Growing up as a Hindu girl in Slough
It is generally understood that Muslims and Sikhs dominate Slough. However, unknown to many, there is also a large Hindu community in Slough. The only difference is that Muslims and Sikhs are vocal, whilst Hindus lurk beneath the wood works. At least that is my experience as a Hindu growing up in Slough.Sent to school with no grounding in my cultural heritage meant that I had no identity, and it was the same for the -other Hindus around me. The Muslims were recognised for their veil, the Sikhs for their turbans or bangles and the Christians as white skinned. But, the Hindus had nothing to show. So along with other Hindu children, I flowed in any direction the current took me.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:38 am
I understand your feeling and I have perfect sympathy. I have a young daughter, but her mother( a White Christian) has a lot of knowledge and respect for Hinduism. Thus, our daughter knows that Ganesh will protect her, Saraswati will give her education and Krisna likes cows, so one should not eat beef. I buy the complete set of Amar Chitra Katha, available in the Amazon.com, so that she can learn about the culture and religions of India. Now you have the advantage of the Internet, so it is very easy to learn about Hinduism. The main problem is what is Hinduism and what books to read.
When I was in India before coming to Britain, I have learned very little about Hinduism even in India. Schools do not teach, a lot of people think in India Hinduism means some Guru Maharaj or some English speaking Yogis living in California, Community worships of idols organized by local thugs or worse Indian business community distributing Laddus and asking people to vote for BJP.
However, when I have started reading essays of Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda and history books of Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, then only I can understand what is Hinduism.
I suggest you to read first the English translations of Bhagwat Gita, Upanisad and some books of Swami Vivekananda. You will get real Hinduism.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:28 am
Hi, my name is Krisna…I am a Hindu man from Indonesia…I am also living in a country where Muslims are the majority community of the country….I’ve experience my self where my Moslem friends tried so hard to convert me. They would tell lots and lots of bad things about Hindu…I remembered they frightened me by saying that all of the Hindus will burn in hell aoong with the other idol worshipper when they die, while the Moslems will be place in holy heaven as their god Allah had promised them…WHATEVER…..Well as times go by and I started to grow older, I started to find more and more intresting finding myself to be born as a Hindu…Most Hindus in my country are converted by marriage…I am 31 years old and still hanging and will keep on hanging to Hindu untill the day I die…I feel your struggle sister, don’t lose the faith now…..
September 25th, 2006 at 7:46 am
I feel that your perception of hindus as not caring about hinduism is false… I know a great deal of people who care about hinduism, whose parents are firm believers and offer powerful knowlegde… In saying this, i am not rejecting that many people are also like your parents…
One chooses what path they take…aborbed in this material world or step back and take a real look… Hinduism is a very simple religion - its about common sense… based on science… Good luck… you seem to have found your direction, and remember dont spend your life defending hinduism… it defends itself…
September 25th, 2006 at 9:22 am
Hi
I am also from Slough and do agree that Hindus form only a small minority in comparison to the other religions.
I also empathise with your views as being Hindu myself, find it difficult to integrate with others on a religious matter.
However, I believe we can make a difference by meeting other Hindus thru the mandir and other gatherings.
Hopefully this will help us all to discuss our religion and we can leran more.
Happy Navratri
Praful Vadher
September 25th, 2006 at 9:32 am
My name is Bhupendra Gandhi and I am an old age pensioner. Yes the fault lies with the parents who are either too busy or themselves ignorent of our culture and religion. But ISKCON and SHM with various temples and activities are working hard to put our culture and religion on the map.
As we the Hindus are so hard working, law abiding and highly educated, I have noticed that we do indeed get more respect and recognition from every one, especially local or indegnious people.
We should all wear OM as a symbol of Hinduism and be proud of our culture. So often attack is the best form of defence. I remember one incident when I first came to this country, a long time ago, in 1965. Where I was working, I had a good Sikh friend. He taught me how not to feel inferior.
He showed me by example. In the canteen where we had our lunch break, he deliberately used the knief and fork the other way round. Fork in the right hand and knief in the left hand.
When challenged by the Whites, he said this is the practice in most European countries and in America. They even drive on the wrong side of the road, the right side.
As no one used to travel outside UK at the time, they had to take his word and some even began to use fork and knief in the way he used to? That taught me the lession, never feel inferior, even when you may be wrong. Today I am accepted by every one as a proud Hindu, a religion and culture which is in so many ways superior than others!
Try it and good luck.
Bhupendra
September 25th, 2006 at 2:06 pm
I can empathize with you, eventhough I grew up in an orthodox Hindu family in Bangalore. I have been struggling to come up with a comprehensive presentation of Hinduism- that can be used to explain Hinduism to anybody.
Most Hindus, including our religious heads and scholars are unable to do this unfortunately. Here is an attempt:The essential features of Hinduism can be summarized as
H I N D U I S M H for Harmony
• Hinduism respects all religions and
thus aspires for mutual tolerance and
respect (This does not mean that all
religions are same- a common misconception among the Hindus).
• Hinduism does not encourage hate or distrust.
• Hinduism is intolerant of intolerance.
• It does not actively seek converts.
• It emphasizes conduct and not creed.
• It has the capacity to assimilate all the Faiths and the Philosophies.
