Pøedmìt: [world-vedic] Re: Wendy Doniger On Gita Od: Vrndavan Parker Datum: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:02:52 +0200 (CEST) Komu: anal.soni (Please Note: Message below is directed at the views of Scholars such as Dr. Wendy Doniger and yr incorrect statement below. It is not a castigation of you nor Doniger on the personal level. I thank you for yr understanding. I agree with the rest of yr points except one as highlighted below.) You stated in the email to Dr Doniger that you CCed me: "I agree with your view on Krishna's goading(I call it propaganda/brain washing/military indoctrination)." I reply that this is an incorrect and inaccurate perspective. The fact is Krsna went out of His way to stop the war and all lines of common decency were shattered when Duryodhana ordered the imprisonment of Krsna, when He is serving in the capacity of an official Peace Messenger. (Lets not forget that Krsna was the final Peace messenger and many sincere attempts were previously made to avert the war.) The simple fact is that such a crass individual as Duryodhana was unfit to to be the Emperor, (as proven by his treatment of queen Draupadi, his attempt to arrest the individual seeking peace ie Krsna, his repeated attempts at murder, esp. in comparison to his noble cousin Yudhisthira, who actually rescued Duryodhana) The fact is Krsna never urged anyone to warfare. What He did do was guide the Dharmic representatives in their efforts to stay alive in the midst of a war they did not want. Once war was declared it was His duty to see to the safety of His peers. Faulting Krsna in this regard, is like faulting a father for violently defending his children from ravenous sharks in the midst of a stormy sea. The Pandavas were surrounded by superior warmongering forces who forfeited any right to public leadership by their public stripping of Draupadi amongst other things. Accusing Krsna of propaganda/brain washing/military indoctrination is similar to accusing a surgeon of being Jack the Ripper just because they both used surgical knives. On another level Dr. Doniger's and others twisting of Krsna into a warmonger speaks towards a complete lack of critical thinking. Simply put if Duryodhana or even Bhishma were to run for public office with the public near rape of a woman, Draupadi, on their records, they would most likely be charged and imprisoned. Meanwhile Karna, beloved by all, had the right to the throne but considered himself unworthy because of his participation in the humiliation of Draupadi. Unlike, our modern scholars, he recognized that the immense responsibility of leadership must be based upon character and not privilege. Even in our brutal modern era, the idea that Duryodhana and Co. were qualified to be the leading governmental authorities of the World, what to speak of a Nation, would be rejected. So While these highly credentialed individuals like Wendy Doniger bandy about high sounding concepts like peace they lack any sense of justice.Its as if they are mal-educated and are clueless regarding the basic principles of life. Using Dr Doniger's approach the Pandavas and Krsna should have step aside and said,"Yes Duryodhana. Despite the fact you have no scruples, are a murderer, a rapist, are merciless in character and put your own desires above and beyond the needs of the people, we have decided we will now leave the innocent citizens of this land at your disposal. Please do whatever you like." On the reverse they should then turn to Yudhisthira and say," No Yudhisthira, though you do not crave political power, are merciful to a fault and put the safety and well being of others above and beyond your own, you should just stay in the forest and meditate. Just leave the citizens at the mercy of your brutal cousin." Now tell me, is this not violence on a massive scale!? So its very important to look deep and forget the shallow well sounding terminologies that actually bury the truth. Like it or not Duryodhana represented a deadly disease. Many therapies were attempted in his rehabilitation specifically Balarama's friendship, Bhishma's, Drona's, Kripa's Gandhari's, Krsna's, Vidura's counsel, Yudhisthira's repeated acts of kindness and respect, on and on. However none of these efforts had their desired goal. So unfortunately the surgical process known as Dharma Yuddha or Dharmic Warfare was forced upon the entire world. And it was not Lord Krsna's policies that led to this event. It was the diseased and unworthy yet politically empowered, war hungry adharmic forces headed by Duryodhana who can accurately be labeled as warmongers. Leaving the world to the mercy of such individuals is the epitome of violence. Lip-service to peace can get a good round of applause and allows one an air of enlightened superiority but it can never bury the truth. V "anal.soni" wrote: --- In vediculture@yahoogroups.com, "vrnparker" wrote: > > Wendy Doniger On Gita > "The Bhagavad Gîtâ is not as nice a book as some Americans think. > Throughout the Mahâbhârata ... Krishna goads human beings into all > sorts of murderous and self-destructive behaviours such as war.... > The Gîtâ is a dishonest book; it justifies war. ..I'm a pacifist. I > don't believe in `good' wars." > Wendy Doniger, Indologist and Professor of History of Religions at > the University of Chicago: Philadelphia Inquirer of 19 November. > 2000.) > http://www.svabhinava.org/friends/GautamSen/IndologyCritique- > frame.html I agree with your view on Krishna's goading(I call it propaganda/brain washing/military indoctrination). But ,the bigger picture is lost by this way of seeing the Bhagwat Gita We should be viewing it ,taking in account it's antiquity and the author's view point (then). Even Shakespeare is incomprehensble to the modern generation.