RENAISSANCE OF HINDUISM (Part 1) - NEED FOR CREATING KSHATRIYAS TODAY

THE RENAISSANCE

OF 

HINDUISM

(Part 1)

 

Hinduism is not a Religion in the western sense.  Western religions are unable to digest this fact, even after so many great Hindu authorities have stated this in unequivocal terms.

Anybody born on this land can believe or not believe anything in the religious sense and yet be a Hindu. India is incapable of hating any religious-ism, unlike the non-indian religious-isms, which, in practice, are 'born to hate' all other religious-isms except 'itself'. 'Be Us' and we leave you no other way - is their dictum. That is not how Hinduism ever existed or operated in India. Whatever you believe in - be a Good Human. This has been the way in India all along but,unfortunately, not any more, due to the aggressive presence of the external isms.

Many great scriptures evolved on this soil from historically unknown and obscure times. Vedas evolved millions of years ago. Vedas are proof that highly civilized humans existed on this land when no proof of cultured humans existed anywhere else on earth. Vedas may or may not be the repository of all spiritual wisdom. But, they contain extraordinarily great thinking in many ways, even in those obscure times, which no one today can deny.

I am not claiming completeness or infallibility for Vedas but, spreading through word of mouth from one sage to his students, they always seem to have marched with times. Every Great Sage seems to have added to their great flavour - which is clear from the fact that Vedas themselves speak of so many great sages. 

When anecdotes of so many great sages exist in them, we can't say, that those sages made no contribution to Vedas and only God made them. The Greatness of Vedas, which are the most ANCIENT BOOKS ON EARTH (and which I feel were definitely changing with every great sage) is unquestionable. When we talk of Vedas, we must keep in mind the most ancient times during which they came into existence.

Other religious scriptures which came in the last 2000-2500 years ago all over the earth are in no way better than Vedas, which came millions of years ago. That is the Greatness of the Vedas and this soil.

Upanishads evolved just a little later than the Vedas, partly from Vedas themselves and partly from the minds of Great Sages over a period of time. Upanishads talk of so many sages and so many Yagnas, sacrifices etc. We can't say that the sages mentioned in them or the sages who spoke of them made no contribution to them. Essentially, the Sages propagated the best of  wisdom through  Upanishads.

Ramayana and Mahabharata  are not scriptures but  are chronicles of contemporary History of the times they were written. Their authors wrote partly their own History and mostly, the History of the Greatest people of their times. They contain a lot of living wisdom of those times. These Books are extraordinary  by our standards of today.

Mahabharat is undoubtedly the Biggest and the best chronicle of History of all time anywhere in the world. Because we don't possess the weapons of those days, we may dispute their very existence today. But, who can dispute the the greatness of the art of fighting, art of ruling and art of living which existed in the Mahabharat days? These were the best of all time.

Some may dispute Mahabharat as History but Gita is living proof of Mahabharat. During the last 5000 years, Nobody has produced a book greater than either Mahabharat as History or Gita as the source of the greatest Scientific knowledge. 

If 21st century world in general and India in particular does not explore the whole gamut of sciences Krishna revealed in Gita, it would be one of our Greatest failures. I as a born brahmin, but not particularly identifying with any caste myself, feel that in the hands of Brahmins, Brahmin priests and Brahmin sages, Gita remained largely a Prayer Book and a religious scripture instead of the scientific treatise and an inspiration for action that it was meant to be.  Not much investigation has gone into the sciences revealed in Gita.

Rama, the personification of Dharma was a Kshatriya. Krishna the exponent of the Extraordinary book of Gita was a Kshatriya. We need such Great Kshatriyas today, to explore and interpret our vedas, Upanishads and the Gita. Otherwise, we will always be confusing inaction as action. Guarding Dharma on earth is ACTION, even if seeking Moksha may be largely non attachment and inaction. Gita is capable of giving different meanings to different people and different solutions to different problems.

Puranas are also not scriptures but are meant for small story telling to disseminate  ancient wisdom in colloquial idiom. Puranas are perhaps meant to tell Dharma to the unlettered people in many ways. 

The Greatest and the latest Book of wisdom is of course, the Bhagavad Gita, told by Lord Krishna himself, more than 5000 years ago, as a summary of all ancient wisdom.  A lot of Gita is devoted to many unexplored sciences. Basically, Gita is meant to spur the man into action. Excellence in Action is Yoga, says Lord Krishna himself.

In contrast, Patanjali says, Yoga is controlling the mind. Both are correct. But, Gita is the way on earth for 99% of people. Patanjali is the way for 1% of people. Both are great. 

The last sloka of Gita is - where Krishna the Yogeswara is, and where the mighty armed Arjuna with his Gandiva is - there, victory , happiness and riches of all types is definite to accrue. Can you forget this and take to sanyas, when the calling of duty is - ACTION? Especially to protect Dharma?

Unfortunately, for the last 5000 years, after Lord Krishna left the earth, India has not tried much to - march with the changing times, renovate itself, re-present itself and re-form itself to withstand external and internal attacks.

The Indian religious leaders are still rooted in the pre- Bhagavad Gita times and are not recognizing the external and internal dangers annihilating Hinduism everyday. Lord Krishna did not teach this type of and this level of Karma sanyasa and inaction in his Bhagavad Gita. He asked Arjuna to take up arms and annihilate Adharma with complete detachment. This core teaching of Gita is totally absent in 

actual practice of our religious leaders and people today.

There are many things missing in today's India -  for victory of Dharma over Adharma. Where are those fearless warriors of the Mahabharat days who will fight for Dharma today?

Today, we have Brahmins, Vaisyas and Sudras but where are Kshatriyas? They are almost totally absent in Hinduism today and Hinduism is paying a very heavy price because of their absence. 40% of population must be kshatriyas who will guard the others and guard Dharma.  Today, people who identify themselves as Kshatriyas are just about 1%. that is the greatest problem of today for Hinduism in India.

Today, the greatest need for Hinduism is to resurrect the Kshatriya clan. Every Hindu family must contribute one child to the Kshatriya clan, whatever may be their caste right now, and make that child a great, fearless warrior, ready to defend India, ready to defend Hinduism and ready to defend Dharma.

Let there be no sub-castes, sub-groups etc among Kshatriyas, which must exist as a single caste, drawn from all other castes, to protect Dharma.

If Dalits can be anointed as priests after due training, and this is a most welcome measure, why not create a Kshatriya clan, which must be about 40% of population, which is proud of our ancient Dharma and is ready to protect India and the great civilization that existed in this land.

Will YOU identify yourself with the Greatest Kshatriyas like Rama, Krishna, Arjuna, Bhishma and so on, now and try to emulate their fearless greatness? Do not create any sub castes etc within Kshatriyas. Let it be a great unified clan created out of Dare devils drawn from all other castes.

It can be optional today. It is up to each Individual to identify himself as Kshatriya. Let it be encouraged. Let us give all out support. Let it be given legal recognition. Let us not place any hurdles for any deserving person. Let no coward be recognized as Kshatriya.

India really needs Great Kshatriyas today. Let the Government support this measure in greater measure just like it is coming forward to create Dalit Archakas. let Hinduism be revitalized and united by such measures.

Krishna said - caste is based on Guna and Karma - and he did not mention birth  as a major criterion. He himself was born as Kshatriya but grew as a Yadava, and befriended Kubja, Vidura, Sanjaya, Kuchela and so on. He has shown the way.  Let us take the cues from him for solving our today's major problems.

Jai Bharat ! Jai Hind !

RELIGION AND / OR SCIENCE - WHAT DO YOU PREFER? AND WHY?

 

RELIGION AND / OR SCIENCE

WHAT DO YOU PREFER?

AND WHY?

Today, there is a lot of Divergence between Science and Religion. Both are supposed to explore and declare truth.

