HINDUS SUFFER FROM
G.A.S.S.
No, this G.A.S.S. does not come from too much beans and curry (though we can approach the subject with some humor). Author O.P. Gupta of "Vedic Equality and Hinduism," apparently coined this acronym to mean "Genetically Acquired Slavery Syndrome."
Many Hindus, like many others who have long suffered under domination and misinformation, do seem to have a very difficult time in openly defending their religion against misinformation and outright theft.
For thousands of years, egotists have stolen from the Hindus. Unfortunately, many Hindus have allowed this to happen through complacency and even compliance. Many concerned Hindus have approached this subject with various violators and generally with little no positive responses. Simply examine the following popular words to be aware of this historical theft. Unfortunately though the following Sanskrit (well-constructed; the language of the Hindus) words are popular, they are not well-known.
Arya/Aryan
The Distortion: To many, Arya or Aryan refers to the Germans, the White race and perhaps various exclusionary cults--nothing could be further from the truth.
The Truth: Arya/Aryan is a Sanskrit term and simply means "noble" which can be applied to animals and plants/trees as well as people. Arya has nothing to do with race. Along with the misuse of Arya is also the speculative theory of an Aryan invasion into India. Though this myth is found in history books, there is no evidence that any such invasion ever occurred and is perhaps simply another way of imposing a European and Middle Easter bias on the inhabitants of India. It is a fact that Sanskrit is the Mother tongue of the Hindus and has been fully developed and continued only by the Hindus.
Swastika
The Distortion: To many, the Swastika is the evil symbol of Hitler and the Third Reich.
The Truth: Swastika is a Sanskrit term and means well being. Hindus have always used this symbol as a sigh of good fortune. Sadly, Hitler stole this sacred Hindu symbol and it thus became equated with his evil vision. Because of this blatant theft, Hindus who wear or display this sacred Hindu symbol have been the target of various forms of violence.
Guru
The Distortion: To many, a Guru is simply a so-called expert in any field. This popular term, often reinforced in the media, has fostered many insulting terms such as: Fitness Guru, Diet Guru, Wall Street Guru, ad nauseam.
The Truth: A Guru is a Hindu religious teacher of a very high order. Within Hindu religious culture, the term Guru can also be applied to lesser teachers but always within a religious context.
Pundit
The Distortion: To many, a Pundit (Pandit is the proper spelling) is simply an intellectual generally with political overtones.
The Truth: A Pandit is a Hindu family Priest. A Pandit is a learned Hindu religious man.
Mantra
The Distortion: To many, a Mantra is simply a repetitive chant directed towards anything or anyone.
The Truth: A Mantra is a Holy Hindu prayer.
Karma
The Distortion: To many, Karma is simply fate, or simply the acceptance of the results of any actions.
The Truth: Karma is the religious law of cause and effect. The Hindu uses the law of Karma by implementing high ethical standards of right and wrong.
Caste
The Distortion: To many, caste is synonymous with Hindu culture.
The Truth: The Portuguese word caste is "obviously" not in anyway related to the Sanskrit, Hindu culture. Though admittedly, many Hindus misuse this word to describe the ancient class system known as varna. As human nature would have it, even the varna system (originally simply a delineation of different occupational tendencies) has been perverted by many into rigid class distinction. Not coincidentally, all the terrorist invaders into India and Hindu culture set up their own caste system while, paradoxically, criticizing the so-called Hindu caste system. For example, when the British and Anglican Church took possession of India, an Indian could not join various "all-India clubs" and could not even become an officer in the "Indian Army!"
Swami
The Distortion: Similar to "Guru," a Swami is often characterized as a magic man or fortune teller. Even Beleifnet on the web has its own "Uptown Swami."
The Truth: A Swami is a celibate Hindu teacher of a very high order.
Yoga
The Distortion: To many, Yoga is simply another form of physical exercise (for a fee) and perhaps a vague so-called "spirituality." False "certified yoga teachers" are in abundance and teach a distorted "yoga" in many public and private venues.