I for Incarnation (Avataara)
God descends to Earth in any form and under any sky as may be needed to uphold DHARMA (righteousness).
no space, time, form or numerical limitation to Avataaras.
There N for Non-Violence (Ahimsa)
Hinduism recognizes that life supports life.
One should avoid causing unnecessary injury (in thoughts, words or deeds) to one-self or other fellow beings including other life forms.
Vegetarianism is glorified and perhaps a desired outcome, but never a prerequisite to be a Hindu.
D for Dharma (righteousness)
We should always protect Dharma (support what is right).
This is regarded as a necessity, because Dharma is the basis of harmonious life.
If we don’t support Dharma, it will be as if chopping the very branches of the tree (of life) we are resting on.
U for Unity of existence
Everything and all beings are inter connected or inter related and are essentially the manifestation or extension of the one Supreme Being.
The world is one big family.
I for Inherent Value
The God is Omnipresent & Omnipotent.
Both the manifest & the un-manifest are
a projection of God. They are supported, directed & controlled by God as well.
The God can be worshipped in any ‘Form’ or ‘No Form’.
Just as the Flag is a symbol of a Nation,
an Idol for the Hindu is symbolic of the God.
A Hindu worships the God enshrined in the Idol,
not the idol itself. S for Supreme Reality (Brahman)
Supreme Reality is both formless and with form, impersonal (Brahman) and personal (Atman), transcendent and immanent.
The Supreme Reality is known by many names. M for Moksha & Mantra
Dharma (Virtue), Artha (Material prosperity), Kama (pleasures) & Moksha (liberation from cycles of birth & death, harmonious union with God) are the goals of life.
The secondary objectives (Artha & Kama) are sandwiched between the primary objectives of (Dharma & Moksha).
Adherence to one’s own inherent talents (attitudes & aptitudes) in achieving these
goals is suggested.
Moksha is the ultimate goal of Hindu life. There are numerous paths and innumerable opportunities. It can happen by one way or
the other and in one life or the other.
The various paths for Moksha include: karma yoga-selfless good deeds; gnaana yoga-knowledge of Brahman; bhakti Yoga-faith or devotion; prapatti (sharNaagati) yoga-total surrender; raaja yoga-control of body, mind and intellect; mantra Yoga-union with God through repetition of a Mantra, etc.
Mantra is a sacred word or a verse used for prayer.
The most sacred Mantra of Hinduism is
AUM/OM
It represents our beginning (Spring), being (Summer), passing away (Fall) and immortality (Winter).
OM iti Brahma, OM iteedam Sarvam
(Shiksha Valli, Taittireeya Upanishad )
OM is Brahman, All this is OM
(OM is The One - OM is The Many)
(OM is the WOMb of everything)
sarvE bhavantu suKhinah sarvE santu niraamayaah.
May all be happy, may all be healthy.
sarvE bhadraaNi pashyantu ma-kashchit dhuhkha-bhaag bhavEt.
May all be prosperous, may none suffer.
Om shaantih shaantih shaantihi
Om Peace Peace Peace
Peace in all our 3 realms of existence (Surroundings, body and mind).
AEIOUY of HINDUISM
A nO bhadrAh kratavO yantu vishvatah || (R~g vEda)
May noble thoughts come to us from everywhere
E kam sat, viprAh bahudhA vadanti || (R~g vEda)
Truth is one, the learned speak of it in numerous ways
I sha avAsyam idagam sarvam
yat kinca jagatyAm jagat |
tEna tyaktEna bhunjItA
mA gridhah kasyasviddhanam ||
(Isha upanishad, part of shukla Yajur vEda)
The Lord permeates everything
Whatever in the ever-changing universe.
Relish your share with detachment
Don’t be greedy after someone else’s share.
For example, we just enjoy looking at Grand Canyon, without thinking
that we should own it! This is relishing life with detachment.
We arrive at Hopi point in Grand Canyon to see Sunset. Many like us are also
there. Some of them may have a better spot than us. We just enjoy the Sunset from
whatever spot we have. Obviously, we don’t stand there envying others, or worse
yet plot to knock them down to grab that spot!
This is relishing our share in life without greed or envy.
O m iti brahma |
Om itIdagam sarvam ||
(taittirIya upanishad, part of kR~SHNa YajurvEda)
Om is God
Om is everything.
Om is the wOmb of everything!
Om represents our birth (spring), growth (summer), fading away (autumn/fall),
and immortality (silence of Winter)
U ddarEt Atmana AtmAnam
AtmAnam avasAdayEt |
Atma Eva hi AtmanO bandhuh
Atma Eva ripuh Atmanah ||
(bhagavadgItA)
Elevate your self by your own effort
Never put your self down.
(Because) You are your best friend
(And) You are your worst enemy.
A man can stand a lot as long as he can stand himself.
Self-help is the best help. Be your friend first!
The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself!
Y opAm Ayatanam vEda |
AyatanavAn bhavati ||
(aruNa prashna, Krishna YajurvEda AraNyaka)
One who knows the sustaining power of the Lord
Indeed becomes sustained.
