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RE: social justice

From the Bhakti List Archives

Sriram Ranganathan • January 19, 2002 


Dear Greg,

In India it is quite common to attribute life's innumerable challenges to
karmA. Generally, it serves to prod a worried-mind to get on with life and
do one's duty. People justify their actions and inactions based on karmA -
so it works both ways. karmA theory is not fatalistic. VEdic teachings cover
the whole gamut of existence from the perspective of the inner soul.

Among other things, the teachings advise a social order whereby everyone
participates and performs a key role in ensuring the welfare of the society.
The incident you highlighted is a perfect example of exploitation on the
basis of religion - an unscrupulous landlord exploiting a hapless peasant on
one side, and on the other, a religious worker exploiting the situation to
proselytize - the victim obviously stays a victim, physically, mentally and
spiritually.

"dharmayEva hathO hanthi: dharmO raksati raksita:" -  dharmA destroys its
destroyer: dharma protects its protector.

ahimsA satyamakrodhastyAgah : sAntirapaisunam |
dayAbhutEsualolupatvam mArdavaim hriracApalam || - srI bhagavad gItA chapter
16: verse 2

"Non-injury, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility,
non-slandering others, compassion to all beings, freedom from desire,
gentleness, sense of shame, freedom from fickleness" - are all divine
qualities.

Respectfully,
Sriram



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