Brilliant analysis. The Aryans' idea of absorbing local gods and expanding god-dom was also a masterstroke. It minimised the need for wars. Later introducing the concept of Iswara, the personal god (who could be any), as being just a vehicle or medium to realise Brahman the ultimate, was also a masterstroke.
call me a heretic, but my personal interpretation of metaphors leads me down less dogmatic paths.
in a society where (traditionally) children are raised by their parents in the same societies where the parents grew up, and did not have a system of away-from-home schooling, the lives lived by your ancestors, and the social position they accumulated can follow you around like karma from a previous life.
is a diligent recording of such observations via prose steeped in allegories a call to rigid casteism, or an explanation of the causes and consequences of it?
in my humble opinion, it is both; the interpretation is controlled by the translator and the reader.
Please write more about how minorities are being mis-treated in India these days.
Sonali's analysis of reincarnation is deeply insightful and historically perceptive. Perhaps also too analytical and psychological. For it neglects the example of nature itself in which all life regenerates. Why would humans not naturally do so? (Though I appreciate his reference to the less-evolved "once-born" and more evolved "twice born.) And what of those who have remembered and even re-experienced previous incarnations? And have been able to corroborate evidences of such with others and with factual history? Somali's thoughts are comprehensive and probably accurate from a historical and political perspective, but I have personally and independently reexperienced and remembered previous incarnations, and believe that there is more to this reality that causes it to be so.
It is certainly true that Hinduism gives hope through reincarnation. A merciful God cant leave you in hell for ever. But the thought that is mainly to maintain caste is not entirely correct. Ravana is born a brahmin, Krishna was raised among cow herds, Vidhura was abused by duryodhana as sudhra while same duryodhana likes Karna damning society for labeling him as sudhra. Seems to be like politicians then (rulers, pandits, traders, laborers etc) use the reincarnation to achieve their ends. Hindu religion potentially can be free of this politics but still sustain reincarnation theory. Suppose we dont have birth discrimination. Still how we do we justify a benevolent God making a child born in utter poverty in another continent? With theory of rebirth that child can face it and overcome it even in current life. Key thing is society must not discriminate on birth but it will because politicians will sense advantages on misusing that
Wow, your knowledge of Hinduism is as shallow as your knowledge of economics. The ultimate objective of one's life as per bhagwad geeta is to attain moksha. i.e. going beyond the cycle of life and death. NOT to go to heaven. Krishna literally tells Arjun not to get swayed by the false promises of hell and heaven made in vedas. And there is no bar on who can attain moksha. The explanation for the misery of the current birth is retrospectively explained by the karma system. Not the other way around.
Coincidentally in book-1 of my fantasy series - on development of Indic culture - as the pre-Vedic nomads take to farming, they split into three functional groups.
Priest Bramha Viranchi identifies the three groups as Priests, Warriors & Farmers.
I was gripped. Throughout this erudite essay, the humility and openness of reincarnation shines against religion’s arrogance, hypocrisy, and sheer gall in just ‘making stuff up’. How refreshing it is. Brilliant. Please read.
Brilliantly written. It is important to read between lines what so called intellectuals write about the castiest religion and trying to make it best religion in the world. The animosity towards shudras is the precursor. They wrote bluntly that you have to kill them by any means because you can't kill them in a direct war. Their hatred towards shudras is too much because they know they are too good, intelligent etc.,
There was no reincarnation in Rig Veda. Karma meant something else. Current meaning of those two terms came about over time. Started in Upanishads but evolved over time with Puranas, Smritis and other texts amplifying.
Puranas inverted the Vedic philosophy and eventually the new gods supplanted the old. Current Hinduism is a corrupted version far from the Vedic philosophy it was so keen to usurp.
Although the same system prescribes equally difficult rules for Brahmins to keep him on the path, With the stick that, if he falters he will transcend into the lower castes in next birth.(e.g. Dnyaneshwar had to fight to get the rights of a brahmin) The architecture is brilliant.
Also, do you feel that shankaracharya was one of the main architect to make it relevant and operational across geography with diverse cultures? Even the Bhagwad Gita introduced by him?
