Este é um lugar para compartilhar as coisas sobre as quais tenho lido que dizem respeito à posição da mulher na sociedade atual e, especialmente, nos velhos tempos e tradições. Embora a maior parte dessas antigas tradições pareçam ser muito machistas agora, se nos aprofundarmos, poderemos ver que elas sofreram muitas mudanças e que, de fato, em sua essência, sempre glorificaram as mulheres. Falarei mais sobre a cultura védica / indiana, mas tamém falarei sobre outras tradições. Será ótimo se pudermos compartilhar nosso conhecimento sobre este tópico. Tentarei sempre escrever em inglês e, então, escrever a mesma coisa em português. Por favor, faça seus comentários, se inscreva e, caso tenha um artigo ou algo para ser publicado, mande para krdevidasi@gmail.com. Vamos lá então...
Este é o primeiro post que coloco aqui sobre as mulheres nas escrituras. Falarei sobre algo que venho pesquisando já há algum tempo. Falarei sobre as escrituras indianas antigas.
É muito interessante notar que, atualmente, na Índia, temos basicamente dois grupos. O primeiro grupo pensa que as escrituras são obsoletas e, assim, não devem ser seguidas hoje em dia. Ele não está interessado em conhecê-las ou seguí-las. Ou essas pessoas são ateístas ou participam de alguns rituais feitos pela família sem realmente entendê-los, mas apenas por participar, como um costume social. Também achamos neste grupo aqueles que preferem a cultura occidental, sua música, filmes e estilo de vida. No segundo grupo, por outro lado, temos aqueles que querem resgatar seu hinduísmo, ou querem perpetuar sua cultura hindu, seguindo aquilo que viram acontecer em suas famílias ou aquilo que sabem sobre as escrituras. Mas vemos que, embora sigam veementemente algumas partes das escrituras, eles não seguem outras. Podemos ver que eles estão ansiosos em seguir as partes das escrituras que reforçam sua própria posição superior ou qualquer outra coisa que esteja de acordo com seu interesse, mas não estão muito interessados em seguir as partes, por exemplo, que aconselham austeridades como acordar cedo, jejuar ou ver todas as mulheres como sua própria mãe. Várias vezes eles não podem citar as escrituras, mas apenas justificar suas attitudes dizendo que estão seguindo as “tradições”, nem mesmo que fazem parte das escrituras... Mas a questão é: que tradições são essas? Aqueles que se dizem verdadeiros hindus estão seguindo tradições que, geralmente, não estão nas escrituras hindus. A maioria delas existe devido à influência muçulmana, cristã ou devido às mudanças feitas por estrangeiros que, na verdade, queriam destruir essa mesma cultura hindu. Dentro todos os comportamentos não-hindus que vemos atualmente existindo sob a bandeira do hinduísmo, encontram-se as frases feitas, pensamentos e atitudes com relação às mulheres. E vemos isto da parte da maioria dos homens e… mulheres!
Como a verdadeira tradição hindu vem das escrituras, não iremos nem considerar nada que seja chamado “tradição” apenas, quando isto na verdade significa “o que todos têm feito por algum tempo na Índia”. Já que, por algum tempo, tem-se matado milhares de bebês do sexo feminino, tem-se torturado garotas e suas famílias por causa de dote, etc, aceitar que algumas coisas fazem parte da “tradição” indiana só porque elas têm ocorrido já por algum tempo, é também aceitar que estese crimes são a tradição indiana, e não podemos concordar com isto. Então, devemos considerar e aceitar como tradição indiana apenas aquilo que vem das escrituras indianas.
Agora surge outro problema. Podemos confiar em tudo o que é dito nas escrituras? Tantas coisas são justificadas como sendo parte das escrituras, mas estas coisas estão lá realmente?
Raghbendra Jha escreveu: “Há algo inerentemente errado com o modo como o Sanatana dharma ou a cultura hindu trata a feminilidade? Se formos pelos comentários de alguns textos tais como o Manusmriti, seríamos levados a pensar que este é o caso, certamente. No entanto, a autoridade última e única das práticas do Sanatana dharma são os quatro Vedas. (...) Nossa vasta literatura religiosa foi poluída pelo comportamento hipócrita e intenções egoístas de alguns assim chamados pundits (o Matsyapurna diz que estas pessoas são rakshas nascidos na Kaliyuga em famílias de brahmanas) e pelos séculos de domínio das forças coloniais. É provável que o Manusmriti nos tenha afetado. Isto fica evidente em algumas passagens do Manusmriti. *
É claro que a maior parte dos hindus não quer discutir este fato. Ou eles se sentem muito confortáveis com o modo como as coisas estão agora, ou são muito preguiçosos para pensar sobre isto, ou não têm a inteligência para fazer tais perguntas.
