Been reading a fascinating "illustrated retelling" of the Mahabharata, by Devdutt Pattanaik.
The Mahabharat is a compilation of lots of stories by multiple rishis and sages through the centuries, a sort of Wikipedia around the ever-evolving Vedic way of life, although the first version was narrated by Vyas. The more and more you read it, you get a feeling that most of the Mahabharata is a guide on the follies and mistakes of humans, when Vedic laws are misinterpreted or misused. The most striking of this, of course, is Kunti's order to Arjun to share Draupadi among his brothers, but there are many other examples too - tales of extreme and unjust violence, racist attitudes, and scheming and plotting - and unlike popular belief, not just by the Kauravs, but also by the Pandavas. The Gita, as an embedded sermon by Krishna to Arjuna, is almost the soothing balm, the guide on how to live life. It's almost as if the Mahabharat sets the context, explaining to the reader the ills and evils that rule our lives, and then the Gita, at the point at which it is delivered, ensures the lesson hits hard.
As Devdutt puts it,
The Mahabharat is an ancient Hindu epic where,
a daughter is a prize in an Archery contest
a teacher demands half a kingdom as tuition fee
a mother asks his sons to share a wife
a family is divided over inheritance
a king gambles away his kingdom
a queen is forced to serve as a maid
a war is fought where all rules are broken
the victors loe their children
a forest is destroyed for a new city
... (and lots more)
until wisdom prevails
It's fascinating how almost every story points to good people doing bad things. As the Pandavas live their 13 years of exile, they meet gods and sages who teach them the folly of their actions - and through deeds later on, the Pandavas show how they have learnt from their expereinces and become better men.
Another fasctinating aspect of the Mahabharat are the stories of divine intervention and unbelievable acts, but when you think about it, can actually represent truth told as an exaggerated story, pointing to very advanced knowledge of science and techniques, presented in a manner that would be palatable to the not-so-smart common man.
Stories of a king sending his seed to his faraway queen through a parrot, or invoking the gods to give children to his queen, could very well point to knowledge and practice of artificial insemination. Similarly, stories of Kauravas being "incubated" in pots of ghee using pieces of an iron ball that came from their mother, clearly show that these weren't all natural babies! Is it unimaginable that they were incubated in test tubes?
More later...
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Unnamed vs The Named
In Chapter 12, Arjun asks Krishna which are the most established devotees. Interestingly, Krishna tells him that one can search for the ultimate truth, the unnamed, unmanifested supreme being, with the mind serene and striving for the good of all beings. But that path is difficult, especially for the average beings. Hence, devote yourself to the named Krisha, since it is a far easier way towards the goal.
Truly amazing stuff. And makes so much sense!
Truly amazing stuff. And makes so much sense!
What Is Krishna?
Chapter 10 of the Gita provides a fantastic peek into what is regarded as all-powerful and important in Hinduism. In the chapter, Arjun, finally realizing that Krishna is the supreme being, asks him to elaborate more on his divinity.
Krishna lists out some of his glorious powers, reminding Arjun that it is impossible to list all.
He says, among other things, "Discrimination, wisdom, understanding, pleasure, pain, courage, honor and dishonour, nonviolence, charity, contentment - all the qualities of living creatures have their origin in me.
The seven great sages and the four ancient ancestors were born from my mind and received my powers.
Among the gods, I am Vishnu. I am the sun, in the night sky, I am the moon. Among the scriptures I am the Sam Veda. Among the lesser Gods, I am Indra. Among Pandavas, I am Arjun. Among mountains I am Meru, among rivers, I am the Ganga.
Among words, I am OM. Among letters, I am the letter A.
Among animals, the lion, among birds, the garuda.
I am the logic in those who debate."
Interestingly, he also says I am the gambling in gamblers. And he promises Arjun, that anyone who believes in him, will be a sadhu and be delivered from evil - even the sinners (the idea, obviously, is to make sure even criminals seek god at some point in time, and hopefully, turn a new leaf!).
Krishna lists out some of his glorious powers, reminding Arjun that it is impossible to list all.
