WE ALL HAVE THE SAME MIXTURE
OF GENETIC MATERIAL THEN WHY NOT SPIRITUALLY PROGRESS TOO WITH
EQUANIMITY
(Compilation
for a Discourse at Sri Ganesha Temple at Nashville, TN, USA, by N. R.
Srinivasan, March 2020)
The
Toba super-eruption was the biggest volcanic blast on Earth within the past 2.5
million years. It blew its top on what is now the Indonesian island of Sumatra
around 74,000 years ago. Toba's
eruption devastated life on Earth because its thick cloud of ash blocked out
the sun, killing off much of the planet's plant life. But human population in India survived the disaster.
Researchers
assessed 80,000 year-long record of rock layers from the Dhaba site in
Northern India's Middle Son Valley.
Tools
made from rock were found which coincide with the timing of the Toba
event, indicating humans in India were already using Stone Age tools when it
erupted.
The
site yielded evidence that use of the tools persisted after the catastrophic
event created a decade-long winter - proof that the people who created them
survived.
Today,
only one species of this group remains - Homo sapiens, to which everyone
on Earth belongs.
But at
the time of Toba's cataclysmic eruption, Neanderthals and Denisovans still
existed, with perhaps other as-yet-undiscovered hominin species.
Humans in Africa are thought to have survived the fallout from the eruption
due to the formation of sophisticated social, symbolic and economic
strategies.
Eventually,
the human population in Africa had recovered enough to begin migrating out of
Africa and across Eurasia before 60,000 years ago.
The most recent study on this subject,
led by geneticist David Reich of Harvard University, was published in March
2018 and co-authored by 92 scholars from all over the world - many of them
leading names in disciplines as diverse as genetics, history, archaeology and
anthropology. The collective blood-lines at the Centre for Cellular &
Molecular Biology, India’s leading genetic-research institute, pose a unique
riddle for researchers. Geneticists today can trace nearly all bloodlines back
to two ancestral groups, one hailing from Africa, the other from Eurasia. These
groups mingled, married and swapped genes. A mixture of their genetic material
can be found in nearly every person on the subcontinent today. The proportion
of Neanderthal-inherited genetic material is about 1 to 4 percent [later
refined to 1.5 to 2.1 percent] and is found in all non-African
populations. It is suggested that 20 percent of Neanderthal DNA survived
in modern humans, notably expressed in the skin, hair and diseases of
modern people. Their finding, recently published in the American Journal of
Human Genetics, made waves when it was revealed that genetic mixing ended 1,900
years ago, around the same time the caste system was being codified in
religious texts. Perhaps the Manusmriti, which forbade intermarriage between
castes, was written in the period, few
centuries earlier closer to it. The study shows only a correlation between the
early caste system and the divergence of bloodlines, and whether one caused the
other is a debate better left to historians. Nonetheless, it puts a stake in
the ground, marking the moment when the belief that one should marry within
one’s own group developed into an active practice.
Studies using ancient DNA have been
rewriting prehistory all over the world in the last few years and in India,
there has been one fascinating discovery after another. But the latest genome research at Princeton
University reveals humans
on different continents have Neanderthal
ancestry similar to each other (see
Appendix) using advanced techniques. Probably even the
spear-wielding fishermen of the Andaman Islands might also carry the
Neanderthal ancient ancestry by this study contradicting unmixed DNA findings of Indian studies!
The first one originated from the
Zagros region in south-western Iran (which has the world's first evidence for
goat domestication) and brought agriculturists, most likely herders, to India.
This would have been between 7,000 and 3,000 BCE. These Zagros herders mixed
with the earlier inhabitants of the subcontinent - the First Indians,
descendants of the Out of Africa migrants who had reached India around 65,000
years ago - and together, they went on to create the Harappa Civilization.
In the centuries after 2000 BCE came
the second set of immigrants (the so called Aryans) from the Eurasian Steppe,
probably from the region now known as Kazakhstan. They likely brought with them
an early version of Sanskrit, mastery over horses and a range of new cultural
practices such as sacrificial rituals, all of which formed the basis of early
Hindu/Vedic culture. (A thousand years before, people from the Steppe had also
moved into Europe, replacing and mixing with agriculturists there, spawning new
cultures and spreading Indo-European languages).
Other genetic studies have brought to
light more migrations into India, such as that of the speakers of
Austro-Asiatic languages who came from south-eastern Asia.
According to Indian DNA studies the
spear-wielding fishermen of the Andaman Islands have no trace of the genetic
mix that pervades the mainland. Proves that the only the thing that really
could have stopped India’s ancestral populations from mixing was an 840-mile
shift to a remote tropical island.
The majority of Native Americans are mostly of East Asian ancestry and also significantly of North Eurasian ancestry, what makes them partly connected not only with the Siberians (their closest “cousins”) and the Chinese, but also with the Europeans, mainly those living in northern latitudes (majority because some of them come from later waves of Siberian immigrants, like the Athabaskan and the Inuit tribes.
Recently an ancient Siva temple in
ruins has been discovered in the dense forests of USA. Hinduism had been the
religion of the world from the beginning of times. Today it is again spreading
in all countries of the world slowly and steadily as world religion. The
ancient Indians settled in America are known to the world as Red Indians.
Generations of present Kaliyuga migrated from Bharat traveling through frozen
sea between 20000 to 30000 years settled in the continent of America and were
called Red Indians say the expert historians. Settling there they worshiped Siva
says a research publication Sadathala. It is even speculated that they
named peaks of Grand Canyon after
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and worshiped them though attributed to explorers by
historians that were favorably disposed to Hinduism. Sivalingas are discovered
in Italy, Ireland, West Asia, Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, South Africa etc.