“Os hindus, tendo sido oprimidos por séculos, desenvolveram uma mentalidade de escravidão mental com relação ao seu opressor de longa data, o islã. Então, agora, mesmo quando os hindus se colocam contra o Islã, eles o fazem timidamente, defensivamente e com a culpa de alguns crimes hipotéticos imaginados, para seu desgosto, para eles por seus inimigos. Eles ainda não conseguem pensar livremente, analisar a história objetivamente e reconhecer a verdadeira natureza do Hinduísmo, i.e., Dharma. Mas, se eles quiserem regenerar o Dharma, a Verdade e a Bondade, então terão que ver a história sob sua verdadeira luz, com Coragem, Decisão e Objetividade. Apenas então poderão redescobrir seu Dharma e fazer algo por sua geração.” ** De fato, muitos hindus falam contra o Islã, mas estão felizes em viver de um modo que vem do Islã, acreditando ou fingindo acreditar que isto é parte de sua cultura hindu.
Espero que os hindus acordem deste estado e comecem a pensar sobre o modo como as coisas estão acontecendo agora e possam ver a necessidade de mudança para que sua verdadeira cultura possa sobreviver, mesmo que isto signifique questionar, ver seus erros e adotar uma attitude desconfortável, já que é diferente. E acredito que isto não tem a ver apenas com os hindus. Trata-se de sanatana-dharma, e sanatana-dharma é para todos, não apenas para os nsacidos na Índia. Com esta cultura podemos aprender a viver melhor neste mundo e no outro, nesta vida e nas próximas.
Como diz o Rigveda, parte 2, sukta 18, verso 3259: “Este dharma é sanatana (atemporal). Todos os deuses e humanos nasceram neste dharma e progrediram nele. Por favor, não destrua nossa grande Mãe que tem sido a pedra fundamental de sua génese e existência.”
* Raghbendra Jha - Women and the Vedas - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_070503.htm
** Prabhat Varun - Sati Pratha and its origins - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_060328.htm
Sunday, May 31, 2009
the real indian culture
This is the first post here about women in the scriptures. I'll talk about something I've been researching for some time. I'll talk about the old indian scriptures.
It's very interesting to note that today in India we have mainly two groups. First group think the scriptures are obsolete and so they are not to be followed nowadays. They are not interested in knowing or following it. Either they are atheist or they just take part in few rituals performed by the family without proper understanding, but just for the sake of doing it as a social costume. We may also find in this group those who prefer western culture, its music, movies and life-style. In the second group, by the other hand, we have those who want to rescue their hinduism, or who want to perpetuate their hindu culture, following what they have been seeing happening in their families or what they know about the scriptures. But we can see that although they follow vehemently some parts of the scriptures, they don't follow others. We can see they are eager to follow all the parts of the scriptures that will reinforce their own position as superior or anything else that is according to their interest, but they are not too interested in following parts, for example, that advice austerities like waking up early, fasting or seeing all the women as their own mother. So many times, they can't quote the scriptures but just justify their attitude saying they are following the "traditions", not even the scriptures... But the question is: which traditions are these? Those who claim to be real hindus are following traditions that are usually not in the hindu scriptures. Most part of them exist just due to muslim influence, christian influence or due to changes made by foreigners who actually wanted to destroy this same hindu culture.
Amongst all the non-hindu behaviors that we see nowadays running under the hindu flag is the package of ready-made phrases, thoughts and attitudes toward women. And that, from most part of men and... women!
As real hindu tradition comes from hindu scriptures, I'll not even mention or consider anything called "tradition" only, when that means "what everyone has been doing for some time in India". Since for some time now people have been killing thousands of female babies, have been torturing girls and her families because of dowry, etc, to accept that some things are part of "indian tradition" because they have been happening for some time is also to accept that these crimes are the "indian tradition", and we can't agree with that. So, we should consider and accept as indian tradition only what comes from indian scriptures.
Now an other problem arises. Can we trust in all that is said about indian scriptures? So many things are justified as being part of the scriptures, but are these things really there?
Raghbendra Jha wrote: "Is there something inherently wrong with the way Santana dharma or Hindu culture treats womanhood? If we were to go by the commentaries on some texts such as the Manusmriti we would be led to believe that this is indeed the case. However, the ultimate and the only authority on the practices of Sanatana Dharma are the four Vedas. (…) Our vast religious literature has been polluted by the hypocritical behavior and selfish intents of some so-called pundits (the Matsyapurna says that these people are rakshas born in Kaliyuga in the family lineage of Brahmans) and centuries of subjugation by colonial forces. It is likely that the Manusmriti has been affected thus. This is evident from some other passages in the Manusmriti extolling the virtues of women." *
Of course, most part of the so-called hindus don't discuss this fact. They either feel very comfortable with the way things are now, or they are too lazy to think about it, or they don't have the intelligence necessary to do such questions.
“Hindus being oppressed for centuries have developed a mental state called ‘Dhimmitude’, which means a mental slavery to its long time oppressor Islam. So, now even those Hindus who stand against Islam are timid, defensive and guilty of some hypothetical crimes, imagined for their chagrin, for them by their enemies. They still can’t think freely, analyze history objectively and recognize the true nature of Hinduism, i.e., Dharma. But, if they want to re-generate Dharma, Truth and Goodness then they will have to view History in its true light, with Courage, Resolution and with Objectivity. Then only they will be able to re-discover their Dharma and do something for its regeneration.” ** Actually, a lot of hindus who speak against islam are happy to live in a way that comes from islam, beliving or pretending to belive that is part of their hindu culture.
