Arya Samaj - Achieving Spiritualistic and Materialistic Proficiencies
1. The believers of every Religion/faith believes that they are better and more important than anyone else is. The believers are making a continuous and determined effort to achieve their own superiority and stop other religions/faiths, which they believe to be wrong or say different. The religious intolerance lead to creating moral crusaders in every religions, faith etc. and that are against the spirit of humanism. Thus human beings must work in unison to correct themselves and introduce due improvements and preparations for achieving required Spiritual and Materialistic Proficiencies for the entire human race.
2. The glaring imperfections and inconsistencies with regard to the ‘Spiritual Proficiency’ is a matter of great concern and putting it in order is need of the time. We need one and the only religion for the entire human race to ensure spiritual and cultural unity. The human life needs an appropriate coordination between soul and body i.e.
between spiritualism (inner life) vis-à-vis materialism (external life). Now let us evaluate spiritualism vis-à-vis materialism through intellectual processes:-
(a) Materialism The scientific approach does the job. The like-minded human beings, irrespective of one’s caste or creed, make collective determined scientific efforts and try to find out new products and processes or to improve existing ones and try to ensure consistency to acquire the required knowledge whole-heartedly. They deal with the globe as a humble and common abode of the entire human race.
(b) Spiritualism. The religious system suppose to support humanism. However, the religious human world is a divided lot. There are different countries with different cultures in this world. As such, there is wide disparity among religions, faiths, caste and creed etc., and thereby creating disharmony within the human-race. Can the religious world bring itself under the umbrella of one and the only religion of the world? Can the determined efforts of a centralized organization like the UNO or for that matter a NGO try to form a ‘World Religions Regulatory Authority’ (WRRA) under the UNO fold to achieve the desired result i.e. one religion for the entire human race to promote humanism.
(c) Let every country or some non-government organizations (NGOs) work
- - - - - ...2/-
actively in search of discovering one and only religion for the entire human race. Let the division of human race based on caste and creeds etc. become redundant. Let the human being work together as they do while finding scientific truths. Let there be a ‘Parliament of the Religions’ consisting of the members from all the major religions and the members from other faiths etc. and discuss the problem thoroughly in order to decide the issue of discovering one and the only religion for the entire human race.
(d) Let the detailed analysis of the religious scriptures carried out to find the common religious scriptures for the entire human race. Let the divided religious world brought under one umbrella. On a more serious note let such organizations work in unison to discover one and only religion for the humankind. Incidentally, the Arya Samaj as an Institution is destined to do exactly this very task. The Arya Samaj ‘As a Thought Process’ needs further elaboration.
Arya Samaj: As A Thought Process.
3. A thoughtful approach over the years and keeping a state of balance between ‘Spiritualism’ and ‘Materialism,’ the forces and influences that work in opposite ways, led to the formation of the Arya Samaj, an institution. The literal sense of the word Arya means ‘Shreshth’ i.e. ‘supreme. ‘Samaj’ stands for the ‘Society’ and that makes the ‘Arya Samaj’ a human society of the supreme people. Let us streamline our thought process. The Arya Samaj as ‘A Thought’ needs elaboration, i.e. a continuous flow of ideas concerning achieving proficiency in managing both spiritual (i.e. religious, emotional, social feelings etc.) and materialistic (i.e. scientific investigation, discoveries, inventions, political thoughts and feelings, and so on).
- The ‘Spirituality’ is connected to the human ‘Soul’ that takes precedence over human body (i.e. materialistic needs). The humankind needs to become strongest within and socially most successful in its own right, using their skills and abilities to achieve as much as they possibly can during the given life-span or in nutshell say achieving self-actualization (Moksha), the ultimate human objective.
