RE: Srivaishnavism in isolation

[Guest guest]

Sri Kalale has given us a very good method for holding on to our

SriVaishnavam in a non-SriVaishnava world. I would like to add to his

discussion from a slightly different angle, how being SriVaishnava could be

used for the benefit of the non-SriVaishnava world.

 

Forgive me for making such broad generalizations. But, based on what I have

observed, the reason why so few of our non-SriVaishnava Indian counterparts

seem to have such little interest in religion is because of the very shape

that Hinduism itself has taken lately. The popular notions Hinduism today

is probaby a far cry from what our AchAryans or even the rishis themselves

conceptualized. The religions that form the world's oldest spiritual

tradition now have been diluted down to two basic levels:

 

1. A set of cultural practices and rituals that seek to appease a pantheon

of gods for material/spiritual benefits.

 

or

 

2. a set of quasi-vEdic, quasi-advaitic self-realization principles that are

founded more on the personal beliefs of some self-proclaimed guru or

god-man, rather than on time-honored traditions and philosophies.

 

This two-fold pull on the fabric of Hinduism, has, in my opinion, created a

certain sense of disillusionment and skepticism in the mind and heart of the

everyday, educated, city dwelling Indian, at least among the ones that I

generally associate with here in the US. Please note that this is not so

much due to the fact that people do not want to have some sort of religious

belief; it is only that they really do not have any idea what they should

be believing in. Such an attitude can only be unhealthy over time on an

individual and a society. I feel that what is sorely lacking in Hindu

culture today is an awareness of the fundamental elements of religion: a

direct, practical connection to the Divine, and a humane and ethical

approach to life and community.

 

Fortunately, all of us within this forum are blessed to be connected to a

lineage of true teachers who have taken great pains to succinctly present

and validate each and every element of the vEdas, and who have revealed to

us sthe wisdom, practicality, and spiritual benefits of adhering to their

lofty principles. It is because of their compassion that each and every

one of us in this forum feel such a connection to Perumal and his devotees,

and the resulting need to be in their presence uninterruptedly. But, such

a treasure can only be truly enjoyed if it is shared.

 

I am of the opinion that being in a state of isolation away from a closed

circuit of SriVaishnavas can be advantageous to some extent, because it

gives us the opportunity to share these ideals with those who may not have

been able to know of SriVaishnavam otherwise. By this, I do not mean that

we should engage in some sort of zealous mass conversion campaign to bring

in converts; merely, that we should, in the spirit of service, be willing to

share the riches of our traditions with anyone who shows an interest.

 

In sharing these ideals with others, I would suggest that we seek to

promote what would naturally touch everyone's heart, simple fundamental

truths similar in nature to what I described as lacking above:

 

1. There is only One Supreme Being, Sriman Narayana. All else is

subservient to Him.

2. Sriman Narayana looks at each and every one of us with His Compassionate

Glances, irrespective of our caste, gender or station in life.

3. Spiritual life need not be an overly intellectual or ritualistically

constraining experience. Indeed, it is best expressed in simple homespun

faith, and a mood of loving service to Him and His devotees. Once we

experience this simple heartfelt mood, all else becomes natural.

 

dAsAnu dAsan,

 

Mohan