Migration has been going on to and from Bharat in the ancient past.
We here in Puranas about wandering
sages like Narada, Viswamitra, Kapila, Agastya and others as well as caravans
moving with them to and from Bharath. It does not seem right to claim that in
the distant past our religion or culture was propagated in other countries
through an armed invasion or through trade for that was a time when
civilization itself had not taken shape there. But due to this to and fro
migrations and good-will sages the Vedic religion was prevalent all over the
world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone through a process of change
and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions
of these various lands which in the subsequent --historical times--came under
Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be.
One also wonders why all this migration
was drawn into the Subcontinent called Bharat that was later called India, cut
to a small size as is today. It is here the concept of civilized society and
culture emerged, regulated and ruled human society, developed by ancient sages
divinely inspired where Vedavyasa codified Vedas and Upanishads heard from
other sages. To make them spicy and
juicy he also compiled Puranas and Bhaghavad Gita as Spiritual Marketing aids.
However, the real message that the new
DNA research carries is an exciting and hopeful one: that only Bharatiyas have
created a long-lasting Civilized Society and Culture from a variety of
heredities and histories which we now pride as Vedic Religion and Vedic Culture
and no others. The genius of the Bharatiya Civilization during its best periods
has been inclusion, not exclusion. Unity in diversity is, indeed, the central
theme of India's genetic make-up.
“The real message that the new research
carries is an exciting and hopeful one: that Indians have created a
long-lasting civilization from a variety of heredities and histories. The
genius of the Indian civilization during its best periods has been inclusion,
not exclusion. Unity in diversity is, indeed, the central theme of India's
genetic make-up” says Tony Joseph, author of Early Indian: “The Story of Our
Ancestors and Where We Came From”
This is evident from the following Veda Mantras:
Sangacchadhvam
sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana
upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come together! Speak together! Let our
minds be all of one accord like the Devas that sat together in the past in
harmony to worship.
[All people should live with one mind
without enmity and this can be achieved only by the divine grace says the
mantra]
Samaano
mantra: samiti: samaani samaanam mana: saha chittamesam /
samaanam mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi //(X-191-3)
samaanam mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi //(X-191-3)
Let our speech be one; united be our
voices! May our minds be in union with the thoughts of the wise people! Sharing
a common purpose; we worship as one.
[Vedanta Religion is universal. It did
not promote walled religions. Bhagavad Gita later said these religion need
bridges to connect to the Supreme when they got divided. All rivers seek refuge
in the vast Ocean. All religions seek universal Lord Brahman only who is ever
expanding and indescribable to accommodate all. May be in the form of visible
Sun as Saguna Brahman--tadvishnoh paramam
padam sadaa pasyanti sooryah --Those who attained the status of Aditya are just
one step behind to Supreme abode]
Samaani
vaa aakootih samaana hridayaani vah / Samaanam astu vo mano yathaa vah
susahaasati // (X-191-4)
United be your purpose, harmonious be
your feelings and collected be your
mind, in the same way as all the various aspects of the universe exist in
togetherness, wholeness.
[We should act in a manner with no
ill-will towards others, causing no harm and causing no pain. Let us learn from
the nature as to how to live in peace and exist together in harmony that
pleases the Lord says the mantra]
THE VISIBLE FORM OF BRAHMAN IS THE SUN--AADITYA
The Sun is the One God, the Light of lights, and GOD
of gods of the ancient world. This religion of the Sun pervaded the ancient
world. It predominated among the Egyptians, Persians, Hindus, and Scynthians,
to name but a few, extending to the Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and Pueblo Indians of
the New World. Ancient Pre-Christian European traditions of the Greeks, Romans,
Celts, Germans, and Slavs, contain strong solar symbolism. Monotheistic
approaches like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam contain a symbolism of light.
There is a strong solar symbolism in Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Shinto, and
many other traditions. Such spiritual teachings of light link the human being
to the Sun and regard us as “children of the Sun,” forms of light on earth
taking birth to fulfill the solar will towards greater life and consciousness.
We could say that the natural religion of our species is the Religion of the
Sun. You may use this term if
you do not like the name Vedanta Religion or Sanatana Dharma of Indian origin.
The Sun is the most powerful influence in nature,
responsible for the light through which all life on earth functions, and
sustaining the force of gravity through which the earth revolves. The Sun is
the ruler of our solar system and all that occurs within it. Yet though we all
may welcome the sunlight every day, we seldom consider the spiritual reality of
the Sun or honor the sacred presence and higher spirit behind it or value it
for providing us better health or an alternative energy source. Sun's activity
is very important to us. We could not live on Earth without it. We take
the sunlight for granted. The sun's gravity keeps Earth in orbit around it,
keeping us at a comfortable distance to enjoy the sun's light and warmth.
It holds down our atmosphere and the air we need to breath. Gravity is what
holds our world together.
The main God of the Zodiac is the Sun God called
Vishnu meaning all-pervading, Rig Veda I.155.6, says “With four times ninety
names (chaturbhih sakam navatim cha namabhih), he (Vishnu) sets in
motion moving forces like a turning wheel (chakra).” This suggests that even in
Vedic times Vishnu had 360 names or forms, one for each degree of the
zodiac.