- All the living beings are efficient enough to lead a comfortable life
- unless unwanted human interference harms them, but the human beings even with superior intellect are too vulnerable to survive at their own. The human-beings need undisruptive constant caring and struggle for their materialistic needs (i.e. money, possessions, physical comforts and so on) throughout their lives. Therefore, we can safely conclude that spiritualism and materialism, in that order, are basic needs for the humankind. Spiritualism represents internal well being i.e. indomitable spirit and Materialism represents the body i.e. enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
- The reason behind all the human-miseries is the ignorance or negligence about attaining spiritual proficiency and the belief that materialistic achievements are the sole aim of human life. Thus if one feels that money, possessions, physical comforts or say the materialism is more important than spiritualism, then think again:-
- Can an unhealthy body with all the materialistic possessions enjoy materialistic comforts? One can enjoy the pleasures of the senses (i.e. the power to see, hear, smell, taste or touch) only when one’s body is healthy enough, which is not possible without having internal peace of mind, or say without achieving spiritual proficiency.
- Incidentally, a healthy man can face all sorts of miseries fearlessly under any circumstances with his spiritual proficiencies without a sign of any depression or anxiety. Thus, human beings can remain healthy only on having indomitable spirit, which comes after achieving both i.e. spiritualistic and materialistic proficiencies.
The Arya Samaj As An Institution.
3. The institution of the Arya Samaj was founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati for the betterment of the human race by recognizing ‘the Vedic Religion’ . The religion based on the Vedas, the oldest religious scriptures of the human race, is efficient enough to act as one and the only religion for the entire human race. The belief in religiosity is a universal and inevitable phenomena as nearly 95% of human beings have faith in religion. However, religious regimentation is missing and there
- - - - - - ...4/-
are innumerous belief, faiths, and religions, which are causing the confusion. There has to be just one religion for the entire humanity, but there are many and every religion is blowing its own trumpet. Now a question arises as to how to achieve World Spiritual Unity among the human race. Let us try to explore the solution:-
(a) Materialism and Spiritualism are two basic needs of humankind as explained above. The human dependence on scientific inventions have been tackled collectively as a global necessity and in a secular fashion, but the same togetherness in human efforts is missing in the field of creating unity in the global spiritualism. The needful collective human efforts are yet to be taken to bring to light the existent or discovering one and only religion for the entire human race again in a secular fashion. Can we avoid it?
(c) In fact Swami Dayanand Saraswati did make an effort to bring scholars of different religions at a common platform and to sort out the problem through ‘Shastrath’ (i.e. friendly debates). He suggested the one and only religion for the entire human race, based on the Vedas, the oldest human religious scriptures of the world. In the overall scheme of things to organize World Spiritual Unity in the World Religious System, he authored ‘Satgyarth Prakash (i.e. The Light of Truth), his masterpiece, that explains the whole issue.
(d) After all it is all about finding, differentiating and understanding ‘right or wrong ’or say cleansing human society of the evil of superstition, obscurantism (i.e. the practice of deliberately preventing somebody from understanding or discovering something) and bigotry (i.e. the state of or the act of expressing strong unreasonable beliefs or opinions) and so on. It is a matter of great satisfaction that some top scientists are now investigating the science of Vedas. Let the ultimate outcome of such ‘Vedic Research’ be revealed and due authentic expert pronouncements made on the subject by the concerned research agencies.
THE ARYA SAMAJ : ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE FAILURES
4. The scholars of the major religions have acknowledged the historical achievements of the Arya Samaj, who appreciated its ideological aspects whole-heartedly. The renowned national and international Publishing Houses published a large number of thoughtful literary books on ascertainments of the Arya Samaj, its
- - - - - - ...5/-
founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Indian Culture based on the sacred Vedas through institutions like the Gurukula Kangri, etc., that had revolutionized the contemporary religious world.
5. Incidentally, it was the earliest indigenous social movements started by the Arya Samaj, which introduced institution like the D.A.V. in the field of western education. At the same time, the Arya Samaj also took part in various other philanthropic and social movements. The Christian Missionaries were the first who started such philanthropic social activities in India. The central Govt. has also acknowledged the services of a large number of the Arya Samajists for taking part in various civil disobedience movements during pre-independence days by recognizing them as the Freedom Fighters. In addition, the Arya Samaj has also been taking parts in other socio-religious benevolent activities as a standing policy.