Feel free to discuss: (Tatachar@aol.com)
Mason, Ohio
September 25th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
well said, Miss Nidhi
yes we need some more young people like you.
we should know our culture, and should proud of .
gucci
September 25th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
It is well known that the word HINDU is derived from the word used by the outsiders in describing the people who inhabited the Indus valley. Long before the word was invented the principles of our culture were set out in Sanathana Dharma. It acknowledged various forms of faiths and practices aimed at reallising the single goal of truth. Hindu culture differs from those of other religious groups by being focussed on truth rather than the set parameters of a religion.
Theology expects one to ask questions and seek answers but religion often forbids it. Hindu philosophy is primarily aimed at each individual to seek answers to questions not readily answerable without first making huge assumptions. No doubt, volumes have been written on this matter. Most of the worldly problems today are due to confusion between ‘THE RELIGION’ and ‘THE PHILOSOPHY’ it embraces. It is like an interminable wrangle about the bottle, the lable and the price of a bottle of wine without anyone having tasted the contents. The taste is naturally is an experience specific to the individual and is not something that can be argued about.
Far more importance is given to the external manifestation of a religion and sadly religion is marketed by designer bottles with lables at a price. Seldom do we hear about the content of a religion. All religions assert peace as their goal and yet we are witnessing atrocities of unimaginable proportions carried out in the name of religion.
Hinduism for me is a picture without boundaries and immensely satisfying in my quest. When one sets aside one’s ego, the bottle, the lable and the price are of no significance. My conduct in the society towards all god’s creation is guided by the philosiphy I learnt from Hinduism. I have never felt the need to change my faith nor have ever denigrated other faiths.
Nidhi Bhatia will no doubt derive a great strength in her quest in Hinduism. I wish her well.
September 25th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
I’m glad your views on our heritage have changed as time has passed.i understand your viewpoint and the possible difficulties one may face in the situations you were presented with. i have utmost respect for other religions as it was our own scriptures that state “sarva dharma swikar” - acceptance of all religions. if other faiths do not carry this in their creeds then that is their choice, but i will remain steadfast in my beliefs. be they hindu,muslim,sikh or christian, the god that resides within them also resides within my heart and therefore i shall respect them as my divine brother or sister - this is the message of our culture.
like you said earlier, hindus do not seem to have that social identity that muslims and sikhs seem to have created. i guess that is why so many poeple think today that religion is in decline. the mere fact that we need to create this religious identity and carry out events that get us recognised shows we are in a time when religion is in decay. blind faith seems to be prevailant.
However, when thinking about the situation today, i always find solace in reading the geeta.for me, it is the most modern book mankind can read. the philosophies within it are so precious. but one thing i would like to highlight is that nowhere in the geeta does it state that you must be hindu to read or find advice from the geeta. nowhere in the geeta does it state what you must and must not do. this is the beauty of the geeta and this is the beauty of our vedic culture.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Great article. There is a huge problem with the education of young Hindus. I am fortunate that my mother was able to answer all my questions when I was younger, and that I was blessed with the spark to learn more about my faith. However blaming parents is not sufficient. We all have an intellect that enable us to make our own enquiries, and educate ourselves especially in this day and age. Hinduism is a way of life that unlike other religions is not dependant on people believing in it in order for it to survive, as it is the Truth, and Truth always prevails. However, only by living a life according to Dharma can we attain true bliss!
September 25th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Well Done girl! I am exactly like you, i realised my faith and proudly show it, despite what my parents say and others.
September 25th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Its a shame that you never recieved support from a peer group which shared the same values or respect for each other at that age.
However, you yourself rose above and taught yourself about identity and meaning of Hinduism, your religion as you see it.
Its a shame parents discourage their children as you have explained, however, I am very surprised you see it like so everywhere as this really is not the case. OK, education and integration is important and most encouraged but you will see Hindus young and old realise the importance of understanding and defending their roots and culture, the Hindu religion for what it stands for in the face of those ignorant and agenda ridden people of an extreme Sikh angle or a Militant Muslim angle.
These people need to be told in no uncertain manner about whats right and truthful and to refrain from false and improper spreading of slander against the Hindu religion or Mother India related topic matters.
I grew up with a mixed society, living in Ealing and then Hounslow I spent alot of time and growing up with Asians from all 3 major populous religions. I have found that if you have an ounce of self respect and ability to defend oneself and background then you will draw praise and respect from others.
The author should realise and understand that Hindu youth are powerful, eloquent and well placed to discuss and argue their case. However, there is a sizeable number of Hindus out there that do desperately need reminding and educating of who they are and what sort of tradition they come from and what their identity is. Be British and be Indian or Hindu, together! Our relationship with the Divine is spiritual at core, private and intense. We see no reason to shout and spread and declare there is no other but this one Path, we fully understand all paths lead to the One, this is so basic a concept but others dont see it.
Venture the Internet, discuss and put your points forward, fight your corner, we have sources and facts, reasoning and insight into anything Hindu.
For those that dont know then please enlighten yourselves with visiting and studying this website -
http://www.hinduwisdom.info
September 25th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
“you seem to have found your direction, and remember dont spend your life defending hinduism… it defends itself… ”
Evidently this person hasn’t heard of the famous saying:
“DHARMO RAKSHATI RAKSHITAH”
“Dharma protects those who protect Dharma”
This attitude of not caring about defending dharma is the reason that others were able to conquer Hindus along with other reasons.
September 25th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
as it was our own scriptures that state “sarva dharma swikar”
Well religion doesn’t necessarily mean dharma, if some guy sets up some cult around suicide, doesn’t mean its dharma is on par with our dharma.