It is this past history that prompted
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to come with the following advice that has become the
guiding principal of Ramakrishna Mission: “I see people who talk about religion
constantly quarreling with one another. Hindus, Mussalmans, Brahmos, Shaktas,
Vaishnavas, Saivas, Christians all quarrel with one another. They haven't the
intelligence to understand that He who is called Krishna is also Shiva and the
Primal Sakti, and that it is He, again, who is called Jesus and Allah. There is
only one Rama and He has a thousand names. Truth is One; It is called by
different names. All people are seeking the same Truth.....Everyone is going
toward GOD. They will all realize Him if they have sincerity and longing of
heart.
Neither knowing this background history
nor having the parental guidance on Vedic wisdom who are materialistic, modern
Hindu youth has become open minded in a mixed DNA Society of USA and have
restarted a remixing of genes once again that was arrested for some time. This
mixing is the result of choosing the life partner from White Christianity and
Judaism, from Asiatic Non-Indian Society but seldom from Islam disgusted with Al-Quid-a activities that Islam has not
condemned sitting on a fence. Thus they have over-ruled the norms of Hindu
conservatism that one should marry within one’s own group based on Manu Dharma
but not directed by earlier Vedic culture. Such married couples though married
according to present Hindu sacrament are not interested in Hindu Rituals and
worship and are even willing to join the so called fast-growing SBNR group in
USA not knowing how to evolve, elevate and propagate Spirituality which Rishis
taught in ancient India. Here in USA temples play a major role for leading a
spiritual life by the mixed faith couples guided by Vedic wisdom as developed
by our Rishis which does not prescribe any regimental religious following. That
is why our spiritual leaders’ advice:
“The Mandirs have to play a significant
role in the growth of the Hindu American community in terms of its capacity to
uphold Hindu Dharma. We need to make temples not just a center of rituals and
congregation but lighthouses of philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis
of Hindu Dharma. Creating an environment where the youth understand, appreciate
and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu
temples under one umbrella”--Spiritual Gurus from India are active in USA.
It is for the American Hindu Society to rise to the need of the hour and make not only the life American Hindus meaningful but also of others who are spiritually starved for we have a proven past and history guided by the wisdom of Vedas and Gurus and monasteries well-versed in them.
Hinduism is a
modern-day invention by colonial powers, who mapped world in terms of unities
like Hinduism, Islam and Confucianism, each constructed in the mirror image of
Christianity.
What
bleeds India today is a profound historical error. The error lies in our
understanding of state and religion – both as political concepts and as
historical entities. We have borrowed these terms from Western European history and applied them unthinkingly to ourselves,
without acknowledging that what we today recognize as state and religion
actually evolved very differently in India.
Those
who held on to basic principles of
Dharma and remained in Bharat were glorified or condemned as Hindus. In modern
times they too started migrating, for
e.g. Hindu Americans in USA with mixed genes. Aurobindo glorifies them as follows based on the present designation of
Hindu Religion at global level:
“It
is the Hindu religion only because the Hindu nation has kept it, because in
this Peninsula it grew up in the seclusion of the sea and the Himalayas,
because in this sacred and ancient land it was given as a covenant to the Vedic
sages by the Supreme to preserve through the ages. It is not circumscribed by the confines of a
single country, it does not belong peculiarly and forever to a bounded part of the world. That which we call the Hindu religion is
really the eternal religion, because it is the universal religion which
embraces all others. If a religion is not universal, it cannot be eternal. A
narrow religion, a sectarian religion, an exclusive religion can live only for
a limited time and a limited purpose. This is the one religion that can triumph
over materialism by including and anticipating the discoveries of science and
the speculations of philosophy. It is the one religion which impresses on
mankind the closeness of GOD to us and embraces in its compass all the possible
means by which man can approach GOD. It is the one religion which insists every
moment on the truth which all religions acknowledge that He is in all people
and all things and that in Him we move” says Aurobindo.
“HINDUISM is a relentless pursuit after
truth and if today it has become moribund, inactive, irresponsible to growth it
is because we are fatigued; and as soon as the fatigue is over, Hinduism will
burst forth upon the World with a brilliance perhaps unknown before. Of course,
therefore, Hinduism is the most tolerant of all religions. Its creed is all
religions. Its creed is all embracing” says Mahatma Gandhi.
We are also stuck to the word Hindu and
Hinduism and there is no mood to correct it!
All
of us believe GOD is merciful, kind and full of love. Yet we are bogged down
with fear of death and worry about after-life. Hindu prayers raise the voice to
the Supreme: “Lead us from Death to Immortality”. What
makes Hinduism attractive--it’s liberal outlook with no fear and anxiety.
SOUL
IN VEDANTA
In Vedantathe atman (“breath,” or “soul”) is
the universal, eternal self, of which each individual soul (jiva or jiva-atman)
partakes. The jiva-atman is also eternal but is imprisoned in an earthly
body at birth. At death the jiva-atman passes into a new existence
determined by karma,
or the cumulative consequences of actions.
The cycle of death and rebirth (samsara) is eternal according
to some Hindus, but others say it persists only until the soul has attained
karmic perfection, thus merging with the Absolute (Brahman). While
all other religions believe in One life to Live with the goal of Heaven or Hell
Hinduism believes in continuous improvement at each birth, fine tuning and
merge with the source like what it was before entering
the world for the first time in its pure state.
IMMORTALITY
IN VEDANTA
In the Katha Upanishad, Nachiketas
says: “This doubt there is about a man departed—some say: He is; some: He does
not exist. Of this I would like to know.”
