Attaining Eternal Peace... Man and Nature

5th Oct, 2015, Monday

Ashwin Krishna Saptami,   Vikram Samvat 2072, Somvaar

Such a thing is being revealed to you, whereby,  Divinity (Essence) is realized,  and on realizing it,  it becomes firmly rooted.   This is absolutely everyone’s experience.  The insentient Nature is ever changing,  and the sentient Supreme Essence (Paramatma-tattva),  never undergoes any changes whatsoever.  It remains as-is eternally.   We have experienced both ‒  That which is unchanging and that which is constantly changing.  From childhood to now.  I am that same one ‒ in this the ‘I am the same one’, this is the experience of the unchanging.   The world, the body, the mental tendencies, the feelings-sentiments,  incidents,  situations-circumstances,  state-condition etc.  are all the kind to change.   This is everyone’s experience.   But we,  that knower of the changing, are unchanging.   When we remain established in the changing,  then we experience pleasure and pain ‒

‘पुरुषः सुखदुःखानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ।’ (गीता १३ । २०)

"Purushah sukhdukhaanaam bhoktrutve heturuchyate" (Gita 13/20 )

Meaning:   In the experience of pleasure and pain, the Purusha is said to be the cause.  (Gita 13/20)

‘पुरुषः प्रकृतिस्थो हि’ (गीता १३ । २१)

"Purushah prakritistho hi" (Gita 13/21)

Purusha (Self) seated in Prakriti (Nature)

Meaning :  it is the man who is situated in Nature,  that becomes occupier and experiencer of pleasure and pain (bhokta).  

Our mental tendencies keep changing,  our states keep changing,  our condition keeps changing,  our feelings keep changing,  our actions keep changing,  our situation-circumstance keeps changing ‒  when we become situated in the changing,  then we are established in ‘Prakriti’ (Nature).   When we become situated in desires-anger, elation-dejection,  attraction-aversion and various mind-intellect tendencies that arise, then we become dependent and we become the enjoyer-sufferer of pleasure and pain.   

In fact,  the name sorrow (dukha) has two names - pleasure (sukha) and pain (dukha).    Just as herpes infection though one illness, but it has two names -  itching and burning.   Itching and scratching gives the person relief and feels good,  whereas the burning sensation makes one feel bad.   In this the portion that makes one feel good is also an illness, and the part that makes one feel bad,  is also an illness.    In the same way,  when we become happy and sad, while blending with the changing,  that too is an illness.    The meaning of an illness is,  one is not established (swasth) in the self (swaroop).  One is situated in Prakruti (nature).  When we are not situated in the changing tendencies, feelings, actions etc,  when we remain separate from them,  then, we remain ‘swasth’ (in the self).  Then we remain even in both pleasure and pain.   ‒

‘समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः’ (गीता १४ । २४)

Samadhukhahsukhah Swasthah” (Gita 14 / 24 )

“Remain balanced in pleasure and pain, established in the self” (Gita 14 / 24 ).

It is our experience,  that we remain in all states, conditions, circumstances,  and incidents.   If it weren’t so, then how would we have the knowledge of all states, condition,  etc.  ?   We are aware of this,  from this it is proven that we remain.   We have knowledge of waking, dream, dormancy, deep trance,  unconscious,  states.   We are also aware of pain and pleasure.   We are also aware of affliction,  attachments, worries, attraction,  aversion etc.    Therefore we are devoid of affliction, attachments, worries, fear,  fright etc.   If it were not so,  then we would experience joy,  we would not experience any suffering.   Day and night we would be in remorse,  then we would not experience any joy.  But it is not so. We have awareness of both good and bad,  based on favorable and unfavorable situations.  Therefore in fact we are beyond the good and not so good.   Let us become established in this non-duality, then we will be liberated very easily   ‒

‘निर्द्वन्द्वो हि महाबाहो सुखं बन्धात्प्रमुच्यते ॥’ (गीता ५ । ३) ।

`Nirdwandwo hi mahaabaaho sukham bandhaatpramuchyate' (5/3).

