The key problem in terms of religion we are facing is the foreign challenge of ‘conversion’, which is about attacking our very root, our culture and identity

By Tilak B. Shrestha, Ph.D.

In the earlier societies the need for protection, law and order gave rise to aristocracy. That is Chhetri in Nepal, as Knights in Europe and Samurais in Japan . Hindu society went further and created Bahun group to upkeep the knowledge base in oral form. We can see such developments in other societies also. For example, even in a tribal setting, there will be a ‘witch doctor’ besides the chief. Hindu society traditionally give them security and livelihood, but not luxury. In earlier days an individual has to be brought up in a martial or academic culture to be a warrior or a priest. Thus you have Chhetri or Bahun castes.

It is the genius of Hindu society that Bahun group is considered higher than Chhetri group, though Chhetris hold military power. Compare that with Europe or Japan, where the aristocracy or the samurai class were the absolute rulers over others. However, in the modern times the caste system has become social leg iron, if at all it was a crutch. The problem is not having different life styles. It is a matter of freedom. But it is the immobility of individuals between groups that is defining individual not by interests and activities but by birth. Buddha succinctly stated, ‘Caste is by deed, not by birth.’ The factor of family cultural background, no matter how strong, cannot always supersede other social or individual factors. Especially with the modern education system such social classes and attendant cultures have become irrelevant. Here we must point out the weakness of our intelligentsia in general and the disingenuousness of the medieval ‘Bahun’ group in particular. It fossilized our society in many field including academia, science and technology, arts and military. Today the caste system has degenerated to communalism. Thus we should be debating the transition of society, not blaming Dharma.

We must keep in mind that the caste system is neither prescriptive nor normative, but a natural evolution. The often quoted phrase ‘Bahuns are head, Chhetris are hand, etc.’ are merely anthropomorphic description of the existing society. Just because it is described in Sanskrit language it does not become religion. Thus the problem can be and must be addressed through the above mentioned ‘development strategy.’ Merely accusing ‘Hinduism’ for caste system is mistake in four counts: a. understanding Dharma, b. understanding the mechanism of caste system and Hindu society, c. evaluating caste system in terms of both good and bad, and d. identifying correct solutions.

The real problem is grievances of politically dominated groups against dominant groups. The so-called hill Chhetris and Bahuns being the dominant groups and other groups especially the tribal Nepalese being the dominated groups. It is strictly a political not a religious phenomenon. Actually it has, as stated before, become a communal problem. The solutions are again above mentioned development strategy. Suppose there is a high caste individual who does not want to marry a low caste spouse. How is that a problem? Marriage is a personal issue. Limiting spousal choice is a self-defeating strategy. In the old days of arranged marriages such limitation was adopted towards matching the backgrounds of spouses.

We need to understand this essential issue that Hinduism practices democratic multi-faceted life. Whereas Christianity and Islam both prescribe and strictly enforce a single paradigm for world at large, for any body, who would not buy their prescription, hell is reserved in the next life, if not in this.
Suppose an individual has a high caste superiority complex. Why is that a problem to others? It is a psychological disorder, a negative attribute. On the other hand, it is a problem only to another so-called low caste individual with an equally inferiority complex. Suppose a person discriminates others in employment and education based on caste. Then it is a problem, if the person is in the position of authority. Thus, we must demand from our political and social leadership the equal education and economic opportunities for all. It will make communalism of the caste system redundant. However, social changes are already happening. For example, whom do you think an educated girl will choose to marry between an educated and employed Chhetri and an uneducated and unemployed Bahun today? Have you done ‘Dhog’ and given ‘Dacchina’ to your Bahun friends lately? Have you practiced any meditation and reflected upon ‘Gnan’ yoga? Have you practiced even elementary Buddhism? Have you seen any ‘Bahun’ looking down upon rich American or Japanese tourists, because of their caste? What caste? India declared herself secular nation almost 60 years ago. Did that solve the caste problem? Let us do objective, not emotional, analysis of the problems and innovate solutions.

On the other hand, let us imagine a real ‘Bahun’, not by birth, practicing an austere life of vegetarianism, non-violence; and devoting oneself to the spirituality. We must appreciate such Bahuns or Bhantes or Monks, regardless of the surname, and protect them. When we debate our changing society, we also must address how to protect erosion of such spiritual cultures.

Some ill-informed and antisocial elements apparently have brought the issue that Hinduism and Buddhism are two separate religions. As such declaring Nepal a Hindu state means some how Buddhists are no longer welcome. Nothing can be further from the truth. The only way to separate ‘Hindu’ and ‘Buddhist’ in Nepal will be to cut every body into two halves.

