Experience at a Conference on Hindu spirituality

[Guest guest]

This weekend I participated at a conference on Hindu spirituality

held at the Indian Consulate in Edinburgh. Let me share my thoughts.

 

The first speaker was Rev Prof. Frank Whaling, Prof. Emeritus of Study of

Religion at Edinburgh University on the topic:- Overview of Hindu

spirituality.

 

One can immediately see the sincerity; the academic integrity; and a kind

of compassion for Hinduism...... yet something was seriously missing.

 

At the end of his very academic presentation one felt that one has just

sat through an autopsy report. Not a spark of the 'spirit' came through.

I suspect that if he was asked to make a similar presentation on

Christianity he could do wonders! Mind you, I am not implying, that

he deliberately attempted (in any sense) to put down Hinduism.

 

To put it simplistically, he had dismembered a 'living entity' into various

parts and then discussed how 'the functions and attributes of

these parts somehow do not match up -- " So many things need to

be answered or resolved! " This was the ending at every juncture of his

presentation on Hinduism. With so many things unresolved - one

would be left wondering if this 'Hinduism' could ever have existed!!

 

This is the second time I have experienced such a serious drawback

in the arena of Religious Education in this country.

 

The Religious Education scene is governed by academics (some well

meaning) like professor Whaling; who just cannot do justice in making

sense of or portraying Hinduism. It is not their fault. Hinduism will just

not

fit into a suit meant for the Abrahemic traditions. Unfortunately due to

such serious drawbacks the understanding and portrayal of Hinduism

in the West continues to suffer. We hear constant cries of poor media

portrayal of Hinduism. Do we wonder why? A further downside to this

story is that the very vibrant teachings of this religion that are very

relevant

in dealing with serious contemporary issues like 'strife in the name of

religion', go completely unnoticed. Hinduism has a great deal to contribute

towards many aspects of the modern world and will do so despite

such drawbacks.

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London

[Guest guest]

Namaste Jay,

 

My first thought would be in the form of a question, Who would invite a non Hindu to give a talk at a Conference on Hindu spirituality ? My second thought is complete agreement with your remark, " The Religious Education scene is governed by academics (some well meaning) like professor Whaling; who just cannot do justice in making sense of or portraying Hinduism. It is not their fault. Hinduism will just not fit into a suit meant for the Abrahemic traditions."

 

In the light of Hindu tolerance this is a burden we share in this era of striving for mutual religious understanding. There is a unity in diversity and the strength of the unity is the diversity, not one size fits all.

 

Om Gurudeva

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

In one sense, USA may be a little more fortunate, in that some

academics who thirsted for the actual 'experience' plunged deep into

it first-hand, and wrote scintillating accounts of it - to name some :

Huston Smith [MIT/Syracuse/Berkeley], Troy Organ [Ohio State],

Barbara Stoller-Miller [Columbia], Diana Eck [Harvard], and so on.

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

Ramakrishna , kandaaran@a... wrote:

> Namaste Jay,

>

> My first thought would be in the form of a question, Who would

invite a non

> Hindu to give a talk at a Conference on Hindu spirituality ? My

second

> thought is complete agreement with your remark, " The Religious

Education

> scene is governed by academics (some well meaning) like professor

Whaling;

> who just cannot do justice in making sense of or portraying

Hinduism. It is

> not their fault. Hinduism will just not fit into a suit meant for

the

> Abrahemic traditions. "

>

> In the light of Hindu tolerance this is a burden we share in this

era of

> striving for mutual religious understanding. There is a unity in

diversity

> and the strength of the unity is the diversity, not one size fits

all.

>

> Om Gurudeva

[Guest guest]

Dear Jay

 

This is a topic of great interest (and concern) for me as well. I my opinion

the same holds true in the US as well, with attitudes sometimes ranging frpm

objectivity to downright hostility (Jeff Kripal and Wendy Doniger come to

mind immediately). Interestingly, there are practically no who are 'Hindu

insiders', in the sense that they are also serious practitioners of Hinduism

and who can authentically interpret Hindu texts. On the other hand several

scholars of christianity, islam and other religions are insiders in this

sense.

 

Recently, I have been happy to note that some people are beginning to work

to correct the situation. I wonder if you have heard about Rajiv Malhotra

and his Infinity Foundation. I am writing because maybe some list members

maybe interested or have academic inclinations. Rajiv and others have

written several articles at www.sulekha.com, for those who are interested.

 

regards

 

Swami

 

 

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