"Only he who has transcended the pairs of opposites is easily set free from bondage".

http://www.satcharcha.blogspot.in/

  

The BBC and an anti Hindu History

I feel uneasy whenever the BBC decides to broadcast programs on Ancient India, two recent broadcasts reflect the general anti Hindu bias built into the BBC. Firstly  "Genius of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes on the Buddha and "Treasures of the Indus" with Dr Sona Datta on the History of Pakistan. Both avoid talking of the influence of the Sarasvati civilization which dates some 9000 years ago. I would use the term Aryan but that has problems with Europeans since WWII. Bettany does a whole episode on the Buddha without discussing the Hindu culture which produced the Buddha, though plenty Hindu imagery was used. Dr Datta goes on to extol the virtues of the Buddha (him again) Greece and Islam in the 5000 year history of "Pakistan". No mention of the Mahabharat Vedas Sarawati or Aryans (Hindus). I made a similar point to Dr Miles Russell, Senior Lecturer In Archaeology at Bournemouth University, on his article about the Swastika for the BBC Magazine, he replied, he wasn't given the space, and suggested that I write to the BBC myself. I am very tempted to do just that

Indian History and the British

During first National parliamentary committee, all the Nationalists of India including Dr Ambedkar supported the Idea of making "Sanskrit" as the National Language of India, which was the mother of all the Indic and as well as most of foreign languages. But, the resolution was stopped and pushed out by Pseudo-British Indian National Congress.. present day UPA Govt!!! British main Objective was to disconnect present day India, to its glorious Ancient past and the best way to do was to destroy the backbone of Hindu Vedic Civilization i.e. Sanskrit. British then introduced and pushed their language English on Indians and highjacked the Indian education system.  They also misinterpret the ancient Indian scriptures like, Bhagwata Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vedas and others... and distorted them such that, Indians should think that they are always been an Inferior civilization, and  they also changed the flexible Varna System (Action and Duty based) to Rigid Caste System (tied to Birth) via social policies, governance and laws. We have been taught that, problem of India is India itself and that Indian-ness must be changed for India to rise... but, the Britishers and our own Marxist and Islamist historians will NEVER tell you about the Ancient India and its Glorious past. Recent studies have shown and documented (World Economy History, by Angus Madisson.. do some research on internet) that, from 1 AD till 1500 AD, India was the leading #1 economic power of the world and China was the #2, holding 55% of world GDP(combined). During 17th Century, China becomes the #1 and India #2, but still these two countries were holding more than 55% of world GDP. Again in 18th century, India surpassed China to become #1, holding 22% of world's GDP(India only). It was during and after 1820, Indian GDP started to fall rapidly and till 1990, Indian GDP fell to 1.2% of world's share. Britishers looted and destroyed entire Indian civilization with in 100 years. Now, for every sane and morally correct Indian, only "AN ENEMY" of our own Indian (Hindu) Civilization will say that, India and Indian culture is the problem and the cure is western or arabic culture... We must IDENTIFY these enemies in Media, Government, Society, Intellectuals, etc.. We Hindus and Hindu Atheists (Ignorant secular), must try to learn and find out our own ROOTS and Civilization and we all must be ready to get up and fight for its protection and its very own survival or I should say its REVIVAL

Hindu Dharma Marriage and Religion

There can be much confusion if we adopt wrong names and labels to a topic and that is the case with Hindus or Indians neither term is indigenous to the continent  both have been introduced by invaders the first by Muslims the second by the British. Nowhere in the entire 10000+ years of known Hindu literature do these words arise. The indigenous term is Aryan, meaning a noble learned person. Today throughout the world we see Aryan customs being practiced, recent archaeological evidence debunks the aryan invasion theory, that some how they came from outside India. Aryans spread out from an area covered by Pakistan Punjab and Gujarat through which the ancient Saraswati river flowed called the Saraswati civilisation

