My village people say water is holy, and say that all water is Gangamma. This includes the water in faraway Ganga, water in the pond, and even the water content in the arrack bottle as in the stories that Annasamy Anna tells me.
They worship stones, and Chinapaapakka asked me, 'Is God not there is a stone' when she was telling me a story where a young man kicked an idol.
Divinity in all that exists seems to be the Indian thought from the vedanta to the SC illiterate villages.
The swamiji in the Geeta lessons was referring to the Vishwaroopam. God did not 'create' the world, God is the world, he explained. He manifested as the panch mahabhootas.
Religion permates this land, from the remotest villages to the Bhagavad Geeta classes.
...
...
I asked Annasamy Anna, "Anna, in the city there are many educated people who don't believe in God.They say if there was a God why does he permit suffering."
Annasamy Anna smiled.
"There are laws. There are processes. First understand that.
The poor man remembers God, tries to live a life based on daanam and Dharmam. His Dharmam brings good fortune in him.
Once rich, he ofen forgets God and Dharmam. And gets attached to making more and more money. And that brings him down again.
What can God do.
Man has the choice to follow Dharmam. Or to reject it."
...to all those who have an infantalized understanding of our religion. There is no God above passing decrees. In our religion.
There is the law of Karma. The God is the law. Karma phala data.
In deeper understanding, the God is that consciousness in oneself.
Aham Brahmasmi.
Every Indian rooted in the soil knows this.
When Easwaramma, with her coolie earnings offers a sack of rice at the temple for annadaanam, the swami accepts that offering with humility.
"Everybody has the richness of sunshine and rain, and everybody offers back to God. As annadaanam for others.", he says.
Nitya annadaanam. That all who seek food are fed.
And Eashwaramma, contributing to her ability feels blessed.
That ability to give of what one has is the truest empowerment.
That strength. that courage. That heart.
In my village people quote Dharma in every sentence. As duties. Not rights.
Dharma as a Civilizational Principle
Ancient Rishis saw rights and responsibilities as two sides of the same coin and decided to emphasize responsibilities and duty over rights whereas other civilizations emphasized rights. They knew that when responsibilities and duties are fulfilled, people receive their rights. For example, when parents fulfill their duties and responsibilities for their children--their children receive their rights. The same principle applies for a nation and its citizens. Where people live in conformity with their dharma, the individual rights of all others are naturally granted. A culture that emphasizes rights over duties only results in a competitive clamoring where each group and sub-group organizes itself to lobby and fight for its rights. Whereas in Sanatana Dharma, one is taught to live consistently with one's dharma (swadharma), and leave the rest to Ishwara or Bhagwan[15]
Ancient Rishis saw rights and responsibilities as two sides of the same coin and decided to emphasize responsibilities and duty over rights whereas other civilizations emphasized rights. They knew that when responsibilities and duties are fulfilled, people receive their rights. For example, when parents fulfill their duties and responsibilities for their children--their children receive their rights. The same principle applies for a nation and its citizens. Where people live in conformity with their dharma, the individual rights of all others are naturally granted. A culture that emphasizes rights over duties only results in a competitive clamoring where each group and sub-group organizes itself to lobby and fight for its rights. Whereas in Sanatana Dharma, one is taught to live consistently with one's dharma (swadharma), and leave the rest to Ishwara or Bhagwan[15]
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