September 26th, 2006 at 3:32 am
very interesting article and as much interesting comments and discussions. I think your Hindu Voice stands apart from other such magazines that i have started copying it and sending to my friends who had not seen this and may be soon they too might become habituated to read Hindu Voice.
Harish Duggiralaji’s comments are a bit tough one feel.
” Dharma protects those who protects Dharma” is a very meaningful statment. Can Dharma be protected by Adharma?
The beauty of Hinduism is that - as Jay has said - it need not be defended. It is simple commonsense.
If youngesters at the age group of 12-16 are able to listen to some of the Upanishads or Gita etc from ‘ TEACHING SWAMIJI’S
then their analytical thinking develops and this is very helpful for children falling in the average group. That is why we need to
encourage our youngesters to hear these TEACHING SWAMIJIs.
Once they hear them most likely they will fall for after a few sessions ( a few sessions may be about 10 sittings) are needed as the subject cannot be introduced directly.
Imagine in Chandogya Upanishad, Swetaketu who is a first class first comes back to his home with - may be all arrogance that he knew everything - and noticing this nature, his father who himself is a great teacher asks him -” Swetaketu…do you have the knowledge of that one by knowing which one knows everything? ”
Swetaketu taken aback first ventured to reply that there may not be such a thing else his teacher would have taught him that too as he was the topper.
Is there such a thing?
Recently some one told me when we were discussing the problems caused by Pope Benedicts quotation in his speech.
The whole world including New york times missed the importance of the speech which comes after the first two paras. Pope is speaking about the Greek Philosophy etc…
And I am told that the Greek Philosophy is quite similar to the Hindu philosophy. I dont know and I would like to know if there are people who can comment or guide articles which indicate that.
Sorry for writing a bit too long . I must cut it short and I will try.
namaskaram
September 26th, 2006 at 9:32 am
To attack perents or anybody is not good. There are things in life one has to learn for themselves and IN TIME all falls in place. One is not born with the knowledge of the prfession one is in ,but learns it. Hinduism is a way of life ,not a show piece. You are the religion ,neither you have to have a bangle or anthying to show ,nor to feel small next to anyone.
Good managent comes from delegation. Hinduism gives chance to all ,is not selfish and shows gandeur.
The succeess of any good company is workforce and delegation, SO Hindu principles in action …….
There are lots of places where religion is taught on Sundays ,and in slough there is a Sai centre where principles of all religions are taught to children without paying heed to colour cast or creed.Perhaps you should pay a visit to learn for yourself…..
Our muslim brothers have tried to convert me ,but my stance is i was born in particular place and to particular parents for a reason NOT by default and definitely not for you to convert me so you can go to so called HEAVEN. ‘Conversion is never natural’
Anyway if your parents do not know enough about their own religion then you can do a search for yourself and educate them ,and thus you will be doing your duty.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:53 am
For Pairambir I say that the people who are criticizing Pope Benedict XVI have not read his complete lecture at all.
The real message of the lecture given by Pope Benedict XVI in his alma mater University of Regensburg is that the origin of Christian theology is derived from the Greek-Roman secular philosophy of reason. The word Theology itself is derived from the Greek word of Theo-logos or the reasoning about religion. Reason not blind faith must the foundation of religion.
Hinduism supports that concept, as Rig Veda has provoked the Hindus about the nature of the God when it says, “ Only that God knows whence comes this universe, and whether it was made or uncreated; he only knows, or perhaps he knows not” (Rig Veda, X 129). The purpose is not to deny the God but to initiate a debate to enlighten our mind as the Gayatri prayer in the Vedas says, “ Let our meditation be on the glorious light of Savitri; may this light illuminate our minds.”
The Koran also said, “ God is the light of the heavens and earth….God guides to his light whom he will,” (Al-Nur, 24:35).
That light is the reason, as explained in Bhagwat Gita, “ Brahman is the vision, the end of vision, to be reached by vision..” (Chapter 13, verse 17)
September 26th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Ms.Nidhi,
You may visit this website - http://www.hinduwisdom.info/index_new.htm
You may have already known about it …it has a fantastic storehouse of info on our great religion.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
” Dharma protects those who protects Dharma” is a very meaningful statment. Can Dharma be protected by Adharma?
What does that have anything to do with anything I said, defending something doesn’t mean you are using Adharma.
“The beauty of Hinduism is that - as Jay has said - it need not be defended. It is simple commonsense. ”
If no one defended Hinduism it would be confined to musuems like all the other ancient religions, the reason Hindus are there today is because some Hindus like Shivaji and others decided to defend our religion and culture instead of just sitting there and watching passively when we were under the Muslims and British.
You have to be ready to defend your religion both physically and intellectually, otherwise it’s no use how many bhajans you do or how many prayers you do.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
“Well religion doesn’t necessarily mean dharma, if some guy sets up some cult around suicide, doesn’t mean its dharma is on par with our dharma. ”
when saying “sarva dharma swikar” i mean exactly that. be it a cult based on whatever you have stated, it should still be accepted. we have no business telling people what is right and wrong for that is a journey they must take themselves. as hindus, we are not here to preach, judge or lecture. like i said, i respect the god that sits within them, doesnt matter what the person who owns this heart may be following. it may not be “on par” with our dharma” but who are we to judge. its obvious it’s wrong, only god can decide.
i dont believe in conflict, especially creating it. be they a cult follower or an atheist, i love others for their humanity and the fact god resides within them.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:11 am
“when saying “sarva dharma swikar” i mean exactly that. be it a cult based on whatever you have stated, it should still be accepted. we have no business telling people what is right and wrong for that is a journey they must take themselves. as hindus, we are not here to preach, judge or lecture.”
