Why a Hindu temple is NOT like a Soho phone booth

[Guest guest]

Article in the Times by Terence Kealy:

Why a Hindu temple is like a Soho phone booth

 

The journalists employed by the mainstream media like the Times or the BBC, have an extremely poor grasp of Hinduism and continue to produce articles and programmes that do not portray Hinduism but their very limited and prejudiced understanding of this religion. To start with most of these chaps have been educated to think that religions are inventions of mankind that are past their sell-by-date. With all the terrorist activities occurring in the name of religion most of them are understandably quite hostile to all religions. To make matters worse, what little Hinduism they have picked up has been the version of Hinduism promoted by the early missionaries. No wonder they equate Hindu Temples with Soho telephone booths!

 

It is Hinduism alone with its very comprehensive pluralistic approach that holds the key of how hostility in the name of religions can be halted and it is Hinduism alone that holds the key on how religious and science oriented world-views can be reconciled. These so called well-informed journalists will perhaps be the last ones to be informed of these aspects of Hinduism. We are sorry to say but It is only after a few more planes fall off the skies will circumstances force these journalists to re-educate themselves about the relevance of Hinduism in a modern science-oriented multi-faith society, what a great pity!

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.co.uk

[Guest guest]

Hi Jay, After reading this article I have a feeling of pity rather than anger or hatred towards the reporter who tried to portray Hindu Temples according to his understanding. The victim, means the reporter, who has been sick with this disease of mind that instructs the intellect to abuse or humiliate other religions or cultures, is a victim of his circumstances and the atmosphere on which he was born and brought up. To them, if anything seems to cut a new channel in their brains their whole system of ideology tries to obstruct the same. That is why, when Swami Vivekananda once walking in a Chicago fair, got his turban pulled by someone from behind, he moved back and saw a very decent looking gentleman standing. The Swami quietly asked him, "What did make u do this to me, can you please explain?" Hearing english words on his lips and his god like appearance, the man recoiled in his own shell and fumbled for

words, "Well, I ..I ...am sorry...why r u wearing this turban and saffron color uniform?"..he stammerred. This the Swami explained later, that, the man who tried to abuse him may be a good father, or a good husband or a good son in his own society, but he failed to be a good earthling because from the very childhood he was taught to be narrow. Nobody came and told him the sacred words of the Vedanta, "Equality in all beings is the sign of the free"....So, day by day he became the slave of his own misunderstanding and learned how to hate or abuse an ancient culture. Is not this intention of portraying someone else's culture or civilization or religion is the root of all miseries of the world? I remember one very beautiful song written by Rabindranath Tagore, who possibly to these types of men gave a heart-whole call: "Come out of your own little self, your own little

world, See that everyone has stretched the hands of love towards you. May the Lord carry that wave unto your heart too, that wave which flows through all over the universe and forever!!"

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[Guest guest]

I am rather surprised at Jay's diatribe against journalists. Dr.

Terence Kealey is not a journalist: he is Vice-Chancellor of the

University of Buckingham and a noted Bio-Chemist who writes

occasionally on scientific matters, notably in The Times. This

article that he wrote had very little to do with Hinduism per se but

was simply taking a fresh look at an interesting aspect of ancient

Indian culture. As such, his argument was researched and well put

despite the eye-catching headline.

 

No doubt Dr. Kealey is more focused on the physical than the

metaphysical, as befits his trade, but Hinduism has nothing to fear

from intelligent enquiry of this nature, even if the conclusions are

unpalatable.

 

God bless,

 

Alan Perry

[Guest guest]

jay:

 

Good commentary -- after a little re-write it would be a great letter-to-the-editor for the London Times. However, from what little news that is available to me from USA media regarding modern-day India, it does not appear that " Hindus " are particularly pluralistic or pacifistic. As an American Vedantist, I certainly understand the unity of creation and the purpose of our existence, but I certainly don't see those philosophies expressed in the major events and trends of modern-day India. Why should journalists in the Western world (

e.g., Britain or USA) see it any differently? Unfortunately, the " hay days " of Indian spirituality in the West (i.e., the 1960's) seemed to have come and gone. Also lacking are legitimate successors to Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Sivananda, etc. (High time for another incarnation, I would say!)

 

 

Jai Ramakrishna,

Brad

[Guest guest]

Namaste, I am reminded of Swamiji's Quote which is some what related to the above discussion:"To many, Indian thought, Indian manners; Indian customs, Indian philosophy, Indian literature are repulsive at the first sight; but let them persevere, let them read, let them become familiar with the great principles underlying these ideas, and it is ninety-nine to one that the charm will come over them, and fascination will be the result. Slow and silent, as the gentle dew that falls in the morning, unseen and unheard yet producing a most tremendous result, has been the work of the calm, patient, all-suffering spiritual race upon the world of thought." - Swami Vivekananda