Talk at King's College London

[Guest guest]

We made a presentation at Kings College London yesterday on the topic, 'Why bother with Hinduism?'. The talk was well received. The venue was packed and extra chairs had to be brought in. We encountered a very lively bunch of students. We said the reason why we have to bother is because Hinduism is the very fabric on which our whole being is set. If this is in dis-repair our whole constitution will suffer. We ignore this issue at our peril.

 

A young student of philosophy read out a long list of topics in the Philosophy module at

King's where Hinduism is portrayed in the most appalling manner. She had registered her

concerns with the head of the department and has received a very poor response.

 

We explained that our experience with the Religious Education academics suggests clearly that they are very poorly equipped to portray Hinduism.Some even think that it is not even a religion but a mass of primitive traditions loosely woven together and labelled as religion.

 

"How do we defend our religion?" we were asked. We told them, "The only way you can defend something is first by knowing what is it that you defending. How can you stand up against

misrepresentations unless you know what is the correct presentation?"

 

To address this issue, we are planning a series of three talks at Imperial and (after this very encouraging encounter at King's ...) a similar series at King's at the start of the new term. The series will be called 'Foundations of Hinduism' and will cover the basics as well as the esoteric aspects of Hinduism (incorporating the Hindu response to findings of modern science and philosophy). We have been approached by Cambridge and Kingston for similar talks.

 

On a lighter note one young lad at King's had asked: "Can we teach a mantra that can let him pull some girls?" We said, "Sure, we know of a mantra that you must try. The Mantra is called,

'Celibacy'. If you are celibate, your whole being will change; you have now exhibited your

mastery over your animal nature; your self-confidence will ooze out and shine on your face; and of course all the girls will come running ..The problem is that there is nothing you can do about it..you are now a celibate. : )

 

Vivekananda Centre London

 

 

[Guest guest]

I was very much delighted to know how much enthusiasm students of the King's

College had shown on your presentation, " Why bother with Hinduism? " At the

same time it didn't surprise me at all when Hinduism is portrayed very poorly in

the Philosophy module. After all what else one can expect from the so-called

intellectuals of Europe who consider religion as such nothing but a bunch of

superstitions that cater to the credulity of the poor or the old. An October

13th article in the New York Times, " Faith Fades Where It Once Burned Strong "

said that while a sizable majorities of people in most European countries

believe

in God, they are less familiar with or tethered to, the specific rituals and

roots of Christian worship. The same report said that in England while 25

million people identify themselves with the Anglican Church, less than 1.2

million

actually go to one of the church's services every week. The report also said

that Christianity's greatest hope in Europe may in fact be immigrants from

the developing countries. Therefore, I am not surprised at the misrepresentation

of Hinduism by the Philosophy department.

Umesh

[Guest guest]

Dear Jay,

I really appreciate your efforts to defend and

spread the knowledge of Hinduism. You're right in

expressing that academics in Hinduism, donot have a

clear view of the religion and they don't know that

this religion caters to every human need. When

practised sincerely, it fulfills all the four

Purusharda's (Dharma, Artha, Kamma and Moksha).

I particularly liked your answer to the lighter note

about the mantra to attract girls. You described,

aptly, the power a celibate develops and its

limitations.

 

Keep us posted.

 

Regards,

Prasad.

 

 

 

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