In defence of Hinduism
Fiji Times Online
MINAKSHI MAHARAJ (Saturday, August 20, 2005)
Anti-Hindu rhetoric is common in Fiji for two reasons.
First, the culture of certain groups actively encourages this kind of propaganda despite their appalling ignorance of Hinduism and a blatant disregard for the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Second, Hindus are helpless in the face of such malicious distortion because they have a culture which respects all religions.
A few days ago, a Radhika Singh wrote to defend the church against a charge of duping Indians. Although the logic of her defence is deficient, her pain is evident. That is how Hindus feel each time some rabid person condemns their belief, each time a temple is desecrated, each time some presumptuous ignoramus air their views on a religion of which they have no knowledge.
Welcome to the club, Radhika and others who do not realise that they should do to others what they would others do to them.
Hinduism predates Christia-nity by many millennia. In fact, it is sanatan — existing eternally in all cycles of creation. Hinduism is dharma and not a creed, so each person is free to choose the panth that suits them in order to achieve the ultimate goal of life — spiritual perfection (not Heaven).
Individuals can follow many different panths within one family and each one's choice will be equally revered. No one will waste time and energy and accumulate bad karma by ridiculing other religious choices, the purpose of religion being self perfection, not ignorant arrogance.
That is the supreme refinement and confidence of Hindu philosophy. It offers freedom and does not resort to persecution and unworthy propaganda.
However, at present, when Hindus convert to a creed, they often launch malignant attacks on their old religion.
Their new choice appears to actively promote a regressive holy war attitude. When Hindus read this trashy, religious scandal-mongering, they cannot help but apportion blame to the authorities of such groups.
The second question asks why, if Brahman created all humans, is there inequality based on caste. I see one misinterpretation and one question in it.
Brahman and Brahma are two aspects of the innumerable concepts of the Ultimate Reality (not gods). Brahma is a creator aspect. Radhika has failed to grasp Dr Khan's point.
The "if" in her question carries the smug conceit of the believer of the one god. It indicates that she does not really believe Hindus have the concept of one god. To return to the point, I will ask Radhika the same question.
Look around you — are all people the same? Are they equal in intellectual calibre, mental ability, spiritual development, wealth and power, physical abilities, health and talent? Can you explain why all people have not been made equal? Why are some high, others low? Hinduism can.
Hinduism states that there are four types of people — the pure-minded, peaceful, selfless lovers of learning. They are great assets in any community and Indians are blessed with this type. Then there are those who have superior mental and spiritual skills but full of energy to achieve and obtain. Their energy is constructively channelled when they are rulers, protectors and doers in society.
The third group has the ability to generate wealth by industry and agriculture, thus doing their good part in the social organism. The fourth group comprises those who do not have much special talent, leadership ability or mental power. However, they are equally valuable to society as they work faithfully for the welfare of all, just like the other groups.
The caste system is not stratification but a classification of people according to their abilities and tendencies. They are different and equally valuable, not high and low, as Radhika and her cronies appear to believe.
All of us fit one or the other of these groups. Even today, this psychological assessment is testimony to the surpassing brilliance of our ancient rishis — it quite dwarfs the fumbling effort of modern psychology with its perverted ideas that are so degrading to humankind.
In Hinduism, psychology and all aspects of human endeavour are intrinsically linked and not fragmented.
This philosophy of caste did not condone or institutionalise the persecution, en masse, of any group which is a distortion propagated by ethnocentric and ignorant 17th/18th century missionaries and British opportunists who sought to discredit Hindus to rationalise the white man's burden so that they can loot the country blind.
The accusations Radhika is mouthing were inherited from these dubious characters. Unfortunately, caste is an English word with connotations of culture and not of varna.
This also causes misrepresentation of concepts. Because of these factors, many Hindus feel needlessly ashamed of the caste system. Yes, there may have been some degree of injustice but then, which country did not evidence injustice?
It is a well known fact that colonists ceaselessly endeavoured to demean the colonised. It is true many "free" people are still intellectually colonised.
Do they know the injustice and cruelty of the class system in Britain — of slavery and indenture, the Inquisition, apartheid and the barbaric penal system that exiled tiny children to the colonies, lynched black people and massacred American Indians? Do they know of the injustice brought about by the greed that fuelled the Industrial Revolution with the blood of their colonies, the persecution of Jews for two millennia which ended with the Holocaust — a feat of cruelty unparalleled in the history of mankind?
Let me tell you, Hindus cannot match that record. Radhika, and others such as her are barking up the wrong tree and fighting the wrong battle. They are being duped by those who conceal their evil deeds but magnify their malicious fabrication about other beliefs.
Greatness is self evident. It cannot be achieved by demeaning others or other religions.
The act itself offends every civilised sentiment and destroys all the merit of the doer.
I would like to leave people such as Radhika with this gem from the treasure chest of their cast-off heritage — dusron key samman mein he atam samman ha — by respecting others, one earns respect.
