Is Hinduism really threatened ?

                                  Is Hinduism really threatened?

As one visits the social media sites one increasingly encounters a sense of anxiety among some sections of the Hindus. There are clearly two trends to such anxiety one caused by the violent methods of the advocates of the Caliphate and the other occasioned by the needs of polarization on the eve of elections. The relevant question in the given situation is whether the Hindus that are anxious do really know what Hinduism is about or is their response to the presumed threat over stretched.

Hinduism as one understands through the Gita and the Upanishads is a way to self actualization, the state of eternal bliss and the end purpose of the Vedas. A realized Hindu in a state of realization would be in a state of bliss rather than in a state of eternal anxiety. All the paths namely Bhakti, Japa, Dhyan and Gyana converge on one truth “the true inner self “ ,the consciousness , that propels the inert attributes, the senses, the mind the Buddhi which are dynamic only so long as they are in sync with the true “inner self “, “ the atman “. The Bhagwad Gita , which is a treatment of the Upanishads and the light that they throw on the singular truth that is the “ Atman “ finds all other things untrue more properly described as  “Maya “. The central theme of both the Bhagwad Gita and the Upanishads is the explanation of “tat twam asi “, “that you are “. The Bhagwad Gita in its eighteen chapters devotes six chapters each to elucidate the three words that encapsitulate the divine truth, “the Atman “, “the Brahm “.  Serious adherents of Hinduism have two paths available to them for such realization, the path of Advait which finds “Brahm “formless and Dwait which sees the same in forms. Irrespective of the differences in the recourse to enlightenment the journey eventually brings one to the same truth. While an adherent of Advait would seek the realization in terms of ‘’ Yoga “ bringing the senses, the mind and the buddhi in sync, the Dwaiti would seek it through Bhakti which is devotion . While the Advaiti would seek self realization by first understanding the relevance of the senses, the mind and the Buddhi and how these elements can organize a personality or disorganize it, the Dwaiti is given more to customs and rites. Even in such situation the focused emphasis is on the development of organized human personalities which can become such only through the disciplining of the senses, the mind by bringing the two under the command of buddhi, “the Reason”.  The true self can only be realized through such disciplining. A realized Hindu has no cause for anxiety which is more often bred by here say or some unreasonable spirit of finding one’s own faith as superior to others. The essence of all religions is promotion of right conduct that defines the human. Hinduism talks about right conduct as profoundly described in Gita by Krishna to Arjuna on the eve of the epic battle Mahabharata. Buddhism talks about right conduct as it gives the eight truths; Jainism also lays emphasis on it and so do Christianity and Islam. The right conduct in the given scenario is to leave all that is unlawful and provocative to the Arms of the state and secure the essence of religions and stand up to any misinterpretation of the scriptures by vested interests.

Reverting to Hinduism one has to bear in mind that it believes in the unity of souls and that being the underlying truth no human irrespective of the faith he or she pursues, can be viewed differently or less religious. If Brahm, the consciousness is the sole propeller of all, otherwise inert, what scope remains for an enlightened Hindu to allow anxiety occasioned by different hues and colors, to prey on him?

The movement of the Indian state has been a movement of convictions and its faith in its secular spirit. The line between the state and religion is clearly drawn. The state would not interfere in the affairs of religions and would encourage their promotion but would also not tolerate any design of any religion that undermines it. A strong and reasonable state that India is, given its one and only religious book “the Constitution “, as stated often by the Prime minister and quite recently in the US Congress by him, is fully enabled to deal with sections, which through their deliberate misinterpretation of faiths tend to increasingly become irreligious towards the state and its peace loving and law abiding citizens circulating material that offends and threatens its integrity. Hinduism is a concept worth imbibing rather than being quixotically anxious about.