He says, among other things, "Discrimination, wisdom, understanding, pleasure, pain, courage, honor and dishonour, nonviolence, charity, contentment - all the qualities of living creatures have their origin in me.
The seven great sages and the four ancient ancestors were born from my mind and received my powers.
Among the gods, I am Vishnu. I am the sun, in the night sky, I am the moon. Among the scriptures I am the Sam Veda. Among the lesser Gods, I am Indra. Among Pandavas, I am Arjun. Among mountains I am Meru, among rivers, I am the Ganga.
Among words, I am OM. Among letters, I am the letter A.
Among animals, the lion, among birds, the garuda.
I am the logic in those who debate."
Interestingly, he also says I am the gambling in gamblers. And he promises Arjun, that anyone who believes in him, will be a sadhu and be delivered from evil - even the sinners (the idea, obviously, is to make sure even criminals seek god at some point in time, and hopefully, turn a new leaf!).
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Selfless Service vs Renunciation
Gautam Buddha gave up all worldly pleasures and attachments, and lived a lonely austere life as a monk, returning to civilization only after he had achieved self-realization, to teach the world about nirvana.
While Krishna acknowledges that the path of sanyasa can lead to the goal, he advices Arjuna to take the other path - the path of selfless service. Perhaps he realizes that at that time, Arjuna will be more receptive to action, being practical as he is, instead of living everything in the search of self-realization.
Krisha offers the example of King Janaka, a revered king, who ruled well and did not shirk his responsibilities, yet he was detached of any selfish thoughts, and did his work with a sense of duty towards the world. He was renouned as a wise sage, who attained enlightenment not by renouncing the world, but by working in it and contributing to its welfare.
While Krishna acknowledges that the path of sanyasa can lead to the goal, he advices Arjuna to take the other path - the path of selfless service. Perhaps he realizes that at that time, Arjuna will be more receptive to action, being practical as he is, instead of living everything in the search of self-realization.
Krisha offers the example of King Janaka, a revered king, who ruled well and did not shirk his responsibilities, yet he was detached of any selfish thoughts, and did his work with a sense of duty towards the world. He was renouned as a wise sage, who attained enlightenment not by renouncing the world, but by working in it and contributing to its welfare.
The Four Yogas
The Gita is basically a textbook on the science of Yoga, the path to self-realization. But there is no one path, and in fact, the Gita presents four of them. Jnana Yoga is the yoga of knowledge, with practitioners using their will and knowledge to disassociate themselves from the body, mind and senses. Bhakti Yoga shows the path through devotion and love (also the path taken mostly by Christianity, Judaism and Islam). The third is Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action. And finally Raja Yoga, the path of meditation.
Interestingly, the Gita begins with Karma Yoga (action), followed by Jnana Yoga (knowledge) and finally Bhakti Yoga (love). While pursuing different points of views and paths, the Gita provides something for every kind of spiritual aspirant.
If one word describes the essence of Gita, it is renunciation. But unlike the image it conjures, renunciation is not about giving up material things, and living a drab life without anything we value. It only talks about giving up selfish attachments to things and people. It promotes nishkama karma, actions without selfishness. It doesn't mean action without any interest in the results. After all, if you do not have a stake in the results, your actions are not likely to be strong enough! Kama doesn't mean desire, it means selfish desire. Without desire, which fuels life, you will not achieve anything, leave alone self-realization! Gita advocates only that you act to achieve results, and to be selfless in your actions, doing it for the larger good.
So, the modern you, do not hide under the Gita and give excuses for inaction. Do something for the good of others, and reap the fruits of your karma.
As Krishna says to Arjun: You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, not should you long for inaction.
Interestingly, the Gita begins with Karma Yoga (action), followed by Jnana Yoga (knowledge) and finally Bhakti Yoga (love). While pursuing different points of views and paths, the Gita provides something for every kind of spiritual aspirant.
If one word describes the essence of Gita, it is renunciation. But unlike the image it conjures, renunciation is not about giving up material things, and living a drab life without anything we value. It only talks about giving up selfish attachments to things and people. It promotes nishkama karma, actions without selfishness. It doesn't mean action without any interest in the results. After all, if you do not have a stake in the results, your actions are not likely to be strong enough! Kama doesn't mean desire, it means selfish desire. Without desire, which fuels life, you will not achieve anything, leave alone self-realization! Gita advocates only that you act to achieve results, and to be selfless in your actions, doing it for the larger good.
So, the modern you, do not hide under the Gita and give excuses for inaction. Do something for the good of others, and reap the fruits of your karma.
As Krishna says to Arjun: You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, not should you long for inaction.
Dharma
A sage was meditating at the banks of the river when he saw a scorpion drowning in the water. He pulled it out, and immediately the scorpion stung him with its tail. A few mins later, the scorpion fell back into the water. The sage pulled it out again, only to be stung once more. A bystander, watching this, asked the sage why he bothered to pick it out of the water, when he knew it would sting. The sage replied, it is the dharma of the scorpion to sting, but it is the dharma of man to save.
Explains so much, doesn't it?
Explains so much, doesn't it?
Rebirth
Have just begun reading the Bhagwad Gita (translated by Eknath Easwaran), and the commentary at the beginning is already providing some fascinating arguments and thoughts. Here's one about rebirth, a concept that is well entrenched in Hinduism, but until today, had never been presented to be in such a lucid manner!
If personality consists of several layers, the outermost being the body, there is no reason for it to be lost when the body is given up. Our sages considered karma as a set of forces, driving the individual to live in a way that was harmonious with his dharma, and maintained the balance of nature. When the process of death interrupted this, those forces remain, until circumstances allow them to work again (in the new birth).
Consider when we are asleep, and shuttling between dreams and dreamless sleep. During dreams, consciousness is withdrawn from the body and senses, but continues to be engaged with the mind. When a person enters dreamless sleep, the consciousness is suspended from the mind as well, as even the sense of "I" is withdrawn. When a person awakens, though, the consciousness is returned to the body and mind, and personality returns to the body.
The ego dies every night, and returns in the morning, picking up our desires where we left off the previous night. Dying is a similar process, where the consciousness is removed from the body, sense and mind, and finally consolidated into the ego, and the body is taken away. The ego remains, a potent mix of desires and karma. And as our last waking thoughts determine our dreams, the contents of the unconscious at the time of death determine the context of our next life. We take a new body, so we can fulfill our karma.
The self-realized person, however, has no karma to work out, no personal desires left to fulfill, and hence, at the time of death, he is absorbed into the Lord.
Disclaimer: This article, and the many that are sure to follow, are no reflection of my beliefs. They are simply an honest attempt to understand what our sages, and the many learned commentators that have researched our holy scriptures, have to say!
If personality consists of several layers, the outermost being the body, there is no reason for it to be lost when the body is given up. Our sages considered karma as a set of forces, driving the individual to live in a way that was harmonious with his dharma, and maintained the balance of nature. When the process of death interrupted this, those forces remain, until circumstances allow them to work again (in the new birth).
Consider when we are asleep, and shuttling between dreams and dreamless sleep. During dreams, consciousness is withdrawn from the body and senses, but continues to be engaged with the mind. When a person enters dreamless sleep, the consciousness is suspended from the mind as well, as even the sense of "I" is withdrawn. When a person awakens, though, the consciousness is returned to the body and mind, and personality returns to the body.
The ego dies every night, and returns in the morning, picking up our desires where we left off the previous night. Dying is a similar process, where the consciousness is removed from the body, sense and mind, and finally consolidated into the ego, and the body is taken away. The ego remains, a potent mix of desires and karma. And as our last waking thoughts determine our dreams, the contents of the unconscious at the time of death determine the context of our next life. We take a new body, so we can fulfill our karma.
The self-realized person, however, has no karma to work out, no personal desires left to fulfill, and hence, at the time of death, he is absorbed into the Lord.
Disclaimer: This article, and the many that are sure to follow, are no reflection of my beliefs. They are simply an honest attempt to understand what our sages, and the many learned commentators that have researched our holy scriptures, have to say!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Looking Afresh At Religion
Two amazing works in the last few days have provided me a wonderful opportunity to look afresh at religion, and how I felt about it. Oh My God, and The Immortals of Meluha.
