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Indian Christian Jounalist criticizes the Hindu gurus
by sambarvada Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:23 pm
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/world/asia/07iht-letter07.html
As urban India began to search for inner peace, the Art of Living made deep inroads into the newly affluent society. It provided a yogic alternative to going to a shrink, stigmatized even today in India as an evidence of mental imbalance. Mr. Shankar, an educated, English-speaking South Indian, impressed the modern affluent with stock phrases (“Do not fall in love, rise in love”) and a brand of Hindu philosophy that is secular in nature.
As in the case of many self-proclaimed Indian gurus, Mr. Shankar’s success lies not in deceiving others but in convincing himself that he is an extraordinary entity.
Over the years Mr. Shankar has tried to expand the Art of Living to the less affluent masses by offering free courses and sharing the stage with spiritual leaders who already enjoy a mass following. During the public appearances of Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as “the hugging saint” because she tries to hug every person in her audience even if there are thousands, Mr. Shankar sometimes stands by her side to share the glow. But he has not had much success.
Mr. Shankar has, however, succeeded in taking the Art of Living to the West, which is not surprising. In most of the first world, an Indian has a better chance of being accepted as a spiritual leader than, say, a Hungarian. In several interviews, Mr. Shankar has emphasized the branding of India as the spiritual home of the world. It is one of the most enduring and absurd of myths.
The writer and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, who was yet another national figure who professed love for the common man but took to wearing Dumbledore’s gown to distinguish himself, said in his acceptance speech after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913: “Is not the East the mother of spiritual humanity and does not the West, do not the children of the West amidst their games and plays, when they get hurt, when they get famished and hungry, turn their faces to that serene mother, the East?”
His statement may seem laughable now, but the myth at the core of his speech survives. Indians would argue that there is indeed a unique spiritual side to India, and as evidence they would present the many gurus here who find a ready market. But the fact is that many of these gurus are charlatans, like the man who convinced his female followers that his blessing was bestowed by massaging their breasts. These exotic gurus emerge because Hinduism is not a structured faith with a central authority or a chain of command. So there is more room for spiritual freelancers.
Still, the branding of Indian spirituality is so powerful that the young and the old from the West continue to come here in search of the “truth.”
The person who finds it is requested to inform this reporter first.
As urban India began to search for inner peace, the Art of Living made deep inroads into the newly affluent society. It provided a yogic alternative to going to a shrink, stigmatized even today in India as an evidence of mental imbalance. Mr. Shankar, an educated, English-speaking South Indian, impressed the modern affluent with stock phrases (“Do not fall in love, rise in love”) and a brand of Hindu philosophy that is secular in nature.
As in the case of many self-proclaimed Indian gurus, Mr. Shankar’s success lies not in deceiving others but in convincing himself that he is an extraordinary entity.
Over the years Mr. Shankar has tried to expand the Art of Living to the less affluent masses by offering free courses and sharing the stage with spiritual leaders who already enjoy a mass following. During the public appearances of Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as “the hugging saint” because she tries to hug every person in her audience even if there are thousands, Mr. Shankar sometimes stands by her side to share the glow. But he has not had much success.
Mr. Shankar has, however, succeeded in taking the Art of Living to the West, which is not surprising. In most of the first world, an Indian has a better chance of being accepted as a spiritual leader than, say, a Hungarian. In several interviews, Mr. Shankar has emphasized the branding of India as the spiritual home of the world. It is one of the most enduring and absurd of myths.
The writer and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, who was yet another national figure who professed love for the common man but took to wearing Dumbledore’s gown to distinguish himself, said in his acceptance speech after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913: “Is not the East the mother of spiritual humanity and does not the West, do not the children of the West amidst their games and plays, when they get hurt, when they get famished and hungry, turn their faces to that serene mother, the East?”
His statement may seem laughable now, but the myth at the core of his speech survives. Indians would argue that there is indeed a unique spiritual side to India, and as evidence they would present the many gurus here who find a ready market. But the fact is that many of these gurus are charlatans, like the man who convinced his female followers that his blessing was bestowed by massaging their breasts. These exotic gurus emerge because Hinduism is not a structured faith with a central authority or a chain of command. So there is more room for spiritual freelancers.
Still, the branding of Indian spirituality is so powerful that the young and the old from the West continue to come here in search of the “truth.”
The person who finds it is requested to inform this reporter first.
sambarvada- Posts : 585
Join date : 2011-04-29
Re: Indian Christian Jounalist criticizes the Hindu gurus
by sambarvada Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:35 pm
===> Manu Joseph should investigate and report on the Christian charlatans first.
sambarvada- Posts : 585
Join date : 2011-04-29
Re: Indian Christian Jounalist criticizes the Hindu gurus
by Guest Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:53 pm
Manu Joseph, "These exotic gurus emerge because Hinduism is not a structured faith with a central authority or a chain of command"
Manu Joe, No, we Hindus do not answer to a pope. We are free to choose our guru, or the idols or embrace other religions. For us it is not a sin to visit a mosque or a church. We worship any God. The Hindus do not go door to door convincing non-Christians to worship Jesus or they would go to hell. Hinduism is a way of life not a religion. No one forces us to go tot the temple every week. Many a Christian has converted to Hinduism to run away from people like your kind. Peace be with you.
Manu Joe, No, we Hindus do not answer to a pope. We are free to choose our guru, or the idols or embrace other religions. For us it is not a sin to visit a mosque or a church. We worship any God. The Hindus do not go door to door convincing non-Christians to worship Jesus or they would go to hell. Hinduism is a way of life not a religion. No one forces us to go tot the temple every week. Many a Christian has converted to Hinduism to run away from people like your kind. Peace be with you.
Guest- Guest
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