But, in reality, science goes on exploring truth continuously. Religion remains fixed and fixated, thousands of years before, from the day it was founded.

Change is the Nature of the Universe. Every atom, every being and every entity big or small is always changing. We say - change only is permanent. Nothing else is permanent. We must accept change. The alternative is - we must bring desirable change by our initiative. Else, anyway, nature changes everything in its own, unfathomable but logical sequence.

Every religion claims that its scripture was given by God himself. And, he gave scriptures at different points of time at different places in different languages, with different subjects  and, he thought it fit to give heavily contradictory statements among the various scriptures that he gave to different peoples at different times in different languages. He is at rest after Kuran, believe the Muslims. He will come again believe the Hindus and the Christians.

He  gave the Bhagavad Gita to India, over 5000 years ago. This is the oldest in the world and straight from God (his Avatar). Who wrote it? Not God but Vedavyasa, who wrote the Mahabharat. He was and is the Most versatile person ever born on earth. I at least find nobody equal to him. He was born of a Sage and a Fisher woman and he went off to meditate immediately after his birth. Nobody ever did it.

Would he then advocate a rigid caste system. The whole Mahabharat is full of inter-caste love affairs and marriages. And quite a few of them promoted by Vyasa himself. Rigidity in caste system has come much later.

Long after that, God gave the Bible to the Jerusalem People. Many wise people are known to have sat and drafted it, approved it, took out some unacceptable portions and finalized a version which was then accepted by Great Kings of that time.  But, of course, Christians believe, it was given by the God, with lots of simple stories, parables, morals,and the usual Heaven, hell etc. I love some of the Biblical sayings. I love Christ too. Many Hindus do. Christ is not a Patent or copyright of Christians, we believe.

Then, he gave the Quran to the Mecca people. They too believe, it was meticulously, verbatim, given / written by God.They will take to the sword, if anyone says, may be or may not be. There are many Good things in Quran. But, when ISIS, Al Queda etc say, they are the authority on Quran, I am afraid.

Gita is now available in all Indian Languages, English and a few other world languages. It is available on the internet. Many interpretations have been given to it. It is beautiful, and highly knowledge-giving and enlightening, to say the least. It is the oldest scripture which is widely read even today (apart from Vedas and Upanishads, which are seldom read). 

There is no problem with anything stated in Gita, though a few things are beyond easy understanding. Except of course the Caste system which needs vast reforms. The caste system has degenerated and is not fair to anybody. Women always enjoyed much better status and authority in Hindu way of life. That too has degenerated a lot - after the advent of the west and west Asian cultures.

Mahabharat people explored all parts of India and outside too. They were great warriors. They had the greatest and the most advanced weapons and were willing to use them like say, Pakistan and one or two other countries at the slightest provocation. They enjoyed life always and fought only when needed. Polygamy and polyandry were passe, but with the willingness of the woman. Never a rape case in those days. There was not an iota of problem for a higher caste man marrying an equal or lower caste woman, but always, with her consent. The reverse cases are very rare, but available.

Mecca people were, are and will always be serious people, who feel, all pleasures and joys are to be had by them only after we die and go to Heaven, which is the most uncertain thing. Who knows, we can always commit a sin in mind at least. I do.

Jerusalem people say- we are born sinners. You can believe anything, if you want to. Can you commit adultery in your mind? Is it a sin? My foot, it is. You should not commit adultery in your mind also. Your mind should be very pure. But show me one idiot, or say, one most pious man, who does not commit adultery in his mind, not once, but continuously, periodically, often. Be honest. Did you or did you not. You did. Honestly. So, you are not going to heaven, unless, you sincerely regret it every time. Sin and regret. Sin and Regret. Sin and Regret. I don't know, if the last thing you do on earth is sin or regret.

All religions are unscientific. Unjustified. Illogical. Unreasonable. Unchanging. Yet, science is equally stupid. It can't find Love, hate, compassion, greed, grief, sorrow, joy etc, which are the real things in this world. Religion knows them but in a partisan, unscientific, unrealistic way. 

