PREFACE
Failure to know and understand certain vital clues, which were utmost necessary for us to reach the Divine Truths, led to creation of a maze, which grew so strong, cumbersome and confusing with time that the scholars continued to remain in dark, despite all their attempts. Man, entangled as he is in the material web of sense infatuations, and afflicted with attachment to some and/or detachment to others, fails to see truth which cannot be fathomed devoid of certain levels of spirituality.
East has always been an abode of lofty spiritual teachings and internal purification of self, contrary to later day teachings in the West which stressed on logical debates and external supplications. However, even in the East, these teachings were never followed by the majority. Very few people rose beyond external rituals to go to the depths within, and thereafter attain union of self with the Manifest Self.
Rama’s true teachings of spiritual heights could be seen in his conversations with Hanuman in certain Upanishads, but majority does not see Rama in the light of those teachings, nor think of taking lessons from them, but in the fight that he had to wage with Ravana and in Ramayana,a collection of myths. Rama’s fight was in consequence of his lofty principles, but we forget the principles and remember the fight. The same is the case with Rama, Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha in India and as well as with Avatars who came in other parts of the world.
Rama was truly an Avatar but far before in history for man to take true benefit from his teachings. A lot many sages and seers (and Avatars) walked in the East between Rama’s and Krishna’s period. The very fact that Puranas mention Rama’s direct descendant dying while fighting against Krishna in the battle of Mahabharata is enough to reveal that truth does not pass in descendants but can only be understood by those who are carriers of the spiritual legacy. More than being sons of Rama, what is important is being the spiritual followers of Rama. History recounts that people who were closest to Avatars and even Ahlulbayt (including their sons, wives and friends) proved to be the worst, when it came to understanding and following their true teachings.
Vedas were the earliest of all revealed scriptures. When the followers of Vedas deviated, a need was felt for the coming of Rama. There are Upanishads where Rama can be seen talking in detail about one or other aspect of Vedic teachings with his student, Hanuman. Deviations from Rama’s teachings necessitated the coming of Krishna. But since Vedas were still the holiest of all books, Krishna too focussed on the deviations that happened in understanding of Vedas. Deviations from Krishna’s teachings necessitated coming of Mahavira and then Buddha. But the followers of each of them misunderstood their teachings and/or deviated them for their own benefits.
As we have said, material minds in the garb of spirituality could only decipher the teachings with material connotations. Thus, while the teachings of Krishna, Mahavira and Buddha were undoubtedly the loftiest in spirituality, those around them only half-understood them. History recounts that Buddha at times moved with nearly 50,000 bhikshus (who claimed to be his ardent followers) but the same history also recounts incidents which proved many of these bhikshus had little understanding of the lofty teachings of spirituality which Buddha was preaching. The same happened in the case of Ahlulbayt, who were the highest epitome and manifestations of spirituality. Muslims remembered their fights, the miracles performed by them, the hardships born by them, some even deified them, but only a few tried to see the spiritual zenith where they stood and they expected their followers would emulate.
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INTRODUCTION
Part III of the BOOK ‘One God, One Religion’ is in your hands. In this book, we study the teachings of one of the greatest teachers of all times - the Buddha. And subsequent to that, we will study the most revered scriptures of the Indo-Aryans - the Vedas.
Vedas and its content have confounded the minds of people since centuries. Different meanings are given by different experts and lot many commentators. Altogether diverse and contradictory meanings are in circulation regarding the content of the Vedas, thus leading to greater confusion.
Hindus hold the Vedas extremely close to their heart. The reason is not the loftiness of the message contained therein (because the message is yet to be understood) but a shared legacy, passed on from generation to generation, who all held the Vedas in great esteem. The only difference is that while our forefathers held the Vedas in high esteem because they knew and understood the loftiness of the message that these holy books contain, the subsequent generations hold the Vedas close to their heart for the chief reason that they have seen their forefathers holding them in high esteem or they have read in books of earlier period or heard their forefathers say that Vedas are divine books.
You ask the present day Hindu regarding the content of the Vedas and most of them would start telling the stories from mythology, which are either half true or merely fanciful interpretations of a confused mind.
Question arises, if we find Vedas containing information different from what all the multitude of commentators have been talking about, how should you know that our interpretation is true and the previous ones were based on false understanding?
After all, they were great learned men who sat down to write translations and commentaries? They were apparently pious and had knowledge of language and history.
Our point is that the great translators and commentators of yore were indeed learned men. Most of them must have been pious and deeply religious as well. Only thing that they lacked perhaps was knowledge of certain hidden links, which was so crucial to unsolving the mystery. Born in the Hindu families, as they were, they must have read the scriptures with a deep sense of attachment, and with a certain degree of feeling of superiority that Hindus possess the oldest of the Divine Scriptures. We have repeatedly said these concepts of superiority and attachment to what is ‘ours’ in comparison to what is of ‘others’ need to be discarded in order to reach the truth.
Message must be understood only on the basis of merit and the sheer greatness of the message, which Vedas indeed possess.
Question remains why should you come to the conclusion that this attempt of ours to understand the content of Vedas is true in comparison to the innumerable other commentaries whose content is not only dissimilar to ours but also greatly dissimilar to each other?
Just see whether it makes sense! Whether it appeals to your reason. Whether your intellect says this is the meaning that is closer to the truth. Keep reason and intellect as the sole guiding factors and none will be able to stop you from reaching the truth.
Truth indeed you will find in the Vedas. And also in the teachings of the great teacher of spirituality - Siddharth Gautama - better known as the Buddha. Vedas we will study later... it is time to read excerpts from the life of Buddha.
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