It is conventional wisdom now that fear seems to be the basis of faith. But the way I have seen, there is also one additional element to it-the intense enquiry into the nature of reality. In the Indian systems, whether upanishads or buddhism or Jainism, there has been a sense of puzzling bewilderment towards the self (if we assume it to be common sense self meaning an individual) and that which is sourrounding it in space and time. There are many hymns which are directed towards protection from fears, but at the same time, there are hymns which are almost restlessly enquiring what is all this? Where from it came? What is life and what is death?
Where as atheism and theism both sought to confirm or deny the existence of a mental concept, the truly sincere enquiry into reality inevitably leads into the issue of 'self' and 'non self'; 'changing and changeless' and a more incessant analysis.
However, those who enquired into this and reached to the principle, which they called as the supreme, even they were not unaware of the role played by fear and want in the religion of many. Hence the classification of devotees into - artah (scared), artharthy (desirous of wealth or happiness), jigyaasu (enquiring) and gyaani ( the enlightened)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Tulsidas and Dhol Ganwar Shudra Pashu Nari
There has been lot of condemnation of Tulsidas for past many years for the copulate 'Dhol ganwar sudra pashu naari, sakal tadana ke adhikari.' This copulet has been raised repeatedly in many forums by Dalits and women to malign Tulsidas.
Now, I am not fan of Tulsidas as a guide for worldly conduct, though I have been drawn deeply and has experienced the living and mystical nature of his poetry. But whenever I have seen the accusations based solely on this copulets by Indian intelligentia as well the responses of those assuming to be an authority on Hinduism; I have been deeply pained to realize the intellectual bankruptcy of both. Most of the defences is based on the interpretation of word 'Tadana' and the defensive arguments are extremely ridiculously contorted, that it seems probably Indians have lost their common sense. Why?
Because in Ramcharitmanas "Dhol ganwar Shudra Pashu nari.." was uttered by frightened Sea, when it was on fire, its life was on stake and had come to surrender to Rama. These parts were uttered by a character, which has been criticised by Tulsidas as well as Rama. It is important to see the preceding section where, Tulsidas calls Sea as 'jada' (means stupid) (5.57)and succeeding section where 'Kagbhushundi' calls him 'neech' means low (5.58). And in between Rama has compared sea to being shatha and kutil and Rama has condemned his arrogance. In fact in Ramacharitmanas, this is one of the rare instances when Rama has been angry on someone. So it is quite obvious that Tulsidas did not want it to be worthy of being carried out.
It is something which even a middle school student learns that in a story, if a character is making a remark it can not be attributed to be the motive of author. I am not yet convinced that my explanation would be making sense to many (so much frustrated I have been by the intellect of these university educated intelligentia and defenders of Hinduism), so let me give an example which everyone can understand. If in a movie like say ' Mr. India', the character portrayed by Amrish Puri 'Mogambo' utters some anti Indian statements, one can not charge the writer or director of the movie with having antinational feelings. It becomes important to see how the character has been treated. Does the writer or director empathises with the character? Or it can not be said based on the behaviour and something said by Gabbar Singh that the writer of Sholay is propagating armed robbery and murders.
I am not saying that there may not be instances in Ramacharitmanas where Tulsidas's prejudices against women and Shudra can be detected ( I am not saying there are either). But it surely behooves those determined on criticising Tulsidas or Hinduism to pick up the valid issues and not make mockery of themselves. It is also important for defenders of Hinduism to check out the original excerpts with proper context.
Having said that, let us remember that Tulsidas is not an authority of morality or social customs and rules. Ramacharitmanas was not written by that aim too, and Tulsidas has not claimed so also. Tulsidas had written it with no more purpose then merely as a source of joy for himself- "swantah sukhaay tulsi raghunath gaathha.." and to share his mystical insights with others. He never thought of becoming an authority, he always considered himself as a humble servant of Rama. And by making available this deep mystical experience in common dialect of the time to every one who was willing to enjoy it he has succeeded in what he was undertaking.
