What is dogma?

[Seshadri Sridharan]

Dogma: root out

In both the Christian and Islamic religions the word dogma is used in a positive manner. But in AM dogma has a very negative meaning. Why is it so? 


What is dogma? 

Baba has given a strict definition of dogma. We need to understand that first. Any type of philosophy or thought beyond which no questions can be asked or no reasoning is possible is termed as dogma. Something which is said as an order and no questions can be asked on it, can be said as dogma.  When the order comes from the highest religious leader, people often say not to ask questions on it or analyze it further with reasoning.  That means people draw a line on a thought process and suggest no reasoning is possible beyond that line. Such faulty thoughts are dogmas.


Where dogmas are seen? 

Dogmas are seen in many religious spheres as well as in other spheres. 

#1: For example, the communist philosophy is a dogma. In communist countries one cannot question communist philosophy. Students will read about communist philosophy and when they find loopholes in it then also they cannot speak about it because in those countries one cannot speak against communist philosophy. So this is a dogma. 

#2: Another example is in Iran where one cannot speak against the Ayatollah. Whatever orders come from the Ayatollah, it is beyond any reasoning. Why is it so? Each order should be analyzed carefully, subject to questioning. When orders are made and asked they are beyond questioning, then they are dogmas. 

#3: Suppose someone says that we should walk on one leg on Tuesdays. When another person asks why, then the answer is given that God will be happy. Why God will not be happy on other days when we walk on one leg, or why God will not be happy if we walk on both legs? Then the simple answer we get is that our ancestors used to do so we will continue to do so, and we should not ask more questions. When such questions cannot be answered, then they are dogmas. 

These are just three examples. But in reality there are thousands of such situations where we are asked not to raise questions on a philosophy. 

Dogma in materialism and science 

In materialism also there is dogma. For example, materialists do not go beyond matter. They do everything for sensual pleasure. But they do not go beyond matter or even think beyond it. Pleasures derived from taste, touch, smell etc. are the only things materialists look for and do not even question their validity or reasoning. 

Science is not also free from dogma. Science assumes a hypothesis and then researchers try to prove the hypothesis for a very long period of time. Often the outcome results in the hypothesis are faulty. One example is in the US a number of researchers were trying to prove that human beings with black skin are inferior, and they are not humans, but rather are beings who are in between species of monkey and human beings. Such a hypothesis itself is dogma. A number of such faulty hypotheses can be found in science.

Why do dogmas happen? Because some people have vested interests. Such people might be leaders of society, bankers, materialists, scientists, etc. Since they have vested interests, they try to propagate false ideas among people and try to pay money to others to prove the dogma to be correct. Another example is that in the materialistic sphere, economists say that trickle down effect is good for the economy. The argument they make is that if money goes to the wealthy then they will spend it and money slowly will come to the poor or will be distributed. Trickle down economics does not work and people know that. Still they propagate others to do research to investigate and prove it. So dogma does not happen only in the spiritual sphere or in the religious realm, dogma is present in many other spheres. 

Caged intellect needs freedom

Baba says that buddhi (intellect) should not be bound. Buddhi should be given freedom. Baba gave a pravacan in 1979/80 in Patna, on “buddhi ki mukti”. People were surprised then as to what it means mukti of buddhi. They were aware about the mukti of atman, but people did not know “buddhi ki mukti”. When Baba explained in detail, people came to understand what it means by “buddhi ki mukti”. People never thought that buddhi is restricted. 

In reality, the society is such that buddhi is always restricted by imposing so many dogmas in the name of religions, dharma, beliefs, etc. Baba says it is very hard for the society to move forward when buddhi is not liberated and not allowed to think freely. For example, if one goes to North Korea, then people are not allowed to think beyond communism. Same is the case in Cuba. In these countries one cannot speak out against their so-called leaders, so it is dogma. When people are not allowed to think beyond dogmas, then the false beliefs will continue to exist in the society. So there are certain people whose interests are embedded and they propagate dogma.

So dogma is found in many spheres: political, social, science, religious institutions. Many say that dogma is found only in religion, but according to AM philosophy, dogma is found in many spheres and one should not accept dogma when reasoning and logical thinking is not encouraged. One should logically think before accepting anything. Not only look for a proof, but also think in mind whether it is correct and what is wrong, because everything can not be proved scientifically. But using one's mind one can decide what is correct and what is wrong. But one should always stay away from dogma. 


Conclusion

Although Baba has given Ananda Marga philosophy free of dogma but already so many dogmas have been implanted by greedy Wts. Yet the common people are not even aware about this. It has been clearly delineated how you can recognise dogma. And after recognising it then it should be isolated just like how in the lab infectious germs are isolated, and then they are systematically destroyed. Similarly, dogma should be systematically destroyed. Baba has given the slogan, “Dogma no more, dogma no more.” 

In Him,
Nirakara