Hindu Tradition is based not on acceptance of particular gods, dogmas, revelations and religious structures but on reverence for Dharma which is the rule of law and the ethics of the age. In the Hindu way of life there are no God, or prophet given laws. Dharma is not immutable but is liable to times- hence, the concept of Yuga dharma. Today’s ethics, formulated by the constitution, is secularism – that is the Yuga dharma. Violators of it cannot be considered Hindus; they can only be looked upon as enemies of the Hindu way of life.
The true Hindu way of life is in danger today but not from those who follow other religions. It is threatened by those who want to imitate others and abandon its essence, because they have misinterpreted it through the prism of dogmatic faiths. For those who assert “Brahmasmi” and “Tattvamasi”, it does not matter if the temple at the birthplace of Rama comes up a few years or a few years or a few decades later, if it comes up at all.
Why is Rama the most popular of all the nine avatars? Because he was a Maryada Purusha, who gave Ram Rajya (good governance) and defended Dharma (rule of law). Rama cannot be venerated by those who transgress Dharma by killing innocents. A way of life which highlights the birth and death cycle, allows one the freedom to worship God in any form or not to worship at all, proclaims the cosmic university with its Advaita cannot be reconciled with the killing of innocents.
The Hindu way of life will survive because it is the natural, free, inquiring way. The reverence for life, which is the essence of birth and death cycle, the worship of Ishta devatas and the ability to see God in all things living and non-living, has to be restored. The temptation to imitate others by trying to straitjacket the free Hindu way of life, into structural frameworks must be resisted. Dharma the rule of law – must be restored. Ram Rajya – good governance – should be established and nourished. The Hindu way of life is not the same as accepting an organized religion. Therefore, this way of life can be propagated, cherished and practiced without having to come into conflict with other religions. Comparing the Hindu way of life with other religions is like comparing apples and oranges. The Hindu way of life is the essence of secularism, its thought processes and philosophical reflection are meant to be observed privately; in public, Dharma, the rule of law, has to be respected.
Recently, the prime minister referred to two kinds of Hinduism – the self-styled “Hindu” extremists. The latter is in the same class as the extremist clergy of religions. There is no difference between list clergy of Semitic religions. Part of the problem is that the Hindu way of life has not been explained to our children as a secular way of life and that it is not the practicing of a religion as understood elsewhere in the world.
Family Matters
Supporting one’s father and mother, cherishing wife and children and a peaceful occupation; this is the greatest blessing
Sutta Nipata 262
Lord, give us joy in our spouse and children, and make us models for the God-fearing
Quran 25-74
May in this family discipline overcome indiscipline, peace discord, charity miserliness, devotion arrogance, the truth spoken word the false spoken word which destroys the holy order.
Avesta Yasna – 60.5
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