But the Rediff comments did not make me feel good. They were in response to an interview with a Hindu fundamentalist, and as it could be expected, people were screaming at one another. I asked myself, 'Is this what I want?'.
I feel that when you are forced to take a position, you are not yourself anymore. The Memes, so to say, take control of what you say.
In this particular issue, it was Hindus, Christians and Muslims justifying the use of violence. Well, mostly. There were some moderate comments, but not many.
When Gandhiji was asked how he felt about the Western Civilization, he is supposed to have replied, "It would be a good idea". I did not find that kind of intelligent and humorous comment there. I was reminded of Gandhiji, because once you read all those comments, you come away thinking, Religion is a good idea, but just that, its time has not come.
In general, we should hesitate when we find ourself reacting to something. I can't explain this clearly, but I feel that when you react to a bombing for instance, you are focused on the bombing, and because of that, your sight is clouded, your thinking gets muddled, your heart gets dehydrated and your tongue gets twisted. Same goes when you are fighting with your business partner, or wife or child.
That is why I prefer posts to comments. Ha ha!
Speaking of this Hindu-Muslim-Christian issue, it is unimaginable how scholars of religion, the saints and the mullahs and the priests, are not speaking out against violence. No violence, never. They should make that clear. Gandhiji himself maintained that the means justified the ends. No one is saying that these days. Instead we are blowing ourself up, burning or uselessly ranting against the theory of evolution. How regressive can you get!
Seriously speaking, if anyone from any of these religions came out speaking boldly about this issue of violence, and were serious about doing something about it, they would end up as founders of another religion. That would make it only worse, of course.
I think someone questioned J.Krishnamurti what he would do if his sister or wife was raped in front of his eyes. Would he still not feel violent? JK usually did not answer such hypothetical questions, but for this, I think he replied along these lines: if your mind was in order, and if you felt love, you will find the right response without being violent.
When you hear that a nun has been raped, love is the last thing you feel. Or when you read that a small boy picked up a package to return it and it exploded in his face. It is hard not to want to hit out against these evil people.
Yet the simple fact is, it is not that the evil people enjoy violence, it is the violence in us that comes out as evil.
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