Now, I am not fan of Tulsidas as a guide for worldly conduct, though I have been drawn deeply and has experienced the living and mystical nature of his poetry. But whenever I have seen the accusations based solely on this copulets by Indian intelligentia as well the responses of those assuming to be an authority on Hinduism; I have been deeply pained to realize the intellectual bankruptcy of both. Most of the defences is based on the interpretation of word 'Tadana' and the defensive arguments are extremely ridiculously contorted, that it seems probably Indians have lost their common sense. Why?
Because in Ramcharitmanas "Dhol ganwar Shudra Pashu nari.." was uttered by frightened Sea, when it was on fire, its life was on stake and had come to surrender to Rama. These parts were uttered by a character, which has been criticised by Tulsidas as well as Rama. It is important to see the preceding section where, Tulsidas calls Sea as 'jada' (means stupid) (5.57)and succeeding section where 'Kagbhushundi' calls him 'neech' means low (5.58). And in between Rama has compared sea to being shatha and kutil and Rama has condemned his arrogance. In fact in Ramacharitmanas, this is one of the rare instances when Rama has been angry on someone. So it is quite obvious that Tulsidas did not want it to be worthy of being carried out.
It is something which even a middle school student learns that in a story, if a character is making a remark it can not be attributed to be the motive of author. I am not yet convinced that my explanation would be making sense to many (so much frustrated I have been by the intellect of these university educated intelligentia and defenders of Hinduism), so let me give an example which everyone can understand. If in a movie like say ' Mr. India', the character portrayed by Amrish Puri 'Mogambo' utters some anti Indian statements, one can not charge the writer or director of the movie with having antinational feelings. It becomes important to see how the character has been treated. Does the writer or director empathises with the character? Or it can not be said based on the behaviour and something said by Gabbar Singh that the writer of Sholay is propagating armed robbery and murders.
I am not saying that there may not be instances in Ramacharitmanas where Tulsidas's prejudices against women and Shudra can be detected ( I am not saying there are either). But it surely behooves those determined on criticising Tulsidas or Hinduism to pick up the valid issues and not make mockery of themselves. It is also important for defenders of Hinduism to check out the original excerpts with proper context.
Having said that, let us remember that Tulsidas is not an authority of morality or social customs and rules. Ramacharitmanas was not written by that aim too, and Tulsidas has not claimed so also. Tulsidas had written it with no more purpose then merely as a source of joy for himself- "swantah sukhaay tulsi raghunath gaathha.." and to share his mystical insights with others. He never thought of becoming an authority, he always considered himself as a humble servant of Rama. And by making available this deep mystical experience in common dialect of the time to every one who was willing to enjoy it he has succeeded in what he was undertaking.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Don't attend Dalai Lama's function, says Govt
Don't attend Dalai Lama's function, says Govt.
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Dont-attend-Dalai-Lamas-function-says-Govt/235631/
Dalai Lama has recently returned from trip to US and Canada, where he was officially received by President Bush and Canadian Prime minister Harper, despite huge pressure from China. And we, who have important relationship with Dalai Lama, our cultural relations with Tibet goes more than thousands of years beyond the present condition, are banning our ministers from meeting him. We know who are behind this decision, communists. Although one can understand the fear of Chinese in not speaking freely for Tibetans, but asking ministers not to attend a function fecilitating Dalai Lama, who symbolizes peace is going too far.
And 'Speaking at a CPM function here to mark the 90th anniversary of the Soviet Revolution, Karat made no mention of the nuclear deal but underlined his ideological opposition: “We shall not rest in our fight till strategic ties with the US are snapped.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/235080.html
While they killed the nuclear deal with US just because it will mean our 'losing soveriegnity' to US, their tiptoeing China in this matter exemplifies what typr of soveriegnity communists wish for us.
It is also interesting that while Comrade Karat cries over US's interest in Indian market, he ignores the economic relations of his Chinese masters with US.
Dr. Singh would have done better, to stand for democracy and freedom, and not banning ministers from such meetings. We should have seen how far communists would have gone to please their masters in Beizing.
And we are still waiting for reactions from various power hungry politicians. Would any minister have guts to refuse the government mandate?