Awesome. The notion of re-incarnation as “hope for enslaved”. Brilliant
Brilliant analysis. The Aryans' idea of absorbing local gods and expanding god-dom was also a masterstroke. It minimised the need for wars. Later introducing the concept of Iswara, the personal god (who could be any), as being just a vehicle or medium to realise Brahman the ultimate, was also a masterstroke.
chicken and egg.
call me a heretic, but my personal interpretation of metaphors leads me down less dogmatic paths.
in a society where (traditionally) children are raised by their parents in the same societies where the parents grew up, and did not have a system of away-from-home schooling, the lives lived by your ancestors, and the social position they accumulated can follow you around like karma from a previous life.
is a diligent recording of such observations via prose steeped in allegories a call to rigid casteism, or an explanation of the causes and consequences of it?
in my humble opinion, it is both; the interpretation is controlled by the translator and the reader.
Please write more about how minorities are being mis-treated in India these days.
Thanks.
Sonali's analysis of reincarnation is deeply insightful and historically perceptive. Perhaps also too analytical and psychological. For it neglects the example of nature itself in which all life regenerates. Why would humans not naturally do so? (Though I appreciate his reference to the less-evolved "once-born" and more evolved "twice born.) And what of those who have remembered and even re-experienced previous incarnations? And have been able to corroborate evidences of such with others and with factual history? Somali's thoughts are comprehensive and probably accurate from a historical and political perspective, but I have personally and independently reexperienced and remembered previous incarnations, and believe that there is more to this reality that causes it to be so.
It is certainly true that Hinduism gives hope through reincarnation. A merciful God cant leave you in hell for ever. But the thought that is mainly to maintain caste is not entirely correct. Ravana is born a brahmin, Krishna was raised among cow herds, Vidhura was abused by duryodhana as sudhra while same duryodhana likes Karna damning society for labeling him as sudhra. Seems to be like politicians then (rulers, pandits, traders, laborers etc) use the reincarnation to achieve their ends. Hindu religion potentially can be free of this politics but still sustain reincarnation theory. Suppose we dont have birth discrimination. Still how we do we justify a benevolent God making a child born in utter poverty in another continent? With theory of rebirth that child can face it and overcome it even in current life. Key thing is society must not discriminate on birth but it will because politicians will sense advantages on misusing that
Wow, your knowledge of Hinduism is as shallow as your knowledge of economics. The ultimate objective of one's life as per bhagwad geeta is to attain moksha. i.e. going beyond the cycle of life and death. NOT to go to heaven. Krishna literally tells Arjun not to get swayed by the false promises of hell and heaven made in vedas. And there is no bar on who can attain moksha. The explanation for the misery of the current birth is retrospectively explained by the karma system. Not the other way around.
Interesting perspective.
Interesting indeed!
Coincidentally in book-1 of my fantasy series - on development of Indic culture - as the pre-Vedic nomads take to farming, they split into three functional groups.
Priest Bramha Viranchi identifies the three groups as Priests, Warriors & Farmers.
I was gripped. Throughout this erudite essay, the humility and openness of reincarnation shines against religion’s arrogance, hypocrisy, and sheer gall in just ‘making stuff up’. How refreshing it is. Brilliant. Please read.
Brilliantly written. It is important to read between lines what so called intellectuals write about the castiest religion and trying to make it best religion in the world. The animosity towards shudras is the precursor. They wrote bluntly that you have to kill them by any means because you can't kill them in a direct war. Their hatred towards shudras is too much because they know they are too good, intelligent etc.,
Indian history is just myth and subjugation of the natives through “gaslighting”.
Thanks for the wonderful article.
There was no reincarnation in Rig Veda. Karma meant something else. Current meaning of those two terms came about over time. Started in Upanishads but evolved over time with Puranas, Smritis and other texts amplifying.
Puranas inverted the Vedic philosophy and eventually the new gods supplanted the old. Current Hinduism is a corrupted version far from the Vedic philosophy it was so keen to usurp.
Good read.
Although the same system prescribes equally difficult rules for Brahmins to keep him on the path, With the stick that, if he falters he will transcend into the lower castes in next birth.(e.g. Dnyaneshwar had to fight to get the rights of a brahmin) The architecture is brilliant.
Also, do you feel that shankaracharya was one of the main architect to make it relevant and operational across geography with diverse cultures? Even the Bhagwad Gita introduced by him?