopefully my remarks above clarify what I meant. I am not sure what you are discarding…
You say that “We want to follow our own version and still be considered ‘true Hindus’ (if such a term does exist)” – I agree with that except if your version of being a Hindu means intolerance towards others or discrimination towards a fellow human being just because of their birth or colour of the skin, I have to disagree with that.

Of course you don’t need to know Sanatan Dharma, or follow it to be a true Hindu…but you cannot be a Hindu and practice, defend or encourage caste based divisions or discriminations – that was my point.

There is a point in revisiting the scriptures – because distortions and misinterpretations need to be corrected. The idea may sound retrograde but unless we have the courage to face the past, we cannot look at the future…

That’s of course my personal opinion – and you are free to ignore, disagree or disregard it completely.

In any case, thanks for your comments and contributing to the debate.

All of you may find these posts interesting:

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2005/11/14/excerpts-from-word-as-a-weapon/,

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2007/03/01/hinduism-not-monotheism-in-disguise/ and

http://satyameva-jayate.org/2006/05/30/excerpts-from-the-dangers-of-monotheism/

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