Hindu dharma is the culture of the Aryans the primary language being Sanskrit, the mother of all European languages. Two of the sixteen sanskars or customs are naming a new born baby and marriage. Where ever they occur in the world, the roots and logical explanations lie with the Aryans. Aryans do not discuss other religions because they predate them, and the fact that today's Hindu culture has a continuous unbroken link to the beginning of human civilization is a wonder in itself, and is rightly considered a way of life rather than a religion. A religion has a founder, a book and a time when it was set down none of these apply to the Hindus. They also discuss how the pagans or kafir are to be dealt with in great detail, this in-turn lead to the destruction of many pagan temple, in Rome this is well documented, the pre-Christian Romans, I would best describe as Hindus of today did not require followers to have faith in any one book or person. The Victorian British tried to make sense of this by making the Bagvad Gita the Hindu holy book, when ruling India, and have left many damaging laws and customs not of Aryan logic. Their efforts at conversion lead them to study Sanskrit and demean Brahmin's the carriers of Aryan knowledge from the time since the discovery of language.

The English term "NAME" and custom is of Sanskrit origin, made of two word "NAH" and "MAHMA", NAH is NO and MAHMA is ME both are sanskrit. Therefore NAME means NOT ME but only God, or a human has no existence but for God, names are also from divine deities and religious terms, to remind the person of his true nature that of Atman (soul) in relation to God. 

Similarly sex and its ritual custom of marriage are rooted in Aryan custom. Religions do not have a logical explanation for this custom. Logic is one thing Aryans relied on and ended up giving the world maths and the Hindu numerals their ultimate logic tool. Aryans studied both Sanskrit and Math in the same vain this had two attributes, it made Sanskrit a mathematically precise language and also there was no separation between science and Hindu "religion". An example is of the Shiva at CERN  atomic labs in Switzerland today. The Hindu 

With the advent of religions, when Aryan converted forcibly in most cases, makes Shri Chawla's case today's world very brave. His task is complicated having to explain to people of faith who in all cases adopt Aryan culture but have lost sight of their origins. In Christianity the English have a saying "tied the knot" which does not occur in a church but seen in the pagan Hindu ceremony. The Aryan term for divorce being "untied the knot". The other is the wedding ring placed on the second finger. That figure is connected to the heart in Ayurveda, heart from the sanskrit "hirdya". It is this ring Hanuman took from Sita, while in captivity and brought it to Ram as a message to say she was still his wife. The Church sanction marriage as ordained by God and is somehow holy but omit sex which is at the very heart of that union. Of the four aims of an Aryan, sex is one known as Kama, in yoga it is often sexual union and the science of Tantra alludes to that. The concept in tantra is interplay of shiv (male) and shakti (female) energy. The concept of male and female arise from this originally, in Adam and Eve and the serpent represents sex as it does in yoga. The union of male female is considered the nearest one attains to godly bliss. Osho deals with this aspect in his  book "Krishna the Man and his Philosophy" Hindus today bear the scars of invasions by religions and the need is to rediscover the faded Aryan culture which is termed "Sanatan" (eternal) for good reason.

Anti Hindu Western Academics

Under the guise of scholarly study academics like Chicago University's Wendy Doinger are blatantly writing offensive and factually incorrect books. Legal action in India resulted in an out of court settlement by Penguin (India) leading it to withdraw her book "The Hindus" in India. It was not banned by the Indian government, unlike Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses. Wendy's paymasters website Chicago University Divinity School mission page quotes "ministry students become priest's and chaplains" "prepare students for service of churches". Studies of Hindus by such bodies lack a certain credibility. The Oxford Center of Hindu Studies invited her as a guest speaker which I thought was insensitive and naive. Promoting such studies will put off the next generation of Hindus from their own dharma, misleading them at best. A glance at the Upanishads will show how logical and well argued each and every Hindu thought is, and is not just a matter of faith. The same thinkers founded Hindu numerals, mathematics and Sanskrit, a mathematically precise language. If Wendy cannot defend her book in an Indian court, refused all invitations to a open debate with Vedic scholars then Hindus should seek to get the her book removed from sale worldwide. Relying on Western academics sometimes is akin to asking an Islamic scholar to explain Hinduism to Hindus

Dharma is not a Religion

Religion Vs Dharma

Why Hinduism is a Religion of Freedom

    Are the two words synonymous and interchangeable? Religion literally means that which leads one to God. "Dharma" is derived from the root Sanskrit word "dhri" which means "to hold together". It has a wider meaning than the word "religion". There is no equivalent word for Dharma either in English or in any other language. In this sense, Hinduism is not a religion; it’s a "Dharma". Those who profess the Hindu Dharma and seek to follow it, are guided by spiritual, social and moral rules, actions, knowledge and duties which are responsible for holding the human race together.

