A revolution of sorts is underway in India this August of the year 2011. Citizens have come out on the streets to express their anger against corruption and its adverse consequences, albeit in a peaceful manner, as expounded by Mahatma Gandhi and now carried forward by Mahatma Anna. I refer to Annaji as Mahatma because in spite of all that detractors say about him his methods are rooted in Non-violence, Truth and Simplicity, and because they have moved millions. There is no other qualification required beyond these – Love, Truth and Simplicity and the ability to effect major changes for any individual soul or atman to rise to the ranks of a Mahatma.
For far too long, there has been an impression that to rise forward in a society like India one has to adopt corrupt means, except for rare exceptions. It is said that when the water is murky, scum rises to the top. In order for the cream to surface, something pure like milk has to be churned and for that each citizen, the particles of this liquid, must look into his or her own heart. If one is unable to become corrupt oneself then in order to succeed in this murky environment, in the very least, one must play an even more powerful role of protecting and shielding the corrupt. Ancient wisdom that corruption is not just indulging in corruption oneself but in facilitating others to do it as well has been lost in the dust filled pages of history.
However, every evil has its limit, the power of Love, Truth and Simplicity is the power of the Universal Consciousness that has created the universe and sustains it. It is not therefore surprising that it has moved the second largest nation on earth. This power shines forth from time to time in order to restore balance and order. It is not that the citizens of the country have realized suddenly that corruption is widespread. They have suffered its consequences such as lack of basic amenities, inflation and harassment on a daily basis for decades. It is because of two reasons that the people are out on the street now. It is because corruption has increased steadily over the years so that it has now reached gigantic proportions, and most of all because people have found a leader in an Anna Hazare who in his simplicity wields the primal power that sustains this universe. It is the same power that was wielded by Mahatma Gandhi, a power that moved and decimated the largest empire human civilization has seen.
'People do not throw stones at bare trees but rather at those that are laden with fruit" Translated from a statemnt of Anna Hazare on Times Now TV
22 comments:
I have never really understood how protest and civil disobedience works. America needs another revolution to fix things, but I don't want one. Such is life.
Ashok,
I read about possible hunger strike by Anna Hazare. Isn't it outmoded style of protest? Do you think it's still effective? I think not eating will damage his health, and if he becomes ill or die young, then he cannot lead this important movement. What do you think?
Hello John. Nice to have you back. I think America needs a revolution to solve ITS biggest problem. It is not corruption as in India. It is DEBT. The present scheme of raising more debt to pay previous debt sounds like a ponzy scheme that is bound to collapse someday.
Keiko, It is proving to be immensely effective. He has done similar protests before. His health is not the worse for it. He sprints like a young man after four days of fasting , has never taken any medicine. Does not suffer from blood pressure, diabetes etc.Roars like a lion and and all that after days of fasting at age 74.
But than he is not an ordinary human. What you say applies to us lesser mortals. Good to hear from you after a gap. In the meantime my facebook page has almost been overtaken by some of my former students.
Ashok,
I still don't understand how it is effective. How effective? When he does fasting, the government officals become less corrupt because they don't want him to do it, and they are scared the masses come after them or something if he dies?
Keiko, the masses come out on the streets. There is a large media attention. The elected representative loose their support and votes. All this makes the goverment change its stand. Also if something happens to the fasting leaders, the masses become agree and with the leader advocating non-violence gone the masses become violent.
Ashok,
I worry about his health. If he is the only one like Gandhi, then all the more we should worry for his health. When Aoshima Yukio, a former governor of Tokyo did his hunger strike because of the corruption at the time by Japanese government officials, he was sent to a hospital after only 30 hours. I think he didn’t drink or eat at all, and he did it suddenly. He died young. I wonder if that did something to do with his early death.
I’m also concerned about the method. Putting aside negative or positive, hunger strikes and bribes seem similar in approach. I think we need more civilized and long lasting approach. I wonder if you understand how I feel about it.
Yes Keiko I completely understand what you say. However when there is a great and powerful wrong in society it has to be fought. Peaceful methods are better than violent ones such as those being adopted in Libya and Syria now. As I mentioned Gandhi used it successfully and Martin Luther King did too in USA. Annas method is succeeding.
