Like & Dislike

On any issue or matter, what you may  “LIKE” may  be “DISLIKED” by another. And in the same way , what you may  “DISLIKE” , may be “LIKED” by another. This one of the life’s Paradoxes. It all depends of one’s perceptions, and conditioning of one’s mind and thinking, etc., Imagine for a minute, that everyone’s “LIKES” are same! Wouldn’t it  be damn “BORING” & “MONOTONOUS” !  Observe the ‘Nature’ around you. How varied and different in their natures. Each is different from on another , but still everything co-exist peacefully without any trouble. Its , we, “HUMANS” the so called “INTELLIGENT” species on this planet (esp. the present day generation) are not able to co-exist with the differences. The “INTOLERENCE” to other people’s opinions, etc., are on the rise. Is it something to do with the ‘lack of time’ with the ‘Modern man’ to be with ‘himself’ and ‘introspect’ about the ‘way of life’, he is living and heading? Or , maybe , one is not at peace with himself , and that reflects on what ‘he’ does ‘outside’.

The world around us, will be at PEACE, when each individual is at PEACE with himself . So, whenever a situation or something you encounter , that is not to your LIKING or DISLIKE , remember and remind yourself of our wonderful “NATURE’S” way of co-existing, SMILE & move on and live PEACEFULLY and Let others  live PEACEFULLY with all the DIFFERENCES. 

Let us talk about Dharma — not religion!

The question  does such thing as “Hinduism” exist? Since this is not a ‘belief’ or ‘ideas’ of a particular person or a group, ‘ism’ does not fit with it. This name was given by those who did not understand the system and in back of their mind they thought that theirs is the only truth and others are all ‘false belief’ or ’satanic path’!

Hinduism is more than a religion, more than the theological direction in which the west understands religion. It is an unbroken spiritual tradition that is founded on the principles of Dharma which is often called Sanatan Dharma.

The ideal function of dharma is to provide a sound, fundamental world-view which correctly orientates the individual to the cosmos and thus can serve as the basis for an intelligent guide to living.

The relation of Sanatana Dharma to the Hindu system is like science to technology. What does the word “Hindu” represents? According to the dictionary: ‘the inhabitants of India’ or ‘followers of Hinduism’ are Hindus. Simply, Hindu is name of a dharmic system and a culture. How about a “Hindu religion”? Does it exist? How many different “panths” and sects can be found which is based on Sanatana Dharma? And, are they like other religions of the world? Should we adhere to Hindu system as a belief-oriented system? Is it right to call it “Hindu faith”? The answer is simple: If such a belief is necessary for certain individuals it is OK. But a system cannot stand on belief or assumption. It must have a rock solid foundation of truth, facts and logic, and it must be able to accommodate the least evolved person as well as the most evolved one.

It differs from Western religion in certain key respects:

• Its origin cannot be traced to a single person who received a divine revelation and became the founder of the faith.

• It is not based upon a particular book.

• It cannot be defined in terms of a dogma or a body of beliefs that distinguishes its followers from the rest of humanity.

• It does not have an established institution with the power to induct or expel people from the faith.

• A central institution or authority such as a church or an association does not control it.

• It is not averse to examine and assimilate fundamentally diverse thoughts and beliefs into its system.

• It has been evolving continuously, through internal reforms and as a reaction to threats and challenges.

• Even though there is no central authority that enforces cohesion among its people and lays out plans for the future, its fundamental concepts and outlook have permeated all sections of the society.

What are the fundamental notions essential in Hindu Dharma?

• Recognizes that the greater portion of human religious aspirations has always been unknown, undefined and outside of any institutionalized belief.

• Allows absolute freedom to the rational mind of man. It never demands any undue restraint upon the freedom of human reason, the freedom of thought, feeling and will of man.

• It is only a means to an end, and all dharmic means that ultimately lead to the final goal are approved of.

• Does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship. It allows everybody to reflect, investigate, enquire and cogitate. Gives reverence to individual spiritual experience over any formal religious doctrine.

• As there is no separation of humanity as believers and non-believers, the need or question of organized conversion do not arise. This attitude finds further expression in the fact that the dharmic traditions tend to be non-proselytizing even when they become missionary.

Let us talk about Dharma - not religion. Let us understand Dharma and find out our own Dharma. One may or may not be religious, may or may not believe in God, but can be Dharmic! If we understand this system as an approach to a universal tradition, which shows how truth and spirituality can be integrated into the whole of life, then it can be of great value for formulating a global dharmic culture today.

Religion and conflicts

Why do we, Humans,  fight against each other in the Name of  Religion?

Religion, in the accepted sense of that word, has now become a matter of propaganda, of vested interest, with much property, with a great hierarchical, bureaucratic system of `spirituality. Religion has become a matter of dogma, belief and ritual, something which is totally divorced from daily living. You may, or you may not, believe in God, but that belief has very little meaning in daily life, where you cheat, where you destroy, are ambitious, greedy, jealous, violent. You believe in God or in a saviour, or in some guru, yet keep that far away so that it does not actually touch your daily life.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam or Christianity, which are all organized beliefs with their propaganda, conversion, proselytism, compulsion, and so on. Is there any truth in organized religion? It may engulf, enmesh truth, but the organized religion itself is not true. Therefore, organized religion is false, it separates man from man. You are a Muslim, I am a Hindu, another is a Christian or a Buddhist and we are wrangling, butchering each other. The whole concept of religion is “not to question, not to doubt - but to blindly believe texts written by other men” .

Religions throughout the world now are utterly meaningless. We want to be entertained spiritually and so we go to the church or the temple or the mosque and that has nothing whatsoever to do with our daily sorrow, confusion and hatred. A man who is really serious, who really wants to find out if there is something more than this terrible thing called existence, must obviously be completely free from dogma, from belief, from propaganda, he must be free from the structure in which he has been brought up to be a religious man.

To be free to inquire, one must be free from fear, from anxiety, from the desire to be psychologically secure. These are the obvious requirements for a very earnest and serious person who wants to find out. The instrument that is capable of inquiry is a mind that is clear, that has no distortions, or prejudice of conclusion, of formula, or belief. 

Anyone can interpret the Bible, the Torah, the Quran, Bhagavad Gita , etc., ... After all, they are all just books - men wrote these books, they did not fall from the sky or were delivered to the human kind. And that's a fact.

Yet, somehow we let ourselves judge one another by quoting them. The whole concept of religion is “not to question, not to doubt - but to blindly believe texts written by other men” .

It is obvious to everyone I guess, that the whole purpose of it is control.

By believing in a religion, and firmly stick to what it says, one loses his/her spirit of inquiry and open mindedness.

Attachment to ones Religion make people think that they are the only ones who are true. They claim that they have the absolute truth, that everyone else who are not in their religion are 'lost' and will be damned for eternity. They claim that they have God's words, and if anyone disagree with them, then they're disagreeing with God Himself. They claim that their way is the only true way, while the others are wrong. They even believe that in the afterlife, God would ask man about what religion he was in instead of his deeds during his life. If he had done countless deeds in his life, but didn't follow this one religion, then all of it will be in vain. They view others badly, always bad-mouthing other religions, like the Sunni Muslims here talking bad about Christians, Jews, Shiites, Syrian Orthodox, etc., claiming that they're all are against them and trying to make them 'lost'. They always think bad about others. You can't have freedom of thoughts and freedom of choices, that's for sure.

(Excerpts from Jiddu Krishnamurthy talks)