Deivathin Kural Series - 29

Om Namah Sivaya.
18 July 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'.

2. To-day's e-mail is the translation of what is given in pages, 116 to 122, in volume I, under the heading, 'Mada Bodagarin Yogyathamsangal', ie., 'The Essential Qualifications in a Religious Teacher'. (As you know Man herein includesWoman.) In the last e-mail, in para 9, in the first line, for, '....in their being......', read, '.......in there being......'.
3. In to-day's world, in all countries, many Religious Leaders and philosophical analysts, accept Adwaita as the foremost principle. The idea is catching on. You call me your Religious Guru. So you are likely to hold the view that, the reason for the popularity for Adwaita is due to the innate greateness of the principle of Adwaita, and You are likely to expect me to say so. No. I am doing some loud thinking here. Is Adwaita the foremost Principle followed by a majority of people? No. There are many Ideas, Concepts, Religions, Principles, followed by people. There have been occassions, when the whole lot of people from one nation, have shifted their allegiance from one religion to another. In Budda's time, many Vaidikas joined the Buddhist religion. Later many Hindus of India have joined, Christianity and or the Muslim religion. People of Jainism have become Vaishnavites, calling themselves as, 'Pushti Margis', in the past. During Sri Ramanujacharya's period, many turned, 'Visishtadwaitis'. In Madhva's time, many followed and accepted his, Madhva Siddhantha. During Adi Sankara's time, the Jaina and Buddhist religions were adversely affected, in terms of followers. In his time, many Karma Margis, shifted to Adwaita Siddhanta. So the known history is full of examples that, a one time majority religion, becomes a minority some times. Why does this happen? The question is, do people analyse the principles and concepts, before accepting a religion? Some intelligentia may do that. But the mass of people does not do that. The common man does not have either the capability or time to do that.
4. If it is true, that people accept or discard a religion, based on an understanding of the principles and intricacies of dogma, when you ask someone to explain the basics of their religion, they should be able to give a cogent description. They should be able to say why they prefer their religion, over other religions. But, in relity, mostly the general public will not be able to say so. They do not know the delicate points, to be able to argue about it, other than that, they happen to belong to a religion because, they are born in it. If others know a little, many Hindus know even less. Leave aside the illiterate, the so called learned, know even less, amongst the Hindus. They are rather ashamed of the caste system and idol worship, as they are more aware of the criticisms levelled against their religion and have not made an effort to learn the answers to such criticisms.
5. So, it is my opinion, that religions do not grow, based on an understanding of the guiding principles. The common man is not interested in knowing the principles. Faith generated, by the good behaviour, good habits, love and kindness, is more the reason, why people adopt a religion. When a great saintly person, evolves amidst them, they become ready to follow Him, and listen to him in the belief that, whatever he says must be for their good. As against this, whatever the erudition, if that man misbehaves, that religion starts to decline. While we are not able to identify the reason why, a religion flourishes, despite apparent cotradictions in principles and dogma; the reason for a religion's decline, is easy to identify. From this one can also get to know as to why it flourished orginally. That is, when we know why a religion, goes down; we can understand as to how, it lives and grows. In any country, at any time; when the religious leaders and their organisations have shown moral turpitude; there has been a steady decline.
6. Buddha came. As we hear his story, see his statues with it's graceful countenance, we develop a respect and admiration. To see Him in life, must have been awe inspiring. In later times, there has been occassions when Buddha Viharas, became ill famous, as evidenced by the Drama, 'Maththa vilasa Praharanam', written during the time of Mahendra Pallava. This is around the time, when Buddhism underwent its decline. The growth and decline of religions is dependent on the quality of it's leaders.