Rubbish, there is clear distinction between dharma and adharma, those who try to appear broadminded but preach such nonsense are the reason Hindus are so confused, there is clear distinction between dharma and adharma which is why the Kurukshetra war was fought. You may or may not believe anything but your beliefs are not Hindu beliefs in general and have no justification in any of the major scriptures of Hindus.
September 27th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
My experience is similar to that decribed by Nidhi. I admire her strenght.
Pairamblr:
‘If youngesters at the age group of 12-16 are able to listen to some of the Upanishads or Gita etc from ‘ TEACHING SWAMIJI’S
then their analytical thinking develops and this is very helpful for children falling in the average group. That is why we need to
encourage our youngesters to hear these TEACHING SWAMIJIs.
Once they hear them most likely they will fall for after a few sessions ( a few sessions may be about 10 sittings) are needed as the subject cannot be introduced directly.’
I am not sure how ‘youngesters’ are suppose to learn by listening to these sawmi’s, when these so called sawmi’s are not able to educate the parents.
In my experience what you are suggesting is frustating and disencouraging excercise.
Jay: ‘it need not be defended. It is simple commonsense.’
Is this the messege of Gita?? I think not. If anything Krishna him self uses all kinds of ways to defend Dharma. He also Arjun to do the same.
It is plain to see what we are lacking is edcation amoung all Hindu’s across the world.
September 27th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Im a hindu aged 23 and have experienced the same things thankfully due to Gods grace i was sent to the weekly swaminarayan temple in my area and then took on reading on David Frawley and others which has increased my knowledge.
I think the current situation is quite bad but there are positives i.e at my temple there are litreally hundredes of youths who come every week and are well versed in scriptures and there religion. One needs to read as eduaction is the key.
Jai Swaminarayan
September 28th, 2006 at 6:29 am
This is an excellent article. A lot of young people are going through this, and more positively, asserting themselves in the right light- not promising to wage war against the indigenous people or blowing themselves up as in some other religions
Its also heartening to see the reply posted by Krisna, the guy from Hindu minority Indonesia- the way Hindus (& other minorites) are treated in some countries. Its a vicious, unescapable circle to live in such countries unfortunately.
The one thing that should be on the weebsite is “email this article to a friend”, I would have certainly emailed it to several people I know.
Now I’ll just have to post a link!
September 28th, 2006 at 7:19 am
Following is a posting from ” Advaitins” yahoo group. I think this will answere a lot of statments made by several of our friends in here.
The KNOWLEDGE is the ultimate and once we have that KNOWLEDGE, there is no fear or any sort of other types of complexes - feelings of guilt or hurt or ommissions or commissions.
Thanks to the electronic media in the last 10 years, the VEDANTA has spread to many many more and fortunately our younger generation being exposed to this media ( unlike the parents who had to spend time reading and then needing to go to a guru to clarify the doubts - which was all difficult since they had less time due to their being busy with earning a living for them, their children, family and for friends etc..) Now you are in your living room and channels like AASTHA, SANSKAR, SONY, JAGRAN, SAB etc telecast good discourses from very learned TEACHING SWAMIJIs and SWAMINIs .
+++++++++++++++++++++
A touring Educational Officer once met His Holiness and said,
“I have occasions of being in constant touch with young boys, mostly Brahmanas, studying in schools which I have to inspect. I have found that even the boys who perform their sandhya do so more as a form than as real worship. I shall be very grateful if Your Holiness would give me some valuable hints which I could convey to them”
I am very glad to see that you are not content with mere official routine of inspection but desire to utilise the occasion for the betterment of the boys. It will be well if all educationists, inspecting officers or teachers, realise that they have been entrusted with the very grave responsibility of training up young men in the most impressionable period of their lives. In my opinion they are really to blame if they confine their attention only to the prescribed text books and neglect the spiritual side of the young generation.
I always keep that end before me and I don’t miss any opportunity of talking to the boys and giving them some useful advice. It is mainly with a view to do that work better that i request Your Holiness to give some practical suggestions.
Even if the boys to whom you propose to convey such suggestions may not benefit by them, you will certainly be benefited.
Certainly.
You may therefore, for the present, ignore the boys and ask such questions the answers to which are likely to be useful to you.
The first question which suggests itself to me is with reference to the sandhya worship. What is the deity or upasya devata in the sandhya Worship?
Before we consider that, please tell me what you understand ordinarily by the sandhya worship?
By sandhya worship we mean the worship of the rising Sun, the setting Sun or Sun in the mid heavens.
Quite so. Comprehensively speaking, you mean worship of the Sun?
Yes.
You tell me that sandhya is the worship of the Sun and yet you ask me what is worshipped in the sandhya. Don’t you think it is an unnecessary question?
Put so, it may seem an unnecessary question, but my real question is, what is the Sun that is worshipped?
