Fwd: "overseas forbidden"

[Guest guest]

--- wrote:

> "Ram Anbil" <Ramanbil

> Overseas travel forbidden-Why?

> Dear Bhagavatas:

> I discussed this issue with several Yathisreshtas

> and Acharyas of Bhagavad

> Ramanuja- Swami Desika Sampradaayam. I also put

> forward several arguments

> favoring the “crossing the oceans”:

In the absence of such mention, our

> Acharyas deem it "Swaroopa Viruddham" to venture

> abroad.

************

 

Dear members,

It is heartening indeed to read about the wisdom with

which our sages, "yateeshwara-s" conduct themselves in

this particular matter of going abroad.

 

Sanyasins are bound by an age old dharmic code of

conduct. If this code is begun to be broken, and if

sanyasins start taking liberties with it under the

pretext of demands of the modern times, then the Vedic

institution of sannyAsa itself loses meaning and

purpose. In a world where role-models are becoming

increasingly and woefully scarce in every sphere of

life, be it religious or secular, our sannyAsi-s are

perhaps the last remaining exceptions. It makes one

really proud to see that at least they stand firmly

for something ... whatever it may be!

 

Apart from all the reasonings put forth about

"anushtAnams" and "Acharam" etc. I think the ancient

"yati dharma" that prohibits sannyAsins from

travelling aboard does so because it is founded upon

ancient wisdom. Here is why I think so:

 

Whenever religion has been exported out of one country

across the seas to another, history has shown us that

it invariably caused trouble amongst peoples and

societies. Evangelism, proselytization and crusading

zeal to spread enlightenment across the borders of the

world -- all these activities have always caused much

turmoil and unhappiness in the history of human

affairs. I do not wish to name those religions which

did (and still do) export their faith abroad nor do I

wish to recount here the unhappy consequences of their

efforts. That is a matter of common knowledge. But I

have no doubt in my mind that the history of mankind

would have been far less bloody than we know it is, if

only the leaders of principal religions, in their own

times, had slapped a complete and effective travel-ban

on their respective missionaries, crusaders, apostles

and/or other similarly-named 'soldiers of God' to

leave for foreign shores in the quest to

spread/strengthen religion.

 

Of all the religions of the world, it is the Vedic

religion of India alone that had recognized the

inherent danger that there is in the export of

religion. When religion gets exported across the

borders it invariably leads to "himsa". When religion

goes abroad it might begin with the best of intentions

but sooner or later it is sure to tread the usual

trade-routes of mercantilism. What begins first as

"prachAram" soon turns into flourishing "vyAbAram".

And where trade and commerce go, there politics too

soon follows... And wherever commerce and politics

converge, can war or strife be far behind?

 

The Vedic religion prohibited its sannyAsins from

going abroad because it clearly saw the wisdom of

drawing cultural borders exactly where geographical

limits ended. Our sannyAsins and achAryAs had no

interest in furthering their ministries beyond the

shores of India because they grasped clearly that it

would really serve neither the interests of world-

peace nor the happiness of peoples across seas. Our

great 'sannyAsis' sought to conquer 'brahmalOka' (as

the Mahanarayana Upanishad says) i.e. the territory of

the spirit, the kingdom of God... They saw little use

in the expansion of mere terrestrial influence.

 

It was because of this unique Vedic travel-ban on

sages and sannyAsins, and the consequent barrier to

the possibility of any aggressive sort of export of

religion from out of India --- it is for this reason

that we can surely say India and Indian civilization

has never once carried out aggression -- military,

ideological, imperialist or otherwise -- we have never

carried out aggression anywhere outside our borders.

The greatness of India lies in its dharma indeed --

the dharma that respects, and which scrupulously

refuses to encroach upon, not only geographical but

cultural borders too.

 

It is thanks to our sannyAsins that we Indians can

today hold our heads high and say that we belong to an

ancient civilization of nobility and wisdom.

 

Regards,

Humbly,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

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