invading the sacred - sign of Rennaisance

[jag.ag...@gmail.com]

Wendy and her children no doubt have a vast amount of knowledge of
Hindu scriptures. But knowledge without devotion and faith is TAMASIC
and it binds not only the one who has the knowlege but also those who
recieve knowledge from such a person as is evident from the writings
authored by Wendy's children.

Knowledge with devotion and faith is SATTAVIC and it not only
liberates the one who has the knowledge but also those who come in
contact with such a person. Examples would be Swami Ramkrishna
Paramhans and countless other Vedic spiritual seers.

Some would question the timing of this book: Well, For a thousand
years we have looked at ourselves, our heritage and our religion
through the eyes of others. Others have told us who we are and we
have accepted that. Others have defined our identity and we have
accepted that. Wendy and her children are doing the same and that is
not acceptable any more. They have the right to say whatever they
want but we also have the right to refute their assertions in a
civil manner. There is no room for violence.

India, its cultures, its economy and it's indiginous religions
( HInduism, Buddhism) are going through a Rennaisance. It is
inevitable that that some people or institutuions would not like
that. But this Rennaisance is here to stay and we need to feel proud
of that.

The Authors and editors of INVADING THE SACRED should be commended
for their efforts.

Jag Aggarwal

[Krishnan R]

Dear Mr Agarwal,

Thank you for your comments. I do agree that at least for the last few  centuries very many Indian Hindus (but not indian muslims) have been uncritically swallowing whatever the West dishes out as "knowledge" about India.  Outside of our traditional scholars who have ignored and therefore escaped western caricatures  of Hinduism, only a few like Sri Aurobindo,  and Ananda Coomaraswamy and Gandhiji have tried to fight these at an intellectual level. 

 

However, what is your basis for saying about Doniger and co that "no doubt" they have  "a vast amount of knowledge of the Hindu Scriptures?" Do you really have evidence for this?

  Invading the Sacred documents numerous instances that cast serious doubt on whether they have such "vast" knowledge.  Their problem as far as we can tell, is NOT a lack of faith or devotion (largely irrelevant in the context of academic scholarship) but a lack of rigorous scholarship,  poor training in languages, and cultural nuances, lackadaiscal and idiosyncartic "methodologies", untested and untestable assumptions and claims, unethical and unprofessional attitudes towards peer-review, and plain old white cultural chauvanism.   In other words, it is their very scholarship that the evidence we prsesent calls into question,  NOT their "faith or Devotion".  Shradda is only needed for those who are serious about inner transformation, and no one is asking the Doniger and her ilk for such a high level of committment.

 

 

 

best regards,

Krishnan Ramaswamy

[Clas...@aol.com]

You hit the proverbial "nail on the head." It is up to Hindus to take a lovingly firm stand against all those who would steal from (and water-down) our Dharma. Again, just look at the almost total distortion of our sacred Hindu Hatha Yoga.

 

In Dharma,

Swami Param

---

Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

[panditaindrani]

Namaste to all. I am not so sure that I agree with the need to be "lovingly firm" against our aggressors and predators. I think that the tone we take will depend on our personal qualities. I don't think there is an absolute need to be "loving." I for one cannot be "loving" in the face of an avowed enemy whose agenda is to destroy me and who is in my face.

Clas...@aol.com wrote:

You hit the proverbial "nail on the head." It is up to Hindus to take a lovingly firm stand against all those who would steal from (and water-down) our Dharma. Again, just look at the almost total distortion of our sacred Hindu Hatha Yoga.

 

In Dharma,

Swami Param

---

Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

Pandita Indrani Rampersad, Ph.D.
Senior Research Fellow (Academy)
(Trinidad Ramlila)
University of Trinidad & Tobago
3rd Floor TTMA Bldg
42 Tenth Avenue
Barataria
Trinidad, W.I.

[jag.ag...@gmail.com]

Namaskar to all of you,

Even though the approach may be different, there seems to be a
consensus that we need to deal with the situation. The sacred is
being invaded not just by the likes of Wendy and her children but in
many other ways. Each of us has to find our own way and method to
address the issues that come up. I can only speak for myself. What
I have been doing is as follows:

IF I visit a bookstore I make it a point to go to the religion section
and go though all the books they have on comparative religion and see
if there is anything offensive regarding Hinduism,

IF I visit a library I make it a point to do the same by visiting
their religion section.,

I am encouraging others to read this book.

Look for any commercial articles which would depict Hindu icons in an
offensive manner.

While doing all these I will maintain respect and regard for other
religions. If I expect others to be respectful towards my faith, I am
going to extend the same to them without anyone having to ask for
it.


Jag Aggarwal

On Dec 1, 11:51 pm, panditaindrani <i_ramper...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Namaste to all. I am not so sure that I agree with the need to be "lovingly firm" against our aggressors and predators. I think that the tone we take will depend on our personal qualities. I don't think there is an absolute need to be "loving." I for one cannot be "loving" in the face of an avowed enemy whose agenda is to destroy me and who is in my face.
>

> Classy...@aol.com wrote:
>
> You hit the proverbial "nail on the head." It is up to Hindus to take a lovingly firm stand against all those who would steal from (and water-down) our Dharma. Again, just look at the almost total distortion of our sacred Hindu Hatha Yoga.
>
> In Dharma,
> Swami Param
>

> ---------------------------------

[ITS Team]

Dear Shri Aggarwal,

 

Thank you for your encouraging comments, and even more, for your many initiatives on correcting mischaracterizations of Hindu thought.

 

Current scholarship on Hinduism is based on undoubtedly vast amounts of "information" floating around, and on free association with (mostly inappropriate)Western frameworks, is sought to be transformed into "knowledge".

 

I'm sure you see, based on the book, and your own observations, that this "knowledge" is at best innocent "misinformation" and at worst motivated continuation of Colonialist/EuroCentric impositions on "other" cultures.
 

Again, thanks for you words and initiatives.

 

-Web Editor, ITS-Team