MINAKSHI MAHARAJ (Saturday, August 20, 2005)
Anti-Hindu rhetoric is common in Fiji for two reasons.
First, the culture of certain groups actively encourages this kind of propaganda despite their appalling ignorance of Hinduism and a blatant disregard for the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Second, Hindus are helpless in the face of such malicious distortion because they have a culture which respects all religions.
A few days ago, a Radhika Singh wrote to defend the church against a charge of duping Indians. Although the logic of her defence is deficient, her pain is evident. That is how Hindus feel each time some rabid person condemns their belief, each time a temple is desecrated, each time some presumptuous ignoramus air their views on a religion of which they have no knowledge.
Welcome to the club, Radhika and others who do not realise that they should do to others what they would others do to them.
Hinduism predates Christia-nity by many millennia. In fact, it is sanatan — existing eternally in all cycles of creation. Hinduism is dharma and not a creed, so each person is free to choose the panth that suits them in order to achieve the ultimate goal of life — spiritual perfection (not Heaven).
Individuals can follow many different panths within one family and each one's choice will be equally revered. No one will waste time and energy and accumulate bad karma by ridiculing other religious choices, the purpose of religion being self perfection, not ignorant arrogance.
That is the supreme refinement and confidence of Hindu philosophy. It offers freedom and does not resort to persecution and unworthy propaganda.
However, at present, when Hindus convert to a creed, they often launch malignant attacks on their old religion.
Their new choice appears to actively promote a regressive holy war attitude. When Hindus read this trashy, religious scandal-mongering, they cannot help but apportion blame to the authorities of such groups.
The second question asks why, if Brahman created all humans, is there inequality based on caste. I see one misinterpretation and one question in it.
Brahman and Brahma are two aspects of the innumerable concepts of the Ultimate Reality (not gods). Brahma is a creator aspect. Radhika has failed to grasp Dr Khan's point.
The "if" in her question carries the smug conceit of the believer of the one god. It indicates that she does not really believe Hindus have the concept of one god. To return to the point, I will ask Radhika the same question.
Look around you — are all people the same? Are they equal in intellectual calibre, mental ability, spiritual development, wealth and power, physical abilities, health and talent? Can you explain why all people have not been made equal? Why are some high, others low? Hinduism can.
Hinduism states that there are four types of people — the pure-minded, peaceful, selfless lovers of learning. They are great assets in any community and Indians are blessed with this type. Then there are those who have superior mental and spiritual skills but full of energy to achieve and obtain. Their energy is constructively channelled when they are rulers, protectors and doers in society.
The third group has the ability to generate wealth by industry and agriculture, thus doing their good part in the social organism. The fourth group comprises those who do not have much special talent, leadership ability or mental power. However, they are equally valuable to society as they work faithfully for the welfare of all, just like the other groups.
The caste system is not stratification but a classification of people according to their abilities and tendencies. They are different and equally valuable, not high and low, as Radhika and her cronies appear to believe.
All of us fit one or the other of these groups. Even today, this psychological assessment is testimony to the surpassing brilliance of our ancient rishis — it quite dwarfs the fumbling effort of modern psychology with its perverted ideas that are so degrading to humankind.
In Hinduism, psychology and all aspects of human endeavour are intrinsically linked and not fragmented.
This philosophy of caste did not condone or institutionalise the persecution, en masse, of any group which is a distortion propagated by ethnocentric and ignorant 17th/18th century missionaries and British opportunists who sought to discredit Hindus to rationalise the white man's burden so that they can loot the country blind.
The accusations Radhika is mouthing were inherited from these dubious characters. Unfortunately, caste is an English word with connotations of culture and not of varna.
This also causes misrepresentation of concepts. Because of these factors, many Hindus feel needlessly ashamed of the caste system. Yes, there may have been some degree of injustice but then, which country did not evidence injustice?
It is a well known fact that colonists ceaselessly endeavoured to demean the colonised. It is true many "free" people are still intellectually colonised.
Do they know the injustice and cruelty of the class system in Britain — of slavery and indenture, the Inquisition, apartheid and the barbaric penal system that exiled tiny children to the colonies, lynched black people and massacred American Indians? Do they know of the injustice brought about by the greed that fuelled the Industrial Revolution with the blood of their colonies, the persecution of Jews for two millennia which ended with the Holocaust — a feat of cruelty unparalleled in the history of mankind?
Let me tell you, Hindus cannot match that record. Radhika, and others such as her are barking up the wrong tree and fighting the wrong battle. They are being duped by those who conceal their evil deeds but magnify their malicious fabrication about other beliefs.
Greatness is self evident. It cannot be achieved by demeaning others or other religions.
The act itself offends every civilised sentiment and destroys all the merit of the doer.
I would like to leave people such as Radhika with this gem from the treasure chest of their cast-off heritage — dusron key samman mein he atam samman ha — by respecting others, one earns respect.
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