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Discrimination & Temple entry Related Explanation Hindu-Phobia and Hindu-Hatred

2 points | Post submitted by suyash95 153 days ago | 4 comments | viewed 647 times

Some Notes


4 Answers

  • suyash95 153 days ago | +0 points

    Why can’t Dalits and or Lower Class Hindus are not allowed to enter Hindu temples and can not read Hindu Holy books or even become Temple priests?

    You are way behind the times my friend. In the middle ages up until about 100 years ago people’s caste was discernible from the way they dressed. Nowadays everyone dresses like Europeans. Any one can enter any Hindu temple (except foreigners in some) no one asks you your caste at the gate. Hindu Holy Books are all available in every book shop, on line and free from Hindu websites for download - in almost every language - so if a person can read they have access.

    All the major Hindu organizations, Ramakrishna and Chinmaya Mission, Divine Life society, Arya Samaj, Sai Baba centres, Saiva Siddhanta Sangam, Saiva Mandram, Divine Life Society, Dayananda Arsha vidyālaya - etc. etc. accept everyone into their folds without any discrimination whatsoever.

    Becoming temple priests is a vexed issue because they are so poorly paid, work long hours in harsh condition, arise at 3am and stand on their feet all day and deal with an undisciplined and rowdy public!! Why on earth would anyone choose this as a career unless they had some hereditary compulsion!!

    What most people don’t seem to realise is that all the major temples of South India have hereditary priestly families that have been serving the temples for over a thousand years. There are not enough jobs in the temple for the hereditary families, the sons of which are now found in the IT industry in silicon valley!

    Every sacerdotal duty in the temple has already been allotted to a family. For example in Tirupati there is one family whose privilege it is to read the panchang (almanac) every day to the deity. Only they can do it and no one else.


    Why can’t Dalits and or Lower Class Hindus are not allowed to enter Hindu temples and can not read Hindu Holy books or even become Temple priests?

    You are way behind the times my friend. In the middle ages up until about 100 years ago people’s caste was discernible from the way they dressed. Nowadays everyone dresses like Europeans. Any one can enter any Hindu temple (except foreigners in some) no one asks you your caste at the gate. Hindu Holy Books are all available in every book shop, on line and free from Hindu websites for download - in almost every language - so if a person can read they have access.

    All the major Hindu organizations, Ramakrishna and Chinmaya Mission, Divine Life society, Arya Samaj, Sai Baba centres, Saiva Siddhanta Sangam, Saiva Mandram, Divine Life Society, Dayananda Arsha vidyālaya - etc. etc. accept everyone into their folds without any discrimination whatsoever.

    Becoming temple priests is a vexed issue because they are so poorly paid, work long hours in harsh condition, arise at 3am and stand on their feet all day and deal with an undisciplined and rowdy public!! Why on earth would anyone choose this as a career unless they had some hereditary compulsion!!

    What most people don’t seem to realise is that all the major temples of South India have hereditary priestly families that have been serving the temples for over a thousand years. There are not enough jobs in the temple for the hereditary families, the sons of which are now found in the IT industry in silicon valley!

    Every sacerdotal duty in the temple has already been allotted to a family. For example in Tirupati there is one family whose privilege it is to read the panchang (almanac) every day to the deity. Only they can do it and no one else.


    Why can’t Dalits and or Lower Class Hindus are not allowed to enter Hindu temples and can not read Hindu Holy books or even become Temple priests?

    You are way behind the times my friend. In the middle ages up until about 100 years ago people’s caste was discernible from the way they dressed. Nowadays everyone dresses like Europeans. Any one can enter any Hindu temple (except foreigners in some) no one asks you your caste at the gate. Hindu Holy Books are all available in every book shop, on line and free from Hindu websites for download - in almost every language - so if a person can read they have access.

    All the major Hindu organizations, Ramakrishna and Chinmaya Mission, Divine Life society, Arya Samaj, Sai Baba centres, Saiva Siddhanta Sangam, Saiva Mandram, Divine Life Society, Dayananda Arsha vidyālaya - etc. etc. accept everyone into their folds without any discrimination whatsoever.

    Becoming temple priests is a vexed issue because they are so poorly paid, work long hours in harsh condition, arise at 3am and stand on their feet all day and deal with an undisciplined and rowdy public!! Why on earth would anyone choose this as a career unless they had some hereditary compulsion!!

