Layers Of Humanity And Views On Religions – 5 – “The Enlightened” Layer
In my view this is the highest layer of thought and humanity. This layer is concerned with the truth, They know about their culture and other cultures. They are open to the achievements of other cultures and their own as well as the mistakes made on either side.
They argue with powers-that-be and powers that-wanna-be. Theirs is not the dominant credo. Because The-Power-Seeking layer will only propagate what’s good for their side. As an example many British Astronomers of the Colonial period, sought to give credit to the Indian Astronomers. They did not “win”, because that is not what the East India Company and the Missionaries wanted to hear.
Any serious student on any subject needs to find the words of The-Enlightened-Layer and hear them out. They may not be the credo that won.
Layers Of Humanity And Views On Religions – 4 – “The Moderates” Layer
The “moderates” are generally well-to-do or “doing-well” in the existing social order. They are not resentful of change, they benefit from it. They believe in “all gods are the same.. names are different”. They believe in peaceful co-existence and social acceptance. They follow their own religion “in spirit”. They do not accept the restrictions of their own religious leaders or moral police. They resist manipulation by The Power Seeking Layer and generally speak-out against the Status-Quo Layer, with some intolerance.
Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – 3 – The Power Seeking Layer
The Power Seeking Layer of humanity does not internally believe in or practice traditions of any culture and may or may not even have studied their culture and other cultures in depth. They seek to strengthen the unity of the band they seek to represent through moral policing and ‘awareness campaigns’ and to dominate the folks of other cultures through propaganda and direct physical conflict.
The Status Quo Layer willingly and perhaps ‘unthinkingly/foolishly’ supports them while the zero prejudice layer resentfully goes along with restrictions enforced by their own group because of their own powerlessness. The Status Quo layer wants to believe the ‘awareness campaigns’ because of their own internal resentment. The power seeking layer cannot have an abiding belief either in a vengeful or in a merciful God. They rarely sacrifice their own life, limbs or health. They motivate and instigate others to be in the front line as the activists or the terrorists or the missionaries. From the status quo layer are drawn these activists. Other layers including the zero prejudice layer form the targets.
Every act of offence by instigated by a power seeking group on one side results in an act of offence by the power seeking group on the other side.. (as in Bush and Bin Laden. The targets were the peasants of Afganisthan/Iraq and the office goers at the WTO.. who were mostly from the zero perjudice layer).
While the power seeking group project their actions in the name of culture, race and religion internally they cannot have any belief in that culture or religion, for destruction does not bother them.
Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – 2 – The Resentful Status Quo Layer
The Status Quo Layer refers to that layer of humanity which believes that tradition dates to the customs of their childhood as practiced by their family and neighbourhood. This layer is threatened by changes due to globalization, the arrival of the next generation, the arrival of people from other cultures into their neighbourhoods, their television sets and living rooms.
This layer is upset that their jobs, their life-style, their music, their value system and so on is altered by the arrival of newcomers and foreigners. If they are old or mild, they may complain and if they are young or aggressive they may attack. (As in the racial attacks on Indians in Australia).
Layers of Humanity and Views on Religions – The Zero Prejudice Layer
In the movie Khadgam, Ravi Teja worships both the bricks used to build the Sri Rama temple and some holy muslim object so that he will get all the divine blessings he needs.
Yesterday a young 18 year old muslim girl was telling me the story of her troubled life.. parental neglect, marriage at 12 and her struggle and success in getting a bank job for Rs 5000 a month. She told me that sometimes she tells Allah that he is not taking care of her, much as Bhaktha Ramadasu, sang Evadabba Sommani….Debbalaku Orvaleka…
I told her about my own reaction when I first saw Kameswari Devi in Mahanandi Temple. I too said.. “you are my mother, how can you let me suffer, you are not doing your job properly”.
The girl was interested in knowing whether Devi helped me and I said “yes, She did, She is a woman, a Mother”. I hesitated in suggesting a visit to to the Shivajinagar Meenakshi Amma temple, because it might offend her religious sensibilities. But both she and her older cousin were very interested and they told me that they would definitely pay Meenkashi Amma a visit, because women understand women.
A roman catholic lady sitting with us wearing yellow thread, black beads, chandan, bindi and mangala sutram, told me that she was wearing a mangala sutram because she knows the story of Siva and the significance of a mangala sutram!
There is NO Prejudice at this layer of humanity. They have troubles, need some divine intervention and will accept it whether from Jesus, Allah, Devi or Rama..
They are simple and trusting and seek divine help, wherever it is to be found.
Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula
