Spirituality - 10

...There are three major points in development of spiritual philosophy. One is the separation of soul from body , the second is the separation of rewards of this life from the efforts of this life or the sufferings in this life from the deeds in this life (through Karma theory) and the third point is the identification of soul with God and their ultimate unification. The separation of soul from body allows the concept of rebirth and reincarnation. The concept of rebirth makes room for Karma theory. The concept of reincarnation allows for appropriation of others’ deities as the deities of Sanatana dharma thus leaving others a little room to play. Others lose their gods also. This allows maximum room for Sanatana dharma. The appropriation of a Buddha as a reincarnation of Vishnu is a fine example. Thus Sanatana dharma becomes all encompassing. The unification of soul with God, which is supposed to be the ultimate aim of Santana dharma, allows for the shifting of dreams and desires to next world. The ambition of Moksha is so high that it can only be achieved in next world. Thus the general population need not be ambitious in this life. The real world and its wealth could be left to twice-born while the born servants can go around doing the extremely necessary job of serving the people born to rule. The born to be dishonored can go around respecting the people born to be honored. The separation of rewards of this life from efforts of this life led to justification of permanent exploitation in the name of Karma. The theory Karma shifts the causation on to victims and their previous lives thus absolving the oppressors. This enabled the Brahmanas to righteously enjoy power and comforts at the expense of impure Shudras and polluting untouchables. Actually it is their heredity function or right. The Karma theory successfully prevents creation of any sympathy for the untouchables and their divinely ordained wretched lives. The untouchables do not have to de to visit the hell; it is created for them here only; this life is a veritable hell for them. In terms of current life the Karma theory amounts to reward without work (Karma) for Brahmans and punishment without crime for lower two strata. The Hindus regard the modern civilization as Western civilization with its roots in materialism. The materialism with its pursuit of maximum profit is regarded as dehumanizing in which the fellow human beings are seen as instruments of furthering one’s own material interests. Spiritualism is supposed to be superior to materialism with its emphasis on spiritual side and inherent absence exploitation. Hindu society with its spiritual development is supposed to be superior to dehumanizing materialism of West. Actually many defenders of Varna dharma regard the West and its modern ideas of equality and liberty as a contaminating source which have actually polluted this grand, ancient, sacred, pure, pious, innocent, spiritual, and divinely ordained civilization. However even the modern Western ideas were unable to reign in the vicious animals of dharma and untouchability....