Atman travels from ancestral world and enters the womb in later months of
pregnancy with full consciousness as to what intends to do to liberate itself
and cease further return-journey. But unfortunately it forgets all about the
past the way it is being delivered with brain under stress. It is therefore necessary for us to turn inwards and
lead the soul to better and brighter worlds adjusting the balance sheet of
Karmas guided by the wisdom of Upanishads. The Upanishads—the basis of most
traditional philosophy in India—are predominantly a discussion of the nature of
humanity and its ultimate destiny.
The Meditation and Yoga based philosophies are India’s great gift of
knowledge to the world that remain at the cutting edge of science, spirituality
and psychology today. While they are rising again today, it is time to bring
them back into the mainstream of human inquiry, starting in India. The Hindu Temples and various Hindu monasteries in the USA are duty-bound to promote a
better understanding of the Hindu Dharma, especially among the younger
generation, who must become aware of the rationale of their rich
cultural heritage with a modern perspective.
The Mandirs have to play a significant role
in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold the
Hindu Dharma. The growth of Hindu Dharma in America critically depends on the extent to
which the Hindu children remain anchored in their timeless traditions.
Ensuring this will require collective thought and action. Educated Hindus need a demythologized and
less ritualistic Hindu Dharma to blend modernity with the vision of the
Vedas, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures. Bhagavad Gita prescribes no rituals. Additionally, temples need to get actively involved in establishing harmonious and
respectful relations with American public in their local communities.
This could be done by occasionally inviting them to our temple festivals,
helping the local charities and working actively with the Council of the World
Parliament of Religions to improve inter-community relations. Though
Hindus can worship at shrines in their homes, a temple only provides a focal point for the community, and an
opportunity to translate their Dharma into collective practice.
Uninfluenced
by the strong sectarian philosophy and ritualistic religious pursuits Hindu
American Spiritual leaders may be better suited to spiritually evolve and also
lead the rest than Hindus in India. We
are seeing the missionary work of such leaders like Paramhamsa Yogananda, Swami
Chinmayananda, Swami Dayananda, Velan Samy,
David Frawley and others in USA.
Hindu
female gurus are highly visible in the Western world as spiritual leaders.
Examples of well-known female gurus include Amma Sri Karunamayi, Ammachi Mata, Amritanandamayi,
Anandamurthi Guruma, Gangaji, Gurumatha Amma, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Ma Jaya
Sati Bhagavati, Mother Meera, Sri Maa, and Sri Anandi Ma. All of these female
gurus have worldwide outreach through their official websites on the Internet,
which provide information on their teachings and organizations, and sometimes
biographical information. The performance of social service, seva,
has a precedent in Swami Vivekananda’s activities, but female gurus have made
it a centerpiece of their activities so that
their spiritual mission becomes
more appealing. Female guru-ascetics, such as Baiji, engage in charitable
project.
International figures in the world of
Science Werner
Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger,
Robert Oppenheimer, Niels Bohr, Nikola Tesla and Carl Sagan have taken inspiration from various Vedas
and Puranas and their own quotes about how they have been influenced by
Sanatana Dharma may be recalled. There are many notable Americans who are not
born Hindus but following Hinduism. Indonesia is a country whose citizens are
staunch followers of Islam. The queen of such a country has come forward with a
huge decision and adopted “Sanatana Dharma” as her religion.
In this regard it is worth going through the
remarks by Aurobindo on the subject: “Why Bharatiyas alone think of Spiritual life and not
others of Western origin? Because Bharatyiyas have been doing that work for the
last four to five thousand years, the whole past is living in a remarkable way,
so that the slightest touch can open a man to it if he has anything in him
which supplies. Why this is more
difficult in the West than in India? Firstly, because the West never had it in
such a degree as Hindu Indians; and secondly what they had is far away from
their mental and vital life, and so it has receded behind. Perhaps it is coming
back now there also”.
That is why Westerners who have got a spiritual aspiration turn to
India. It does not mean that they turn to Indians but to the accumulated
spiritual force that is in India. There are some obstacles in India too which Hindu
Americans can easily overcome in USA though everybody runs to India as it is
easy to practice spirituality there with Hindu majority and lot of Gurus. For
instance, Mayavada so deep rooted in
India is more difficult to get rid of there than in the West. Not all Indians are more spiritual
than other people.
Aurobindo opines:”Behind the Indian race
there is also a strong Western influence.
For instance Mahatma Gandhi is a European, truly, a Russian, Christian
in India, and there are some Indians in Western bodies suitable for Inter-faith
promotion and appeasement! When the Europeans admire Mahatma Gandhi is more
Christian than many Christians and that he is “Christ of the modern times” they
are perfectly right. All his preaching is derived from Christianity and though
the form that is given to it is Indian the essential spirit is Christian and he
may not be exactly Christ but at any rate he comes in continuation of the same
movement. He is largely influenced by Tolstoy and the Bible and by Jainism in
his preaching; at any rate, more than by the Indian scriptures — the Upanishads
or the Gita which he interprets in the light of his own ideas. There are people
in India who regard Mahatmaji as a spiritual man because of his yama and niyama — the vows of self — control and simplicity and his Ahimsa,
love etc. There is no idea of morality or ethics in it, and they never made yama and niyama the aim of their effort. He proposed to do it by replacing
the general Rajasic movements of nature by the Sattvik ones. Their aim was to
rise above the ordinary consciousness or
even their idea of saṃyama —
restraint was not dictated by morality. They wanted to gather power for a
spiritual purpose and so they discouraged the spending away of forces in the
ordinary way. There is a great difference between the aim of Patanjali and that
of Gandhi and Tolstoy. The aim of Patanjali was to rise to a Higher
Consciousness.