Neither question the existence of God. Neither ask you to be an athiest. Neither questions religion. But both provide such a refreshing modern look at what God is, what religion is about, why we need religion, why we need to be believe in God, and yet, in a way that is truly the way our sages and learned men would have wanted and imagined it should be!
The Bhagvad Gita, The Holy Bible, The Holy Quran. They provide all the answers man looks for in life. These are the teachings of holy men, learned men, who knew people needed a guiding light, rules for living in peace, in love and fear of god, because otherwise there would be chaos. God isn't responsible for taking us where we want to go, he simply shows us the way!
The Immortals talk of a great emperor called Lord Ram, who brought discipline and law to a lawless society, these rules resulted in prosperity and growth, and this was called Ram Rajya. Makes so much sense, right? The book talks about the Masculine and the Feminine, not good and evil. Just opposing, different ways of living. And both are needed in the world, to bring about balance. Masculine way is all about law and order, rules, unbending allegiance. Feminine is about intuition, freedom, malleability. When the Asuras (masculine) lost against the Devas (feminine), the world started living a very carefree, open life - resulting in chaos and indiscipline over time, before Ram brought back the masculine way of life. The Suryavanshis of Meluha follow that, while the Chandravanshis are feminine. And both think of the other as evil, until the Neelkanth realizes that they aren't so. They are just different! Today we have societies that are overly masculine, and others that are overly feminine. What we need today is balance! So very true! So very sensible!
Shiva is known as the ultimate fighter, the ultimate lover, the ultimate dancer. Why does he have to be an imaginary God? What if he was really such a person? A Mahadev? What if each one of us could be a Mahadev? That's what Shivaji's battle cry Har Har Mahadev meant, didn't it?
The Immortals talks about the caste system. People divided into classes as per their capabilities and roles. And the concept of the "Maika", where kids were born and then raised by the government until the age of 16... given equal opportunities, with no biases, no baggage. And at 16, they were interviewed for the best job, and accordingly alloted a cast! What a truly amazing idea! No matter who you were born as, it was ultimately your deals and capabilities, backed by equal opportunities. Can you find any fault in that?
OMG doesn't question God, it only questions the business of God. Why donate crores to ashrams and saints, who themselves lived absolutely simple lives? Why waste milk and oil and chaddars and candles on God, when these can help light lives of millions of poor? Why go to a temple when God exists in every atom? Why have "franchises" of the Tirupati diety and a "branch" of Shirdi Sai Baba in Pune, if not just to collect money from "devotees"?
How many of us have even attempted to read the Bhagvad Gita, the Mahabharat and the Ramayana, the Bible and the Quran, and tried to learn the lessons our holy men wanted us to learn? Why aren't these lessons taught to each one of us in school? Why don't parents teach them to their children? Why have we wasted the powerful teachings and learnings our religions try to imbibe in us?
OMG and IOM has really inspired me, motivated me to get in touch with my religion, and search for the real learnings. And as I came out of the theatre today (watching OMG for the second time), I also got a heartwarming feeling that there were many among the crowd that felt the same.
Neither question the existence of God. Neither ask you to be an athiest. Neither questions religion. But both provide such a refreshing modern look at what God is, what religion is about, why we need religion, why we need to be believe in God, and yet, in a way that is truly the way our sages and learned men would have wanted and imagined it should be!
The Bhagvad Gita, The Holy Bible, The Holy Quran. They provide all the answers man looks for in life. These are the teachings of holy men, learned men, who knew people needed a guiding light, rules for living in peace, in love and fear of god, because otherwise there would be chaos. God isn't responsible for taking us where we want to go, he simply shows us the way!
