Dear Editor,
The letter of June 25 by Pandit Balbadar and the one of June 27 by Mr Jadunath in the Chronicle raise valid concerns about the need for adequate training of pandits in Guyana and should be heeded by the relevant organizations. However, there is a need to go beyond the training of pandits in order to deal not only with religious issues but also the social ills, such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, etc. For this reason, I wish to draw attention to a project headed by Guyanese-born, Toronto lawyer and tireless social worker, Ram Sahadeo. He is working with Mr Manieram Deonarain, formerly of Rampoor Settlement, Berbice, who now lives in Toronto, to put a copy each of the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana in every home in Guyana. I believe that not only should Mr Sahadeo and his group be commended for their efforts, but everyone who is in a position to support this project should get involved.
Due to lack of knowledge, the majority of Hindus see Hinduism mainly as rituals, satsanghs and festivals. Without an awareness of the rich philosophy, teachings, values, ethics, etc, of Hinduism, and with the constant bombardment in the media of negative steoreotypes, it is not surprising that many young people of Hindu ancestry do not show an enthusiasm for their religion. Personally, I could relate to the apathy of such young people. Although I was raised in a devout Hindu family in Guyana and attended mandirs regularly as a child, as I grew older, I had difficulty accepting some of the stories and practices. In recent years, as I delved more and more into the history, philosophy, teachings, etc, of the major religions, I started to discover the greatness of Hinduism and its relevance to daily life. I also realized that Hinduism is not inconsistent with modern science and, in fact, a number of leading scientists such as Albert Einstein and others in the west have written in praise of Hinduism.
In my view, the Ramayana and the Gita should be essential reading, especially for Hindus. The Ramayana, through the roles of the main characters, demonstrates ideal values for living a virtuous life. On the other hand, the Gita provides the philosophy and guidance for dealing with the daily realities of life and conflict. In fact, it is well documented how the father of the atomic bomb, J Robert Oppenheimer, found solace in the verses of the Gita as he headed the bomb project in the 1940s. As a pacifist he was conflicted about his role to develop the bomb, knowing the destructive powers that would be unleashed. At the same time, he had a duty to help end the war. The Gita was his guide and it is reported that after he saw the explosion from the bomb test, it was a verse from the Gita that came to his mind.
Recently, Manieram Deonarain made a first shipment of 6000 copies of the Gita to Guyana. Within a few weeks he will be arriving to visit various villages throughout the country to establish centres for distributing the books. Those interested in helping with the project can contact Pandit Aissac in Guyana. His telephone number is 592-656-4407. Becoming involved in this project is an excellent way to play a part in spreading the teachings of Hinduism.
I believe that the initiators of this project are meeting an important need in the Hindu community. Unlike the situation with other religions, the key books of Hinduism are not easily available in English translation. When they are, the price tends to be high and this is a disincentive to purchase. This project makes the two key books of Hinduism, the Gita and the Ramayana, easily available in English. These editions of the books are ideal as inexpensive gifts for distribution at religious functions and other occasions. If Hindus become more knowledgeable of their religion, the pandits will be forced to upgrade themselves or become irrelevant.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Hergash
Not only the religion, Mr. Hergash, but also the origins of the books and traditions that form the religion. For example, since the Lutheran reformation Christian scholars have been delving into not only the religion of Christianity itself but into the historical origins of the books from which the religion derives its many beliefs. The books and traditions did not fall down from the sky.
Not sure if it would matter. Man has always been changing the scriptures to suit his needs. Originals are all destroyed. When original pages of the Bible were found, they were ‘lost’ again. The find is not even mentioned any more.
The books and the religions are of man’s invention, as his tool for control others in a passive way.
Even the originals were written by MEN.
Please note, Hackett that books and writing was not yet invented when Hinduism began.
It is the oral traditions which led to the books and it is for this reason that Hindu scriptures are presented as poems/songs which could be passed on orally from generation to generation.
Origins and authors always interest me. Traditions do not originate in a vacuum, but had very human origins. Oral traditions do erode and evolve over the passage of time. Even written traditions erode and evolve, but at a slower pace. Let the study of origins begin!
Worry less about origins, Hackett.
Worry more about performance.
Sometimes origins can be too obscured by errors and politics (as indeed you suggest) and however it is the results that is most interesting.
It is up to you to accept this rule however it is a well known rule even in the scientific community. The most graphic example of this is the origins of GRAVITY which to this day nobody knows.. and yet we all enjoy and depend on its effects…
Hinduism lives on in 2009 even without any sort of state funding because people have an innate conviction about its truths and enjoy its effects.
The past is the seed of the present which is the seed of the future. Seeds (origins) should concern us. We must know from whence we came to know where we are and where we are going. We must not be afraid of facing the truths of origins.
Back full circle, Hackett!
Truths of origins cannot be a sensible expectation for the reasons you yourself advocated.
Don’t just blame inability to keep written records for example we live in an age of information overload and yet who sees the hand of the CIA in Iran? And all the other verbal garbage we are given each day!
Truth is a very rare and treasured thing when you can find it.