    What most people don’t seem to realise is that all the major temples of South India have hereditary priestly families that have been serving the temples for over a thousand years. There are not enough jobs in the temple for the hereditary families, the sons of which are now found in the IT industry in silicon valley!

    Every sacerdotal duty in the temple has already been allotted to a family. For example in Tirupati there is one family whose privilege it is to read the panchang (almanac) every day to the deity. Only they can do it and no one else.

    [reply]
  • suyash95 153 days ago | +0 points

    Does Hinduism preach equality?

    What do you mean by “equality?” I am assuming you mean it in the post-modern Neo-Marxist sense of all humans being “equal” and are entitled to equity (equality of outcome).

    In what biological sense are men and women equal? Do both sexes have the same reproductive abilities, life-cycles, reactive dynamics, health issues etc?

    Are all humans born with the same physical characteristics, talents, skills, intelligence, abilities, health, strength, character, self-management skills, aspirations etc.?

    Are all humans born in the same socio-economic environment with the same equal opportunities this affords?

    Do all humans have the same psychological profile, aspirations and desires?

    So in what way are “all equal”?

    Hinduism observes reality as it is and is pragmatic as opposed to idealistic in its approach. Hinduism teaches that on an ontological level of the jīvātman, all sentient beings are “equal” in that we are all minute aspects of the totality of Being, the Unified Field. Popularly stated as “God dwells within each and every sentient being.” Hindus greet by saying NAMASTE which means “the divine in me salutes the divine in you!” So from a spiritual perspective we are all equal.

    Hinduism teaches that people are born different, with different talents, skills and aspirations. Every individual is unique and has their own trajectory in life according to their Karma.

    Notwithstanding our biological and social differences, from a social perspective, everyone should be given the same access to education, health-care and public transport - the three basic essentials for a modern society. Everyone should be assessed and treated on the basis of their merits and not their caste, religion, socio-economic background, ethnicity or gender.

    Is it possible to have equality of outcome? Clearly not - equity cannot be demonstrated nor is it logically feasible - given the vast differences already touched on in the afore asked rhetorical questions.


    Is Dr. Ambedkar's allegation that Hinduism lacks any ethical content true?

    It is not only false, but was very clearly a knowing lie told to slander and defame Hinduism. Ambedkar made some very valid criticisms of Hinduism and Hindus’ behaviors, but for some reason he thought it necessary to mingle them with outright falsehoods like this, which greatly limited his acceptance by Hindus.

    Hinduism teaches a great deal of ethical content, giving profound importance to values such as truth, right conduct, love, peace and non-violence. The essence of all ethics is contained in the simple Hindu Law of Karma, which states that if a person causes others to experience joy, they too will experience equivalent joy, and if they cause others to experience suffering, they too will experience equivalent suffering. All of ethics can be extrapolated from that principle. Seva, or selfless service of others, is a major teaching and practice in Hinduism.

    We Hindus are encouraged to embrace all as fundamentally the same as ourselves, and to live in the best interests of society as a whole, in peace and harmony. We are specifically taught that our pursuits of prosperity and pleasure must be kept in accord with the wellbeing of society at large; and that it is a dangerous error for us to act out of greed, jealousy, or anger.

    The Hindu scriptures say that in following Dharma, necessary values and attributes to cultivate include absence of conceit, absence of hypocrisy, speaking the truth, not harming others, accommodating others’ needs, straightforwardness, and compassion for all beings.

    Indeed ethical subjects and questions are debated by various schools of Hinduism quite extensively, in many different texts on the nature of right conduct in different times, means, and situations, with different objectives and reasoning. It has always been a major consideration of Hinduism, not at all lacking. Here are some examples from the scriptures:

    “He who, possessed of food, hardens his heart against the weak man, hungry and suffering, who comes to him for help… He will find none to console him in his time of need.” - Rig Veda 10.117.2

    “May I look upon all beings with the eye of a friend. May we all look upon each other with the eyes of friends.” - Shukla Yajur Veda 36.19

    “Virtue and vice do not go about saying - here we are! … Virtue is an elusive concept; it demands careful and sustained reflection by every man and woman before it can become part of one’s life.” - Apastamba Dharma Sutra 1.20.6

