Saturday, November 16, 2024

The Book vs the Library

In another one-sided debate between the 'cultured' and the 'non cultured' the non-cultured tried to bring in the flaws which exist in the books of Sanatan Culture. The later asked the former to denounce Manu Smriti as it contained discriminatory passages and verses relating to the castes systems and entitlements for selective few among other things. In fact, the former was totally nonplussed and instantly called out that he openly denounces such verses and does not believe in those. But he was hardly heard, and his statements were drowsed in vehement illogical repeated rambling by the later on the same thing. But why was this guy rambling and what he was trying to drown. In the same sentence of denouncing Manus Smriti, the former also asked whether the later would denounce discriminatory content of latter's faith's heavenly book. But this is no ordinary book. This book is a prescription by a 'doctor' which is 'supposed' to keep one 'healthy' (which is open to debate). If a doctor prescribes a medication (or a book of medications) to 'supposedly' keep you healthy, will you follow it or not?

It's important to realize that how Sanatan Dharma is different from the Abrahamic Faiths. Sanatan Dharma can be construed to be equivalent to a library which contains umpteen number of books whereas the Abrahamic ones have codified verses or tablets which can't be touched by mortals. For Sanatan all the books are open to interpretation, you can follow them or ignore them, you are open to interpret it your own way if you really want to reform the Sanatan system, you can also publish your own versions which am sure future generations will see as an offshoot from the same library. Of course, no system is perfect, and no library stagnates. A library has to keep on updating its bookshelves with the latest content, writings on new thoughts. 

The Sanatan has been successful in doing so and it will continue on the same vein. Its journey through books had to face the sword but now it has overcome it and developed its own defense mechanism as you can see with a more hardline school of thought emerging in the Hindu fold over the mid of the last century. But that has not stopped even a liberal 'school of thought' emerging within the Santana ecosystem denouncing this hardline school. So, our Santan Library is also open to accommodate contrarian thoughts. But what about the followers of the Books? There has been reformation in a religion during the Middle Ages and modern European and America societies have eschewed the practice of towing to the line of book but that can't be said about some of the other dominant ones. 

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

From LKY

LKY is a compelling mind when talking about religious extremism and minces no words with his calm and lucid explanation. Listening to him is like listening to a philosopher who has though deep into a subject. 

One of his important observations about SE Asian Islam talks about how the religion spread through the commerce route in the region and was able to assimilate some of the cultural aspect and syncretize. No wonder we haven't heard much of temples being destroyed in the countries there. In fact, some of the important Hindu and Buddhist UNESCO heritage sites are found in Indonesia. What LKY does raise concern about is the information age is levelling the playing fields for likes of Wahhabism, Jehadi mindset which is finding fertile grounds in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. He emphasized that earlier the Muslims in the region were relaxed but increased exposure to Social Network is ensnaring the gullible Muslims into the radical trap.

There are important lessons in his sermons which ought to be spread in the world especially for his views on social aspects, culture and religion and how changing dynamics of the world affect these fundamental moorings.