Origins must not scare us not matter how hard or bitter what the uncover.
Many bloggers on this SN website who are clearly NOT HINDU have commented on past discussions on Hindu issues and quite a few are pleased that complex philosophical issues are being made easier for them to understand.
Ram Sahadeo and Manieram Deonarain are therefore to be MORE THAN commended for their efforts. Hinduism’s weakness in the past has been its complexity.
Now with the advent of the information age, debate and learning is vastly encouraged whereas in the past the Hindu man simply left his wife to take the children to mandir and do the rituals, satsanghs and festivals. This is only the very tip of the Hindu iceberg and it is good to know good souls like Ram and Manieram are trying to bring the very essence of Hinduism to the populace.
That Mr Harry Hergash has bared his soul and confessed his early rejection of Hinduism yet returning later in life to his original belief shows the strength of Mr Hergash. Most Hindus will know a handful of their fellows who have done just such rejection however are too embarrassed to admit their mistake and make the return journey like Mr Hergash managed to do.
My initial love affair with Hinduism started when I fell upon an old yellow-cover copy of Swami Purnand’s excellent HINDUTVAM. In this little book, the Swamiji from the Cove & John Ashram debunked many falsehoods and confusions about Hinduism. This book is inexpensive and is still in existence! It is a great introduction to Hinduism as one does not need to be a Hindu in order to understand its discussions.
Guyana is moving inexorably into a state where religions are being forgotten. This is bad for morals, bad for the Citizens, bad for the State and there is much work to be done to reverse this ungodly trend.
I would like to know how I can join in with this important project so if SN can furnish us with an email, website or address contact; that would be appreciated.
… 592 – 656 – 4407 ! should lead u to ur answers !….
” whereas in the past de “hindu man” !!!!! those who know not the first things abt “hinduism” ,, would ,, from ur syntax ,, be led to believe that hinduism ,, is a race ,, rather than a religion that has it’s roots from the traditions of worship by the Dravidians ! much of which has been altered to suit the limits of the given !…..
This is a step in the right direction,majority people who are born hindu are ignorant of this great religion and becoming easy target for conversion, they are being thought that all their problems lie in their religion and if they should baptize all their problems will be solved, they are given free money and other stuff so that when they are fully integrated into the new faith they can in return give back 10%of their earnings while their new leaders are living luxurious lives, it is time Hindus take back their religion where every problem in a persons life can be found in the texts with proper guidance and understanding.
This is a great leap forward for Hinduism. Mr. Hergash, I like you was raised Hindu, went to church, listened to the pandits, partake in the elaborate rituals, became very confused about it. I had to do my own research to really understand and appreciate Hinduism better.
Though this effort is a good step forward, a scholastic approach needed to explain to laymen what Hinduism is all about. A spiritual approach, though good in its own respect, is not adequate for revealing the true essence of Hinduism.
Hinduism for most part, is perhaps the most practical religion (after all the frills are removed). It is immortal, and its teachings seem to embody those of other religions, both ancient and modern.
Please! Please! Please! No more indoctrination. No more illusions. No more false promises. No more class warfare.
Thanks,michael tannassee and in your case, csingh please note there is no indoctrination.
The folks are trying to make Hindus more knowledgable about their religeon.
No one is forcing you to join in with what is a win-win situation. If you choose to opt out.. no sweat!
Who is talking about indoctrination? Harry Hergash didn’t say the Hindu religious texts should be distributed to mosques or Christian churches. They are meant to reinforce the beliefs of Hindus. Without a strong sense of self-worth, certain Hindus easily fall prey to arrogant converters from other faiths. Harry Hergash, Manieram Deonarain and Ram Sahadeo are simply adhering to their dharma, or religious duty. I support their efforts fully and encourage fellow Hindus to take advantage of the offer. Mahatma Gandhi once wrote: “When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face and I see no ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meaning from it every day.”
y71, Prease see the first paragraph of the letter. The writer states; “…working with Mr Manieram Deonarain, formerly of Rampoor Settlement, Berbice, who now lives in Toronto, to put a copy each of the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana in every home in Guyana.”
‘Every’ home. Not Every Hindu home.
Y71. Personally I think that the Bhagavad Gita is the greatest writings on Philosophy ever. This is what attracted the Maha- Atma. Agree??
Can you also distribute copies of the Bible and Quran? Guyana is a multi-religous country.
Good idea but there will be problems , I was chatting with three guys from Ohio who are doing missionary work in Crabwood Creek Guyana, I was asking them questions in relation to the bible and they asked me if I read the bible and I said yes, in turn I asked them if they ever read the Gita or books from any other religion and they said no they dont need to because there is only one god and that is Jesus, so although Guyana is multi-religous there is little respect for one another religion.
Hey, thats seems like indoctrination. Remember the missionaries to South America in the 1600s?
I agree with the writer. It is imposibble to contribute to your multi ethnic and multi religious society if one doensn’t know his or her self. Hindu’s should learn more about their religion and about the religion and culture of other Guyanese brothers and sisters. That is fundamental for respect and a peaceful society which has its influence on the economic performance of the country
Well said. But the same is required for others of different religious persuasion.
