Dear silentopposition

[Guest guest]

Greetings philomina7,<br><br>"Hinduism was rather

patronised by the Kings of the different Hindu States of the

Hindustan (India)."<br><br>My statement was also similar;

you have just put the same thing in different

words.<br>As a generic theory: the ruling classes (whether

kings/queens or a pseudo-democratic govt. like the

Romans/Greeks) *always* "patronise" the dominant religion.<br>It

is essential for the survival of the ruling

elite.<br><br>The Indian society (Hindustan of that time) had

always been a class/caste society.<br>Since you are

referring to the Ramayana, Mahabarata and the Indian epics,

I am sure you are well-versed in those and thus, I

need not go into the different castes and classes in

the vedic Indian society.<br>You are surely aware of

the rigidly ossified class structures of the

traditional Indian society.<br>Hinduism was essential for the

survival of the ruling classes, namely the kshatriyas and

the brahamans.<br>The Brahaman caste used Hindu

rituals and the religious books (including the Ramayana

and the ritualistic vedas) to preserve their

intellectual hegemoney over the masses and pull the wool over

the eyes of consciousness of the masses.<br>The

khatriyas needed the brahamas to preserve their military

strength and the feudal nature of their

societies.<br>Thus, these two ruling classes sustained and supported

each other, while 'patronising' Hinduism.<br>That is

why I said:<br>"that Hinduism, like any other

mainstream religion, has long fallen prey to manipulation by

the controllers of power."<br>Even during the late

middle ages and the British raj, the Hindu kings 'used'

religion to secure the loyalty of the masses while they

themselves danced to the tune of the British

rulers.<br><br>Now the other statement:<br>"Hinduism is seen by

Westerners as less controlled and less manipulated by the

ruling classes."<br>Most westerners are not aware of the

class nature of the Hindu society.<br>Disillusioned by

the unabashed hedonism and materialism rampant in the

Christian institutions, most westerners look to 'oriental'

religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, to attain emotional

fulfillment.<br>However, several [not all] of them are not aware that

since these religions are much older in time than

Christianity, they have been corrupted long ago.<br>For

example, Buddhism today is a far cry from the simple

life-style advocated by Mahatma Buddha.<br>It has got

embroiled in rituals and rigid living.<br>Hinduism also has

lost all its significance in the modern world because

most people follow it symbolically.<br>It is a simple

fetish that represents decadent rituals, anachronistic

ideals of living and an overtly individualistic,

inward-looking, and non-secular way of life.<br><br>I hope to

have answered your questions.<br>Please post your

comments.

[Guest guest]

Real Faith or belief cannot be destroyed,

suppressed or tutored.<br><br>India was under the rule of

Muslims and British for hundreds of years. But even then

the Hindus have survived. No one could manipulate or

destroy.<br><br>And it still flowing with new vibrations.<br><br>With

regards.<br><br>philomina7

[Guest guest]

Yeah, and all pigs are fed and ready to fly

<gg><br><br>Seriously, I would suggest you perform a more logical and

informed analysis about the past and present state of

Hinduism, rather than believe in abstract ideas.<br><br>It

is true that Hinduism is not destroyed, and thank

God for that-for it gives all of us a common bond to

share.<br>However, it is also true that as a religion (or a way of

life), it is decadent-just as decadent as other major

religions.<br><br>Thankfully, the degeneration of Hinduism has not taken a form

like the degeneration of Islam has taken (militant and

destructive) or that of Christianity has taken (unabashed

commercialisation).<br><br>However, it is just as true that Hinduism (or any

religion) today has absolutely no affect on the modern

society. With its concentration on individualism and

non-secular way of life, it has lost its

significance.<br><br>And to answer your question-the British raj and the

Islamist invasations could do nothing to it, because by

then it had already ceased to be a progressive or

meaningful force.

[Guest guest]

While I am enjoying the intellectual volley, I

feel I need to bring up something here. Some of us, as

Hindus are on a more spiritual level of existance and

live our lives according to the likes of Sri

Ramakrishna, etc. We try to not only talk the talk but walk

the walk as well. While the history lesson has been

interesting and informative, you are leaving out one

important factor...that of bhakti.....love. Love is, i

admit, not "intellectual" but it does live on. This is

what I base my Hindu way of life on, not religious

dogma or rules and rituals, but acting in love each and

every day and using the Hindu texts as my guides. Just

wanted to throw in my two cents worth in love,

mirabai

[Guest guest]

Greetings,<br><br>It is indeed refreshing to hear

your thoughts.<br>It is good that you hold love above

all.<br>I would say that love is above and beyond all

religions.<br>The origins of love predates the origins of society,

religion and castes.<br>In holding love above all and

expressing love and compassion for your fellow human beings,

you are paying tribute to the very essence of

life.<br>And in doing that, you are living beyond any

religion.<br>I would say that if indeed you practice your life

in this way, you belong to a very rare category of

people who think and live life like this.<br><br>When I

look around, I find that religion spreads only hatred

and conflict.<br>It divides, rather than

unites.<br>All religions, and religious books and institutions,

are full of contradictions and confusions.<br>I think

that is inherent in the character of religion itself.

Religion has been created, spread and used for the benefit

of certain people and to keep certain sections of

people subservient to others.<br><br>As for

spiritualism, I feel that it creates a sense of

"out-of-this-world" living. Spiritualism is essentially non-secular

in nature. It blinds your eyes, it limits your

vision and it pulls the wool over the eyes of the common

people.<br><br>Love is above all these. A person who feels love and

compassion for others is above religion and spiritualism.

<br>You stated that you base your actions on Hindu text

and guides. I would say that this comes from a more

basic, more innate quality within you, rather than from

any religious text or books.

[Guest guest]

I agree - Love is the best religion. I also found

miss mooncavecrystals response less pretentious. Lke

me, she did not know whether arjuna is a character in

ramayana or mahabharata. But, I felt love breathing

through her very being. <br><br>I have given up the faith

I was born into. Roman catholic- Christian church

is corrupt so are the priests and the pope.

Homosexuality is rampant and so is child molestation. <br><br>I

am not an indoo. But, I luv going to the temple. For

a starving man wherever there is food, there is god

! then i luv beautiful women and Indoo women are

very motherly with their "full buxomed" figures.

<br><br>as you see, i am in no hurry! whether while making

love to a woman or loving god. In time, we learn to

love everything. more importantly, love yourself and

your fellow citizens. <br><br>as far war- don't make

war, make love. The only war we should undertake is

the war on hunger. Ask a hungry man or a homeless

man- what he wants. He will tell you .<br><br>your

dasa