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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

The core teaching of Hindu scriptures

 

CHENNAI, JULY 19. Our saints, out of their experience and wisdom

and our scriptural literature, have left us a treasure in the

form of guidelines for our spiritual and cultural progress and

for enlightening us as well so as to elevate us to a higher level

from where we stand. A story in our ancient text may be relevant

here. At one time, when there was unhappiness everywhere, all

people - the Devas or celestials, the Danavas or demons and men

in the world approached the Creator for advice. Instead of

tendering any suggestion directly, the latter simply uttered the

words ``Da, Da, Da'' baffling them. Amplified, the ``Da'' in

respect of the first category (of celestials) referred to their

taste for pleasures which had taken hold of them. Hence, the

Creator by this word ``Da'' asked them to acquire ``Damana'' or

self-control. The second category of people, the demons, were

prone to anger and were also hard-hearted. For them, the advice

through ``Da'' meant to cultivate ``Daya'' or compassion and be

merciful. To ordinary men, knowing that they were victims of

greed and were keen on piling up wealth, the suggestion through

the third ``Da'' indicated that they should practise ``Dana'' or

give gifts. Each arrived at these interpretations in terms of the

Bhagavad Gita.

 

On one of her travels, Swamini Vimalananda recalled in her

discourse, how she was asked to give the quintessence of Hinduism

in two words, just as Ahimsa stood for Jainism, ``Love and

service'' for Christianity, ``Faith'' for Muslims and

``Compassion'' for Buddhists. To this she replied ``Shreya'' or

rising to a higher level as core of Hinduism. The Mahabharata

contains an anecdote as to how Krishna led Bhima to a place and

showed how a cow that has just yielded a calf was cleansing it by

licking it. From this one can infer how love, based on Shreya, is

of great significance. In the Gita, the Lord has declared ``Let a

man raise the self by the self; let him not debase himself.''

This meant that one should have the courage to say ``I shall

surely lift myself up''. The Gita, which has a message for

everyone, points out how at the beginning of the Kurukshetra

battle, Arjuna ``reviewed'' its consequences. Such a review

should examine both sides of an issue as otherwise, the decision

(considering one side only) would lead to delusion, as in the

case of Arjuna, who was well educated in archery. As a confused

man would talk a lot, he asked several questions, which reflected

misplaced Dharma. It was then Krishna delivered his sermon on the

war field, dispelling Arjuna's confusion and leaving a message

for humanity.

 

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