The Truth: Yoga means union of Atmana (individual Soul) and Brahman (Soul Source). When practicing these Hindu religious disciplines, the proper prefix is always applied. The classic Hindu Yogas are: Karma Yoga (ethics), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Hatha Yoga (worshipful posture), Raja Yoga (meditation) and Jnana Yoga (enlightenment). These Yogas are taught only by qualified Hindus (or related sect) and only on a donation basis.
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE STEAL/STEEL?
It is clear from the above that innumerable hard and egocentric individuals, have felt the need to steal from the Hindus. Why do people steal? Is stealing not the result of a hard and unrefined ego?
First, people only steal when they feel they are getting something of use to them. Like all invaders into Hindu/Indian culture, they saw a great wealth. Even Columbus was in search of India's riches and thought he had found it only to participate in the rape of another culture. It is also a fact that the Christian religion has played an important role in stealing from other cultures and especially the Hindus. For example Columbus said: Your Highness must not allow any foreigner to set foot here or trade, except Catholic Christians, since it was the beginning and the end of this enterprise that it should be for the increase and the glory of the Christian religion.
... I have great hope in Our Lord that Your Highnesses will convert all of them to Christianity and they will all belong to you, for I regard them as yours now. 1The formation of America was basically a Christian based theft first of the land and its people and then Black slaves from Africa: Colonel Chivington (a Methodist Minister) was typical of the attitude of the day: Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians! I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God's heaven to kill Indians.
2David Walker Brown, a Boston Negro, wrote a famous speech in 1829 that typified the theft of the Black person's basic dignity: Our wretchedness on consequence of slavery, our wretchedness on consequence of ignorance, our wretchedness in consequence of the preachers of the religion of Jesus Christ, and our wretchedness in consequence of the colonization plan.
3Women in general have long been victims of theft and Christian zealots. Tertullian, an early Church Father and considered a "unique genius of Latin Christianity," stated the women's position: You women are the devils gateway. How easily you destroyed man, the image of god. Because of the death which you brought upon us, even the Son of God had to die.
4 It is particularly ironic that women, today, are some of the greatest perpetrators of the theft of Hinduism. The vast majority of those raping the many Yogas from the Hindus are women.In the ongoing developmental process of refining the ego, we can get some insight into what makes us hard or steely. How is steel produced? Steel is made from iron ore with the carbon removed. Carbon is a most basic earth element. Carbon is coal and black. Psychologically when one has more or less removed oneself from nature and a sense of earthiness, one becomes rigid, hard and "steely." Such a materialistic individual "naturally" steals. It is not a coincidence that highly materialistic individuals have historically criticized, stolen and raped earth-based peoples of black skin.
The solution is to humble (be earthy/humus) oneself and literally get in close contact with nature. It is for this reason, that Hinduism maintains its earth-based rituals (puja), ashrams (forest academies) and many Yoga teachings and practices. Not coincidentally, the Yoga Sutras state that for the materialistic (egocentric) individual their way is to not focus on their body but rather to remain obscure and offer earthy religious worship. This admonition (Yoga Sutras: I.19) is particularly ironic since all those who have stolen Yoga from the Hindus are absorbed in their own body and ego consciousness.
Humility is a strength and not a weakness.
1. Fuson, Robert H., The Log of Christopher Columbus, PA., International Marine Publishing, 1987, 120.
2. Brown, Dee, Bury My heart at Wounded Knee, U.S., Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970, 86.
3. Encyclopedia Britannica Ed. Corp., The Negro in American history 1567-1854 III Slaves and Masters, U.S., William Benton Publishers, 1969, xvi.
4. Daly, Mary, beyond God The Father: Toward A Philosophy of Women's Liberation, U.S., Beacon Press, 1973, 44.
Contemplating the reality of G.A.S.S. and the Hindu understanding of samsara (reincarnation), one can perhaps see the reason for a number of converts (and adoptives) into any religion (and in this case Hinduism). Without certain genetic baggage, these converts literally add "new blood" to any religion.