What do you understand ordinarily by the Sun?
We mean the bright celestial orb in the sky.
Then it is that bright celestial orb that is worshipped.
But that orb is, according to science, mere inert matter in a state of high combustion and is certainly not worthy of being worshipped by intelligent beings like ourselves. It can neither hear our prayers nor respond to them. I cannot believe that our ancestors were so ignorant as to address their prayers to a mere burning mass of matter
I quite agree with you. They could never have been so foolish.
What then did they see in the Sun to justify their prayers being addressed to it?
You said just now that addressing of prayers to inert matter cannot be justified by reason.
Yes.
What then must be the nature of the entity to which a prayer is addressed?
The primary condition is that it must not be mere inert matter, but must be endowed with intelligence.
And the second condition?
That it must be able to hear our prayers and be powerful enough to answer them.
Quite so. If our ancients were not fools and yet addressed their prayers to the Sun, their conception of the Sun must have been quite different from that of mere inert matter, in a state of high combustion.
Yes, they must have also postulated of it intelligence, the capacity to hear us and the ability to help us.
The ‘us’ including not only all those who are now living to raise their hands in prayer to the Sun, but also the generations, past and future, infinite in number though they may be?
Of course.
The entity that is worshipped as the Sun is therefore one whose intelligence or ability knows no limitation of space or time.
It must be so.
You have now got your answer to the question as to who is worshipped in the sandhya? It is an intelligent Being, omniscient and omnipotent in the matter of hearing and responding to its votaries.
Your Holiness then means that it is a deva who has his habitation in the solar orb?
Quite so. He has not only his habitation there, but the solar orb itself is his physical body.
Your Holiness means that the deva enlivens the solar orb, just as we do our physical bodies?
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Just so.
If then he is embodied just like us, how does he happen to have such high intelligence or power as to merit our obeisance?
He attained that status by virtue of the appropriate karma and upasana done by him in a previous life.
Does Your Holiness mean that he was at one time just like ourselves and that he attained that status by his endeavour?
Yes.
Then he is no more than a jiva, which I aIso am. Why should a jiva make prostration before another Jiva, howsoever superior?
Why should your son or pupil respect you and why should you show respect to your superior officers? Are not both of you jivas?
No doubt we are. But we respect our superiors as it is in their power to help us or injure us, if they so desire.
That is a very low kind of respect. Anyhow, taking even that kind of respect, we must respect Surya devata if it is in his power to help us or injure us, if he so desires.
Of course.
Being a jiva as much as your superior officers, he will help you if you appeal to him for help or injure you if you ignore or despise him. In your own interest then, you are bound to worship him and secure his goodwill.
But 1 need not court the favour nor fear the displeasure of my superior officer, if I carry out the duties of my office faithfully.
Quite so.
If I preserve that attitude, there is no reason why I should propitiate my superior officer
Certainly not.
Similarly, if l carry out strictly the duties enjoined on me by the
sastras, I need not propitiate any other jiva, be he the highest devil.
Quite so.
Then, should I not give up the worship of Surya devata?
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> Certainly you may, unless of course such a worship is part of the duties enjoined on you by the Sastras.
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> The Sandhya Worship 93
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> How can that be?
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> It is true that an honest and strict officer in performing the duties of his office need not mind the pleasure or the displeasure of his immediate superior. But the mere fact that he thinks it necessary or obligatory to perform those duties properly, shows that he has as the ultimate end the pleasure, or avoidance of the displeasure of a still higher officer who is superior to him as well as to his immediate superior. Even if he has no personal acquaintance with that higher officer, he always has in the background of his mind an undefined power, call it the King or the Government, when he performs the duties of his office. And that power has the ability to benefit him by a recognition of his services or to punish him by taking note of his delinquencies. Further, that power rules both him and his immediate superior officer. If therefore that power requires him to behave in a particular manner towards his superior officer, he cannot afford to disobey that injunction, for if he disobeys, not only does he incur the displeasure of that officer but also of the higher power.
That is so.
Similarly, if a power which rules both you as well as Surya devata requires you to conduct yourself in a particular manner towards that deva, you cannot afford to neglect that injunction, but must conform to it or take the risk of incurring the displeasure of that deva as also of the higher power.
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It is no doubt so. But in that case, in prostrating myself before Surya devata, I shall be really worshipping the higher power even when my worship may seem addressed to the Surya.
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What of that?
If I am able to conceive of such a higher power who rules even the Surya, that power is really the worshipped entity although to all appearances the worship is addressed to the Surya only.
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Quite so.
But Your Holiness said that it, was Surya devata who was worshipped?
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Yes. It is correct so far as persons who are not able to conceive of a higher power are concerned. To those however who can conceive of that power, He is the real upasya. That power is called Hiranyagarbha. He enlivens and ensouls not only the Surya, but all devils. He enlivens and inhabits not only the solar orb but all things. He is the cosmic personality who is the soul of all things.
I suppose just as we have the sense of I ‘in our physical bodies, so does that cosmic personality has the sense of “I” in the entire cosmos.
He has.
If so, the difference between Him and me lies not in the presence or the absence of the sense of ‘I’ but only in the degree, the range or the magnitude of that sense. Mine is restricted, His is extended.
It is so.
if it is the sense of “I” that is responsible for the concept of a Jiva, he must be as much a jiva as myself
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Quite so. In fact He is called the First Born.
