By Peter Heehs
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives And reserch Library,Pondicherry India
"TO VENERATE THE SCRIPTURES WITHOUT KNOWING THEM AND TO OBEY CUSTOM IN THIER PLACE;...TO DO ONE'S DEVOTION TWICE A DAY WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING THEM;TO OBSERVE A HOST OF MEANINGLESS MINUTIAE IN ONE'S DAILY CONDUCT;TO KEEP THE HINDU HOLIDAYS,WHEN AN IMAGE IS SET UP.WORSHIPPED AND THROWN AWAY,-THIS IN INDIA IS THE MINIMUM OF RELIGION.THIS IS GLORIFIED AS HINDUISM AND THE SANATANA DHARMA..OUR HINDUSIM,OUR CULTURE ARE PRECISELY THE POSSESSIONS WE HAVE CHERISHED WITH THE LEAST INTELLIGENCE,..THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE RANGE OF OUR LIFE WE DO THINGS WITHOUT KNOWING WHY WE DO THEM,WE BELIEVE THINGS WITHOUT KNOWING WHY WE BELIEVE THEM,WE ASSERT THINGS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT RIGHT WE HAVE TO ASSERT THEM-OR,AT MOST,IT IS BECAUSE SOME BOOK OR SOME BRAHMIN ENJOINS IT,BECAUSE SHANKARA THINKS IT,OR BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS SO INTERPRETED SOMETHING THAT HE ASSERTS"
As a result of this unreflective approach to hindu scriptures,the religion had become unconventional and someyimes even corrupt,it needed to be reformed,it's present mould broken and replaced but he stressed this had to be done by knowledge and yoga,not by the european spirit,and it is an indian,not an english mould that must replace it..READ MORE
Peter Heehs writes on modern Indian history, and Indian spirituality and religion. Much of his work focuses on the Indian political and spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo. His publications include nine books and more than forty articles in journals and magazines.
His latest book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, was released by Columbia University Press in May 2008.
peter heehs dot net
His latest book, The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, was released by Columbia University Press in May 2008.
peter heehs dot net
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