    “Therefore, without being attached to the outcome of one’s activities, one should act to fulfill one’s responsibilities, for by performing one’s duties without attachment to the results one attains the Supreme. Indeed you should act, bearing in mind the welfare of the world.” - Bhagavad Gita 3.19–20

    “Ignorant people perform actions out of attachments, O scion of Bharata, but the wise should act without selfish attachment, for the sake of the world’s welfare.” - Bhagavad Gita 3.25

    “The truly learned, with the eyes of divine knowledge, see with equal vision a brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater.” - Bhagavad Gita 5.18

    “The sages who are free from the pairs of opposites, whose minds are well-directed, and who are devoted to the welfare of all beings, become cleansed of all impurities and attain the bliss of the Brahman.” - Bhagavad Gita 5.25

    “With the mind harmonized by Yoga, one sees equality everywhere. One sees one’s Self as abiding in all beings, and all beings in one’s own Self.” - Bhagavad Gita 6.29

    “Whatever wishes one entertains for one’s own sake, one should certainly cherish with respect to others as well. With the surplus wealth one may happen to possess, one should relieve the needs of the poor. It is for this reason that the Creator ordained the practice of increasing one’s wealth.” - Mahabharata, Shanti Parva chapter 259

    “Regarding all with an equal eye, you must be a friend to all living beings.” - Vishnu Mahapurana 3.9

    “A prudent person should always cultivate, in thought, speech, and action, that which conduces to the wellbeing of all living creatures both in this world and the next.” - Vishnu Mahapurana 3.12.45

    “The person who renders service to the world even at the risk of his life, and is devoid of rivalry and jealousy, is said to be an excellent person both here and hereafter.” - Narada Mahapurana 1.4.74

    “The excellent devotees are those who are the benefactors of all living beings, are devoid of jealousy and greed, who are quiescent and who exercise self-control.” - Narada Mahapurana 1.5.50

    “A brahmana might be even-sighted and calm in disposition, but if he cannot sympathize with those who are suffering, all the merits of his austerity come to naught, like water kept in a leaky pot.” - Bhagavata Mahapurana 4.14.41

    “I abide in all beings as their innermost essence… A person who persecutes Me residing in others, who is proud and haughty, who looks upon God as the other and not as immanent - such a person will never attain to peace of mind. If a person disregards and persecutes fellow beings, but worships Me in images with numerous rituals and rich offerings, I am not at all pleased with them for proffering such worship. What a person should do is worship Me in images, side by side with discharging their duties, which include the love of all beings, until they experientially realize My presence in their own self and in all beings. As long as a person is self-centered and makes an absolute distinction between himself and others, without recognizing the unity of all, they will be subject to the great fear of Death. So, overcoming the inherent separateness of a self-centered life, one should serve all beings with gifts, honor, and love, recognizing that such service is really being rendered to Me, who reside in all beings as their innermost essence.” - Bhagavata Mahapurana 3.29.21–27

    The ten signs or characteristics indicative of Dharma, according to Manu Smriti, are:

    1. Dhrti - Patience, even case of difficulties. Fortitude reflected in the form of courage and strength when facing pains or troubles in life. Staying secure in one’s own inner peace.

    2. Kshama - Forgiveness. Forgiveness is not an attribute of weakness, but of spiritual strength, composure, and broadmindedness, requiring a measure of control over one’s emotions. It breaks the chain of negative karma. Let go of things that do not serve you.

    3. Dhama - Self-control over one’s mind and desires. The ability to make decisions with a stable mind, unaffected by cravings for worldly sensations or emotions of attachment or fear.

    4. Asteya - Non-stealing. Honesty, integrity.

    5. Shaucha - Cleanliness, purity, internal and external. We should keep our body, clothes, and surroundings clean; similarly, keeping our mind pure requires periodic cleaning of unresolved negative emotions, desires, and attachments.

    6. Indriyanigraha - Control over one’s own sense-organs. Do not allow negative stimuli to make an impression in the grooves of the mind. Consciously and proactively apply the dominance of your mind over the pulls of your senses. Meditation is perhaps the best tool for this.