In fact traditionally the living guardian goddess of our country ‘Kumari’ comes from the Buddhist sect. Only group of Nepali Buddhists who are not exposed to the other parts of Hinduism are the Nepalis of Tibetan origin. It is because of geography, not because of any religious doctrine. After all they are the spiritual children of Nepalese princess and Tibetan queen ‘Bhrikuti’, who introduced Buddhism into Tibet. There never was problem between Bhrikuti, a Buddhist scholar and her father King Amshuvarma, a Shaiva.

Again, when China extended her political influence in Tibet, many Tibetans came to Nepal and settled here. We are proud to have them. Was there any persecution of Nepalese of Tibetan origin? Answer is no. In Tibet? Ask the refugees. We should understand that Hinduism is not Brahmanism (read Upanishads), and Buddhism is not ritual (read Tripitak). A perfect example of coexistence between and interaction among three principal religious sects in Nepal, namely Buddhism (Buddha), Shaiva (Mylanta), and Vaishnav (Narayana) is the temple in the north corner of Kathmandu valley, which we lovingly call ‘Budha Nilkantha Narayan.’

It is really embarrassing to note that there are many individuals who claim to be Buddhists, but not Hindus. These pseudo-intellectuals can neither define Hinduism nor know the Dharma taught by Gautam Buddha. They use words ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Buddhism’ merely as a political weapon. This is precisely what Buddhism is not about. Buddha’s genius accomplished a major breakthrough within the long traditions of Hinduism.

Basically, up to the time of Buddha it was assumed that an individual could not achieve salvation working within human faculty. An individual may practice different ‘Yogas’ to advance, but ultimately has to rely on the faith in the divinity. The divinity is expressed through the scriptures. Thus relying on scriptures is a must for any spiritual practices. Dwaita (Vaishnav), Adwaita (Shaiva) and other philosophies depend upon the scriptures or ‘Vedas.’ Only group of people who do not agree with the thesis are the materialists (Charvak). Materialists use scientific or objective study only. Thus, they question the very existence of the divinity and the use of scriptures.

Buddha Dharma teaches that an individual could achieve salvation by working within the human faculty or empirical means, without depending on the faith or the revelation. Another teacher, Mahabir of Jainism, also taught similar thesis. Thus, Buddhism is independent of Vedas. It is like an educationist claiming that a person can learn without going to a school. A yogi does not have to make the assumption of the divinity and thus the Buddhist method is more rigorous. Let us take the case of Buddhist analysis of the suffering or ‘Dukkha’ given as the four noble truths. The suffering is ubiquitous, because it originates from the very nature of the mind. The reason of the suffering is the attachments due to the ego. Thus the solution of the problem is getting rid of attachments. It can be achieved by personal effort. Here Buddha is making an analysis of a problem and coming with a solution strictly within human faculty without relying on any supra-humanity. Let us put Buddha’s teaching in the proper perspective. He was advocating the new found way, which led him to the enlightenment. He is not denying other ways. Though his way was independent of Veda, he was not negating it. His denial of the ‘Soul’ (Ahahata) is within human faculty, but not in the purview of the universal reality (Bodhi, Brahma). Buddhist practices of morality, meditation, reflections etc. are simply the existing Yoga practices. He was not creating a social or a political group of people or a nation called ‘Buddhist.’ Buddha’s method is experiential and does not use faith, divinity or revelation. He is merely asking to analyze our own mind objectively. Thus, it can be practiced by Chinese, Nigerians, Black, White, Jews, Christians, Vaishnavs, Atheists, Chemists, Meteorologists, Women, Children, Soccer players, Poets, Soldiers, Tourists, Communists and every body in between. To make Buddhists a separate political group is ignorance, to say the least. Similarly, Hinduism is also not about creating a social or a political group. Hinduism means whole spectrum of spiritual practices and views in the sub-continent including that of materialism, empiricism, and revelations in scriptures. Let Buddhism speak for itself about its root. The universal reality (Bodhi, Brahma) is symbolized by the sound ‘OM’ in Veda. The most repeated Buddhist Sutra proclaims that ‘goodness comes out of goodness (may not be evident)’, that is ‘there is a jewel in the lotus (though not visible), or in Tibetan ‘OM, mani padme hum.’

Let us not forget that there are always some irritants and problems in any society, which can be addressed amicably and in a democratic way. It will be really a sad mistake to blow any problem out of proportion and create divisions among brothers and sisters. As an old Hindi saying ‘bhai fhutey ganwar lootey’ puts, if we engage in such non-existing problems between so called ‘Hindus’ and ‘Buddhists’, very soon there would not be any Hindus or Buddhists left to quarrel with.