Hindus are lazy. They expect the Pandits/Pujaris to spoon feed them with Spirituality/God–like the Mother having to feed the child who is not old enough to feed themself. The pocket Bhagwad Gita is available for $100-$200 (G)–the cost of a soda!! Why can’t people buy these books and read them?
Almost every major scripture of Sanatana Dharma is available in English.Anyone who can read, can read them. My Father used to buy Children’s books on Hinduism when we were kids from Gandhi Youth Org. and L.Kawall–Children’s Ramayana, Mahabharata,Bhagawatam,Amar Chitra Kathas–books that we still have and treasure til today. Books were and are still available,Hindus just do not buy them. The Bhagwad Gita and Ramayana are available at all Puja stores yet how many buy them?Why do people have to come from North America to give us Bhagwad Gita when we ourselves can buy it right here very cheaply? There is a library at our Mandir at Triumph,most members are not interested in borrowing the Hindu books.
Hindus are ashamed of their Dharma and like Hergash, it is only when they see Westerners praising our Dharma/Scriptures then they suddenly realise their worth. Stephen Knapp(Sri Nandan Ji) and Dr David Frawley( Pandit Vamadeva Shastri Ji) have written extenstively on Sanatana Dharma. Stephen Knapp Ji has a Vedic Friends Association of which I am a member–www.
vedicfriends.org. Dr Frawley has his own website–American Institue of Vedic Studies-www. vedanet.com. Right here in Guyana, my Guru Ji, Sri Balakrishna has been for more than a decade,teaching Bhagwad Gita, Vedanta, Astrology,Samskrit, Pandit’s classes, Yoga etc. How many Hindus flock to these classes? Yet we complain that knowledge is not available.
Just this last Sunday I was discussing this same topic at our Satsangha at our Mandir. Christians and Muslims are proud to study their scriptures, not Hindus. We expect the Pujaris when they come to do our Pujas and at Satsanghas to do for us what we ourselves are too lazy to do. With the Internet explosion,almost everything is available online. Children that do not own their own PCs are flocking the internet cafes, will they ever go to sites that have information about Dharma and join the various discussion groups online on Dharma? This is the question that parents have to ask themselves.
A group of well to do Hindu ladies remarked recently that Hinduism is too complicated that is why they do not even know what the Mantra –Gurur Bramha means!! Just imagine-one of the most recited Mantra they do not know!I just Yahooed Gurur Bramha and there you have so many explanations of what this Mantra means. It is laziness, sheer indolence and Hindus themselves are to blame no one else.They are satsified to be children who are dependent on others to feed them.
Nanda, thank you so much for expressing your observations. It is a sad situation, indeed. Hindus would pay G$100 for a soft drink but not for a copy of the Gita? They need to feed their minds just as they feed their bodies. I don’t worship at a temple but spend 15-30 minutes each week to read and digest a few verses of the Gita. Just a few minutes bring great satisfaction. As Lord Krishna told Arjuna in the Gita: “On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.” (2:40)
Overtime Guyanese Hindus have allowed Brahminism to dictate the rules of their religion.It is for this reason knowledge of the scriptures and philosophy were limited to the Pandits mainly.The need for religious guidance and the scarcity of knowledgable personnels have resulted in so-called pandits (inadequately trained) to learn some basic puja rituals in order to fill the gap left by pandits who have migrated to greener pastures (no blame intended). The present day hindu needs more than pujas,satsanghs and festivals to satisfy his spiritual needs.He, therefore, will seek the easiest solution which is readily available, that of conversion to another religion (especially when they offer monetary and other incentives,or as they say the only way).Unless the existing Hindu organisations , through the pandits and other educators of the Hindu dharma, can give answers to the inquiring Hindu mind,then Hinduism in Guyana will slowly fade away.The bare literal stories from the scriptures cannot satisfy the needs of the young Hindu.
Hindu dharma MUST also provide the cornerstone of good ethics,morals and decency to guide the lifestyle of the Hindu community.The freedom of choice given by this noble religion have resulted in its followers,especially the males, to engage in behaviours and lifestyles that have brought embarassment and disgrace to those try to upkeep the sacred traditions and philosophies handed down by our anscestors.
Congratulations to those gentlemen who saw it wise to distribute books to educate the population.This is the greatest act of charity.Instead of giving a fish, teach them to fish.
God Bless
Nanda, thank you so much for expressing your observations. It is a sad situation, indeed. Hindus would pay G$100 for a soft drink but not for a copy of the Gita? They need to feed their minds just as they feed their bodies. I don’t worship at a temple but spend 15-30 minutes each week to read and digest a few verses of the Gita. Just a few minutes bring great satisfaction. As Lord Krishna told Arjuna in the Gita: “On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.” (2:40)
Yasuman, here is another of my favorite: One must not degrade oneself, for one self is one’s own enemy and oneself is one’s ow friend- from the Gita. My interpretation: do not blame others for my mistakes; My destiny is in my own hands; do not blame Satan for my miseries, they are of my own making.