    7. Dhi - Benevolent intellect, wisdom, the guidance of calm reason, the power to discriminate between right and wrong, analysis and identification of the proper path toward the benefit of all beings, irrespective of difficulties and temptations.

    8. Vidya - Well-assimilated spiritual and practical knowledge, crowned with humility.

    9. Satyam - Benevolent truthfulness.

    10. Akrodha - Non-anger in spite of circumstances or provocations. This does not mean suppressing or denying anger, but not letting it misguide or sway us. Anger may be expressed as a tool to stop someone’s harmful behavior, but it should be done with awareness, not acting impulsively and letting anger guide us.

    Varaha Mahapurana teaches the following twenty-five practices:

    1. Treat all beings with equality.
    2. Maintain self-control and calm mind.
    3. Pursue knowledge in general, and proficiency in metaphysical knowledge.
    4. Learn to understand the difference between matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha).
    5. Be grounded in substantial wisdom free from delusion.
    6. Know the difference between good and evil and between the perishable and the imperishable.
    7. Practice regular meditation with conviction.
    8. Be impartial and constantly regard the pleasures and pains of others as your own.
    9. Consistently practice non-aggression to all beings.
    10. Cultivate freedom from attachment and anger.
    11. Incline yourself to piety and justice.
    12. Regularly practice prāṇāyāma and [consequently] attain steadiness of mind.
    13. Resist cravings of all sorts and in all places.
    14. Free yourself from lobha or self-serving greed/not sharing surplus with others.
    15. Try to ensure you die meditating upon the ātman.
    16. Be always respectful and restrain yourself from anger.
    17. Abstain from craving the possessions of others, and be free from malicious envy.
    18. Render selfless service to parents, elders and teachers.
    19. Be totally dedicated to non-violence.
    20. Be free from pettiness.
    21. Always perform commendable acts and avoid the censurable.
    22. Consistently consider the wellbeing of others.
    23. Go on pilgrimages with a pure intention.
    24. Permanently avoid all acts which cause harm and suffering to others.
    25. When you encounter learned scholars, treat them with respect and reverence.


    Do People convert out of Hinduism to other religions becoz of Caste System?

    Hindu Haters say People convert becoz of CASTE SYSTEM

    #FakeNews. Africa was largely converted in the last 50 years. No “caste.” Jati ties are the biggest barrier *against* conversion. The 7th Day Adventists mass converted in Andhra because they *kept* jati ties. If “caste” were the barrier you think seculars would attack it 24x7?

    Everything that we’ve have been taught is false. We weren’t defeated because of “caste.” Conversions are not due to “caste.” And there is no “caste system.” Jatis have been our strength. Varna is the most egalitarian system anywhere in the ancient world.

    In fact, in many places more “upper castes” have converted. All the Catholic Church hierarchy in India is “upper caste.” Many “untouchables” wanted equity but did not want to leave their traditions for it. Many are big Rama Bhakts.

    The fervent belief of "atheists" and anti-Hindus in the Purusha Sukta of the Veda to "generate" Indian society (Biblically) is touching,

    Also "anti-casteists" and Indian "rationalists" are fervent believers in the ability of Brahmins to do Black Magic. This must be why .. 2/

    ..Brahmins created a "Caste System" with themselves on top and magically hypnotised masses for 5000 yrs and kept them under their sway... "Brahminical" Black Magic so strong that "Caste System" is still followed by Goan Christians for 400 years, despite weekly Church sermons 4/

    ...this hypnotic power is so strong that despite fervent State anti-Brahmanism & repression in Tamil Nadu, "caste" is stronger than ever. 5/Brahminical magic must be far more powerful than Allah, since with no Brahmins, 5xdaily Namaz & Friday sermons, Muslims still have caste 6/

    Unprecedented power of "Brahminism" where Dalits in Bangladesh, under Islamic repression, fight to retain it...7/

    I will be a famous person internationally within short time if I start propaganda against Hinduism as Dalit. Everybody will help me. Ha Ha

    Black-magic Brahmins duped society for 5000 yrs, oppressed masses, but no serious revolt. LC must be weak & stupid (till White saviors)...8/

    This Black-Magic story is the standard "scientific:" theory of the "Caste System" It turns most Indians into moral & intellectual cretins 9/

    It turns so-called "lower caste"/"dalits" into powerless brainwashed fools for 5000 yrs, swayed by Brahmins' Black Magic. I don't buy it 10/

    Such an immoral, stupid & oppressive civilization not only survived for 5000 yrs (where most others fell), but was also regarded world-over?