Living in a different country of liberal
and independent thinking we are rather inclined to think about Yogi Patanjali than
Mahatma Gandhi who was no doubt got influenced
by political turmoil and tribulations! Here in USA He proposed to do it by
replacing the general Rajasic movements of nature by the Sattvik ones. Here in
USA, we have to arrest attraction to atheism and materialism to which Hindu
children are also largely attracted with parental negligence or otherwise busy.
Many
Hindus in India feel that only
they and their nation is spiritual influenced by strong patriotism popularized before
Independence that others are all bad, un-divine and impure, that only their country represents truth and GOD and that
the rest of the countries are all bad — if they
have that kind of patriotic feeling, then it is really un-divine since
all of us are from the same stock that is against Vedic principles of krinavanto viswamaryam and atmavat sarvabhooteshu, and the Vedic
the culture in which they were brought up earlier!
From
patriotism, from the feeling of nationalism, we go to internationalism. To a
child, his mother is his whole world. He discovers his whole world in his
mother and father. For a few years his parents are his main concern and then
his high school, his college and the town or city where he lives. Then he feels
that the nation is his whole world. All the time his vision is increasing. When
he widens his vision, he sees that the whole world belongs to him and gets exposed
to the Hindu dharma philosophy of vasudhaiva
kutumbakam. Then he hears the word "spiritual," and he feels not
only the necessity of progress inside his own house but also the necessity of
world progress.
In recent decades, the group of
individuals who identify themselves as “Spiritual But Not Religious” (SBNR) has
grown dramatically in USA. Among young
people in the US, an amazing 62 percent consider themselves spiritual but not
religious with whom Hindu American children are in constant touch. Often that
long time contact and intimacy end up in Inter-racial and Inter-faith
marriages. Wikipedia offers a crisp
definition: “A life stance of spirituality that takes issue with organized
religion as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual growth.
Spirituality places an emphasis upon the well-being of the ‘Body-Mind-Spirit,’
so holistic activities such as tai chi, reiki, and yoga are common within the
SBNR movement.”
Reasons
for identifying as SBNR vary widely, but one common report is that the religion
of one’s family does not lead to experiencing higher consciousness, one’s
innate spirituality and oneness with God as omnipresent, loving consciousness.
In fact, the born-into religion including sectarian biased Hindu Religion may
be overtly opposed to such pursuits. Therefore, when there is a profound
personal interest in spirituality, it is logical to disassociate from such
religions.
The
fact is, nineteen million young Americans designated as SBNR adhere to beliefs
and practices, often unknowingly, that resemble Hinduism. This should come as
no surprise, considering the West’s fascination with India’s ancient teachings
and the reality that in Hinduism there is virtually no division between religion
and spirituality. But unfortunately this
does not reflect in Hindu American temple worships and busy parents in their
material pursuits have no time to focus on them in their upbringing of
children.
Hinduism
in USA has its own growing group of young SBNRs. Though they understand that
Hinduism has many spiritual paths within
it, as taught in Baal Vihar and Vedic Heritage Sunday Schools compelled by
their elders, they mostly decide not to participate in the religious ceremonies
held in Hindu temples, as they see no value in doing so. They still hold dearly
the desire to be a spiritual person. Conventional Hindus try to attract them to temples with attractive cultural activities and
mouth-watering Hindu cuisine!
Hinduism believes that Temple worship is
not the only way to pursue spirituality in our faith. “Hinduism is a religion more of experience
than of doctrine. It prefers to say to its followers, ‘This is the nature of
Truth, and these are the means by which that Truth may be realized. Here are the
traditions which have withstood time and proved most effective. Now you may
test them in your own life, prove them to yourself. And we will help as we
can.’ Hinduism will never say, “You must do or believe thusly or be condemned”
says Velansamy of Hawaii. Somehow this
forceful message has not been implanted well in the young mind by our Sunday
school teachers trained in India and brought up with conservatism. Hence the dilemma.
It is for the American Hindu Society to
rise to the need of the hour and make not only the life American Hindus
meaningful but also of others who are spiritually starved. Why they because they
have a proven past and history guided by wisdom of Vedas and Gurus and
monasteries well-versed in them. In fact they are AHSP of Eternal Tradition as
Aurobindo says!
In the dim past what we call Hinduism today was
prevalent all over the world as Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Tradition. Archaeological studies reveal the existence
of relics of this Vedic religion in many countries. Thanks to powerful messages from American
celebrities, saints and scientists and their life pattern as well as the
powerful influence of Yoga and Meditation make these SBNRs to take a close look at Hinduism to experiment with, that are mostly drawn from Christianity and
occasionally from Judaism but few and far between from Islam. People from past
Islam faith though looking for a change are often looked with suspicion even
while they enter with inquiring mind because of their background as well as name
and globally active Al-Quid-a threat. They are not looked upon with favor to
take them to their fold.
In early September 2019, EXMNA (Ex
Muslims of North America) unveiled billboards in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta
reading, “Nearly one in four Muslims raised
in the U.S. have left Islam--Godless; Fearless; Ex-Muslim.” Sadly, getting
these billboards up required an incredible act of persistence. Company after
company refused to work with EXMNA for fear of offending Muslims. "Live in Peace; Awesome without Allah" is their slogan.