Then, even if this higher power happens to belong to the category of Jivas, just like myself, the same objection which I mentioned against the worship of Surya devata holds good in his case also.
What then would you like to worship?
A transcendent power which is not a jiva.
Have it then that it is such a transcendent power that is worshipped in the sandhya. We give Him the name of lswara, the Lord, or the antaryami, the inner ruler.
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But I have heard it mentioned that the terms Lord’ and Ruler’ are only relative terms which are used in regard to Him when we want to describe Him in relation to the universe, which is ‘lorded over ‘or ‘ruled’ by Him.
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Yes, it is so.
It cannot be that we can have no conception of him apart from his relationship of some sort to the universe. His relationship to the universe can at best be only an extraneous circumstance. In His essence, He must have an independent existence quite unrelated to anything else.
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You are right. We call that unrelated essential existence Brahman.
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If it is so, that must be the real object of worship rather than the relative aspect called lshwara.
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> It is even as you say. It is really the unqualified Brahman that is worshipped in the sandhya.
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> I cannot really understand Your Holiness. You first said that it was the solar orb that was the objector worship, but when I pointed out that it was only inert matter, you said that it was Surya devata that was the object of worship; when again I pointed out that he was only a limited jiva like myself, you said it was Hiranyagarbha, the cosmic soul, that was the object of worship: when once again I pointed out that he was after all a jiva, however cosmic his sense of ‘I’ may be, you said that lswara the Lord and Ruler of the universe was really the object of worship; and lastly when I said that even he is but a relative aspect of Brahman, you said that the object of worship was Brahman itself
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> But I fail to see how all these statements can be reconciled.
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> The object in a particular worship can be only one. How can it be the solar orb or the deva enlivening it or Hiranyagarbha or Iswara or Brahman at the same time?
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> I never said that it was the solar orb or the devil and so on.
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> Does Your Holiness mean to say then that the object of worship is the solar orb and the devil and Hiranyagarbha and Iswara and Brahman all put together?
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> Nor did I say anything of that sort.
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> How then am I to understand Your Holiness’ statements?
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> When did I tell you that the upasya was Surya?
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> When I mentioned that the physical mass of burning matter cannot be the object of worship.
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> Before you mentioned it, I said that it was even that mass that was the upasya.
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> Yes.
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> I never mentioned that it was the solar body or the deva as an alternative. To one who cannot conceive of an enlivening soul, the upasya is the physical mass; to one, however, who declines to accept inert matter as an object of worship, I said the upasya was Surya devata. The upasya is ever one, but its exact nature varies with the competence of the worshipping aspirant. The upasya gets further refined when even the concept of a devil does not satisfy the enquiring devotee. We say then that it is Hiranyagarbha. When even such a concept seems meagre or unsatisfactory, we tell the devotee that he is really worshipping the Supreme Lord himself When he begins to feel that even the Lord-ness is a limitation of His essential nature, we tell him that it is the infinite Brahman itself that is really worshipped. Where is the difficulty?
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> Does Your Holiness then mean that it is not possible to definitely say what the object of worship in the sandhya is except with reference to the mental equipment or intellectual advancement of the worshipper?
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> How can there be an object of worship if we ignore the worshipper? The nature of the worshipped necessarily depends upon the nature of the worshipper.
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> How?
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> Take me for example. All of you show me respect. But the object of respect, though it is, roughly speaking, myself, does differ with each one of you. Ordinary people respect me and like to see me surrounded by glittering paraphernalia; their attention and respect are claimed by those articles rather than by my personality. Such people will show the same respect to others who have similar paraphernalia. Their homage is not therefore really paid to me but only to the paraphernalia. Some others respect me for the position that I hold or for the Asrama in which I am. Such people will equally respect others who are or may come to be in such a position or in such an Asrama, their homage is therefore not paid to me but to my position or to the Asrama. And some others may not care what position I hold or in what Asrama I am, but give me homage wherever I go and however I may be; their object of respect is my physical body. A few others will not mind if my body is dark or ugly or even diseased, but will nevertheless give me homage if by purity of mind and character or by the power of my intellect and learning or by any spiritual merit that I may possess I command their respect. Very few indeed will respect me for the spark of divine intelligence which inheres in me, as it does in all of you.
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> Of course it is not possible to say that all the devotees that approach Your Holiness are of the same mental equipment.
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> Quite so. But, ordinarily all these people, whether they really tender homage to the paraphernalia or to my status and Asrama or to my body or to my mind or to my intellect or to the divine spark in me, prostrate before me to show their respect. Can you tell me, apart from any reference to the several devotees, to whom or to what they prostrate?
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> It is no doubt very difficult to answer
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> Similarly, with every kind of worship. Externally viewed, there will be no appreciable difference between the one who respects me for the paraphernalia and another who respects me for the divine spark in me. Externally viewed, there will similarly be no appreciable difference between the devotee who in his blind faith is content to address his prayers to the luminous Sun and another who turns to it as a visible symbol of the infinite Brahman. The question as to what is the upasya in the sandhya worship can therefore be answered only in this way.