    We need a new theory. But like many unscientific beliefs, the current theory of the "Caste System", is irrefutable.

    No one denies that people have been discriminated against. Problem is grand theory of the "caste system." It doesn't correspond to reality.

    Details about the "irrefutable" (and hence unscientific) dogmas about "caste" I'd alluded to. https://academia.edu/25376339/The_Impossibility_of_Refuting_or_Confirming_the_Arguments_about_the_Caste_System…

    Why #ChristoIslam props up "Tamil nationalism." People are hard to uproot from their traditions. #ChristoIslam must isolate to uproot & convert. First step is to cut off from the larger Hindu traditions & culture. So Onam becomes Malayali from Hindu etc. Easier to conquer.

    Though #ChristoIslam has wiped out tribes across the world, they come to "save" India tribals. First isolate tribes, tell them they're "not Hindu." Spin story of "oppression", create Hindu-hate. Leads to separatism, conversion.

    Hindu festivals across India keep people connected and rooted. Evangelists have used a two-pronged strategy. First try to eliminate them and attack them. If not possible, try to appropriate them. Their secularization is the step towards appropriation. this is systematically taught. Thus "regional pride" is created to attacks Hinduism, which is what the "dravidian"-bots do. But this is all a Church proxy attack, with a long-range strategy.

    TRIBALS in Middle East converted becoz Because the Indian State failed to protect them. Tribal populations left to themselves simply have no resources and ability to counter missionaries. They’ve been converted all over the world.. See my article on religious freedom.

    Even in Pakistan it is the”lower castes” who have held on to Hinduism. All “upper castes” have converted. All our caste stories are simply false. I never said that there was no discrimination due to jati or varna. Rather our understanding and narratives about these are false. Our “explanation” is false, not denying anyone’s bad experience.

    The standard explanations of “caste system” are largely based on “Brahamanical Black Magic” to explain the persistence of this. It is unscientific bull which comes from Christian theology of Brahmins as Priests with Magical ability to control people. The narrative around the “caste system” has done real damage to Dalit communities.

    It was extremely difficult to convert people due to jati ties because if one converts, it would lead to the person being outcasted from the said caste group and it would be nearly impossible for them to find a bride/groom. Being outcasted was considered the worst thing to happen.

    It also served as a social security net. So, if a person ended up broke, the community would come to that individuals aid and provide him with the needs till he finds suitable employment. In that way, it did protect a person from outside influence by forming a close knit unit.

    On some occasions, it also ended up as a serious for reconversion because the community might not accept a defiled/fallen individual in its fold. What jati group would take them back ?

    The same thing can't be said of contemporary society as the same thing has changed. Now entire caste/jati groups convert. Or people of the same caste have more solidarity with their own caste group regardless of the religion.

    This can be seen if you observe the 'Unionist' mission groups where they talk about Rajput or Jat brotherhood between muslims & Hindus of the said groups. In this 'brotherhood' the Hindu counterpart is more likely to abandon his religion than the muslim one.

    Which means caste identity supersedes the Hindu identity and the Hindu goes into the dustbin. A Hindu of caste X would be more likely to side with a convert to christianity of caste X in such a situation. So caste identity >>>> Hindu identity.

    1) Dalits were told the forward castes are oppressing you by making you produce footwear.Rise up, leave the profession. India produces over 22 bn pairs annually, exported around $2.7 billion footwear products in 2016. Muslims are the major players in the footwear space now.

    2) Dalits were told, being a fisherman out of birth you can't rise up much with that status. He either left the profession or got converted & paid tax to the church. Indian seafood exports touched around $7.8 billion in 2018. Christians are the major players in that space.

    3) Had a family stuck around in any of these two professions for generations, wouldn't we be seeing a successful community driven ecosystem that made them all millionaires atleast? Did the SJWs fail to see entrepreneurship as social capital?

    4) The SJWs didn't see the family profession as a business but saw it as a baggage that the person could have. Had a capitalist guided the person, he would helped him scale up his family profession and made it into an MNC. Nothing spreads equality in the society like prosperity!

