Assimilation not destruction

Somvir, Denpasar

The 21st century is a new challenge for the human society to understand the true meaning of religion and its application to daily life in keeping with the principles of truth, peace and non-violence.

The Vedas proclaim that the earth is mother and human beings her children. If for a moment we can understand this clearly, we would naturally give importance to the mother first. Difference of religion, caste, race would then just melt away. It is an irony that preachers always give hope of heaven in the future to followers while letting the existence on earth turn to hell full of clashes, conflict, blood shed, all in the name of religion.

Vedas teaches us that religion is duty. If someone does his duty well and good, he is considered religious. Going to a temple and reading holy books is a part of religion but not completely.

What we feel at holy places and outside in the society is totally different. We become so religious at holy places that we get a feeling of calm and peace and try to be good but once we go out from the holy place, our whole outlook changes and it is based on falsehood, corruption and exploitation of others. Even then, we call ourselves religious.

Is this what religion means?

Another thing is that it is believed is that a religious person becomes so by reading holy books and dinging devotional hymns. It gives one a feeling that this is something religious and therefore they feel they have become good.

But back to society, when the same good people find corruption, injustice right in front of them they withdraw themselves. They feel they are good and so have no business with the outside world. We term those who are corrupt and unjust as bad people who should be avoided. Now, where does religion state that one must run away from bad people and not challenge them? Today, all so-called good people have become cowards and are afraid to face bad people.

Religion and social action teaches us that being a good person is not enough, we must be brave as well. Like most bad people are united and ready to fight, almost all good people are disunited and cowards.

The test of a true religious person is not in the forest but in society. Therefore, it is necessary to remove this cowardice from the good religious people and they need to become brave. If these religious good people do not react to corruption, injustice, it means they are indirectly supporting it.

To achieve peace, the unity and bravery of all religious good people are needed to face the bad people otherwise the chanting and hymns of peace will only remain within the place it is chanted without having any impact on the society.

To declare the world as peaceful is the duty of world religious leaders and governments. We have been trying to bring peace but the root of problem is not solved. There are many instances where we go against our own principles and this breaks the harmony of peace within and outside.

Consider the use of tobacco. We celebrate World No Tobacco Day to campaign against the tobacco consumption However, the biggest donations to run holy trusts and other organizations are funded by big tobacco companies. Similarly, while we talk of justice, we accept funds from big companies.

Currently, the U.S. military budget is US$400 million to combat terrorism. Just a ten percent reduction could be used to eradicate poverty, education, illiteracy, and unemployment which are often fertile breeding grounds for religion fundamentalism and eventually terrorism.

Before we talk of heaven, the primary focus should be to make this earth the first heaven, where we can learn values of brotherhood, peace, coexistence that will naturally lead us to the real heaven. Paradise is to be regained not lost on this earth.

Our civilization based on culture and religion has to broaden its outlook to embrace and move towards a pluralistic and multi- cultural society. The most important issue yet to be discussed is that of conversion which is the main aim and purpose of most preachers today? It is believed that the more the numbers the stronger the faith. This leads to confusion and conflict among different religions. The need of the hour therefore is to discuss this controversial issue.

It is a fact that all religious scriptures have more similarities than dissimilarities but, we, intellectuals bring the dissimilarities into focus ignoring that the similarities are much greater. It is hoped that intellectuals of all religions come together to build a common platform which will united all mankind rather than promoting differences.

Discrimination on the basis of religion, languages, caste and race is increasing and challenging particularly of religious preachers than others. Hinduism believes in assimilation not in destruction. Assimilation of all good thoughts, ideals that can bring mankind closer to understanding the Universal truth.

The writer is a visiting lecturer of Indian Culture and Vedic Philosophy from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at the Faculty of Letters, Udayana University, Bali. He is also director of Indian Cultural Center in Denpasar. This article is an excerpt from his presentation recently at the International Seminar of Multi-Faith Education for Harmony and Peace organized.