| Awaken Bharata |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| DEVIC AND ASURIC FORMS OF MYSTICISM | |
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| Religious
fundamentalism and militance, the attempt to conquer the world for a
belief, is a form of spiritual materialism, a reduction of the
spiritual life to outer signs, names and slogans. It is vulnerable
to Asuric forces, sometimes of the worst order, as the history of
crusades, holy wars and inquisitions clearly reveals. According to
the Hindu view, Western religions of Islam and Christianity, at
least as far as they aim to convert the world to their beliefs,
could be called "Asuric religions."
In their efforts at conversion they tend to resort to propaganda, bribery and violence, which opens them up to Asuric qualities and energies. The very need to convert others is already a form of intolerance and sets in motion destructive forces in that the Asuras can benefit from. Opposed to these missionary religions are what could be called "Devic religions," Dharmic traditions like Hinduism and Buddhism, that emphasize meditative paths of self-discovery apart from any dogma or need to convert anyone to a belief. In fact organized religion of any type tends to become Asuric. The creation of an institution to promote a belief and convert the world affords a natural place for Asuric drives for power and position to manifest. That is why Eastern religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism have remained loosely organized outwardly, emphasizing inner experience on a personal and local level. |
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