    5) These were potential game changers for the Dalit community, a profession which they knew in & out & had expertise in! But, they were fed with victim propaganda by the Commie/Left narrative & got them uprooted from a gold mine, which other community capitalized on

    No one is denying the oppression here. But, the point was about how a narrative was built and they were made to believe that deserting their occupation would elevate them. See who has walked into their shoes now, and doing the same work with greater returns.

    @mkatju

    argued similar thing in his latest article. That it was the Brit policy that caused Dalits in the footwear, and other industries to lose out on those.

    OPINION: It is myth that dalits were always disrespected in India

    But dalit think that upper caste are their enemy... And why blame communist while dalit are the one who agree to be brainwashed

    They're fed that narrative daily. A powerless person who broods victim is what the Left and the Congress want. Only when you've people who feel they're oppressed, these parties have some relevancy.

    Till the 20th century, the West was still keeping human beings in zoos, just as native people up till 1970s in Australia were legally "animals." Now their trained Indian sepoys parrot how "Brahmanism" oppressed tribal people (for missionaries to "save")

    In the Greek civilization, Aristotle postulated that some people were natural slaves. For centuries Christians used Biblical authority for race-based slavery. Per other Holy Book, Islamic countries were dead last in the world to outlaw slavery.

    Slavery has a long history in England. It was heriditary, children of slaves were also slaves. More than 10% of England's population were slaves during the reign of William the Conqueror. Slavery in Britain - Wikipedia

    In all of history India has been among the most egalitarian societies. From the Greeks to the Romans to Christianity and Islam, all legitimized slavery. It’s also among the only major civilizations treating women as equals. False narratives have turned reality upside down.

    People who ask?? What about the Shudra (English word is slave)? What about the duality called not only “Devi” but also “Daasi”? It’s just academic exchange, otherwise I am a student of Indian Philosophy and a great admirer of the same.

    Dasa is servant, not slave. Ghulam is slave. There is no chattel slavery or slaves bought and sold. In some cases, personal debt or obligation would lead to servitude.

    Those who use Manusmriti as a. One should compare how Arab & European societies were at the time when Manu Smriti was composed. Even a cursory look at the Quran and the Bible will give you good picture.

    For all previous centuries India was more egalitarian. Even after the devastating poverty due to colonialism, India has the most aggressive affirmative action program in the world for historically marginalized groups, something even the US with actual chattel slavery doesn't.

    Other fantasies—"only upper castes could study." This is empirically false. As documented by Dharampal, India had broad-based education, all castes studied. This was not true of Europe where only aristocrats & clergy did—universal education likely went from India to the West.

    People ask What about the Physical Cleanliness of Indian cities right now?

    The sheer garbage we see today, if you look at it, is mostly plastic and paper. That kind of garbage is barely 40 years old. It is the garbage of modernity which India's colonial state is unable to adapt to and keep up with Paris was a filthy dump till the mid-nineteenth century before the Haussman reconstruction. Overflowing sewers, garbage, epidemics of cholera, shit in the streets and over-crowding. The clean-up begins *after* it gets wealthy from colonization, When Paris’s Streets Were Paved With Filth — Undark

    New York was not much better at the turn of the 20th century. Again, my study here is of the colonial mind which projects a fantasy of how the West was and is. Colonialism reduces us to an unending history of "backwardness" in comparison to the fantasy.

    A Filthy History: When New Yorkers Lived Knee-Deep in Trash

    Colonial consciousness turns every crime into a crime of native culture. In the master race a crime is an aberration, merely a criminal act. Comes from natives as "immoral"; unlike (Christian) moral colonizers. Justification for colonization internalized by the elite. In colonial consciousness every crimes implicates culture. For master's race, crime is an aberration.

    Why is bigotry ingrained in Indians" exemplifies colonial racism. Replace "Indians" by "Blacks" or even "Muslims" in it.

    There's an unstated fantasy about the West. This fantasy juxtaposes "5000-yr backward, caste-ridden India" vs the West as some egalitarian heaven. We forget that the West had chattel slavery till the 19th century and, mostly, women could vote and own property only in the 20th.

