KRISHNA - THE FIRST COMMUNIST ??!!

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I CAME ACROSS THIS POST IN ANOTHER GROUP AND THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT IN

THIS GROUP.

 

*Krishna, the first communist*

 

*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

Krishna's 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.

 

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 fashionableto 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 Bengalcan openly participate in Durga Pooja!