Religion is NOT Dharma

Shri. Sita Ram Goel ji was a religious and political activist, writer and publisher in the late 20th Century. He is considered to be one of the two Sages of Modern Hindu Renaissance. He wrote extensively on the damage to Indian culture and heritage wrought by expansionist Islam and missionary activities of Christianity.

The Tradition of Advaita

In brief, the tradition of Advaita regards direct perception as the only proof of its propositions, whether that direct perception be through the senses or extra-sensory. The tradition of Advaita regards truth as eternal and impersonal, and grants to everyone the right to approach truth direct.

This tradition sees the Supreme Truth manifest in many forms outside as well as inside the Cosmos, provides for different ways of worship, holds behaviour superior to belief, denounces use of force for spreading of faith, does not rationalize any animal drive present in human nature, promotes many cultures in accordance with time and place, and repudiates all kinds of imperialism.

The Tradition of Monotheism

The tradition of Monotheism is not based on any kind of positive proof, regards truth as new and personal, describes its One God as unique and outside the Cosmos, provides for only one pattern of belief and behaviour by presenting the Last Prophet as the ideal person, holds belief superior to behaviour, gives validity to use of force for spreading the faith, rationalizes all kinds of animal drives present in human nature, and encourages imperialistic ambitions.

By dividing human history into two periods and the human race into two mutually hostile groups, Monotheism gives to one group the right to destroy, without any compunction, the cultural wealth of the other group, slaughter that group mercilessly, grab its properties, and bind it into bonds of slavery.

Monotheism fails to understand that there are many regions, many countries, many races, and countless human beings with different natures and temperaments. It prescribes a uniform pattern of belief and behaviour for all countries, for all times, for all races, and for all persons.

The analysis of Advaita and Monotheism is wholly right at the level of ideas. But this analysis cannot be applied mechanically to all persons born and brought up in these opposite traditions. The head and heart of a person can be larger or smaller than any thought pattern. Unless a person brought up and bred in any tradition accepts that tradition consciously and begins to imbibe and promote it, the tradition does not become manifest in his life. It is not enough to merely mouth support for any pattern of belief and behaviour.

Therefore, ordinary men born and brought up in both the traditions are found to be of good as well as bad behaviour. Differences arise when different individuals espouse the opposite traditions of Advaita and Monotheism intellectually and cherish them consc-iously. Then the tradition of Monotheism gives birth to Aurangzeb, and the tradition of Advaita to Shivaji.

(Courtesy : Excerpts from an Article on cisindus.org, 11.8.2020)

Differences arise when different individuals espouse the opposite traditions of Advaita and Monotheism intellectually !