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Dont-attend-Dalai-Lamas-function-says-Govt/235631/
Dalai Lama has recently returned from trip to US and Canada, where he was officially received by President Bush and Canadian Prime minister Harper, despite huge pressure from China. And we, who have important relationship with Dalai Lama, our cultural relations with Tibet goes more than thousands of years beyond the present condition, are banning our ministers from meeting him. We know who are behind this decision, communists. Although one can understand the fear of Chinese in not speaking freely for Tibetans, but asking ministers not to attend a function fecilitating Dalai Lama, who symbolizes peace is going too far.
And 'Speaking at a CPM function here to mark the 90th anniversary of the Soviet Revolution, Karat made no mention of the nuclear deal but underlined his ideological opposition: “We shall not rest in our fight till strategic ties with the US are snapped.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/235080.html
While they killed the nuclear deal with US just because it will mean our 'losing soveriegnity' to US, their tiptoeing China in this matter exemplifies what typr of soveriegnity communists wish for us.
It is also interesting that while Comrade Karat cries over US's interest in Indian market, he ignores the economic relations of his Chinese masters with US.
Dr. Singh would have done better, to stand for democracy and freedom, and not banning ministers from such meetings. We should have seen how far communists would have gone to please their masters in Beizing.
And we are still waiting for reactions from various power hungry politicians. Would any minister have guts to refuse the government mandate?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Prescription for confusion
You won’t need many efforts to believe me that I am confused. I am confused.
Are you not confused? Only a dead human, who is too obsessed with something, will not be confused.
Right from my childhood, I was handed down various values, and I mechanically tried to conform to them. But as I grew up, I saw inherent contradictions in those values.
I found dead certainty everywhere but I felt there is no reason to be certain of any thing. And as I grew the contradictions were painful, and I wondered have I gone mad? Why no one sees the widespread confusion. Every one has a plan to fix it, everyone. Every politician come with a plan, and since we vote for them, that means that we are not confused, we believe in their plan at least. Every religion has a solution for the suffering of mankind. Even the nonreligious has a plan.
Don't you see how values depend on what we are fed and how they are dependent on idiosyncrasies of our ancestors.
They are diagonally apart across cultures, and we feel believe in some universal values. Are there some universal values? Are there some values apart from human beings in the universe, which can be considered as absolute? God comes in immediately to describe them. But that is just a concept. Only universal values are the values of greed and acquisition, they are universal to all humans and everybody follows them. But the pretence remains that if we just follow some ‘universal’ values everything will be fine eventually and everyone will be happy. And confusion will become apparent as soon as you will listen to others, for this is very easy to see others as confused ones. That is the only defense against our stupidity. Islamists may say western world is confused and so are idol worshippers, and vice versa. If only degree of certainty is u the criteria for the validity of values, they should be right because they are ready to blow themselves up. I may not do so readily but they can make argument that it is just because of my confusion. Then there is stream of modern 'enlightenment' of Europe, which is the foundation of modern western style world, they feel that they are right, because they conquered the whole world, they could enhance the life expectancy and made physical existence much more comfortable. Their world is entirely human centric. You can look at our own culture, and most Indians say that it is best, and ignore the widespread brutality as mere degeneration of the glorious golden way of life.
We do not question the certainty of those who share our values, but 'others' are fools and deluded. But are not all values, just beliefs?
If start to see for yourself, if you are aware of the world, current events - the more you become aware more confused you become. And then comes the vast majority, middle class. Their motto is, do not pay any attention to all that and do only to be financially secure and earn respectability among your peers- whether the peers are your professional colleagues, your neighbors, your relatives. In a nutshell conform to the society and rest will take care of itself. If widow burning is respectable, do with extreme zeal and enthusiasm, but if it becomes disrespectable deny it whole-heartedly.
Get money, have sex, be renowned and that is all. Stay focused with your concerns and keep doing whatever little you can do and world will take care of itself. Look at your career, look at your 'wonderful' wife, your 'extraordinary and able' children and do not forget to think that you are the luckiest of all and at the same time do not forget to think that it is hard-earned, you are self made, and one more thing, do not forget to think that your parents are the best parents in the whole world. And wait, do not forget to thank God for sparing you and your loved ones of all the miseries occurring in the world. One more thing, compare yourself with the less fortunate to forget your pain.
I want everything for myself but still feel that others should be considerate for me. I want to spend all my energies on my fulfillment, but expect politicians should be doing something for me. I complain that people are corrupt and degenerate, and unconcerned, when I feel the effect of pollution and global warming but I am against those damn environmentalists. And in the meantime, believe that your values are best, and you stand for all that which is good and virtuous, and you are better than others.
Completely ignore if at all this thought comes to your mind that there are problems occurring in real life, which are direct consequences of my actions. The problems of industrialization and globalization are affecting millions of lives and environment. The growth of China is directly linked to genocide in Darfur and mass killings in China itself, and that is directly linked to this computer on which I am typing (it is China made, like most).
Do not doubt the human capacity. Be certain that with our scientific advances, we can take care of everything. Forget Tsunami, earthquakes, mudslides; they happen in third world countries and would go away as we all become Americans. If you see there Katrina, and wild fires in California, try to show you your place in the world, just wait for sometime. Nature is merciful and those winds will cease to blow, then you can see them
self congratulating themselves and forget that they were totally at the mercy of winds.
And do not forget to explain their fearful reactions as the symbol of their might. Keep dreaming that one day you will have as many cars they have, you will have as many roads they have and as many opportunities they have. And one day, your country will also be superpower, and then you can punish the rogue nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh on your whim.
And if that takes too long, you can always migrate to America or western countries and support the elderly retirees there and call those places your home.
And for all those, whom it sounds boring, join some organization, with focus on ideology. And spend your life protesting all these mainstream people or work for poor. Join antiwar, anti globalization, pro globalization, and leftist organization. They too have firm ideologies in place. They too are not confused. They can also give you certainty. Identify yourself with a group, accept the ideology and devote yourself
And if that does not work, join some ashram, some cult, withdraw yourself from everything, and experience inner mystical states. Drugs can also do that.
But do not live with confusion; replace it with certitude and conviction. Confusion is not healthy, confusion is stupidity, and psychiatrist will tell you. They will assign some personality disorders to you, like Avoidance personality disorder, or Schizoid personality disorder or anything like that. There will be disorder tagged to those syndromes. They too are certain of what is order, 'Order is something, in which your conforming to the social rules of 'modern western world' is complete that you are able to act as a productive member of the society'. They can offer you drugs for that. Of course they will do that for money and drugs will have side effects, and sole objective of drug producers will be to earn profit and not your health, but there are chances that they can do it. It does not matter if the same scientific principles these psychiatrists are applying to you would render most successful business executives, our respectable film stars and politicians psychopaths but that it irrelevant because they are productive members of the society (It is funny because for me only plants are productive, but they are not members of society). But you will be at peace somehow, if you start believing in their certainty.
You won’t need many efforts to believe me that I am confused. I am confused.
Are you not confused? Only a dead human, who is too obsessed with something, will not be confused.
Right from my childhood, I was handed down various values, and I mechanically tried to conform to them. But as I grew up, I saw inherent contradictions in those values.
I found dead certainty everywhere but I felt there is no reason to be certain of any thing. And as I grew the contradictions were painful, and I wondered have I gone mad? Why no one sees the widespread confusion. Every one has a plan to fix it, everyone. Every politician come with a plan, and since we vote for them, that means that we are not confused, we believe in their plan at least. Every religion has a solution for the suffering of mankind. Even the nonreligious has a plan.
Don't you see how values depend on what we are fed and how they are dependent on idiosyncrasies of our ancestors.
They are diagonally apart across cultures, and we feel believe in some universal values. Are there some universal values? Are there some values apart from human beings in the universe, which can be considered as absolute? God comes in immediately to describe them. But that is just a concept. Only universal values are the values of greed and acquisition, they are universal to all humans and everybody follows them. But the pretence remains that if we just follow some ‘universal’ values everything will be fine eventually and everyone will be happy. And confusion will become apparent as soon as you will listen to others, for this is very easy to see others as confused ones. That is the only defense against our stupidity. Islamists may say western world is confused and so are idol worshippers, and vice versa. If only degree of certainty is u the criteria for the validity of values, they should be right because they are ready to blow themselves up. I may not do so readily but they can make argument that it is just because of my confusion. Then there is stream of modern 'enlightenment' of Europe, which is the foundation of modern western style world, they feel that they are right, because they conquered the whole world, they could enhance the life expectancy and made physical existence much more comfortable. Their world is entirely human centric. You can look at our own culture, and most Indians say that it is best, and ignore the widespread brutality as mere degeneration of the glorious golden way of life.