6, Philosophically i.e. the thought process of the Arya Samaj stands fully vindicated as the various members of the world religious fraternity had rightfully acknowledged its importance from time to time. The Arya Samaj offers excellent potentials for improving the spiritual quality of the World Religious and Social Life. The Arya Samaj and its growing recognition as a social and religious institution has found it a space in the Oxford Dictionary that defines the Arya Samaj as ‘a Hindu reform movement of India founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 with the purpose of taking the Hindu religion back from superstitious beliefs to the teachings of Vedas.’
7. In effect, The Arya Samaj is an institution for the reformation of the world sentimental religiosity as a whole. The religious philosophical institutions like The Arya Samaj and the innumerous such institutions led by modern day spiritual gurus need to exert enough to meet the vast quality spiritual needs of billions of human kinds. The Arya Samaj, as a NGO, can also contribute to achieve human harmony as it meets the criteria of finding ‘One and the only Religion for the entire human race’, subject to the Arya Samaj setting its house right first. Let the Arya Samaj take stock of the whole issue once again as :-
- The principles of the Arya Samaj are of secular nature.
- The advent of the Arya Samaj shook up The World Religious Fraternity.
Th- e Arya Samaj Act
8. The Underperformance...Well, the lack of organizational regimentation is responsible for the under performance of the institution of Arya Samaj. Now the institution of the Arya Samaj needs a new beginning by becoming an autonomous body, i.e. of course, with the help of the State on passage of the Arya Samaj Act, exactly on the lines of the The Gurdwara Act of 1925, and the Delhi Gurdwara Management Organization Act of 1974. The advent of the institution of the Arya Samaj had given great hopes to Hindu religion in particular and the world religious fraternity as a whole by undertaking the task as to improve socio-religious situation in the human society.
9. The Arya Samaj did predict its growth boom for a while, but what it did not predict was its sustainable progressive growth. It needs revaluation of the Arya Samaj, as there are some discrepancies in the functioning of the institution of the Arya Samaj as a whole. The court judgments always attract great attention. The functioning of the Arya Samaj stands challenged. Just a point let us restrict our revaluation to the institute of the Arya Samaj and not the Vedic religion, which is an authority in itself. Now just look at the following:-
- ‘The Supreme Court ticks off Agnivesh, as reported by the Times News Network (TOI – 9 November 2011). The Supreme Court ...cautioned public figures against hurting people’s sentiments by making indiscreet statements. The court said this while hearing social activist Swami Agnivesh’s plea to quash an FIR for his alleged negative statement on the Amarnath Yatra in May while on a visit to Jammu.’
- ‘As per a news item in The Sunday Times of 23 October 2011, The Rajasthan High Court on 21 Oct 11 ruled that Arya Samaj Marriages will be solemnized only after informing the parents....The court opined that “The pious purpose of Arya Samaj Mission has been lost by the local units in the state and they are becoming a tool for pacification of ‘greed and lust’ for girl and boy...” The Court further stated that...”We fail to appreciate the Arya Samaj becoming a tool of such pacifications. The persons running Arya Samaj are minting
- - - -7-
money by such quick marriages resulting in a serious problem in society.”...The court has asked the apex body of the Arya Samaj in India to keep a check on its state units to ensure marriages are not solemnized between “mismatched” couples.
- The Speaking Tree dated 8 December 2011 carries an article Back To Vedas by Sakina Yusuf Khan opines that ‘Back To Veda’ was Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s call when he established the Arya Samaj that is today known more for conducting ‘instant’ marriages than espousing high philosophy.
10. The Arya Samaj did not move with the time and remained struck with its old fashioned ideas, methods, etc. thereby, it did not change itself or its ideas or for that matter, way of working etc. The Arya Samaj thus could not govern itself as a cohesive group or control its own affairs comprehensively and its overall state as an organization is almost in shamble these days.