    In practically every epoch of human history, India has been more egalitarian, wealthier, with more diversity and acceptance than the West. All the qualities of the West we see now, even physical cleanliness of cities, is barely 100-150 years old. 2/n

    The narrative of internalized Western supremacy is an artifact of colonialism. Colonialism of *our* minds, and *their* colonial loot, slavery and appropriation of native lands and resources as the basis of their economic progress.

    Till the 60s Australia classified native people under "flora and fauna"—as animals, not human. Now missionaries in India claim they are here to "save" tribal people.

    Per Indian “liberals”, missionaries come to “save” “tribals” & “Dalits.” Strange they’ve never saved anyone else.

    you don't know about untouchables in Japan. It's like India2.0 Concept of Purity (inner and outer) and butchers, Tanners, sanitation workers become untouchable.


    Is Hinduism true?

    In order to answer this question we need to define two words - “Hinduism” and “Truth”.

    “Hinduism” is a term coined by the British for administrative reasons and refers to a collective of divergent schools of philosophy and belief systems that originated in the Sub-Continent of India over 5000 years ago. We ourselves refer to “Hinduism” simply as DHARMA - which translates as deontology.

    These diverse schools of thought have been evolving, developing, modifying and adapting to changing circumstances over millennia. So under the umbrella of “Hinduism” there are sects and traditions which are contradictory to each other and some are in sync with each other. So there is nothing general and definitive which can be said about Hinduism. In fact everything and anything you say about India or Hinduism can be located and identified.

    So Hinduism per se cannot be truth of untruth - it is just a name of a collective. One needs to ask which specific elements or beliefs within the vast collective of Hinduism are true.

    Next we need to define what we mean by “Truth”.

    “Truth” is that which corresponds to reality and is coherent i.e. non-contradictory and is rational.

    Hindu philosophy adds another criterion to this definition - “utility”. So truth must be both reflective of reality and applicable to the interesting of daily like.

    SO - “Is Hinduism true?” - The several philosophical schools of Hinduism deal with this metaphysical question and in fact the Vedas and the Vedānta and all the other esoteric schools have the ULTIMATE TRUTH as their sole inquiry - so you would need to start studying Indian Philosophy to ascertain for yourself what is and what is not “truth” and how it is applicable to your particular situation and stage of life.

    Philosophical Hinduism is perfectly rational - perhaps the most rational of all the religions barring Buddhism its sister religion.

    But under the umbrella of “Hinduism” there is also an abundance of nonsense, pseudo-science, superstition, erroneous beliefs, irrationality, immorality, fake guru and their deceptive teachings, social injustice etc. All the ills of any society.


    Are non-Hindu borns accepted as Hindus?

    This is a frequently asked question but we always need to parse what we mean by terms.

    What is Hinduism?

    The term “Hinduism” is a category of people for the purpose of civil administration created by the British. The Portuguese, prior to the British, referred to the same category of people as Gentoo.

    Hindoo was a term also used for the inhabitants of the subcontinent of India - everyone who was not a Christian, Muslim, Jew or Parsi. And as well all know the broad category of “Hindoo” includes dozens of different religious and belief systems with thousands of different customs and usages and dialects.

    So you could very well ask the question “are non-Indians accepted as Gentoos?” Which makes absolutely no sense.

    There are 7 million Hindus living in Indonesia where Hinduism has been established for over a thousand years - long before either “Gentoo” or “Hindu” were coined.

    The whole of South East Asia (the population of which are ethnically descendant of proto-malay) - was at one time part of a great Hindu empire - greater one may say than any empire in India - since these non-Indians aka non-Hindoos built the largest Hindu temple on planet earth which also happens to be the largest religious structure ever built - Angkor Wat. So one wonders what they called themselves since neither of the descriptors “Gentoo” nor “Hindoo” were available to them.

    Having ascertained the imprecise and vague nature of the above terms we now have to examine the second part of the question “ACCEPTED”.

    I will answer the question with several questions.

    • Does Hinduism have a central command and control structure?
    • Which is the authorising body?
    • Who is the elected pontiff of the Hindus?
    • Where is the assessment and vetoing committee located and what is their email address and website?
    • Which sect accepts indiscriminately the decisions of the acharyas of other sects?
    • Which acharyas accept unanimously the decisions of other acharyas of the very same sect and lineage?
    • If one lineage or sect accepts non-Indians as Gentoos/Hindoos who has the authority to cancel their stamp of approval?