If you are one of us, you are coming with us to heaven. Else not. That is the problem with religions. Whether you are going to Heaven itself is very, very uncertain. I will keep people happy around me and i will try to be happy myself right here on earth.

I definitely prefer to enjoy life on earth and keep insurance of religion and good conduct for any travel after death. Which Religion is the issue. I prefer Hinduism but without caste distinctions, over all others. Why? Hinduism is Most logical. Most understanding.  Most permissive. Most joyful religion. Religion with potential for easy change. That's why. 

You don't have to agree. But, don't bring a sword.

ANONYMITY - BEING AN ASCETIC

ANONYMITY

BEING AN ASCETIC

Some people impress - by their simplicity.

There is this man, aged around 40, who lives in a small hut like structure. He wears only a half dhoti (a towel); and has one more, as replacement or alternative. That is all the clothes he has.

On all sides of his hut like structure - for 2-3 KMs, there are no houses or human habitations. He is ALONE but not lonely at heart.

His company – 5-6 stray Dogs and 5-6 (or more) stray snakes, which are freely roaming around. What else live there, as food for these, we don’t know.

Many seem to come to him for advice and solace, including vedic scholars, IT professionals, doctors, CAs...with various wants, needs, doubts, health problems and spiritual guidance needs. Probably word of mouth is spreading the speciality in him. He doesn’t even look at you but seems to know you even without looking at you.

He seems to have traveled  throughout India, bare footed. Probably, he does that even now. 

What he does he do to know? He meditates. He doesn't talk scholarly. But, he presents himself as a simple sanyasi.

 

Whatever visitors give, he feeds that to these company of his...meaning, the stray dogs. Any rice etc given by visitors, he will ask them to sprinkle here and there on the earth around - so that birds and ants can eat. 

 

He doesn’t take anything. What he eats and where, we don’t know. Probably in a Mutt nearby (10 KMs away).
 

There is a well nearby. He has a small rope and bucket to dip in the well and take bath.

He doesn’t talk much to any visitors. He knows Sanskrit well. Sends any rare SMS in Sanskrit. Who recharges his small cell phone, we don’t know. Difficult to say how he solves or resolves the problems posed to him. But, people go back impressed – and satisfied.

There are no belongings in his hut. Feels No needs. Lives simply; contented; happy

.
He seems to do nothing for a living. But, seems to know many things and many skills. Does he plan for tomorrow? Not even for next moment, it seems.

Does he meditate? Yes. He must be meditating. Probably, life itself is a meditation for him. I have not seen him yet. But, this is what I have heard of him-from those who have visited him a few times. 

Leading the life of an ascetic is not simple. Not simple – for complex people like us.  If we can do a fraction of what he does, we would have done something amazing in our lives.

The richest 100 in India can’t equal people like him in Joy. Can we make our lives also a little simpler; tension-free and joyful ? 

I have heard – Attachment brings misery. Non-attachment brings Joy.

Sarve Janaah Sukhinobhavanthu

-     Vijayamohan

BRING HAPPINESS INTO YOUR LIFE - THE SUREST WAY - IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE - ALWAYS

There are any number of ways, you can ensure that - You are happy and people around you, are also happy.

But, at the root of all these ways must be a willingness and enthusiasm and willingness in you to ensure that!

What if others around you are very unhappy for whatever reason?

You CAN still be happy. You MUST still be happy. In the name of sympathy or empathy, do not destroy your happiness. Do not pretend unhappiness to yourself. Do not also become really unhappy. Do not receive unhappiness from the unhappy people around you, store it and develop it within you, like you receive communicable/contagious diseases from others. Even communicable diseases , we must try hard to avoid receiving from others. That should be our motto, even while helping others to get over their diseases. The same holds true for unhappiness as well.

Why so? Unless you are happy, you can't make others happy. You can't remove their unhappiness. What you don't have, you can't give to others. What you have in abundance, what you feel you can share, that only you can give to others and share with them.  This applies to happiness, just as much as it applies to money and other physical wealth.