Hindu Dharma is also known by the names "Sanatana Dharma" and "Vaidik Dharma". "Sanatana" means eternal and all-pervading and "Vaidik Dharma" means the Dharma based on the Vedas. In simple terms, one can say that Dharma means code of conduct, i.e. doing the right thing, in thought, word and deed, having always in mind that behind all our deeds there is a Supreme Being. This is the teaching of the Vedas, which are the original source of our Dharma – “Vedo - Khilo Dharma Moolam.”

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the great philosopher, statesman and former President of India has described what is Dharma in these words: "Dharma is that which binds society together. That which divides society, breaks it up into parts and makes people fight one another is Adharma (non-religion). Dharma is nothing more than the realization of the Supreme and acting in every small act of your life with that Supreme present in your mind. If you are able to do so, you are performing Dharma. If other interests pervade you, and you try to translate your mind into other regions, even though you may think you are a believer, you will not become a true believer. The real believer in God has his heart always lifted to Dharma".

According to Swami Sivananda, "Hinduism 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. Hinduism is a religion of freedom, allowing the widest margin of freedom in matters of faith and worship. It allows absolute freedom of human reason and heart with regard to such questions as to the nature of God, soul, form of worship, creation, and the goal of life. It does not force anybody to accept particular dogmas or forms of worship. It allows everybody to reflect, investigate, enquire and cogitate.”

Hence all manner of religious faiths, various forms of worship or spiritual practices, diverse rituals and customs have found their place, side by side, within Hinduism, and are cultured and developed in harmony with one another. Hinduism, unlike other religions, does not dogmatically assert that the final emancipation or liberation is possible only through its means and not through any other. It is only a means to an end, and all means that ultimately lead to the final goal are approved of.

The religious hospitality of Hinduism is proverbial. Hinduism is extremely liberal and catholic. This is its fundamental feature. It pays respect to all religious and does not revile any other religion, accepting and honoring truth from wherever it may come and in whatever garb it is presented.

"Yato Dhrmah Tato Jayah" - Where Dharma exists victory is guaranteed.

My Speech 14th Feb 2013 Kolkata Hindu Samiti

नमस्ते भाईओं और बहेनो ,

सबसे पहले तपनजी , हिन्दू समिति ,और आप सबका में आभारी हूँ के मुझे ये मंच पे बोलने का मौका दिया गया .

आप सब ने सरदार पटेल और नरेन्द्र मोदी का नाम तो सुना ही होगा - में भी उन्हिकी जात का हु . जनम से में भी एक किसान हु। फर्क येही है की मेरा जनम आफ्रिका में हुआ और छोटी उम्र में मेरे पिताजी मुझे england ले गए। एक अंग्रेज़ नागरिक होने के बावजूद दिल से में भारतीय हूँ और एक हिन्दू होने का मुझे बहत गर्व है . और आप सब के बिच में आ कर में बहोत खुश हों। बांगला बालो भाषी 

तपनजि  और हिन्दू समिति ने मुझे बताया के बंगालमे हिन्दू धर्मं का अस्तित्व खतरे में है। क्योंकि हमारे साथ वोही हैवानियत और अत्याचार हो रहे है जो कश्मीर के हिन्दू पंडितों के साथ हो गया। आज वो अपने ही राज्यमें निराश्रित है। उनका जीवन खतरे में है। जो बातें मेने तपनजिसे सुनी वोह सुनकर मुझे बहोत दुःख हुआ और ईसि लिए में ये मंच पे हूँ।

