[quote=Surya Deva;33703]He is offended because the examples you are using is insinuating that good virtues like democracy, civil rights, and equality are exclusive to the West, when they are not. In fact democracy, civil rights and equality is far older than the Greeks and the ealiest evidence of this is exists with the Hindus. For example Indus valley cites clearly show a middle-class society where everybody is living in standardized homes with bathrooms, drinking wells, kitchens. The convening of organizations and peer groups known as “samapradayas” where decisions would be taken democratically is a very ancient Hindu tradition.
The Greeks inherited most of their knowledge from the Hindus anyway. It is very clear the Greeks borrowed very heavily from the Hindus, and every philosophical tradition in Greece has a Hindu precursor.[/quote]
On the other hand, this line of thought clearly lacks any sense for development, or evolution throughout human history.
The indian soul indeed is trapped by the glory of it’s past. It is true, that known human history begins with the great proto-indian civilization. And the extraordinary richness and wealth of knowledge about spiritual realities, of what the now existing, and even in it’s fragments grand and marvelous cultural heritage is only a description, this extraordinary knowledge of the spiritual world, is the living memory of a humankind descending to the physical plane, and losing direct sight of it’s former home. What the souls like Surya Deva seem to miss is that there indeed is an evolution of human consciousness. It’s a common mistake to project back the abilities and consciusness we posess today to ages we forgot, but this automatic unquestioned assumption is wrong.
The fact that evidence exists about the ideas of human rights and equality in the protoindian civilization does not change the fact, that our very own judicial systems today are built on what started to develop only in the roman period. And while a few elect might have lived in equality in Mohendjo Daro, slavery was existing up to the XIXth century. One must be very biased to not realize that the birth of free human individuality indeed is relatively recent, and that regardless of depth and wisdom, western civilization was what brought the world forward in many areas. It brought diversity, and richness exactly through the individual element, the ever more couragous, daring, creating powers of souls like Beethowen, Mozart, Rafael, but let us not just name artists but let us not forget spiritual artists like Saint Francis of Assisi, or Saint John of The Cross, or a Cristopher Columbus, or the countless important political figures, who shaped our history in ways what were unimaginable before.
The idea of pointless reincarnations, as penalties or rewards for good or bad deeds is wrong. Divine justice works on a much higher level, and incarnations are not only a mechanic result of former actions, but opportunities for growth, and individualization. If two yogis reach the summit of their art/practice, there will be no difference between them whatsoever, they are disolved into Brahman, without retaining any individuality. But Mozart will be still Mozart, and thus unique. We do have the ability to become creators, undying, and beatiful, without ever losing our individualities. I am not talking about those things we all know will perish at death. I am talking about genuine values, and as one of my teachers said, no moral energy is ever lost in the Universe, I am certain that genuine value will stand the test of time forever. And if we see things this way than any attempt what tries to make people lose some genuine value they own is false, and any attempt what uses our diversity to separate us, is evil. Love only can exist if there is something to love. Diversity, and the existence of the other is what makes love possible. Indeed, the magic word is not Me, but it should be You. Me can make me strong, but You make me forget about myself, make me alive on a whole new level.
