"There is no reason to accept the doctrines crafted to sustain power and privilege, or to believe that we are constrained by mysterious and unknown social laws. These are simply decisions made within institutions that are subject to human will and that must face the test of legitimacy. And if they do not meet the test, they can be replaced by other institutions that are more free and more just, as has happened often in the past." - Noam Chomsky
Hullo brother, thanks for that IIM-Dalit post.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to invite you to enter into and engage in the "Dalit" subject.
There is also a rich Dalit-Ambedkar-Navayana Buddhist domain. Some yahoo e-groups are there on this.
All that needs both spiritualisation, as well as linkage to other socio-cultural-political economic-international concerns.
I'd like to also invite you an engagement with the life and teachings of the Buddha and to a creative visualisation of the times of the Buddha, and imagination of what he would done today.
What did Mao have to say about the Buddha?! Seriously. Buddhism is a growing force in China today.The govt of China is also taking pains to identify itself with this heritage. As they should.
I'm not talking about Buddh-ism. Every -ism is destined to decay and be corrupt. For instance, and sadly, the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka had also been involved in fomenting hatred and violence there.
Talking about China - what do you visualise happening in China? How long will it remain the kind of state-society it is now (itself hugely different from 30 years ago)? Will it be an ongoing slow gradual inner transformation? Or will there be some collapses, eruptions?
One scenario I visualised was that the CPC would become a shadow nuclear-armed state-mafia, while there would be an official Govt of China, which was "democratic"! In a world of constant warfare between states and non-state entities.
But there's too much capital riding on China for disruptions to happen easily!
Thanks for your ear / eyeball!
Best
rama
Hello Rama
ReplyDeleteWell I have read my fair share of religious texts and a quote that immediately comes to my mind is
the one below
" Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. " - Buddha
I follow this to a large extent.
I am basically atheistic or agnostic depending on my mood.
Maybe in the not too distant future I will settle down one.
Right now making up my mind.
I personally do not believe in the supression of religious beliefs because I believe they only grow stronger.
Today , all the countries that constituted former russia are seeing a resurgence in christianity despite the decades of suppression.
The best way to combat superstition and religious dogma is education.
However where I find science hidden in religion , I follow it like Yoga is a science and that is something I do.
All religions which fail to adopt a scientific outlook will die out in the future.
I do not uphold everything that Mao did or present day China does , China today is suppressing many nationalities including the tibetians and the uighers.
The chinese question will maybe someday be answered but the Party is what too strong and even if there is going to be societal upheaval in china it is not going to happen anytime soon.
About Dalits
It's a complicated issue ,that I do not want to venture into without completing the discussion on religion and buddhism.
I would like to see you continue this discussion through email