According to both our spiritual and democratic norms, we believe in protection and equal rights of minorities. In Nepali context, it is about Muslim and Christian Nepalis. Before Muslims and Christians came to Nepal, for that matter even before Islam or Christianity was born we had our custom. When Muslims and Christians came to Nepal they lived within the existing system. They were free practice any of their religious believes without hampering existing practices. Of course, the only restriction they had was not to eat beef. Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, Nepali ex-minister and a prominent Muslim leader states, ‘as a proud Muslim I do not eat pork, and as a proud Nepali I do not eat beef.’ Nepali Muslims and Christians make about 5% of the population. It is also a historical record that Nepali kings provided land and other assistance to build mosques and churches in Nepal. It is also a proud historical record that Muslims or Christians settled in Nepal were never persecuted or discriminated. Even today government of Nepal provides adequate foreign exchange for Nepali Muslims to go to ‘Haj’ or pilgrimage. In Nepal, it is the duty of every citizen to live as a Nepali.

The key problem in terms of religion we are facing is the foreign challenge of ‘Conversion.’ People seem to underestimate the gravity of the problem. Conversion is not about economic exploitation or political arms twisting, but it is about attacking our very root, our culture and identity. The chief problem being faced by the black Americans today is not the slavery or racism but the effects of total destruction of their cultural heritage and forced implanting of European culture onto them.We must differentiate between a noble ideal of ‘freedom of religion’, which we have always been practicing; and foreign aggression of conversion, which is victimization of our people in our own country using our backwardness as the weapon.

There should be mutual respect and exchange of views so that different religious groups in a society can peacefully coexist, learn from and understand each other. But we must oppose the arrival of hardened foreign religious zealots with a single mind of conversion. They do not know mutual respect. They would not even entertain our viewpoint. They insult our spiritual heritage. They come with the proposition that we are evil heathens, and the only solution is to convert to their religion. There is no room for coexistence and mutual respect. Both Christianity and Islam are close and totalitarian religions; and starts with the proposition that their
religion is the only true way to God, and all other religions are wrong. This is the fundamental factor that governs their psyche and forces them to see people of other religions essentially as adversary. This is the factor behind crusades, jehads, persecutions of Jews in Europe, destructions of Christian churches and Hindu temples by Muslims, destructions of mosques and temples by Christians; and forced conversions.

In comparison, Hindus do not convert others, nor have ever destroyed any mosques or churches. We need to understand this essential issue that Hinduism practices democratic multi-faceted life. Whereas Christianity and Islam both prescribe and strictly enforce a single paradigm for world at large, for any body, who would not buy their prescription, hell is reserved in the next life, if not in this.

We especially need to understand the aggression of Christian zealots from the west. Presently our economy, education, natural resources stand among the poorest. Moreover, we do not have any organized religious institutes like church or mosque. We are the easy victims for the trained foreign zealots to hunt and convert at will. Our Dharmik concepts are not taught in our schools. But it is mandatory to study Bible in Christian run schools. Like vultures they wait wearing the mask of a good Samaritan to get people at their most vulnerable time. What have we got to match even remotely their money, technology and professionalism? Especially, we need to understand the celluloid glamour and charm of the rich western countries versus economically stagnant and limited lifestyle of our country. The story of conversions in Assam, Nagaland and other parts of secular India is being repeated in Nepal.

Christian bigots have produced a documentary called “God’s of New Age”, and is being screened in churches and other public places. The documentary simply tells that oriental religions are created by Satan to counter balance the Christianity. Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna are simply depicted as Satan incarnates. It is being taught that Hindus do not have ethics. Why such a hostility? It is the inherent nature of the Semitic religions. Believe it or not, the defining doctrine of Christianity is – ‘All the Christians will go to heaven, no matter how evil. And every body else will go to hell, no matter how virtuous.’ Its only strategy of survival against Socratic inquiry is the sheer brain washing. As Europeans are getting wise out of this nonsense, it is looking for new victims in Nepal.

Once upon a time, Hinduism was spread from Eastern Europe in west to Indonesia in east. Until recently, only one small country was left as a Hindu country. What happens when a group of people do not have place or a country to fall back upon is amply illustrated by the history of the Jewish people. Any body who wants to open his or her eyes need to learn about Jewish persecution, exodus and holocaust. Presently as Jewish people are struggling to re-create ‘Israel’ out of nowhere; sadly we Nepalis seem to be oblivious to erosion of our very roots.

(To be concluded)

Dr. Shrestha is a freelance writer and can be reached at [email protected] The views expressed here are of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of Nepalnews—Ed.

(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected] )