7 After Buddha, Adi Sankara, came as an adorable and admirable man, and people flocked to him. Then Ramanujacharya and Madhva in turn, captured peoples imagination and respect..Their ideas were absorbed and they could inspire great following. In recent times, Gandhi, came as a man of peace, sacrifice and total self negation. He could inspire the whole nation, and his followers could be motivated to give their life, for Truth, Ahimsa and Satyagraha. Crores of people adopted, what was called, 'Gandhiyam'. If the following were to be based on the high principles only, Gandhiyam should
have had a tremendous following, even now. But we know that, as the subsequent leaders of the Congress Party, did only lip-service to Gandhiyam; it went out of reckoning.
8. The question here is not about, the religions which are spread by, force or the pull of money. If some religious leaders, do a variety of social service and assistance, the poor may get attracted. In the period after 1930, this is how many joined the Christian ranks, in India. Similarly, many joined the Muslim religion, under compulsion, during the period, the Muslims were the rulers in India, prior to the arrival of the Britishers. Here too, the point is that, people were not attracted by the pull of noble principles. Another important point. It is the poorest people, living in slums, who were so attracted, by the christian missionaries, during the British period. 'You are down trodden. Your religion has degraded you. If you join our religion, we will lift you to higher economic and social status. We will give you free education, free medical aid'. This is the promise, supported by the then Government, which was the basis of their propoganda. But not all did so. Despite their poverty, despite the promised allures, they were ready to bear with themselves and their religion. Why? Their own inherent sense of loyalty and integrity and greatness is one reason. More than that, for generation to generation, there have been, an abundance of great religios leaders, who have come in to being, in this country, more than any other place on Earth. This is an inviolabe fact. Despite whatever handicaps, if people have stuck to the Religion called, The Hindu, the reason is that, they felt, 'come what may, I am not going to leave this Religion, which has sprouted so many Mahatmas!'.
9. We need not be critical of the Missionaries of other religions. We need not hate them. Let us not think that the reason for their efferts, is for hegemony. Let us attribute the noblest of reasons for their trying to attract others to in to their own religion, to be due to their love of their own religion. So accordingly, they may think that, there is nothing wrong, in using force and or allure. So conversion may be justified, in their view as, 'the end justifies the means'.
10. But when a religion, does not believe in conversion of other religionists, and does not believe in use of force and lure of lucre; then how does it grow? The answer is simple. Only by highest level of Humaneness, in it's leaders and its followers. By the highest levels of Integrity, Honesty, Truth, Love, Kindness and all the values that Human beings love, adore and admire. You can't play-act these qualities. You have to be truely so. Whatever the nobleness of principles, such a leader can have no selfishness. He or she can have no hatered. Innate peace and love of all, including animals and birds and insects and all animate and inanimate things as devine. They should be so pure, that the impurities of anyone approaching them should automatically get sanctified. Even now, this is the only way that Hinduism can thrive. No need for counter propoganda. We need representatives, who will be living embodiments of the nobility of Hindu religious beliefs. It is by such people, that Hinduism has survived, not for generations, but for Yugas. In the hereafter too it will have to depend on such people.
11. If someone comes to use force to convert us, I cannot mobilise an army and fight. If somebody wants to open hospitals and schools, using crores of rupees, for converting us, I do not have access to such finances. Even in case I could raise an army and had access to such money, I still won't do it; because such conversion by any religion, is not a genuine change. It will not be permanent. Because the same thing can be done by, yet another party, richer and more powerful. So instead of believing in these outside powers of force and money, we should believe in the Inner powers of 'Atma Shakthi', by raising ourselves by ourselves. Then no propoganda, no money-power, no force, can touch us. Without fighting, without propoganda, without the 'lure of lucre', Hinduism can and will thrive. The philosophers of other countries may praise Adwaita, to high heavens, because of its innate superiority and relevance. They have come to that understanding, by analysis and meditation. But that is not important to the common man. For him the nobleness of principles is irrelevant. He is looking for noble souls as ' friends, guides and philosophers'. All my lectures are aimed at, with the prayer that such a person may come in to being amidst us. No other greater acievement can there be, than that.
12. KTSV says, periyaval was one such.
Sambhomahadeva.