We do not question the certainty of those who share our values, but 'others' are fools and deluded. But are not all values, just beliefs?
If start to see for yourself, if you are aware of the world, current events - the more you become aware more confused you become. And then comes the vast majority, middle class. Their motto is, do not pay any attention to all that and do only to be financially secure and earn respectability among your peers- whether the peers are your professional colleagues, your neighbors, your relatives. In a nutshell conform to the society and rest will take care of itself. If widow burning is respectable, do with extreme zeal and enthusiasm, but if it becomes disrespectable deny it whole-heartedly.
Get money, have sex, be renowned and that is all. Stay focused with your concerns and keep doing whatever little you can do and world will take care of itself. Look at your career, look at your 'wonderful' wife, your 'extraordinary and able' children and do not forget to think that you are the luckiest of all and at the same time do not forget to think that it is hard-earned, you are self made, and one more thing, do not forget to think that your parents are the best parents in the whole world. And wait, do not forget to thank God for sparing you and your loved ones of all the miseries occurring in the world. One more thing, compare yourself with the less fortunate to forget your pain.
I want everything for myself but still feel that others should be considerate for me. I want to spend all my energies on my fulfillment, but expect politicians should be doing something for me. I complain that people are corrupt and degenerate, and unconcerned, when I feel the effect of pollution and global warming but I am against those damn environmentalists. And in the meantime, believe that your values are best, and you stand for all that which is good and virtuous, and you are better than others.
Completely ignore if at all this thought comes to your mind that there are problems occurring in real life, which are direct consequences of my actions. The problems of industrialization and globalization are affecting millions of lives and environment. The growth of China is directly linked to genocide in Darfur and mass killings in China itself, and that is directly linked to this computer on which I am typing (it is China made, like most).
Do not doubt the human capacity. Be certain that with our scientific advances, we can take care of everything. Forget Tsunami, earthquakes, mudslides; they happen in third world countries and would go away as we all become Americans. If you see there Katrina, and wild fires in California, try to show you your place in the world, just wait for sometime. Nature is merciful and those winds will cease to blow, then you can see them
self congratulating themselves and forget that they were totally at the mercy of winds.
And do not forget to explain their fearful reactions as the symbol of their might. Keep dreaming that one day you will have as many cars they have, you will have as many roads they have and as many opportunities they have. And one day, your country will also be superpower, and then you can punish the rogue nations of Pakistan, Bangladesh on your whim.
And if that takes too long, you can always migrate to America or western countries and support the elderly retirees there and call those places your home.
And for all those, whom it sounds boring, join some organization, with focus on ideology. And spend your life protesting all these mainstream people or work for poor. Join antiwar, anti globalization, pro globalization, and leftist organization. They too have firm ideologies in place. They too are not confused. They can also give you certainty. Identify yourself with a group, accept the ideology and devote yourself
And if that does not work, join some ashram, some cult, withdraw yourself from everything, and experience inner mystical states. Drugs can also do that.
But do not live with confusion; replace it with certitude and conviction. Confusion is not healthy, confusion is stupidity, and psychiatrist will tell you. They will assign some personality disorders to you, like Avoidance personality disorder, or Schizoid personality disorder or anything like that. There will be disorder tagged to those syndromes. They too are certain of what is order, 'Order is something, in which your conforming to the social rules of 'modern western world' is complete that you are able to act as a productive member of the society'. They can offer you drugs for that. Of course they will do that for money and drugs will have side effects, and sole objective of drug producers will be to earn profit and not your health, but there are chances that they can do it. It does not matter if the same scientific principles these psychiatrists are applying to you would render most successful business executives, our respectable film stars and politicians psychopaths but that it irrelevant because they are productive members of the society (It is funny because for me only plants are productive, but they are not members of society). But you will be at peace somehow, if you start believing in their certainty.
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