Guest guest Posted May 8, 2004 Report Share Posted May 8, 2004 Dear Friends, It is not always easy to join a monastery. Difficulties may be of various types, family responsibilities, not meeting the qualifications, not being ready for it, desiring more freedom than that a strictly disciplined life would allow etc. It is for them that the Ramakrishna Mission encourages bachelor volunteers to participate in its activities. They are more or less regarded as a part of the monastery. Now let us see what tranditional Hindu dharma says about this. In India, as elsewhere, bachelors are looked at with suspicion. The scriptures condemn them as anashramis, or those that do not belong to any ashrama or stage of life. They are looked down upon as it is felt that they shirk the responsibilities of life. Questions are also raised about their last rites. Who would perform them if he does not have any relatives? The family sees him either as a misfit because he does nothing to extend the lineage or he is regarded as an errand boy who does all the odd jobs others would avoid. He is often denied his share of parental property, friends and relatives borrow money from him never to return (why would a bachelor require money?). The smritis only allow the sick to remain unmarried. However the smriti does allow one to remain a bachelor if he leads the life of a devoted and celibate member of the society (naisthik brahmachari). So the decision of the Math to encourage people to remain bachelors finds its reflection and ratification in the rules set for our society. It cannot be criticised for this. To be continued. Love & Regards, Jagannath. Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at HotJobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 Jagganath, Something about this traditional attitude smacks me of some medieval remnant of Hinduism, better discarded along with the caste system. Not to mention the exploding overpopulation and poverty that this attitude has brought upon India. Why must men marry and procreate to make their relatives happy? Why must they be married to be accepted by a society lost in maya? This shouldn't be considered the standard by which to compare the Ramakrishna Mission's attitude toward bachelors. Don't even tell me how unmarried women were looked upon. > Now let us see what tranditional Hindu dharma says > about this. In India, as elsewhere, bachelors are > looked at with suspicion. The scriptures condemn > them as anashramis, or those that do not belong to > any ashrama or stage of life. They are looked down > upon as it is felt that they shirk the > responsibilities of life. Questions are also raised > about their last rites. Who would perform them if he > does not have any relatives? The family sees him > either as a misfit because he does nothing to extend > the lineage or he is regarded as an errand boy who > does all the odd jobs others would avoid. He is > often denied his share of parental property, friends > and relatives borrow money from him never to return > (why would a bachelor require money?). The smritis > only allow the sick to remain unmarried. > Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./careermakeover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2004 Report Share Posted May 11, 2004 Dear Jagannath, I see a lotof frustration and sadness in your post. Let me tell you that Hinduism is not asking anyone to mistreat bachelors although it talks about four stages-Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The treatment they receive depends on the conduct of bachelors and the impression they make on others, although uneducated and thoughtless folks may look at bachelors with suspicion. I have known dedicated bachelors, for example one of the former vice chancellors of Bangalore University who truly led a spiritual life and dedicated his life to promote education. He is alive and is widely respected and revered in our area. Second, one of the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna, Mr.N. Krishna Swamy, who taught us a lot of songs and prayers used in Ramakrishna Misison, Bangalore, is also alive and is very respected for his dedication to the Mission and the simple life he leads. These people are true sanyasins although they are not called as Sanyasins. Sanyas is a mental state. King Janaka was called a Rajarshi, becasue he was a king but was totally detached to the material world just as the lotus leaf floats on water, but has collets no water on its leaves. Regarding the last rites, there is no need to worry too much about the last rites, because once the person becomes just a body without life, it does not matter how the body is disposed off. we have ceremonies to dispose the body off, because it satisfies our own sentiments and not that of the dead people! One of my relatives who passed away a few days ago wrote in his will that his body should be used by the local university for research. He thought that it would be a service to the society. So it all depends on how we think and feel about various things in life. There is nothing absolute in this world except the Truth. Satyam Jnanam Anantam Bramha. Regarding lendng money, not only bachelors, but everyone must be smart and careful because many people feel that they have the right to lay hands on other people's money! > > > > > Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at HotJobs > http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./careermakeover > > ===== Incredibly low long distance phone rate: 4.5 cents pm! go to:http://www.ldpcphonemodem.cjb.net Need extra cash? Click on:www.theexplodingbusiness.cjb.net Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at HotJobs http://hotjobs.sweepstakes./careermakeover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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