As Jesus said man does not live by food alone. He fasted for forty days. When fasting is combined with spiritual power it strengthens rather than weaken. Only a few can do it though.
Ashok,
"When fasting is combined with spiritual power it strengthens rather than weaken." "it" is fasting, right? What does fasting strengthen? The person's body?
"Only a few can do it though." How do you know? Do those few live in India?
No Keiko, Jesus lived in the Middle East.
The fact that fasting strengthens the body, has been seen by me in those who do it. Anna the latest is very strong at 74. The doctors examine him regularly and are surprised. I too have fasted from time to time in my life and emerged stronger as a result of it. My mother used to do it too and she was a very bright and active lady that looked years younger than others of her age. She passed away in 1999.
Anna called away his fast yesterday. That fast generated a mass movement that will hopefully bring positive changes in India in future.
Keiko Spiritual persons believe that the body is just a clothing for the soul. Disease or good health in the soul passes on to the mind then the body. Fasting done properly and spiritually works on the soul to strengthen mind, body and soul.
Yes one can work on the mind or body directly to improve health too for temporary benifits, but the soul or emotional health always prevails.
Keiko you may have something in the guess that the technique originated from India. Jesus is rumored to have spent time in the Himalayas and the Buddhist monks in India and other countries like Japan did that following Buddha for purification. i believe they still do so in Japan and provide the spiritual foundation for the greatness of Japan.
Ashok,
Japan is not without problems. In fact, we have lots of problems. I'm sure some Japanese agree with you because we have all kinds of people. For instance, the Aum cult that killed many people using sarin gas still exists. They also claim their spirituality and some people follow them.
Some priests eat two meals a day for which they do not consider it fasting, but unfortunately some sects still use fasting as a training of so-called their mind. If I could, I would stop them.
In the ancient time, people sacrificed animals, but we quit doing it, right? Some tribes somewhere in the world were cannibalistic, but most of them quit also. I'm sure majority of doctors do not recommend fasting for many days. I think it's much more effective if we promote honest behaviors and stop paying any bribe.
Ashok,
Maybe you have already noticed, but I put up my new post on the same subject. I was inspired by our conversation and appreciated your comments.
http://keiko-amano.blogspot.com/2011/08/no-more-corruption-but-no-more-hunger.html
In my previous comment, the second from the last, I wrote,
"but unfortunately some sects still use fasting as a training of so-called their mind."
It should be:
"but unfortunately some sects still use hard fasting as a training of so-called high mind."
Keiko I had gone out of town for a couple of days and hence this delay in reply. Yes you are most certainly right when you say that much abuse takes place in the name of spirituality.
My own understanding of the reason for that is that abusive and evil practices move in each others company just as good habits such as love and truth move together.
Thus lying is the handmaiden of evil practices and the evil doer adopts the lie that his/her practice is spiritual and covers it with spiritual jargon. If he admitted that it was not spiritual it would be being truthful and that would be an absolute no-no for evil doers. They can't but help call it spiritual to use their beloved lies.
The problem then is how to pick out which is which?
That needs looking for the bouquet of love, truth and simplicity.
I shall be delighted to look up your post.
Satyam Param Dhimahi - Truth is the greatest religion.
Keiko, whether it harms or helps him to fast, see what a sacrifice he made. Do you know in the end he said that he is ready to die but he will not break his fast untill the bill is passed.
Yes Keiko, your response to Ketaki is awaited eagerly.
Hi Ketaki and Ashok,
Please see my new post for my response. It ended up longer.
http://keiko-amano.blogspot.com/2011/09/more-on-hunger-strike.html
Thank you, Ketaki, for your comment.
Is your name Indian? Our names are a bit similar. We both have two K's and one e and i. It's easier to remember your name unlike other difficult and long Indian names. But I probably do not pronounce it right.
Hi Keiko,
Ketaki is pronounced approximately as the two words in English
Kate + key
except that the t is the soft one as in Italian or Spanish t rather than the hard sound of english t
Yes the names are familiar. In Hindi it is the name of a beautiful white fragrant flower.
Thank you, Ashok. Is the flower like gardenia?
I am not quite certain Keiko because Ketaki is the ancient name of the flower as described in old stories. I am unsure as to which modern flower it is. Perhaps if Ketaki comes back she would know more.
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