[Prev][Next][Index]
Re: Courage is the Vehicle of the Gita
-
To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
-
Subject: Re: Courage is the Vehicle of the Gita
-
From: sadananda@anvil.nrl.navy.mil (K. Sadananda)
-
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 1995 08:03:41 -0500
-
Distribution: world
-
Followup-To: alt.hindu
-
From usenet@ra.nrl.navy.mil Wed Jan 18 09: 02:18 1995
-
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
-
Organization: Naval Research Lab, Code 6323
-
References: <3fhhql$2df@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
> Swamy Vivekananda would be proud of them for following his messages,
.....> India today needs a thousand crusaders with such blazing courage. It
does
> not need redemption from sin, but from hunger and oppression, it does not
> need lengthy lectures on "Moksha" or the "nature of reality", but
> desperately needs clean streets, pure water, food and shelter, it does not
> need a simulated peace masking throbbing injustice, but an enduring peace
> arising from the triumph of justice, it does not need slavish conformists
> who curse the darkness but daring reformers who dare to light a candle
> amidst darkening tempests, and such things are impossible without the
> "sparks of nature's fi e" or courage.
>
> Therefore, the temples have to incorporate an agenda along with their
> rituals. It must lead and inspire the people to acquire this sword arm of
> justice called "courage", a quality which at present Indian society does
> not value, or honor. It must develops a regard for the unconventional man
> who rocks the boat, or for the iron man who can stand tall. It must
> emphasize the essence of the Gita which is fighting injustice and that it
> was born on the battlefield to instill "courage" along with
> "enlightenment" to the heroic Arjun.
.......
Indian civilization has been enslaved again and again because it honors
wealth riding in the form of crooks and cheats> rather than velour.
It has been enslaved again and again
> because the spiritual transmitters and Gita geniuses have failed to
> motivate men and women to deeds of valor.
.....> Unless the temples teach this neglected aspect of Hinduism, stress
> values instead of rituals, karma instead of puja, involvement instead of
> escapism, the spirit of God would not lie in temples but far away from
> them in the embodied souls of courage, even though they may be shunned by
> the high and the mighty. As Swamy Vivekananda has said, "Where there is
> struggle, where there is rebellion, there is the sign of life, there
> consciousness is manifested."
>
> The Gita specialists may talk a long time on many aspects of the Royal
> knowledge delivered by the Lord of the Universe such as meditation,
> universal form, renunciation of action, discrimination between nature and
> soul, etc, but if he avoids stressing on courage and justice, he is not
> preaching the Gita delivered on the battlefield, to fight evil, but the
> Gita of a self-seeking society that uses the scripture to look the other
> way.
> Aneeta Chakrabarty
> Atlanta, GA, USA
Aneeta - Salutations
- excellent article - more refreshing than reading ISKAN broken records
that Swami Vivekananda who inspired people was as idiot and a fool.
With your permission I will submit the copy to our local temple news
letter, if they wish to publish it.
Geeta does not preach inactivity. Pursuit of Moksha is not antithesis to
social upliftment work. MOksha- ultimately that is the purpose of life
itself. This does not mean that one should sit down and do watch with
agony the decaying society. Geeta only preaches that if you want to jump
into action with what attitude one should work.
Manava Seva is indeed Madhava Seva.
Seeing Krishna in a temple is a start, but seeing Krishna everywhere is
the knowledge - True Bhakti has to culminate into that knowledge. That
indeed is the message of Geeta.
But don't mix the preaching Geeta to society problems.
The root cause for our evils in the society the selfishness.
We are supposed to have a voting power and we still elect crooks. In
Andhra a communal crook has come back to power through elections. In a
way people deserve what they get. If they cannot use their intellegence to
think and vote objectively. Most of the time it is a choice between it is
one crook against the other.
Look at the horror stories of the bride burning, killing of the female
fetuses, the dowry system - it is indeed sickening. Same mothers who
complain about the dowery system, whats to take dowery for their sons.
Same mothers who despise their mother-in-laws for iltreatement, do the same
thing for their daughter-in-laws. If all the females unite and stalk out -
no more dowery - no more bride abuse - can that evil exist? Basic problem
is selfishness. That is what Geeta tries to preach - overcome the
selfishness within. People have done social services, but that can also
become another ego-trip if there is no right understanding, that indeed He
is the kartha and not I. I agree godness should and neednot be passive.
One should fight evil with vengence.
The problems you mentioned happens everywhere. This happens in all
societies not just in India. Only in India, we preach Vedanta one side and
be selfish on the other - What Krishna calls us Mityacharies - hypocrites.
But let us come down to practicality.
All said and done, what do you propose to do? The article was excellent.
But where does that lead you.
Everybody complains - Everybody says these should be done. But what are
you doing to solve these problems.
Can you chart out a plan and see how this can be executed. Geeta helps you
to have a correct frame of mind before you jump into action and so that you
donot get affected.
I command you for the inspiration. But don't let that inspiration water
down when it comes into action.
Suggest what should be done. How do you want to mobilize the people. A
house wife sitting in home what can she do about it. A father who is
working hard to maintain his family and educate his children, what should
he do to solve the problems that you have mentioned. A student, busy with
the innumerable activities and class assignments to make sure he/she is
above his class, what can you provide him to do.
While sitting here in Atlanta or Washington, what can be done to solve the
problems you mentioned.
I hope you think deeply about it and chart out a plan of execution and
show by example what can be and should be done. God Bless you. Hari Om!
Tat sat. Sadananda
