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Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Dan Brown, I disagree!

I was reading “The Da Vinci code” last week. Despite of all brouhaha the book has created, I thought it was an average work with predictable plots. However, I thought the book is direct attack on Church and the faith on it. Author wants to stress the message that every faith is based on fabrication. (Ref: Langdon Smiled and said, “Sophie every faith in the world is based on fabrication, that is the definition of Faith”). He tries to fit this theory on almost every religion.
On the contrary, Philosophies of Hinduism are based on pure logic. It encourages questioning the beliefs and tries to solve any conflicts. The seeker is given every opportunity to raise questions. Bhagawat geetha is an example where the seeker questions the God. The God, Sri Krishna, advises Arjuna to carry on his duty by saying

“klaibyam ma sma gamah partha
naitat tvayy upapadyate
ksudram hrdaya-daurbalyam
tyaktvottistha parantapa”

Arjuna, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.

Krishna tries to explain that there is no birth or death for Atman by using so many metaphors.

"avyakto 'yam acintyo 'yam
avikaryo 'yam ucyate
tasmad evam viditvainam
nanusocitum arhasi"

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

However krishna did not want to force the Truth on arjuna, if he does not want to. So he says,

atha cainam nitya-jatam
nityam va manyase mrtam
tathapi tvam maha-baho
nainam socitum arhasi

If, however, you think that the soul is perpetually born and always dies, still you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed.

Also arjuna kept on asking questions to Krishna until he was completely satisfied. So at least in the doctrines I believe in, I am certain there are no fabrications. I am sorry for another “Katha kalakshebam”. Could not resist.

11 Comments:

  • "Muthukumar, I agree!"
    We should always ask questions to
    seek the truth...

    O' muthukumara, when can I borrow the
    'The Da Vinci Code' book from you?
    I want to know why u dismissed this
    book as average...

    I will keep on asking u until u give it to me :).

    -KP (the seeker).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:19 PM  

  • neenga solrathu sari... we cannot say about other religions because many principles of every religion maruvi maari nelaikulaindhu porathu.. so idhu ipdinnu solla mudiyaadhu..

    By Blogger Maayaa, at 12:43 AM  

  • i havent read the DaVinci code, but if you consider the statement alone without implying the religion - "Every faith in the world is based on fabrication" - I would definitely agree to it, it makes good sense to me!

    By Blogger Prabhu, at 10:24 AM  

  • Whoever gets total faith, they cannot explain why they have it..same with one falling in love. Rest who are skeptical have 100s of opinions. AS far as I know, saint thiagraja (thigabrahmam) had faith in Rama, in his own admission he has seen Him and had personal relationship with Him. His songs are testimony for veracity of his faith.

    By Blogger P B, at 11:37 AM  

  • Aahaa - one of those blogs I have been looking for..personally very satisfying to know about some hidden truths in hinduism. Sometimes I used to wonder how come "Aathman", "Brahman" is described as "having thousand hands, thousand heads.."; but vaguely I convince myself as "God is infinite. The meaning is about the subjective God, Who has to be experienced than explained..".

    To me its a good starting point to observe and appreciate our scriptures :)

    (This blog is a real pleasant coincidence, because when I recently read about "Be as you are" book, Sri Ramana Maharishi emphasizes "Ko hum" (Who am I?) when people ask about medidating on "Soh hum" (I am he). I mean, the emphasis on enquiry complements your opinion that Hinduism in general encourages enquiry...)

    Here's a link I found good to know more about hinduism/sri vaishnavam -
    http://sriramanujar.tripod.com/tutorial/1.html

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:55 PM  

  • "Every faith in this world is based on fabrication"
    I agree with this statement.Religion or God is not fabricated. But to make the masses believe in a God, there are always people who make up stories, superstitions, rituals. Sometimes it is a good thing and a lot of times it is misused.
    Hinduism, of course, is vastly different in its conception and beliefs. I agree with Priya in that one shouldn't look at all religions through the prism of one's own.
    And as far as the da Vinci Code goes, I still think it is one of the best books I've read in recent times!

    By Blogger The Doodler, at 6:29 AM  

  • @subha
    Please refer to my respose to prabhu's comment. I do agree the book was interesting, however I cannot say it was best for me.
    @VAradha
    Sri Bhagwan will not reject Soham either. Even though enquiry is widely beleived as teaching of ramana, he did not denounce any other faith. Different paths are proposed for different people by Maharishi, like a doctor gives different medicines to different patients based on their disease. Will check out your link. WWW.davidgodman.org is a nice place to start for introduction on Sri Bhgawan's teaching.

    By Blogger P B, at 12:03 PM  

  • Muthu,

    I partly agree with dan brown. There are so many instances in hindu religion where facts are fabricated like giving a face of god to forces like the wind, rain and other things just to make people believe in god.

    Another instance of hinduism which considers as sacred. In olden days, cows were the only animals found in the subcontinent and for times immemorial, it has served the hindu civilisation in all aspects. The camels and horses came from arabia. So in order that men respect the cows and in order to prevent people from killing cows, they were elevated to the godly status.

    Arent such things fabrication? to make things easier for the common mortals and to facilitate the growth of humanity?

    Secondly, Your point about hindu philosophy allowing questions about religion. There can be nothing farther from the truth as of this. We didnt even allow 80% of our population, the access to these knowledge.

    Even today, we allow only a particular community to do the religious functions in temples, marraiges etc. firstly you prevent people from learning. Then on the pretext that they do not know, you create an exclusive class supposedly closer to god, to serve the god?!

    Krishna may have encouraged arjuna to ask questions? does a common hindu enjoy such privileges?

    over a period of time, hinduism has fabricated more things, made things more complicated so that service to god remained an exclusive privilege and godly so that people do not ask questions.

    I am sorry if i am sounding too harsh but this is my point of view.Correct me if i am wrong

    By Blogger The Soul Doctor, at 2:10 PM  

  • @karthik
    I accept certain things look fabricated in the outset. But the outcome is promising. The wisdom promised is beyond the abilities of words or action to express. However, hinduism promises "Tat va masi". In abirami andhadhi where abirami bhatter compeletely endorses vedic religion sings "MOzhikum ninaivirkum ettadha un thiru moorthi en vizhikum vinaikum veli nindradhu" which means the form of urs which is beyond the abilities of words and mind, is just in front of me, I can see YOU with my eyes" (aliyen arivu alavirku alavanadhu athisayame). Even modern day education starts with more axioms..no one can answer y 1+0 = 1. Similarly initial stages of spirituality guides one with rituals..they are by no means fabrication.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:58 PM  

  • adellaam kidakkattum..

    1.kannukku theriyadha theendathagatha maanavanidam kattai virlai kaetahu edunala ppa?

    2.krisnan pannadhai ellam naan panna enakku paer enna?

    venkatsmailin@yahoo.co.in

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:10 AM  

  • i completely agree with dan brown..even though i am hindu, i cant say that its different from all the other religions.

    if one has to follow the manu dharma / sanadhana dharma...we ll be living in a frying pan..think of our women..the downtrodden..the marginals..

    i cannt say the situation is changed now..Pls read what the shankar(acharya) (the past,the present and undoubtedly the future) has to say about our women who are working..its sickening to write all those stuffs here..

    i remember oshos quote..

    "christianity is the worst religion with best followers.

    Islam is the best religion with worst followers.

    hinduism is the worst religion with worst followers"

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:28 AM  

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