So, 'you' must first be happy and then you can distribute it to those around you. In principle, this is how it works.

So, how do you make it work in your life?

When you get up in the morning, the first thing you must decide to do is - to make your spouse happy. Your spouse must be the nearest and closest person to you and must be the first person to share your happiness.  If you don't have a spouse, decide to make your parents, sisters, brothers, grandmas or Grandpas - whoever else is in your home - happy.

When you get up from sleep, your negative emotions are the least and the positive emotions are the highest. If you had said a prayer like "sarve janaah sukhino bhavanthu" or "May all people be Joyful" a few times before hopping onto bed the previous night, your positive emotions will be that much Higher in the morning.

So, early morning is the best time 'to decide' to make others happy. Then, when is the time for implementation of this great decision?

The whole day, from the time of the decision. 

How? You can find umpteen ways to make others happy. If your spouse is sleeping, plant a soft kiss on them, without waking them up. If they are already awake, no problem, brush your teeth and do the same to them;i.e., plant a soft kiss on them, say a small sweet nothing, like love you...and so on...just half a minute is more than enough. Go to children. Do the same. Go to parents, Grand parents..do the same..just try to see that what you give one is not noticed by others. As far as possible.

But, are we not talking of making ourselves Happy first - and then giving it to others? Sure. We are doing just the same. In the early hours (or early minutes) of waking up in the morning, you are happy and even if you do not feel so, it is still a fact, and what you are doing (as above) generates much happiness within you and in the others simultaneously. 

You can help out your spouse or children in some small or big way after that. you must think of how you can do that. Don't just leave them to their life and be confined to your life. That is not the way life is to be lived. Life is to be shared, if happiness is to be shared.

Sharing of life can be done in many ways. Sex between spouses is of course nature's way and depends on many factors. What we are talking of - is early morning generation of happiness and sharing of the same. Both spouses must be willing to set apart a few minutes, even if it is only 5 minutes, but if you have time, go upto an hour or more also. 

Sit down together comfortably and do a small prayer like "sarve Janaah sukhino Bhavanthu" or "Lokah samastaah sukhino Bhavanthu" or the vedi prayer "aano badraah kratavo yanthu visvatah" - that is - May all people be joyful, may all worlds be Joyful, May noble thoughts come to us from all directions..

These are all vedic prayers. These are very powerful in reaching their target audience. Vedic prayers are all uttered in a musical way. They are called Mantras. The must touch the innermost consciousness. That is why they are made musical. That is why we say them in a peaceful, silent ambiance. This is to enhance our inner focus on their content. you MUST really want the joyfulness of all people, all beings and expect to receive good thoughts from all directions, all people and all beings.

What if your spouse is not having time for this. Tell her/him that you will do it on his/her behalf also and sit and do it. Some time, the spouse is most likely to join you. You can do it for 5 minutes, or 10, or 60 minutes or more. Fill yourself with these great thoughts and intentions. These thoughts become your intentions. Intentions have a great way of finding methods and generating actions.

When you do this, you are the first beneficiary of these prayers. You will also be the cause of some enhancement in the world's happiness.

I have come across many spouses who take great pleasure in SOCIAL SERVICE outside the home; but have no intention of serving their own spouses. Generosity, love, life, joy must all first be shared with the SPOUSE. Then, it should percolate into social life. Otherwise, our social life also will look empty to us, even if it is benefiting a few in the world. In Hindu marital rites, the partners have to take a vow saying  "Dharmecha, arthecha, kamecha,...Naathi charaami."  This means, in all aspects of earthly life, each spouse will always be with the other, as their closest ally and friend. This is not for one or two years. it is for the whole life. In times of happiness and unhappiness, in times of comforts and difficulties, in times of happiness and sorrow, both of them will be the closest friend and ally of each other. In fact, the relationship is said to be for the coming seven births. So, your duty to make others happy must start with making the spouse happy and keeping the spouse happy. Don't ever expect reciprocation always. it will come sooner or later. But, it is your vow in marriage and you must fulfill it, irrespective of - whether the other fulfills it or not. But, the society has a duty to make the other spouse also to comply with the marital vows. Now, we will move on outside the home.