- Secondly, the Arya Samaj has not been able to achieve its stated objectives because of the inconsistency in its functional performance. The under-performance of the philanthropically engaged institutions of the Arya Samaj is unacceptable to the society as a whole.
- Thirdly, the Arya Samaj is also less successful in achieving its mission of stated objectives i.e. to ensure the Hindu Society in particular and the World Religious Fraternity in general back from superstitious beliefs to the teachings of Vedas.
11. Finally, there is wide spread disillusionment with the Arya Samajists, who are disappointed because the Arya Samaj they admired now seems to be heading on the wrong track and thereby losing The Arya Samaj did predict its growth boom for a while, but what it did not predict was its sustainable progressive growth. The enactment of the Arya Samaj is the only hope to ensure regular organizational elections, which will have cohesive control over its local units, which is non-existence at present.
Resurrection Of The Arya Samaj.
12. Let us have moments of quiet contemplation of the following court judgments
- - - - - - ...8/-
its popularity over recent years. The Arya Samaj must bring clarity to the contours of the every religion’s right to practice and the right to maintaining its dignity in a society. After all we all are human beings and need respect for political, religious, or moral views, even if you do not agree with them. Let the Arya Samaj revise its approach and follow the policy of being generous towards other faiths. The Arya Samaj must revise its strategy and include achieving ‘World Religious Harmony’ as one of its objectives.
- Of Course, the Arya Samaj need not change its allegiance towards the Vedic Religion. In effect, Swami Dayanand rallied around the Vedas, the most sacred scriptures of the Hindu Religion. But, can you renounce the temples, the centers of spiritual culture ? Perhaps not and therefore, the Hindu politicians while promoting Hinduism rally around the Temples, which at times are sources of communal riots. Now let us discuss the utility and relevance of temples. Idol worship is not the only reason of building temples. Let me quote some excerpts from a book titled ‘HINDU POLITY authored by Shri NITYA NARAYAN BANERJEE :- “In ancient India, temples were not only the centers for the spiritual development. but the nation’s art, architecture, literature, ethics, education, etc., the entire cultural life developed centering round temples.”
- Now the Arya Samaj by keeping its aim intact can it rally around the temples as well. At the same time, the Arya Samaj can start a movement to reform the temples while respecting its beliefs as well by converting them into centers of spiritual development along with entire cultural life. Keep propogating your ideal, but to your own followers, the target audicence,
- There are monotheist religions like Christianity, Muslim that do not believe in idol worship, but build churches and mosques for offering prayers to God. Let the temples function as community centers to serve the people. In any case, the Arya Samaj must be aware of its capabilities and limits of undertaking its activities within its reasonable capabilities and current functional proficiency.
- Incidentally, let us say an efficient spiritual guru does provide spiritual solace to his followers. There are a large number of spiritual gurus maintain their constituencies of followers. Now question arises how to
- - - - -9-
appropriate the services of such gurus for the betterment of humanity? The Arya Samaj can have a plan to address such religious concerns with pre-decided guidelines; the Arya Samaj cannot provide religious services to
entire humanity, keeping in view of its present state of holding of the infrastructure. After all there are limits to everything including, the system of the Shastrath (i.e. The Friendly Debates).
The Arya Samaj : An Analytical Approach
13 Now that the problem has been identified, The Arya Samaj can take an appropriate action. A positive response would be to treat only the Arya Samajists as its target audience. Let the Arya Samaj provide its services to its own followers only. There is no need to criticize other faiths during weekly assemblies, periodical functions and so on and let the sermons be restricted to the Vedic Teachings as a whole for the consumption its own constituency (the target audience). Let the audience have the liberty to form an opinion about the spiritual truths based on the information or evidence provided during such gatherings. A cordial approach by the Arya Samaj will win followers. After all the Arya Samajists claim to be an enclave of enlightened minds.