Business to the Buddha

Tag: business of religion

  • Business of politics







    “Religion-based quota won’t divide our people. Google will. That’s our Government’s logic.”
    – Chetan Bhagat, Author

    My friend Tejas Phatak (T Gates) recently wrote a blog – ‘Dot hai to Hot hai!’ I was thinking about the democracy, elections for couple of days and honestly laughing on the kind of stories and promises we hear from politicians. Specially during the election season.

    With due respect to the ‘business’ of politicians, I do not see many changes QUOTED/STATED (I am not using words such as done and made) by them and work done often falls way behind the promises. Look outside your window you would ‘see’ examples. I remember a statement of Collector of Indore (somewhere in 1997-2000) – Mr Manoj Shrivastava – in Nai Dunia (Very famous news paper in MP specially in Indore) that “reason for development of Indore is the people – not the politicians – of the city“. This applies to any city in India I believe.

    When we talk about ‘business’ of politicians, we hear categorical statements of religious bias too. During the seasons of elections you see ‘business of religion’ and ‘business of politics’ meet. I wonder according to the constitution of India where does religion get special status? I think in India every religion is given equal rights. Referring to the Wiki article Population statistics of India by religion I am wondering why we talk about religion based quota? If religion should be the basic Jains and Buddhists should get quota; is that happening? The very fundamental issue is – we want quota everywhere. I recall Lokpal debate everyone wanted quota there too.

    There are responsible positions where we need people who are capable – irrespective of their caste, religion or region (specially we have seen my Prime Ministers from UP!). I understand the prime reason for quota system is to bring equality in society, should we consider other methods of bringing equality – creating entrepreneurs for example.

    Tejas – voting in Mumbai has not been very encouraging. I think the reason for apathy in Mumbai is – people live here on a daily basis, we care more for our survival. How many politicians are solving problems of daily basis. I heard Arnab Goswami saying yesterday – ‘reason of Shiv Sena winning here could be the grass route work of the workers. They are available when there is a need’. Secondly, in Mumbai perhaps maximum jobs are in private sector where Quota statement does not make much sense for voting.

    I support quality work irrespective of political affiliation. So the ‘business of politics’ and ‘business of religion’ should talk about the kind of work and developments happening for the guys next door like you and me!

  • We – “the Societies…”







    I read a book on the Buddha – Old Path White Clouds. Really, the path is very old. We are still struggling after many centuries. The book starts with a young Bhikku – Svasti a buffalo tending boy. The Buddha had tried hard to bridge the gap pervading in society at that time. During the time of Mahabharat (even before the Buddha) Karna had to face it (as son of a charioteer, check Wiki). I am talking about the societies we have formed. We are divided by race, religion, nationality, region, caste and sub-castes. Therefore we are not a society we are ‘societies’.

    I read two news items and thought to write about them. Though personally I feel religious belief is a personal matter and therefore no ‘group’ should interfere with beliefs of individuals. However, we have made religious belief system an organization which now has become a business as well as tool to discriminate. Anyways, the first news item was – First whiff of justice for Gujarat riot victims and the second was – Dalits enter Madurai temple after two long decades. In northern part of India people feel that southern states are far less discriminating, is that true? This news item shows different picture.

    At the time of the Buddha there was only four divisions of Indian society (as only Hinduism existed). Now we have many religion, languages, states, castes and sub-castes. The task of bridging gaps has become difficult in our times. Take an example of one belief system of India. The concept of this system was ‘a casteless society’, within 1000 years of its existence there are about 16 different sub-caste in this single belief system! The number is alarming because old Hindu system has only 4 castes (of course 4 are then sub divided) and this example less than 1000 year old has 4 time more sub divisions. I have heard Islam has 70+ sects, Buddhism has at least 3, Christianity has a few. Phew! how long will we divide as well as fight the so called holy wars?

    If we see at a macro level – we are divided in nation we live in, language we speak, color of skin, economic status for that matter brand of car we use. I am sure no spiritual master had meant to use his/her teachings as a tool to discriminate. We are humans and is not that enough to thrive, survive and grow physically, mentally and spiritually? ‘The path’ is really very old, we are still not able to understand it. We are ‘societies’ and we do discriminate, why?

    Related blog – Business of religion!