When you go out each day, put a Rs.10 note or whatever is possible for you into your pocket and mentally mark it that it will go to the most deserving person you see that day. Don't wait for the most deserving person. When you see the first needy, hapless man, without a second thought, put it into his hands, look into his eyes, smile and walk away. Make this a habit. Giving and sharing must become a habit in life. Otherwise, you can never experience happiness. Initially, your earlier miserly habit may start regretting...feeling that it has lost a precious Rs.10 note...it happens, until you see and feel the joy in the others' face..your mind is your enemy and the same mind can be made your friend...says the Bhagavad Gita..

How much money should you share to make others happy..? That is up to you...But, you can share kind,sweet, pleasing words...all the time, all your life with everybody around. This is the cheapest, most valuable, precious way to make others happy - and make yourself happy.

The most ancient scriptures say  - "satyam brooyaath, priyam brooyaath, na brooyaath sathyamapriyam." It means - speak truth. Speak what is pleasant. Do not speak truth also in unpleasant way". 

It does not mean that you must hide unpleasant truths always. 

Suppose somebody is not very fair skinned. He is born so and there is no way he can change his skin. You don't have to tell that to him or her, merely because it is the truth. Somebody is poor. You don't have to tell him that, again, merely because it is the truth. But suppose somebody is cruel and harming others. You must tell him that and try to change him. There, try to tell it to him in a way that is acceptable to his mind. It works better that way.

Some people are always harsh while talking. Even a pleasant thing, they can't say pleasantly. And, they justify their harshness by boasting that they always tell blunt truths.

Such people must change their ways. If two such people meet anywhere, there will start a war between them, over nothing. If you are one such, you must make all out efforts to change. Else, you can never be happy. Also, no one around you can be happy and no one can like you. Harshness is a bad habit. It is a sin. It is cruelty. 

If Harsh words are such, harsh actions are definitely worse. 

But, how do we change these traits in us? Patanjali's yoga sutras give us a simple, wonderful way. if you have any such negative qualities, getting rid of them is by cultivating the opposite, positive qualities. You can never get rid of the bad just like that and create a vacuum in their place. You must cultivate the opposite, good qualities in you. That is the way, the only way.

You must start practicing - saying of a few nice things about the same people whom you are criticizing now. If you are a harsh man, you are criticizing many - usually. And, they , in turn, are doing their best to run away from you, if possible, and if that is not possible, they are already saying all bad things about you in your absence among themselves. Essentially, most of them are better than you - which is what you must understand; and which is contrary to your present personal opinion. You are the bad Guy among good Guys. But, you think you are good and others are bad. That is the tragedy. You must change.

There are three changes which much come in all of us. Happiness in the mind, happiness in the word and happiness in the deed. 

Happiness in the mind comes from the morning prayer and decision- as we discussed before.

Happiness in the word must come through practice - daily. It is easy actually, once you make the decision. Avoid criticism of others for days at a stretch. If possible, avoid criticism of others from your life. Make a habit of praising others - praising at least two persons every day must be made a habit. There are any number of good, valid reasons for praising any two persons on earth on any day. But, choose good persons to praise. Do not boost the Ego of bad persons by praising them. Make your praise sincere, real, truthful.

Do you know some thing? By doing this, you are actually trying to make yourself Happy!  Of course, it makes the other persons also happy - as a side effect.

Happiness is a highly contagious disease. It spreads quickly to others around you.

But then, unhappy people make all out efforts to spread their disease to others. Some, though not all. 

But, you don't have to be affected by their unhappiness. Instead, you can spread your happiness to them.

When happiness in mind and word are practiced, they will automatically result in happiness in deeds too. By now, they would have entered into you life in a full flooded way.

= Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavanthu

Your's Ever

v.vijayamohan