हिन्दू सनातन धर्म ये सदियों पुरानी हमारी पहचान है - हमारा अस्तित्व और गौरव है। आज येही अस्तित्व खतरे में है। क्योंकि, आज हमारी शिक्षा में हम रामायण, महाभारत और भग्वद गीता की पढाई नहीं करते। हमारे हिन्दू देवी देवता को सिर्फ मुर्तिरूप मंदिर में पूजते है। पर हमारी सही शिक्षा तभी होगी जब मंदिर में स्थापि हुई मूर्ति को हम आत्मसात करे। हमारे ऋषि और गुरुओं ने दी हुई सीख का अमल करें। और सबसे पहली सीख है - अहिंसा परमो धर्मं, धर्मं हिंसा तथैव च - मतलब येही है की अहिंसा हमारा धर्मं है पर धर्मं के बचाव के लिए ज़रुरत पड़े तो हिंसा का उपयोग करना चाहिए। अगर आप देखें तो हमारे हर देवी देवता शस्त्र अस्त्र से सज्ज है। येही सिखाते है की हमें निर्बल और निर्दोष जीव पर वार नहीं करना चाहिए। पर अगर येदी कोई हमें मारने आये तो अपनी सुरक्षा के लिए ही शस्त्र उठाना चाहिए। आज जब हिन्दू धर्मं पर अतिक्रमण हो रहा है तब हमें जागृत और निर्भय होना चाहिए। और एकता बनाये रखनी चाहिए। किसिभी वार को चुप चाप झेलना हमें और निर्बल बनाएगा। इसके लिए आवाज़ उठानी चाहिए। 

एक बार में, हिन्दू समिति का आभारी हूँ के हिन्दुओं पर हो रहे अत्याचार को वे सही माध्यम से जागृत करते है और आवाज़ उठाते है। मेरे ख्याल से हमें उनकी लड़ाई में सहभागी होना चाहिए।

आज जब हम हिंदुओं के साथ अन्याय हो रहा है तो हमें एक हो कर न्याय के लिए लड़ना चाहिए। जितना हम चुप रहेंगे उतना हम सहेंगे। मेरा येही कहना है हमारी गौरवता और सम्मान पे अगर कोई वार करता है तो हमें चुप नहीं बेठना है। जो सीख हमें माँ दुर्गा से मिलती है उसका अमल करना चाहिए। 

अंत में और एक बात कहना चाहूँगा। सच्चाई की राह पर हिम्मत से चलिए और अपने भारत देश को प्रगतिशील बनाइये। स्वाभिमान और गौरवता से जिए और निर्भय रहे।

वंदे मातरम 

Hinduism Studies in America

Those of you who are Hindu intellectuals, this will make you think and question the vast amount of garbage we are fed by the media and the education system                        Read 

Invading the Sacred: An Analysis of Hinduism Studies in America by Krishnan Ramaswamy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/8129111829

Was the US Senate Attack on Hinduism an isolated Instance?

Article by: Rajiv Malhotra, USINPAC Leadership Committee Member

The US Senate has a long tradition of opening with Bible prayers, occasionally extending a symbolic courtesy to prayers of other faiths. For the first time in its history a Hindu priest was invited to conduct the opening prayer. Indian-Americans, having contributed immensely to America, naturally felt proud to be afforded equal respect alongside other American religions. But the Hindu prayer was attacked as an “abomination” by hate-filled heckling that resulted from an organized mobilization by civic groups such as the American Family Association attempting, to demonize Hinduism as heathen, immoral and dangerously un-American. The President of the Family Research Council mobilized Americans to block the Hindu priest, saying, “There is no historic connection between America and the polytheistic creed of Hinduism.” David Barton, one of the scholars informing the attackers, declared that Hinduism was “not a religion that has produced great things in the world," citing social conditions in India as proof of its primitiveness. 

The denigration of Hinduism influences the way Americans relate to Indians. Andrew Rotter, an American historian, in his book on the US foreign policy’s tilt against India and towards Pakistan during the Nehru era, cites declassified documents revealing US presidents’ and diplomats’ suspicions of Hinduism. They regarded “Hindu India” as lacking morality and integrity, and its “grotesque images” reminded them of previous pagan faiths conquered by Christians, such as Native Americans. American ideas about India are intertwined with stereotypes about Hinduism.

