Krishna, the first communist

[Guest guest]

Krishna, the first communist

Columns by Sri Sri Ravishankar

Why Lord Krishna's life and message make him the father of communism

 

Long before Karl Marx, Lenin and Mao, a historical figure in India

fought against oppression, championed the cause of the poor,

denounced religious dogma and empty ritualism, and sought to inspire

a righteous and selfless attitude in society.

 

The basic tenets of communism say that all are equal, and exploiters

and oppressors should be severely punished. It rebels against

societal dogmas and advocates caring and sharing. The goal is to

create a society free from selfishness, autocracy, aristocracy and

oppression of people of any sort.

 

The life and message of Krishna reveals that he imbibed, taught and

fought for these principles 5,230 years ago. In fact, an objective

analysis of the Bhagavad Gita too would reveal that Krishna was a

better communist than Karl Marx. One could go so far as to describe

him as the real founder of communism!

 

Krishna grew up among cowherds — who today could be referred to as

OBCs. A cowherd himself, he worked for the empowerment of his

people. Later, he killed his own uncle, Kamsa, a king who was an

oppressor, thereby liberating the entire society of Mathura and

Brindavan from his tyranny.

 

Throughout his life, Krishna cared for the poor and the weak. In the

Mahabharata war, he could have sided with the powerful Kauravas but

he took the side of the Pandavas, who had nothing on their side

except goodwill and pure hearts. He worked for them and went as an

ambassador for peace for them. So definitely his mission was with

the poor and the oppressed, the victims of royal aristocrat families

and therefore he is called Deenabandhu, Deenavatsala (friend of the

poor).

 

The story of Sudama, the poor Brahmin, is a well-known episode from

Krishnaís life. Often people think Brahmins were oppressors, when in

fact Brahmins have always been very poor. One never hears instances

or stories of rich Brahmins in history or in the puranas. But

Krishna's love and compassion was such that he honoured him, cutting

across the class barriers.

 

Krishna also rebelled against dogmatic religious practices of those

days. Even today it is well known that the entire society stopped

the sacrificial puja they were doing to Indra, shifting over, on

Krishna's advice, to caring for the cows (Govardhan Pooja) and

honouring the knowledge of the self. (Govardhan also means honouring

knowledge.) He also promoted Annakoot, where there is food for

everybody.

 

Krishna rebels against the people who are always arguing in the name

of the Vedas. He has said that people who are driven by little

desires, who are propitiating this deity or that, caught up in small

rituals and greed, are fools (moodha). He also says, ``Those who

worship many devas and perform many rituals are of lesser

intelligence.''

 

Finally, after a detailed exposition of all aspects of life,

knowledge and duty, he says, ``Sarva dharman parityajya mamekam

sharanam vraja'' (Drop all the dharma and take refuge in me, ie, in

the higher self). This is really a revolutionary thing. Karl Marx

also has said drop the religion, ``Religion is the opium of the

masses.'' But beyond religion is the quest for truth. Where does a

man go further? There Krishna leads Arjuna, leads the people into

that spiritual realm of experience, which is seriously lacking in

communism today.

 

To transcend religion, one needs to understand religion. Karl Marx

was not aware of Indian spirituality. All that he saw was the blind

faith and the authoritarian rule of the religious institutions that

existed at that time in Russia, whereas Krishna takes us beyond

religion.

 

He also says drop religion, but it brings you to a place of

spiritual awakening, of knowledge, of truth, of beauty. The

confidence that builds up in a person who knows the depth and the

secrets of creation is something amazing, so beautiful — without

which life is dry. So make the transition from religion to

spirituality. It is what was missing in the Karl Marx principle and

which Krishna has very clearly demonstrated and given to the world

in the form of Gita.

 

Communism cannot reject Krishna at any cost because he stands for

all its principles in a much more meaningful manner. If we don't see

the reality, the truth with an open mind then we have merely

replaced an old religion with a new religion called communism. So we

have to be aware and wake up to adapt to changing times.

 

By principle

 

I wonder why the communists have not yet owned Krishna. Many times

in the Gita, Krishna says, ``Yo mam pasyati sarvatra'' (One who sees

me in everybody, one who sees oneself in everybody, is the one who

sees the truth). This is the basic principle of communism — see

everyone as yourself. He says the banana peel has a meaning as long

as there is a banana inside. But when you eat the banana, then the

peel has no value. Similarly religion can't take people to the final

truth, final goal.

 

But it is the spirit of self-enquiry, the scientific temper in a

person, that takes one deeper. Religion stays behind and one moves

into a realm of pure humanism or pure divinity — this is the

hallmark of Krishna's teaching.

 

Unlike in the west, where scientists were tortured and questioning

of the religious scriptures was prohibited, India has always

encouraged questioning and contemplation. In fact, most of the

scriptures in India are in the format of questions and answers.

After putting forth his opinion, Krishna tells Arjuna to

independently think and question, and tells him that he has the

freedom to accept or reject his opinion. He never imposes his idea.

 

Though communism advocates rational thinking, we hear many

communists do not give the freedom to people to express a different

ideology. At the same time, Krishna also inspired Arjuna to fight

and not accept oppression, which again is what communists say. He

advises Arjuna to fight not with anger or hatred, but with

intelligence, with equanimity, with wisdom.

 

Another principle of communism is sharing. As a small child, Krishna

would share the butter with all the boys, all the youngsters. Later

he shared wealth. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it said that in his last

days Krishna used to go and give gifts to people every morning. A

salient feature of communism is to work for the community and it

comes down strongly on consumerism or greed. This is explained by

Krishna in the Karma Yoga. Karmanye vadhikaraste

 

Krishna goes on to say that one who is really wise regards all men

as equal, and does not discriminate between a Brahmin and an

untouchable, or a learned one and someone who is not so learned.

Vidyavinaya sampanna.

 

Many people talk about communism but lead a capitalistic life.

However Krishna never did that. He stood for the cause of the poor.

He saw that oneness in everybody and so he was remembered for

centuries.

 

But nowadays it is suddenly fashionable to regard even the Ramayana

and Mahabharata as epics and not as something that really happened.

This is ridiculous, because just a legend cannot have such an impact

over the whole continent, and even beyond. The Ramayana and

Mahabharata have made such an impact on civilization without any

modern technology. The Sanskrit word itihasa means `it happened like

that/it happened thus'.

 

To see everyone as equal is a matter of the heart, and the heart can

be made to blossom only through spirituality. And uplifting the

spirit is what is spirituality. So you cannot be a true communist if

you don't have that spark of love and compassion in your heart.

 

Modern communism negates religion but leaves you in a vacuum. Devoid

of spirituality, frustration overtakes life, leading one to violence

and aggression or depression and suicidal tendencies. You cannot

serve someone if you don't see them as yourself or part of yourself.

What was missing in communism is the very soul, that is

spirituality, of which Krishna was an expert teacher.

 

Now communists in Kerala need not feel guilty about going to

Guruvayoor and those in Bengal can openly participate in Durga

Pooja!

http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/colItems.asp?ID=SEE20040611055615