Islam is a difficult religion to leave,
probably the most difficult. As with others, children
are indoctrinated as soon as they begin to use words. But Islam also
demands an extraordinarily high level of commitment—praying five times a day,
for instance—unquestioning faith, unmitigated obedience, and constant
attention. For many Muslims, it becomes a nearly inextricable part of who they
are.
They recognize that their childhood
doctrine, wrong beliefs are irrational and requires some grasp of the rational
living in American society. But building
a flourishing life requires systematically replacing irrational beliefs with a
rational philosophy, without which, many attempts
at ditching religion fail.
Nonetheless,
ditching Islam as is tutored today is a necessary step toward a truly human
life for millions of Muslims all over the world, and EXMNA is helping many to
take that step. “We want closeted ex-Muslims to know they are not alone,” says
Sarah Haider, EXMNA’s Executive Director. “We also want them to know that while
the prospect of coming out as nonreligious is frightening, there is a light at
the end of the tunnel. You can make it to the other side, you can rebuild your
life and find joy in the freedom from religion”. If you care about fostering a
peaceful, secular, civilized world, you must help EXMNA share its beautiful
message. “Hopefully, this will lead us toward Enlightenment within the Muslim
world,” says Syed. And they are marching
towards that. They have been disgusted with Al-Quid-a infested Islam and ruthless Islamic
States they migrated from.
Sanatana
Dharma with its Vedic wisdom krinvanto
viswamaryam, atmavat sarva bhooteshu,
sanghacchdvam samvadavam that has nobly adapted from Panchtantra the ideal motto for Hindus udaracharitaanam tu vasudhaiva
kutumbakam, is the only
all-inclusive Spirituality that can help
this desperate group who are in the market search for spirituality. But are American Hindus ready with open mind?
I know personally a family where
husband is an America born Muslim wife is an American born Brahmin by birth,
both doctors, and children being brought up with Hindu Dharma living happily
and comfortably-- a revolutionary revival of Sanatana Dharma at personal level!
But what Indian Muslim celebrities are doing who have chosen partner to serve
the cause of people like EXMNA and the like?
We do not hear much from
them like American celebrities who have embraced Hinduism!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
“New research using ancient DNA is
rewriting prehistory in India” by Tony Joseph is gratefully acknowledged
REFERENCES:
1)
What we call Hinduism Today was the Universal Religion of the
Past:
5)
WIKIPEDIA and various Internet Sources
APPENDIX
LET US
PROMOTE DHARMIC AMERICANISM AS HINDU AMERICANS
In recent decades, the group of individuals who
identify themselves as “Spiritual But Not Religious” (SBNR) has grown
dramatically in USA. Among young people in the US, an amazing 62
percent consider themselves spiritual but not religious with whom Hindu
American children are in constant touch. Often that long time contact and
intimacy end up in Inter-racial and Inter-faith marriages. Wikipedia
offers a crisp definition: “A life stance of spirituality that takes issue with
organized religion as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual
growth. Spirituality places an emphasis upon the well-being of the
‘Body-Mind-Spirit,’ so holistic activities such as tai chi, reiki, and yoga are
common within the SBNR movement.”
In the
dim past what we call Hinduism today was prevalent all over the world as
Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Tradition. Archaeological studies reveal the
existence of relics of this Vedic religion in many countries. Thanks to
powerful messages from American celebrities, saints and scientists and their
life pattern as well as the powerful influence of Yoga and Meditation make
these SBNRs to take a close look at Hinduism to experiment with,
that are mostly drawn from Christianity and occasionally from
Judaism but few and far between from Islam. People from past Islam faith though
looking for a change are often looked with suspicion even while they enter with
inquiring mind because of their background as well as name and globally active
Al-Quid-a threat. They are not looked upon with favor to take them to their
fold.
In early September 2019, EXMNA (Ex Muslims of North
America) unveiled billboards in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta reading, “Nearly
one in four Muslims raised in the U.S. have left Islam--Godless; Fearless;
Ex-Muslim.” Sadly, getting these billboards up required an incredible act of
persistence. Company after company refused to work with EXMNA for fear of
offending Muslims. "Live in Peace; Awesome without Allah"
is their slogan.
I have talked about recently about
Yezidis and Tibetan Buddhists, They are all dharma inclined and so looking up
to Hinduism more aptly Sanatana Dharma. In this background of
American Awakeing Hindus also need to reorient themselves to Back to the Past
of sanghacchdvam samvadadvam samanamaah
kootih.
Please recall my past
e-mails on the related subject:
We hear all the time hate and crime against Hindus and Hinduism.
We miss to notice and propagate how Sanathana Dharma is slowly and steadily
progressing all over the globe about which I talked about.
In spain medical team chanting OM and Satnam Ek Onkar ||Doctors
also keep FAITH || spain coronavirus
World Turns to Dharma to Solve Ethical Dilemmas
Raised by Corona Virus.SLOWLY AND STEADILY SANATANA
DHARMA IS BECOMING POPULAR ALL OVER THE GLOBE
According to Aditya Satsangi we could be
politically correct too. He writes:
“It’s time to bring Americanism back rather than divisive religion-based
politics and Dharma is one such platform that is beyond any religion.”
Dharmic Americanism should be the
new philosophy
How the church-going Republicans began to be hated
by many Americans needs to be analyzed?