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> I now understand how in the simple worship of the Sun all possible stages in spiritual perception have been provided for
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> It is not only this, for you will find if you consider the matter still further, that all the three ways known as karma, bhakti and Gyana have been given places in the daily worship, but that is a different matter. Simple as the sandhya worship seems to be, it is sufficient to help us on to the highest stages. It is as useful to the highest aspirant as it is to the beginner. It is a folly, therefore, to belittle its value or to neglect it in practice.
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So one need to GROW UP with LEARNING….
September 28th, 2006 at 11:00 am
It is good that these different types of media are being used by Hindu’s and they are quite popluar, however for the youth they need to see something more dynamic. As is quite eviedent from this touching artical.
Majority of Hindu’s are too busy watching the latest soap or bolloywood film. To care for these channels that you have mentioned. Some Hindus that watch these channels are what I call ‘bollywood hindu’, I started as one, but they need to REALLY understand Hindu Dharma as apposed to watching a programme for 3 hrs and then lighting up a joint or falling prey to a varity of missions.
Hindus need to edcated in a more contempoary way, Swami’s and Swamini’s need to read and educate themselves no all subjects. Their approach is partly responsible for the current sittuation.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
“Hindu” - i can bet on - has not spared any time to hear any one of them. Else he would not have made such a sweeping remark - that they need to read all subjects.
Any one who has heard Guru Maa, Sw Dayananda Saraswatiji, Sw Paramarthanandaji, Sw Sukhbodhanandaji, Shri Parthasarathyji, …my knowledge is limited because I do not know all the names.
But I dont blame Shri “Hindu”ji since a few years back I too used to think that they ( Swamijis and Swaminis) might know only Ramayan and Bhagavat etc… But let me state here that many many of these Teaching Swamijis or Swaminis are very highly educated and then they took up on them this …they became Sanyasis ( Sanyasa actually means leaving every thing in quest of knowledge ) and in that process they teach students who are interested.
Spare a few minutes for a few days and hear them and then you might be able to come out of the thinking that you are in now.
By the way, even hindu dharma is a very interesting subject and most likely it could be most misunderstood subject too.
I am just pasting here part of a posting in the Advaitins - yahoo group- merely for people who are interested - to get an idea how deep the subject Hinduism can take us to.
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That adhikaritvam or competence is necessary for jnana
is wellknown and had been elaborated by me in a prior
post. Perhaps it is worth reiterating. It may even be
worth expanding on by learned members, as more than
tat tvam asi it is these qualifications that really
need a lifetime or perhaps even several lifetimes of
effort.
The main requisite (besides viveka and vairagya) which
are requirements for a “uttama adhikari” are the
shamaadi shatsampat or sixfold virtue - Shama, Dama,
Uparati, Titiksha, Shraddha and Samadhana.
Selfknowledge is a “mirage” without a fairly intense
degree of acquisition of these qualities.
Shama is equanimity of mind or mind control. This is
the first and at the same time quite easily the most
difficult to attain. It demands intense selfeffort and
selfobservation.
We only have to examine ourselves honestly for an hour
or so to see how much shama we have or more
appropritaly how much we lack?
The Kathopanishad draws the famous and beautiful
analogy of the charioteer being the intellect, the
reins being the mind and the horses being the sense
orgnas. Without a tught hold on the reins and without
the horses being under control and used to the
intellects benefit, the intellect can do nothing
worthwhile.
Dama is sense-control - not allowing the organs of
perception and our organs of action to run riot. The
Vivekachudamani has the beautiful examples of how just
by one sense organ running riot different animals like
the fish, the elephant, etc bring about their own
death, what to speak of a human whose ruin is certain
by not adequately retaining all the sense organs.
Again selfeffort is the key here. In his short but
beautiful treatise Sadhana panchakam Shankara begins
with “Treat hunger like a disease and do not relish
your food” How many of us truly before each and every
meal on a consistent basis bring this attitude to the
food and eat simply as a medicine to appease our
hunger?? Same with every other senseorgan besides the
tongue.
Uparati comes next. It is a sense of cheerful
acceptance of our lot in life - a noncomplaining
attitude. With adequate dama, whatever enjoyments come
unasked to us we should be satisified with, and
grateful to Ishwara.
Upariti when it matures has to result in sannyasa. The
current posts of the Sage of Kanchi again reiterate
the importance of sannyasa in gaining selfknowledge.
Most ordinary mortals would do well to refrain from
hoping for atmabodha without an eventual graduation in
their ashrama from grhasta or vanaprastha to sannyasa.
Titiksha is power of endurance, an ability to
patiently bear the pairs of opposites such as heat and
cold, pleasure and pain and the rest. How much are we
able to fast, how much able -physical or mental - are
we able to take with a pleasant attitude? During a
fast, when we detect hunger pangs, am I able to say i
am the consciousness that is witnessing this hunger
sensation in this body or do we simply give in and say
“I am hungry” and so on for other afflictions as well.
In a recent post, Smt. Dhyanasaraswati had brought out
this beautiful name of Lorf Durga - brahmacharini -
Goddess of austerity - no selfdevelopment can proceed
from a lack of bhramacharyam and tapas.
Bhagwan Shankara starts the atma bodha with the verse
- “this teaching is meant only for those who have
developed austerity”.
In the words of Bhagwan Krishna,
The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of
the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master,
and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness,
simplicity, cellibacy and nonviolence are also
austerities of the body.
Brahmacharyam in additi