Bowing: A Hindu View of Divinity All-Pervasive—Part 2

Bowing: A Hindu View of Divinity All-Pervasive—Part 2

Bowing is a most natural expressive result of this latter worldview. But the Lord’s Maya is ativicitraṃ (Supremely amazing). The worldview which is exclusive and contains the seeds of destruction seems to enjoy at the same time a sort of “natural hegemony” as if to remind us constantly of two facts about the world:

1. Death and destruction is inherent in the world process and more importantly;
2. Our evolution lies in the struggle to ensure that this insidious death does not snuff out life which accompanies it!

We live in a pluralistic society governed by a democratic constitution which guarantees our fundamental rights and freedoms. Freedom of speech and association, freedom to pursue a religion of choice and the freedom of press for all citizens appear to be sufficient to provide a level playing ground for all. But democracy is not sufficient to guarantee harmonious existence between a worldview which promotes death, and one which promotes life. What is required is understanding and acceptance among groups of the fundamental existence of the “other” and that my existence depends on “the other,” as much as his depends on mine.

Prolonged historical antecedents have sought to ensure the perpetuity of the hegemony of this binary worldview by institutionalizing it, making it part of the educational system and by making sure it gets embedded in the psyche of the world. Since it is exclusive, it guarantees conflict, war, poverty and environmental depletion.

Pluralistic societies, like ours, have a duty to revisit its social paradigms and stamp out creases and cracks in the social canvas. The next generation is born into the paradigm we adhere to now.

Imagine where the species is going! The one worldview that is all inclusive, embracing and accommodating all has been branded as savage. How else would the revered Chief Seattle call himself as savage if he had not been branded so? It is in same way we are branded as pagan or demonic and so on. I say that when massa has gone we still adhere to massa’s culture and religion then slavery is complete. Massa has done his job so well that even in his absence, the paradigm which he has laid down is perpetuated in those he dominated.

It is in this context that the issue of bowing arose. It seemed abominable to some sections of the society that the Prime Minister of our country bowed and touched the feet of the President of another country. But bowing is what we do! The “we are right and they are wrong” attitude immediately got triggered because a prejudice always sits in wait for catalyst.

Many masked the objection to the bow with the cloak of protocol, claiming that it was against protocol. There is one world leader who refuses to allow a dead protocol which is devoid of humanness to cloud his judgement and that is President Obama. Possessing the broadness of vision, understanding and political astuteness that he has, on 14th November 2009, he bowed before the Japanese Emperor Akihito. It was an almost 90 degree bow which broke a long standing American Presidential tradition of showing no deference to other world leaders. Here is a President who is thinking laterally—outside the box.

It seems rather absurd to me to allow a protocol to take a human being who has ascended to one of the highest office of the world, as the President has, and make him relinquish his natural human inclination to show respect and reverence, and reduce him to a machine, bowing to the dictates of a dead tradition which is devoid of humanism! Is it to perpetuate the arrogance that we are the greatest nation and we do not bow to anyone? Look behind the protocol, I tell you, you will see the ugly face of arrogance staring at you. Look behind the “I am right, and they are wrong” attitude and you will see arrogance in its glory. When protocol and even religion get in the way of the higher human values of respect and reverence it is time for the former to give way to the latter. Arrogance should always give way to humility, respect and reverence.

We have long passed the concept of a pluralistic nation. It is now a pluralistic world. I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it

You know one of the simplest examples of this inclusiveness and acceptance occurs every time I speak to Raviji on the phone. I say Hari Om and he says Namaskar. It will be a sure sign of immaturity if I insist that he says as I say. I say Hari Om but I respect and welcome his right to say Namaskar.

To be continued…

Source: Feature address delivered by Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji at Varsha Pratipada Sansad, 2012

Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji is a direct disciple of world renowned Swami Chinmayanandaji. He is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana with responsibility for the Chinmaya Mission’s works across the Caribbean and Latin America.