I hope the hindus can wake up of this state and start to think about the way things are happening now and can see the need of change for the sake of the survival of their real culture, even when that means to make questions, to see their mistakes and to adopt a different and uncomfortable attitude, since it’s a different one. And I belive that all this is not just about hindus. This is about sanatana-dharma, and sanatana-dharma is for everyone, not only for those born in India. With this culture we all can learn how to live better in this world and in the other, in this life and in the next ones.
As it is stated on Rigveda, Part-2, sukta-18, sloka 3259: “This dharma is sanatana (timeless). All the gods and humans have been born in this dharma and have achieved progress in it. Please do not destroy this great Mother who has been the foundation stone of your genesis and existence.”
* Raghbendra Jha - Women and the Vedas - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_070503.htm
** Prabhat Varun - Sati Pratha and its origins - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_060328.htm
It's very interesting to note that today in India we have mainly two groups. First group think the scriptures are obsolete and so they are not to be followed nowadays. They are not interested in knowing or following it. Either they are atheist or they just take part in few rituals performed by the family without proper understanding, but just for the sake of doing it as a social costume. We may also find in this group those who prefer western culture, its music, movies and life-style. In the second group, by the other hand, we have those who want to rescue their hinduism, or who want to perpetuate their hindu culture, following what they have been seeing happening in their families or what they know about the scriptures. But we can see that although they follow vehemently some parts of the scriptures, they don't follow others. We can see they are eager to follow all the parts of the scriptures that will reinforce their own position as superior or anything else that is according to their interest, but they are not too interested in following parts, for example, that advice austerities like waking up early, fasting or seeing all the women as their own mother. So many times, they can't quote the scriptures but just justify their attitude saying they are following the "traditions", not even the scriptures... But the question is: which traditions are these? Those who claim to be real hindus are following traditions that are usually not in the hindu scriptures. Most part of them exist just due to muslim influence, christian influence or due to changes made by foreigners who actually wanted to destroy this same hindu culture.
Amongst all the non-hindu behaviors that we see nowadays running under the hindu flag is the package of ready-made phrases, thoughts and attitudes toward women. And that, from most part of men and... women!
As real hindu tradition comes from hindu scriptures, I'll not even mention or consider anything called "tradition" only, when that means "what everyone has been doing for some time in India". Since for some time now people have been killing thousands of female babies, have been torturing girls and her families because of dowry, etc, to accept that some things are part of "indian tradition" because they have been happening for some time is also to accept that these crimes are the "indian tradition", and we can't agree with that. So, we should consider and accept as indian tradition only what comes from indian scriptures.
Now an other problem arises. Can we trust in all that is said about indian scriptures? So many things are justified as being part of the scriptures, but are these things really there?
Raghbendra Jha wrote: "Is there something inherently wrong with the way Santana dharma or Hindu culture treats womanhood? If we were to go by the commentaries on some texts such as the Manusmriti we would be led to believe that this is indeed the case. However, the ultimate and the only authority on the practices of Sanatana Dharma are the four Vedas. (…) Our vast religious literature has been polluted by the hypocritical behavior and selfish intents of some so-called pundits (the Matsyapurna says that these people are rakshas born in Kaliyuga in the family lineage of Brahmans) and centuries of subjugation by colonial forces. It is likely that the Manusmriti has been affected thus. This is evident from some other passages in the Manusmriti extolling the virtues of women." *
Of course, most part of the so-called hindus don't discuss this fact. They either feel very comfortable with the way things are now, or they are too lazy to think about it, or they don't have the intelligence necessary to do such questions.
“Hindus being oppressed for centuries have developed a mental state called ‘Dhimmitude’, which means a mental slavery to its long time oppressor Islam. So, now even those Hindus who stand against Islam are timid, defensive and guilty of some hypothetical crimes, imagined for their chagrin, for them by their enemies. They still can’t think freely, analyze history objectively and recognize the true nature of Hinduism, i.e., Dharma. But, if they want to re-generate Dharma, Truth and Goodness then they will have to view History in its true light, with Courage, Resolution and with Objectivity. Then only they will be able to re-discover their Dharma and do something for its regeneration.” ** Actually, a lot of hindus who speak against islam are happy to live in a way that comes from islam, beliving or pretending to belive that is part of their hindu culture.
I hope the hindus can wake up of this state and start to think about the way things are happening now and can see the need of change for the sake of the survival of their real culture, even when that means to make questions, to see their mistakes and to adopt a different and uncomfortable attitude, since it’s a different one. And I belive that all this is not just about hindus. This is about sanatana-dharma, and sanatana-dharma is for everyone, not only for those born in India. With this culture we all can learn how to live better in this world and in the other, in this life and in the next ones.
As it is stated on Rigveda, Part-2, sukta-18, sloka 3259: “This dharma is sanatana (timeless). All the gods and humans have been born in this dharma and have achieved progress in it. Please do not destroy this great Mother who has been the foundation stone of your genesis and existence.”
* Raghbendra Jha - Women and the Vedas - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_070503.htm
** Prabhat Varun - Sati Pratha and its origins - http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_060328.htm
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