The GOP (Grand Old Party) was
the first to introduce ‘classical liberalism‘ in 1854.Classical
liberalism was based on economic freedom as mentioned by Adam Smith in
his book one of the “Wealth of Nations.” Classical liberalism reduced a human
being to a mere commodity that can be used to make maximum profits for the
corporation. Assuming that even though individuals can negotiate a better fair
price for the skills, but, major corporations still have the ability to control
the market value of services or products they can buy from individuals. The
government that is independent of the control of the market forces cannot
reinforce a rule to intervene on behalf of an individual. The individual will
have no recourse but courts to gain justice. Neo-classical liberalism
advocated smaller governments. However, the main drawback is the democracy
model itself. When governments change hands from parties with divergent ideological
views, the system that sustains the interests of the largest group of
bureaucracy gains an upper hand. Because the bureaucrats often implement the
decisions of the government. The church has often condemned wealth which is
outside their control. Big corporations and strong governments are always
opposition to their interests. The biggest loss of the philosophy of separation
of church and government is the church itself. So they look for friends in the
government who can make policies favorable to them and their congregations. For
the church, it is extremely important to be closer to at least one political
group.
With a large number of Muslim refugees
coming to the USA with deep-rooted faith in their tradition, the social
liberalism of Europe has become the new call by Islamic followers.
Therein, lies the problem. The church’s
history is replete with instances of gross human rights violations in Europe,
the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The church was also
responsible for elitist class segmentation to maintain their hold on the peasant
class. The peasant class gives them numbers and faithful followers while
the elitist class gives them social leadership. With the church being a
connector between elite and peasants, that was also a great revenue model for
the church. The church has thrived on this model for the last 900-year
history of human history. History shows that liberalism thrived in the USA
but was detested by elites and nobles in Europe. Classical liberalism thrives
in the USA and has given rise to American Conservatism. Social liberalism
thrives on individual liberty and group liberty and is now as per pure
definition thrives in Europe. Social liberalism also comes with politically
correct attitudes displayed more in Europe than in the USA.
“All men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these
are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness” – the preamble of the American Declaration of Independence.
Chicago School of Economics has had a major influence on defining
American conservatism which was based on classical liberalism. Social
conservatism in the USA which closely adheres to Judeo-Christian values
is the hallmark of Southern USA. With recent nationalistic movements across the
world, nationalistic conservatism has become stronger in the USA. With a large
number of Muslim refugees coming to the USA with deep-rooted faith in
their tradition, the social liberalism of Europe has become the new call by
Islamic followers. Their demand for state welfare as a right along with the
benefits of American conservatism is the new challenge faced by American
conservatives.
Democrats have captured this
opportunity and have espoused social conservatism as a tool for getting votes.
The idea of the USA stands to fail with social conservatism coupled with
Islamic conservatism given the global history of political Islam. Who will
prevail, only time can tell? The GOP stands to lose votes unless they
completely disconnect themselves from Judeo-Christian conservatives. There are
three major conservative groupings: – The first grouping is American
conservatives + Judeo Christian conservatives, The second grouping is
American social liberals + Islamic conservatives, The third grouping
which is, American Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and other American natives. The
third grouping remains closer to American social liberals but their Islamic
conservative connections will keep them aloof.
As far as the election is concerned,
any of the two parties Democrats or Republicans have to attract
this third grouping which will actually define the outcome of the election. If
any of the groupings remove their religious connections then more Americans
will vote for the country than for the party. It’s time to bring Americanism
back rather than divisive religion-based politics. Dharma is one such
platform that is beyond any religion. Dharmic Americanism should be the new
philosophy of the political parties in the USA.
[Aditya Satsangi is a Hindu American
Entrepreneur and Writer with a Centrist viewpoint. He is a keen observer of
International Politics, Dharma and Ideology. His research on ancient Hindu
Scriptures such as Mahabharat, Ramayan and Bhagawatam brings unique
perspectives on current affairs. He is an avid Golfer in his free time.]
-- E -Mail sent to HR Participants on June 12, 2020
KARMA IS THE DNA OF OUR SOUL
Karma is generally portrayed as the effect of our individual actions, extending from past lives to present and future lives. Karma is also the underlying process of the ‘self-creating universe’. It indicates that the universe creates itself according to its own inner intentional functions.
Modern
science recognizes an evolution of form, noting how the bodies of different
animals adapt over time, becoming more complex and sophisticated through
succeeding generations. It has outlined a physical or bodily evolution from
plants and animals to human beings. Since the time of Darwin, science has gone
into great detail trying to explain this movement of bodily evolution in terms
of the outer factors of natural selection, survival of the fittest and
adaptation to changing environments, as if it were a process that occurred of
itself by some sort of natural necessity.
Today’s
science emphasizes genetics as the main mechanism behind this evolutionary
process. It has discovered an underlying ‘genetic code’ behind the great
diversity of life, linking all creatures together in the greater evolutionary
process. Can such a physical information code exist without any
enduring intelligence behind it? This scientific account of evolution, DNA
leaves any life-force or consciousness out of the picture except as a
by-product of bodily processes.
It is
an inner consciousness that brings about evolutionary change of form, not the
form itself, which is no more than a shell. Karma and rebirth are the
means of this evolution of consciousness, its underlying modus operandi. Only
an intelligence that is reborn can truly evolve in awareness. Otherwise
intelligence would die with the body, letting the form disintegrate with
nothing left to continue.
The
soul carries our karmic propensities called samskaras from one body to another.
This is the Jivatman or reincarnating entity of Vedic thought.
