HINDUISM

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definitive condemnation of racism as well as all other

forms of prejudice, elitism and privilege.

The following verses are from the Bhagavad Gita, the

 With the heart concentrated through yoga, with the eye of

most popular and influential scripture of Hinduism:

evenness for all beings, he beholds the Self in all beings and

 The knowers of the Self look with an equal eye on

all beings in the Self. 

a Brahmin endowed with learning and humility, a

Bhagavad Gita, VI.29

cow, an elephant, a dog and a pariah.  V.18

 One who sees Me (the Lord) everywhere and sees everything

 One who judges of pleasure or pain everywhere by

in Me, never becomes separated from Me, nor do I become

the same standard he applies to himself, that Yogi is

separated from Him. 

regarded as the highest.  VI.32

Bhagavad Gita, VI.30

 One truly sees who sees the Supreme Lord

 One who, established in unity, worships Me (the Lord)

dwelling equally in all beings, deathless in the

dwelling in all beings, whatever his mode of life, that Yogi

dying.  XIII.27

abides in Me. 

 Seeing the Lord equally existent everywhere, he

Bhagavad Gita, VI.31

does not injure the Self by the self.  XIII.28

The Hindu faith has a long and varied history and goes

 Having realized one's divine nature and being

back several centuries BCE, before even the name

tranquil minded, he neither grieves nor desires. The

 Hinduism  was known. Various theories exist regarding

same to all beings, he attains supreme devotion to

the beginnings of the Hindu faith. According to one

Me (the Lord).  XVIII.54

prominent theory, Hinduism represents a blend of an

indigenous tradition of mystical or yogic practices and a

One of the greatest exponents of modern Hinduism was

tradition of nature worship and ritualistic sacrifice

Swami Vivekananda (1863 1902). Vivekananda was a

brought into India by some nomadic people from the

prolific letter writer and dynamic public speaker. His

Caucuses region known as Aryans. A corollary of this

recorded lectures, writings and letters comprise nine

belief is that the caste system, which developed in India,

volumes. One of the main themes of his message was

was based on a distinction between the lighter skinned

social justice. He was a great advocate of education for all,

Aryans and the darker skinned indigenous peoples. This

poverty relief, and a variety of social programs, including

may also be the reason why the early term for caste,

affirmative action, well before the idea ever gained

varna, also means color. According to this theory, the

popularity in the West. The following quotations are

higher caste peoples were from the Aryan side and of a

taken from his Complete Works:

fairer complexion, while the lower caste, the workers, were

from the indigenous side and darker in complexion. 

 But the idea of privilege is the bane of human life.

Whether or not this theory is valid, it is nevertheless

Two forces, as it were, are constantly at work, one

true that no discussion of race is found per se in the early

making caste and the other breaking caste; in other

scriptures and writings, but much about caste, and far

words, the one making for privilege, the other

more about the equality of all beings from a general point

breaking down privilege. And whenever privilege is

of view, regardless of race or social position. It therefore

broken down, more and more light and progress

seems legitimate to assume that the attitudes of the

come to a race. This struggle we see all around us.

Hindus regarding race and racism can be understood by

Of course there is first the brutal idea of privilege,

looking at their writings and attitudes regarding caste and

that of the strong over the weak. There is the

society in general. Their belief is that there is a oneness of

privilege of wealth. If a man has more money than

spirit that functions as the ground of all beings: The same

another, he wants a little privilege over those who

Lord, or Self, dwells equally within all living beings,

have less. There is the still subtler and more

regardless of race, caste or social status. The verses that

powerful privilege of intellect; because one man

follow thus do not specifically condemn racism, but

knows more than others, he claims more privilege.

rather espouse the equality of all beings from a spiritual

And last of all, and the worst, because the most

point of view. In that sense, they may be taken as a

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