There are domestic implications concerning the diaspora as well. The great American meritocracy has enabled us to succeed as individuals, and many Indians see American Jews as a role model. But it took the Jews over half a century of organized lobbying and litigation by organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, to establish their religious identity in public life. The lesson Jews had learnt in the European Holocaust was that their individual success could easily be used against them if their civilizational identity was defamed. Indians also faced hate crimes in New Jersey when the Dotbusters targeted Hindus. Recent rants by Pat Buchanan and Lou Dobbs generate xenophobia against Indians for “stealing” jobs from “real” (i.e. white Judeo-Christian) Americans. As Indian-Americans stand out for their individual success, while US economic standards deteriorate, we may one day regret having neglected the projection of a positive civilizational image. Unlike many other ethnic and religious groups, we have not adequately engaged US universities, schools, media and think-tanks deeper than the pop culture layer of cuisine, Bollywood and fashions. On the contrary, many Indian writers have fed the “caste, cows, curry” images of India.

Hindu-Americans need to be educated on the history of American public religion and the “American way” of claiming one’s religious identity across the spectrum of liberals and conservatives. In fact, even liberal Americans have always been a very Christian people. Hilary Clinton’s devout Christianity has shaped her liberalism. She told New York Times that her Methodist faith has been “a huge part of who I am, and how I have seen the world and what I believe in, and what I have tried to do in my life.” She carries a Bible on her campaign travels and confidently quotes from St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and John Wesley, the father of Methodism. Another liberal, Barak Obama, proudly projects his Christianity and delivers many of his key campaign speeches before church congregations. It comes as a surprise to many secular Indians that the very liberal President Jimmy Carter describes himself as a Bible evangelist, and asserts that his Christian faith provided the moral compass to guide his presidency. 

Liberalism in America is about egalitarian economic and race policies, and is not a rejection or even a departure from the nation’s majority religion, i.e. Christianity. The equivalent scenario would be for India’s CPM leaders (the liberal/left equivalent of Obama, Clinton and Carter) to quote Hindu sacred texts and deliver campaign speeches in major Hindu temples. While American labor unions have always been very deeply rooted in Christianity, India’s labor unions are encouraged to discard the Hindu identity. Unlike in Europe, American public life has never abandoned its deep rooted Christian foundations. America’s separation of state and church affects only formal institutions, and does not imply de-Christianizing the leadership or the national ethos.

Indian intellectuals have misunderstood America’s Christian psyche because the Indian notion of secularism in India is very different to that of the American  Indian secularism requires distancing from the majority religion, i.e. Hinduism, by one or more of the following ways: by espousing a “generic spirituality” without any specific religious identity, by condemning any Hindu identity as a mark of communalism with BJP links, or by explicitly blaming Hinduism for all sorts of human rights problems. The equivalent situation would be to blame the Bible for all the US abuses in Guantanamo and in its domestic society, and to de-Christianize America into a sort of generic spirituality. While Hinduism, like all other world religions, does have social problems, it also has internally generated reformations, as well as immense resources to deal with the human condition.

Unraveling this requires understanding Hinduphobia’s nexus in the American academy and seminaries. This is the subject of a well-researched eye-opening new book, titled, Invading the Sacred: An analysis of Hinduism Studies in America. (See: www.invadingthesacred.com for details.) The book exposes influential scholars who have disparaged the Bhagavad Gita as “a dishonest book”; declared Ganesha’s trunk a “limp phallus”; classified the Hindu Devi as the “mother with a penis” and Shiva as “a notorious womanizer” who incites violence in India; pronounced Sri Ramakrishna a pedophile who sexually molested the young Swami Vivekananda; condemned Indian mothers as being less loving of their children than white women; and interpreted the bindi as a drop of menstrual fluid and the “ha” in sacred mantras as a woman’s sound during orgasm. To understand the hatred spewed at us by the Senate hecklers one needs to understand the systemic creation and distribution of such one-sided “data” by an army of “scholars” whose mission is to bolster the image of Hinduism as a danger to the American way of life.