Our karma,
we could say, is the DNA of our soul. Just as the body has its particular
genetic code, the soul has its particular ‘karmic code’. The soul’s karmic code
is based upon the life patterns it has created-the habits, tendencies,
influences and desires it has set in motion over its many births. lives down to
a subconscious and instinctual level.
For the
evolution of our species and for our own spiritual growth, we must consider
both the genetic and karmic codes. We cannot understand ourselves through genetics
alone, which is only the code of the body; we must also consider the karmic
code, the code of the mind and heart.
Note
how two children in the same family can share the same genetic pattern,
education and environment and yet can have very different lives, characters and
spiritual interests. This is because of their differing karmic codes.
Vedic
astrological chart is probably the most important document that we have in life
and more important than our genetic code. Yet like our DNA it is a code written
in the language of nature and needs to be deciphered by a trained researcher in
order to make sense of its indications. Through the Vedic astrological chart we
can understand the greater purpose of our lives and their potentials, our
vulnerabilities and our hidden strengths that can help us fulfill our true
destiny. Please recall about Vedic astrology study of Sri Rama about which we
talked about.
To
change ourselves it is not enough to alter the genetic code. We must learn how
to alter our karmic code as well. However, to change our karmic code is not
much easier than to alter our genetics! The required efforts must be done
within ourselves rather than in an external laboratory. It requires that we
change the very way we live, breathe, see and think, such as the methodology of
Yoga and other Vedic sciences instructs.
As the
soul holds the karmic code, only the soul can change it. Once we awaken at the
level of the soul, conscious of ourselves as children of immortality, we can
modify our karma in a spiritual direction for the higher evolution of all life.
The
soul, therefore, is nature’s evolutionary intelligence. Its code or record is
karma, which is the inner DNA of the evolutionary process. On a general level, the
soul carries the karmic code of nature, like the abilities to breathe or to
perceive that we share with related creatures. On a more specific level, the
soul carries the karmic code of the individual and his or her particular
tendencies, urges and desires. The individual soul is the primary vehicle that
nature has developed for purpose of conscious evolution. The individual
provides a focus that allows consciousness to grow through various bodies and
gradually manifest itself in ever more intelligent living forms.
Our
soul is a karmic center of consciousness that we must face sooner or later.
When we die, the only thing that goes with our soul is its karma. The bodily
self does not continue but the soul – the sensitive core of awareness within us
that allows us to feel happiness or sorrow – goes on to wherever its karma may
lead, which we must eventually experience. If you have harmed your world in one
life, you may have to return in the next in order to rectify the wrong that you
have done which pains the soul, even if the outer mind can ignore it. If you
really want to avoid pain and suffering, not only in this life but in the
continued existence of your soul, you should strive at every moment.
While
few of us can reach the state of supreme enlightenment, we can all bring
aspects of enlightenment into our daily lives. We can bring a unitary
consciousness into our greater environment, establishing our relationship with
all aspects of the conscious universe from greeting the Sun in the morning to
remembering the stars at night. We must respond to the evolutionary message of
our karma, which is to take responsibility for our world and look upon all
creatures as our own Self. All nature will support us in this endeavor if we
recognize its movement as the expression of our own soul.
If you
really want to avoid pain and suffering, not only in this life but in the
continued existence of your soul, you should strive at every moment to act with
an awareness of the law of karma and its consequences. This is a sobering
consideration unlike the promises of easy happiness, quick salvation or instant
enlightenment. While these fantasies appeal to our desires, they do not address
the actualities of how the universe works, and leave us cheated and deceived in
the end when the inevitable effects.
We can safely conclude Karma is the DNA
of our Soul!
--David frawley
Humans
on different continents have Neanderthal ancestry similar to each other--January
2020
Researchers from Princeton
University now believe, based on a new computational method that Africans do in
fact have Neanderthal DNA and that very early human history was more complex
than many might think.
“This
is the first time we can detect the actual signal of Neanderthal ancestry in
Africans,” said Lu Chen, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton’s
Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics (LSI) and a co-author of a new
paper that published Thursday in the journal Cell.
Joshua
Akey, a professor at LSI who led the study, suggested their findings cast doubt
on the widely held “out of Africa” theory of human migration — that modern
humans originated in Africa and made a single dispersal to the rest of the
world in a single wave between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago.
“Our
results show this history was much more interesting and there were many waves
of dispersal out of Africa, some of which led to admixture between modern
humans and Neanderthals that we see in the genomes of all living individuals
today.”
He
said that their data indicated that a wave of modern humans left Africa
approximately 200,000 years ago and this group interbred with Neanderthals.
This ancient group of Europeans then migrated back into Africa, introducing
Neanderthal ancestry to African populations.
The
paper said that technical constraints and the assumption that Neanderthals and
ancient African populations were geographically isolated from each other had
led to a blind spot in the field. Previous studies had relied on reference
populations, or panels, that were assumed to have no Neanderthal DNA.
The
team also found that previous estimates suggesting that East Asians might have approximately
20% more Neanderthal ancestry compared to Europeans, were wrong and humans on
different continents had Neanderthal ancestry “surprisingly similar to each
other.”
Fernando
Racimo, an assistant professor at the Globe Institute at the University of
Copenhagen, said that the study was “significant” and “interesting.”
“This
new method allows one to find Neanderthal ancestry in a set of genomes without having
to rely on a panel that is assumed to be un-admixed (not comparable), so the
authors are now able to apply their method to look for Neanderthal ancestry in
Africans as well.”-
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