| Awaken Bharata |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| SARVA DHARMA SAMABHAVA : UNITY OR CONFUSION OF RELIGIONS | |
| While
one could argue that such beliefs can be employed as a means to lead
people to Dharma, instilling moral and ethical virtues on the
ignorant, it is clear that these beliefs can be used for social
domination as well. Even within Dharmic traditions are things that
are not Dharmic. For example, a caste system determined by birth,
such as many Hindus take it to be, is not Dharmic. It does not
reflect the nature of individuals, of which birth is only one
factor, and not necessarily the main one.
So clearly some of the fundamental and primary tenets of different religions are not Dharmic or universal but limited and therefore sectarian and divisive in their application. Even if they have some value we should not put them on par with universal truth principles. And we cannot ignore the problems that arise from various religious beliefs, placing them under the protective veil that all religions are true. Above all we must recognize that dogma is not Dharma. That we should respect all Dharmas should not translate into respecting all dogmas and refusing to question them, which failure to seek the truth is itself adharmic. That all Dharmas are one should not be used as an excuse for adharma to place itself beyond question. That Dharma is one does not mean that adharma should be able to hide itself in the garb of religion. |
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