    If you - the gentle reader - don’t know the answer to these questions then you are part of the problem!

    [reply]
  • suyash95 153 days ago | +0 points

    How can Hinduism have two contradictory philosophies like Advaita and Caste System?

    Excellent question. The two are separate matters. Vedanta is a philosophy of mind and spirit, based on Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Brahma-sutras. (Prasthana trayam) Vedanta discusses the three realities; Brahman, Jiva and Jagat and prescribes a methodology for achieving the highest goal - moksha.

    The Varnashrama Dharma is an economic theory not a philosophy. It is a complex system for social management in the age of a balanced economy. The system in its pure form aims at the optimization of the three goals of human life - the tripod of material happiness; Dharma - occupation and value system for the society and individual, artha - production and expenditure of wealth, and kama - enjoyment, recreation, procreation etc.

    These two aspects of life are known as trivarga - the three material goals of the householder and apavarga - ultimate liberation from samsara - the goal of the renunciates. So one can indeed study and practice Vedanta without any reference whatsoever to the caste system.

    One can also practice the caste system without any reference to Vedanta - which is generally the case.

    The message of the Gita is an integrated system where caste is not based on birth but rather on merit and all three goals of human happiness should be striven for, but without attachment but rather in a spirit of renunciation.

    I want to be brief and just remind you that the caste-system is an extremely complex network of kinship and social relations involving transactions of goods and services. It has been very flexible over the generations but in its present form is a complete corruption and travesty - since society has dramatically changed since its formulation. The problems of the caste system are the same as any economic system - corruption, greed, oppression, exploitation etc.. There is no economic system in the world that is pure and benevolent - neither capitalist or communist.

    Why did Dr. Ambedkar say,"As long as you are in the Hindu religion you cannot have freedom of thought"?

    Because he was egregiously mistaken - but perhaps the context of his statement would be more intelligible.

    In the Hindu social structure, even at it’s most rigid state, one had complete freedom of thought. It was one’s action which was curtailed and limited.

    People were obligated by caste rules and social arrangements to conform to certain types of behaviour, diet, work, marriage, association etc.

    There was absolutely no limitations based on “thought” - no one cared what you thought or believed as long as you observed social customs.

    It is also important to note the the severest restrictions were placed on brahmins and the restrictions decreased as you descended the hierarchy. Sudras are completely free of all restrictions and can eat, drink, and travel about as they please. There are no rules of purity/impurity to ceaselessly and pedantically observe.

    claim - whats the point of freedom of thought if you cannot act it out. I agree not all of us practice it. However where it exists, to down play it is a disservice to hinduism and cruel to the victims.

    Response - 

    Where is the restriction today to act or not to act?

    People are self-bound to custom and tradition and trapped within the web of family and community. If you are strong-willed you can do exactly as you please. Living one’s life according to the expectations and in order to please others (family and community) is a major source of suffering.

    The biggest issue facing young people in India is the problem of career and marriage and the objections of family members to the choice of partner. In every other respect people are already following their own wishes.

    claim - what you said is true. Unfortunately people are also being killed for behaving in a manner above their station in life. To deny this would be adharmam.

    Response - 

    No we cannot deny whatever is evident but we also need to put it into perspective - ratios, rates, comparisons, contributing factors like poverty, lack of education, criminal activity, etc.

    Every murder is one too many, but how many “honour killings” are there in a nation of 1.3 billion, and who are the perpetrators?

    There are 70 million Hindus living outside of India and there have also been a few “dowry deaths” among Hindus in America, Europe and Australia - but these are not religious crimes but rather common murders - which are severely and relentlessly prosecuted.

    I’m not sure that blame for these sorts of criminal activities can be blamed on Hinduism, there is not a single guru, acharya or sanyāsi that would condone these types of activities and certainly no justification can be found in the Gita or Upanishads.

    claim - Dr Ambedkar also said that untouchability will remain as long as hindu religion remains in world.

    Response - 

    Well he was wrong because EVERYBODY is now untouchable as long as Covid 19 lasts in the world.

    The majority of Hindus no longer practice “untouchability” and there are over 70 million Hindus outside of India who no longer practice any kind of caste restrictions or taboos and certainly not “untouchability

    [reply]

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