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धर्म का पता नहीं, पर कट्टरता पूरी है || आचार्य प्रशांत, वेदांत महोत्सव (2022)
121.2K views
2 years ago
Religious Bigotry
Dharma
Ego
Spirituality
Fearlessness
Cowardice
Fundamentalism
Shri Krishna
Description

Acharya Prashant addresses the issue of religious bigotry by first defining the terms 'Dharma' (religion) and 'Kattarta' (bigotry). He explains that Dharma means to know oneself and life, and to understand how to live in a way that brings light to darkness, loosens bondages, and moves the mind towards liberation. If being 'Kattar' (a bigot) means being completely devoted to this true Dharma, then there is no harm in it. True Dharma is the most correct way of living, which one should contemplate and be mindful of in every action. The problem arises when the term 'religious bigotry' is used with the emphasis on 'bigotry' rather than 'religious'. In such cases, bigotry becomes the central focus, and religion is merely a label attached to it. This is not religious bigotry but ego-centric bigotry, where an individual claims superiority for everything associated with 'me'—my religion, my ancestors, my country. This is a manifestation of personal ego, not a devotion to Dharma. Such a person uses Dharma as a servant to justify their ego, distorting scriptures and history to fit their narrative. Their goal is not to follow Dharma but to elevate their own flag, which is a crude, animalistic ego, not true fundamentalism. Addressing the questioner's feeling of insecurity and the idea of forming organizations for safety, Acharya Prashant states that spirituality brings fearlessness, not cowardice. If one is afraid, it is a sign of being merely cultural, not spiritual. He points out the hypocrisy of those who are afraid of outsiders but oppress the weak within their own communities, such as women and lower castes. The speaker criticizes the cowardice that leads to seeking security in groups and forming private militias, stating that this would lead to the country's ruin. Acharya Prashant concludes that the solution to bigotry and fear is to become truly spiritual. Spirituality provides a natural, calm courage. A spiritual person is neither aggressive nor fearful. They are not violent but are fearless in the face of threats. This fearlessness comes from being connected to the truth of the Gita, which teaches to fight when necessary. A spiritual person feels a sense of duty and compassion towards the weak and helpless, rather than exploiting them. This is the courage that spirituality provides, making one fearless before the greatest enemy and compassionate towards the weakest.