Sri Psnvasan,
"It is not possible to prove Vedas also, as no one can prove Bible or Quran also in the same way"
Are you saying you know whole Vedas, that you can claim this with certainity? The Bible and Koran are of a different nature to the Vedas.
Because the Vedas are attributed to knowledge (Veda = knowledge) of all sorts, but the Bible and Koran are centered around accepting a divine truth (as per their claim) of God and His word mainly on issues of conduct and lifestyle, not knowledge.
If Vedas are about knowledge, then definitely it has relevance in the world. Having shown that relevance practically, it will very well be considered proven.
"But, why people are converting, when their holy books are also not proved? It is not because of practices like untouchability. It is because of lack of money. Christian missionaries give more money and people also get a certificate as backward for reservations."
Part of the reason is as you say - money and healthcare which Christian missions offer, obviously the people will flock to them. As long as one spreads their religion without violence, and people accept it willingly, proselytization is a fair game.
But here is the other reason these conversions happen - our brahmin tradition doesn't appear to people as espousing a universal love or fraternity, instead it seems to speak of superiority, which is why common folk are not attracted to it. Do you see? I agree that brahmin way of life has a discipline which people look up to as being good, but it isn't seen as having a message of universal love or consideration for others.
Truth is that Upanishads speak volumes of consideration for others and kindness, but we as a community haven't displayed this as our image in recent times. We may have as individuals, but not as a community. In all our importance to be exclusive, practices like untouchability have disrespected people and we have repulsed the major population from us. This is why the Buddhist movement started, or why people convert to Islam, Christianity where they hope to be treated better.
"Then people in Hinduism also should come forward to do more dharma. Only when people find a way to earn basic needs, they will be ready to listen."
The message of groups like ISKCON are good, they attract people. We need to continue on similar lines and work towards the development of humanity and country. We should study our traditions, and actually understand them not merely follow them or accept them blindly.
"If one rich Indian educates one poor Indian and every one does this, no one can stop the development of India."
I agree, this is a good scheme if it comes to the realization of many.
"But, how to ensure that they will save our culture or Hinduism in future?"
The idea of "Hinduism" is itself new and came as a term to club the early astika schools of India. Ancient India had various schools both astika (which used Vedas) and nastika, so we are defined in this diversity only.
If you are talking about saving the tradition of Vedas etc, then all I can say is what I said earlier - the sooner we find its relevance in today's world, the quicker it will propagate in influence. So the starting point for that is for us to study the Vedas and even question tradition (so that we can actually understand it). Instead, if we go doing things for tradition sake, meanings will be soon lost and that will be the real loss. Don't you think?
Ask yourself, if suppose what you see as "Hinduism" today was not something that was introduced new only few centuries ago while we were in decline. How can we say how people who interpretted Vedas 5000 years ago lived? Did they practice things like madi, or did it come later? Tell me how can you say.
Regards,
Vivek
"It is not possible to prove Vedas also, as no one can prove Bible or Quran also in the same way"
Are you saying you know whole Vedas, that you can claim this with certainity? The Bible and Koran are of a different nature to the Vedas.
Because the Vedas are attributed to knowledge (Veda = knowledge) of all sorts, but the Bible and Koran are centered around accepting a divine truth (as per their claim) of God and His word mainly on issues of conduct and lifestyle, not knowledge.
If Vedas are about knowledge, then definitely it has relevance in the world. Having shown that relevance practically, it will very well be considered proven.
"But, why people are converting, when their holy books are also not proved? It is not because of practices like untouchability. It is because of lack of money. Christian missionaries give more money and people also get a certificate as backward for reservations."
Part of the reason is as you say - money and healthcare which Christian missions offer, obviously the people will flock to them. As long as one spreads their religion without violence, and people accept it willingly, proselytization is a fair game.
But here is the other reason these conversions happen - our brahmin tradition doesn't appear to people as espousing a universal love or fraternity, instead it seems to speak of superiority, which is why common folk are not attracted to it. Do you see? I agree that brahmin way of life has a discipline which people look up to as being good, but it isn't seen as having a message of universal love or consideration for others.
Truth is that Upanishads speak volumes of consideration for others and kindness, but we as a community haven't displayed this as our image in recent times. We may have as individuals, but not as a community. In all our importance to be exclusive, practices like untouchability have disrespected people and we have repulsed the major population from us. This is why the Buddhist movement started, or why people convert to Islam, Christianity where they hope to be treated better.
"Then people in Hinduism also should come forward to do more dharma. Only when people find a way to earn basic needs, they will be ready to listen."
The message of groups like ISKCON are good, they attract people. We need to continue on similar lines and work towards the development of humanity and country. We should study our traditions, and actually understand them not merely follow them or accept them blindly.
"If one rich Indian educates one poor Indian and every one does this, no one can stop the development of India."
I agree, this is a good scheme if it comes to the realization of many.
"But, how to ensure that they will save our culture or Hinduism in future?"
The idea of "Hinduism" is itself new and came as a term to club the early astika schools of India. Ancient India had various schools both astika (which used Vedas) and nastika, so we are defined in this diversity only.
If you are talking about saving the tradition of Vedas etc, then all I can say is what I said earlier - the sooner we find its relevance in today's world, the quicker it will propagate in influence. So the starting point for that is for us to study the Vedas and even question tradition (so that we can actually understand it). Instead, if we go doing things for tradition sake, meanings will be soon lost and that will be the real loss. Don't you think?
Ask yourself, if suppose what you see as "Hinduism" today was not something that was introduced new only few centuries ago while we were in decline. How can we say how people who interpretted Vedas 5000 years ago lived? Did they practice things like madi, or did it come later? Tell me how can you say.
Regards,
Vivek
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