This is my first video-graphed talk. I accepted the invitation by Srijan Foundation not because I know more about Sanatana Dharma. Many among you know more than I, but because I grew up as a Christian and maybe can better appreciate the value of it. Also, I realised that many of you find it difficult to talk frankly about the doctrine of Christianity and Islam.
The talk is in 4 parts:
- Why Sanatana Dharma is the best option?
- Why is it portrayed as worst?
- Common and differing aspects between Sanatana Dharma and Christianty/Islam
- We need to bring truth back into the discourse about religion or rather, we need to replace religions with the quest for truth.
Some points taken from my notes:
How did the Rishis know so much? How come Sanskrit, in all likelihood the oldest language, is the most perfect? You have an amazing heritage, knowledge in so many fields, huge number of texts, even though a huge part of it is lost.
I focus mainly on one aspect: All this is Brahman. Forms appear as real, are not really real. We are not what we think we are. Meaning of life = to merge with Brahman or rather to realise the oneness.
The Divine is in us. This needs to sink in. It is important for our life.
But is it true? Is the Divine really in us? How to know?
Why are there so many gods in Hindu Dharma? “Gods” is actually a mischievous translation. Devas are powers which are essential for our existence on earth.
Puranas, Itihasas remind us of a time when they could easily be contacted…
How to live life?
Dharma means doing what is right at given circumstances. Guide is conscience, plus scriptures. Divinity inside means that one has trust in Bhagwan, is good-natured, all-inclusive. Also kind to nature, animals.
Why is Bharatiya culture and Hindu Dharma vilified?
Agenda is “Nobody should know the profound knowledge of Bharat, otherwise people desert Church.” Church used education to manipulate opinion towards Bharat.
British coined “Hinduism”, portrayed it as a primitive nature religion, which has an oppressive caste system, Brahmins (=backbone) were made villains.
Strategy: Don’t mention Bharat, except negatively. World ends with Greece. Put Hindus always on the defensive, so they don’t question ‘us’.
1835, Macauley’s suggestion did maximum damage.
However, West took Vedic wisdom seriously -> 1839 Tuebingen.
If Bharat’s universities would take inspiration from Vedic pundits, modern science would be Bharatiya science, not western.
Please don’t denounce Manusmriti, for example, the claim that molten lead is to be poured into ears of Dalits if they listened to Vedas, or that Brahmins ate cow. In the light of other statements, such claims can’t be true. Interpolations were highly likely, there were hostile translators.
Luckily times are changing. Interest is growing. Bharatiyas have great brains. They will be even more capable with sadhana.
Common and different aspects in Sanatana Dharma and Christianty & Islam
Common: worshipping one Supreme.
Different: Church started terrible, untrue claim, “all must believe THIS, be baptised or else will suffer eternally in hell”. Islam followed.
How did they get 2 billion followers? Through violence & indoctrination. Same with Islam a few centuries later.
Fear of hell is indoctrinated into kids, and at the same time feeling of superiority (we alone are right). Hindus can’t imagine that fear of hell could be real. My example and example of Iranian ex-Muslim.
Important: Belief in Rebirth was forbidden in 553 AD. For Islam, too, this dogma of one life is very important. Evidence? No evidence, after death you know. Follow like SHEEP.
Islam has blasphemy laws even today. Example of Zypriot Turk, now 85, “nothing more pleasurable…”
State of affairs of those lands who were converted to Christianity or Islam:
Christianity -> moral degradation. No meaning in life.
Islam -> very regimented, especially women oppressed.
Compare it with the liveliness and colorfulness of Bharat. I envied Hindu children for not being frightened with eternal hellfire.
Hindus need to bring back truth into the discourse about religion.
In the name of Christianity and Islam, a lot of suffering happened. Yet strange that if Christianity/ Islam convert Hindus, no outcry, but if there is gharwapsi, there is big outcry. This needs to be other way round.
Why are dogmatic religions based on blind belief inferior? They also have harmful consequences otherwise would brutal colonialism and brutal invasions have been possible?
Their claim “we alone have ONE God” is false. In fact, they diluted oneness. Vedas have pure oneness. We need to clarify. “Idol-worshiper” is worst for them, they got our devas wrong.
Sanatana Dharma -> Brahman = essence in all. It can be experienced. Science supports it.
God/ Allah = separate from humans, angels, Satan. True? Find out
God/ Allah’s damnation for unbelievers and ETERNAL hell is unacceptable, must NOT be taught. It cannot be true and it creates hatred. Would Rishis accept it without evidence?
Top clergy obviously don’t believe dogmas. But to the commoner they say: You must believe it. It’s a divine revelation. It is God’s word.
Can 3 truths exist? No, only one. Which one? Vedas are the original revelation, ancient, makes sense, can be experienced, makes human beings better, not worse.
We need to look at Islamic terrorism honestly.
Quran 98.6 says -> Kafirs are worst of creatures. Acceptable? Youth is gullible, they wrongly believe there is divine sanction for violence. Every day new kids are brainwashed.
Where is UN and UNICEF? How can such brainwashing be protected by religious freedom in 21st century?
We need to create an atmosphere where eternal hell and Jihad are questioned/ ridiculed. Like in the 1960s in Europe, many left Church. Clergy will defend their fiefdom. Common people will feel relieved if they get out of blind belief. We let them down by catering to the clergy.
Hindus need to take the lead. Christianity and Islam are in the same boat and their clergy won’t rock it.
Spread the truly good news of divine presence within. Let’s discover it. It empowers. It makes us independent from outer sources for happiness and love. It is no doubt the best option for a truly human society. Without this inclusive mind-set, a global world is not possible.
In all likelihood we would also come to the conclusion that this massive brutal slaughter of animals for food is plain inhuman. By the way, it’s condemned in the much maligned Manusmriti in strongest terms.
This article was originally published on Maria Wirth’s blog . It is being reproduced with the author’s consent.
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