The Hoax Called Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam � I

[Guest guest]

[i have forwarded the message of Dr Elst to Dr Bharatgupta for his

comments. While we await the same, we have message from another senior

member at Hindu civilization. I think Bhadraiah is member here also.-

kishore patnaik]

 

hinducivilization , " Bhadraiah Mallampalli "

<vaidix wrote:

 

Dr Elst,

 

Thanks for taking time to reply:

 

>But he also, and primarily, teaches the limits of this vision.

 

I beg to differ. The vision does not have limits. Any one with such a

vision of vasudhaiva kutumbam (not just an innocent belief in it) is

not expected to be ignorant of potential hazards and failures. A vision

to send a satellite into space can succeed only when the obstacles are

calculated and kept within control.

 

Agreed that the bhajan culture is the source of the hoax, but that is

the only last organized force uniting Hindus these days at least once

in a week or so. Enriching the content of the bhajan curriculum might

help. How about designing a course content for the babas on the lines

of divinity studies? I understand Vasudha Narayanan will cry foul

saying " diversity " of Hinduism is being sacrificed by extremists. As

long as Hinduism studies and practice gets atomized she (and the likes)

would be happy.

 

Regards

Bhadraiah

 

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

> hinducivilization , " Bhadraiah Mallampalli "

> <vaidix@> wrote:

>

>

> >But he also, and primarily, teaches the limits of this vision.

>

> I beg to differ. The vision does not have limits. Any one with such

a

> vision of vasudhaiva kutumbam (not just an innocent belief in it)

is

> not expected to be ignorant of potential hazards and failures. A

vision

> to send a satellite into space can succeed only when the obstacles

are

> calculated and kept within control.

>

 

In his critique of Christianity, Sita Ram Goel pointed out that the

Eight Beatitudes ( " blessed be the meek... " ), a Gospel text often

quoted by Mahatma Gandhi, evinces a shocking lack of discrimination

(viveka). The same applies to the Chinese Mohist school's doctrine

of " universal love " , as pointed out by the Confucians (who believed

in measured fellow-feeling, more with close ones than with distant

ones). And it applies to " Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam " .

 

This jubilant sentiment must be contained by a sense of proportion,

while the thrust of the statement is of course to throw away all

sense of proportion and embrace all beings indiscriminately. In a

certain metaphysical sense that may be appropriate, we're all drops

in the ocean of Brahma; but in that sense it's also utterly banal,

equally present in the Christian and Islamic doctrine that " we're all

creatures/children of God " , hence progeny of the same Father,

hence " one family " .

 

 

 

> Agreed that the bhajan culture is the source of the hoax, but that

is

> the only last organized force uniting Hindus these days at least

once

> in a week or so. Enriching the content of the bhajan curriculum

might

> help. How about designing a course content for the babas on the

lines

> of divinity studies? I understand Vasudha Narayanan will cry foul

> saying " diversity " of Hinduism is being sacrificed by extremists.

As

> long as Hinduism studies and practice gets atomized she (and the

likes)

> would be happy.

>

 

Here i totally agree. i am presently working on a book " The Trouble

with Hindutva " , and one chapter is a review of a number of

introductions to Hinduism, catechism-type books used in NRI/PIO

mandirs' sunday schools or in the Hinduism class in British state

schools' multicultural religious education. In those books, an

attempt is made to present a single face of Hinduism; which mostly

means that the views of a single tradition (Arya Samaj, Hare Krishna)

is wrongly presented as " the " Hindu view. So, we're clearly not there

yet. But for the sake of survival in today's conditions, where you're

challenged by missionary religions with a strong doctrinal backbone,

some kind of doctrinal education in Hinduism will have to be

developed, both for the general youth and on a more advanced level

for the babas mentioned.

 

Kind regards,

 

KE

[Guest guest]

i am presently working on a book " The Trouble

with Hindutva " . Nice to know it. I sincerely wish you all the best. Kishore patnaik