Some days ago I was reading Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Knowing the controversy that the book had sparked at the time of its publication, I ventured to read some of the criticism that this book had received. Most of the criticism was directed at the style of writing and some of the ‘facts’ quoted at the book. Though the critical arguments may be justified in themselves, I have a strong feeling that the criticism was not due to these factors, but due to another underlying reason.
This underlying reason is starkly revealed by the author in the second half of the book. It is just a plain statement: “All faith is fabrication.” Clearly, faith means religious denominations. This statement, no doubt, must be provocative, but it struck a resonant chord with my line of thinking.
Here I mulled over the meaning of the statement. At last I came to a fairly simple conclusion. It may be summarized as follows.
- Faith and Truth are two separate philosophies.
- Faith may draw some of its features from Truth, but Truth stands all by itself.
- Faith is related to Truth in the same way as hope is related to reality.
- There can be many faiths; but there is only one Truth.
- Faith changes over time, Truth is eternal.
All of us, when we say, that we are religious people, must understand this subtle, but all-important differentiation between Faith and Truth. Faith can be troublesome if we start thinking that our beliefs are superior to others. Worse still (as the novel says), people will start distorting facts to suit their own faith. Then, faith becomes a fancy. (Faith is to fancy as hope is to illusion)
In this case, the Bhagavad-Gita is unambiguous in its reiteration for the Supreme Absolute Truth over faiths of different denominations. Lord Krishna clearly says in the following verse.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: ||
[Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita, Verse 18.66]
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: ||
[Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita, Verse 18.66]
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sins. Do not fear." (Bhagavad-Gita, Verse 18.66)
Is not Lord Krishna a personal form of the Supreme Absolute Truth, as said in the Gita? I do not know about other philosophies in different parts of the world, but the Gita is clear about the importance of Truth.
Let us not debate meaninglessly on which faith is better; let us seek this Absolute Truth.
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A good topic to write on. Im amazed at your selection of topics. The passage that u hav given has absolutely nothing to refute, though i would like to add certain points that support this viewpoint.
ReplyDelete1. Yudhdhishtra, who lived very much during the time Lord Krishna lived, in an answer to a question by the yaksha (in the yaksha prashna), says that " there is no one philosophy which is the ultimate and no one philosopher who is sufficient". It should be noted with care that, this doesnt refute the existence of multiple philosophies but just that in all probability unless Truth itself manifests and begs of surrender unto itself, there is no other equall superior who / which can command such an audacious claim. The beauty is Arjuna, was amongst his other brothers who were lying dead by the pond, and it didnt take the help of his regular associate Lord Krishna to bring him back alive, but this amongst many such answers.
2. The bhagawad gita is like everything u can imagine of ! Worth all the hype and yet so humble in itself. In fact, the Chaitanya Sampradaya followers take the vishwaroopa darshan as a neccessary condition for aneone post-Krishna to prove himself/herself/itself as an avatar of the ultimate. There are in fact only 3 recorded times when someone/ something has outrightly called on people to realise that it/he/she is the ultimate. a) Varaha Avatara: (i dont remember the whole verse but it ends like this) " ... aham smaraami mad bhaktam, nayaami paramaam gatim" which translates to saying " i remember my devotee and transcend him to the highest state". b) Shri Rama " Sakrud eva prapannaya tava asmiiti cha yaachate, abhayam sarva bhootebhyo dadaami, etad vratam mama" - " One who comes to me and surrenders unto me in totally claiming that he is mine, i promise to him that i shall take care of him from all entities (why i prefer the word entity will take another article by itself) and c) Sarva .... Ma shuchaha by Sri Krishna of which Sharadh has given a beautiful commentary ( if i can put that word)
As far as i can remember , there is no other case where in such outrageous statements have ever been made. (if any, i would be very happy to know them)
@sharadh: keep a link of the topics u take and u can lead from them onto ur new blog writings, of course interspersed with totally different themes also, because it can give a sense of completeness in itself.
shit man, its a long reply ! i shud reduce its size from the next time. Sorry abt that
ReplyDelete@S Ganesh
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for appreciating my posts da.
I have no problems about the length of replies as long as they are meaningful. I fully agree with you that wherever The Supreme Being has spoken to the human race, He has given this Absolute Assurance of deliverance from sins, if only we care to look towards Him.
Regarding your comment on Arjuna, though he was a devotee of Lord Krishna, he was also proud and arrogant by nature (Vyasa's own words). That's why he thought he could fight the yaksha by weapons. There are several anecdotes for this: I'll quote two.
Once, Arjuna thought he was superior to Karna in terms of generosity. Lord Krishna, in response, set up a test (details omitted) which proved that Arjuna could not donate an object for 12 hours but Karna did it in 12 minutes.
Another time, Arjuna thought he was Lord Krishna's best devotee. Again, Lord Krishna, then showed him a non-violent devotee of His, who however wanted to kill four people for insulting Lord Krishna. Among the four was Arjuna himself, because he had commanded Lord Krishna to be his chariot-driver.
@sfauthor
ReplyDeleteAhh.. I don't think I know you, but anyways thanks for reading my blog. I read the Bhagavat-Gita As It Is written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of ISKCON fame.