The Immortals talk of a great emperor called Lord Ram, who brought discipline and law to a lawless society, these rules resulted in prosperity and growth, and this was called Ram Rajya. Makes so much sense, right? The book talks about the Masculine and the Feminine, not good and evil. Just opposing, different ways of living. And both are needed in the world, to bring about balance. Masculine way is all about law and order, rules, unbending allegiance. Feminine is about intuition, freedom, malleability. When the Asuras (masculine) lost against the Devas (feminine), the world started living a very carefree, open life - resulting in chaos and indiscipline over time, before Ram brought back the masculine way of life. The Suryavanshis of Meluha follow that, while the Chandravanshis are feminine. And both think of the other as evil, until the Neelkanth realizes that they aren't so. They are just different! Today we have societies that are overly masculine, and others that are overly feminine. What we need today is balance! So very true! So very sensible!
Shiva is known as the ultimate fighter, the ultimate lover, the ultimate dancer. Why does he have to be an imaginary God? What if he was really such a person? A Mahadev? What if each one of us could be a Mahadev? That's what Shivaji's battle cry Har Har Mahadev meant, didn't it?
The Immortals talks about the caste system. People divided into classes as per their capabilities and roles. And the concept of the "Maika", where kids were born and then raised by the government until the age of 16... given equal opportunities, with no biases, no baggage. And at 16, they were interviewed for the best job, and accordingly alloted a cast! What a truly amazing idea! No matter who you were born as, it was ultimately your deals and capabilities, backed by equal opportunities. Can you find any fault in that?
OMG doesn't question God, it only questions the business of God. Why donate crores to ashrams and saints, who themselves lived absolutely simple lives? Why waste milk and oil and chaddars and candles on God, when these can help light lives of millions of poor? Why go to a temple when God exists in every atom? Why have "franchises" of the Tirupati diety and a "branch" of Shirdi Sai Baba in Pune, if not just to collect money from "devotees"?
How many of us have even attempted to read the Bhagvad Gita, the Mahabharat and the Ramayana, the Bible and the Quran, and tried to learn the lessons our holy men wanted us to learn? Why aren't these lessons taught to each one of us in school? Why don't parents teach them to their children? Why have we wasted the powerful teachings and learnings our religions try to imbibe in us?
OMG and IOM has really inspired me, motivated me to get in touch with my religion, and search for the real learnings. And as I came out of the theatre today (watching OMG for the second time), I also got a heartwarming feeling that there were many among the crowd that felt the same.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Book Review: The Immortals Of Meluha
It is 1900 BC. In the land starting with heavenly Kashmir, a land we modern people "mistakenly" call the Indus Valley, a land called Meluha. It is a perfect empire created more than a thousand years earlier by the great emperor Lord Ram. But all is not well. Meluha and its proud Suryavanshi rulers are fighting on various fronts - the drying up of its primary river Saraswati, terrorist attacks from the Chandravanshis and the Nagas. But when a tribal leader from the shores of Lake Manasarovar, Shiva, appears, with a throat that's turned blue, the Suryavanshis see hope in an ancient legend - the legend of Neelkanth. Is this Shiva really that saviour, and will he be able to save them from disaster?
The book is a fast paced read, written in an easy-going flowing manner. The ancient and the revered mixes nicely and effortlessly with modern concepts, and makes you smile. Shiva's portrayal as a strong and mighty fighter at times conflicts with his easy banter and almost juvenile interactions with his friend, but in some sense, that's partly where the fun is. Descriptions of government, registration desk, soap, toilets, and yes, the "maika", lend an interesting angle to the modern-meets-ancient thread throughout the book.
Shiva's love affair with Sati, also known as Parvati, their furtive flirting against the law of the land, is also very interestingly presented!
Overall, a good start to the trilogy, one of the few English novels written by Indian authors that I have enjoyed reading!
The book is a fast paced read, written in an easy-going flowing manner. The ancient and the revered mixes nicely and effortlessly with modern concepts, and makes you smile. Shiva's portrayal as a strong and mighty fighter at times conflicts with his easy banter and almost juvenile interactions with his friend, but in some sense, that's partly where the fun is. Descriptions of government, registration desk, soap, toilets, and yes, the "maika", lend an interesting angle to the modern-meets-ancient thread throughout the book.
Shiva's love affair with Sati, also known as Parvati, their furtive flirting against the law of the land, is also very interestingly presented!
Overall, a good start to the trilogy, one of the few English novels written by Indian authors that I have enjoyed reading!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)