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Comments on Michael Tandy's remarks on Tolerance toward other view points
Comments on Michael Tandy's Remarks on Tolerance Toward other
Religious Viewpoints
Michael has raised some valid questions: Let me try to explain as
much as I know. I am aware that the answer will be incomplete
because the questions are fundamental and complex. I hope that the
other readers in the net will offer further insights to Michael's
questions.
When I was a child, I have watched my grandmother's poojas
regularly. On various occasions, I have asked her questions
including why did she do pooja? She always used to say that the
rituals helped her to gain enormous physical and mental strength
and provided her the discipline to conduct her daily duties. I was
able to believe her answers because she was dedicated, devoted and
truthful. Her actions and words were completely synchronized and
removed my doubts. Children watch our daily activities and when
the rituals and poojas are conducted without convictions, they find
it more difficult to understand why and what we do? How I can
expect my children to understand spirituality if I conduct my daily
activities with materialistic goals!
The following episode, reported in Mahatma Gandhi's life is an eye
opener. One day a lady requested Gandhi that he should inform her
son to stop using sugar in milk. She told Gandhi that her son
respects him and will obey his order. Gandhi has asked her to
bring her son after two weeks. When she brought her boy, Gandhi
advised him not use sugar in milk. The boy immediately accepted
Gandhi's advice and his mother was very pleased. When she visited
Gandhi again, she thanked Gandhi and asked him why did he delay his
advice for two weeks? Gandhi smiled and replied that he couldn't
advice her son until he stopped using sugar in his milk! What
rights do we have to ask the youngsters to confirm to Hindu ideals
and values if we don't practice those ideals? Youngsters' questions
on Hindu rituals and practices arise mostly because they do not
trust the elders!
It is partly true that we can't explain all rituals to the complete
satisfaction of youngsters because such explanations can only be
understood with spiritual maturity. Hindu scriptures declare that
spiritual maturity is necessary to understand the rituals and
rituals conducted with convictions will develop spiritual maturity!
This is the well known 'Chicken and Egg Paradox!'
I fully agree with Michael's observation that the Hindu society
during the vedic period was more at peace and was less doubtful.
There is a famous saying in the Upanishad ( I don't remember exact
reference) : More we know, more we don't know! In the modern
world, we get more information which creates more doubts! With
more information about health hazards of pesticides, we have more
doubts about food safety. Even though food is safer today than
ever before, we are more skeptical than before! Interestingly,
those live in USA are more worried about the safety of the food
than their counterparts in India!
" Have a Good Day "
"Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path
whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. Truth, being limitless,
unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be
organized; nor should any organisation be formed to lead or to
coerce people along any particular path." J. Krishnamoorthy
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