Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tl00196)

On Monday, March 02, 1998 4:29 AM, theos-l@vnet.net [SMTP:theos-l@vnet.net]
wrote:
> Date: Sun, 01 Mar 1998 09:37:40 -0600
> From: M K Ramadoss <ramadoss@eden.com>
>
> One of the outstanding records of *all* Theosophical organizations is that
> there may have been differences of philosophy/approach, *none* of them have
> ever been involved in any legal troubles, especially criminal ones, in
> *any* country.
>
> Coming with this background, one is troubled about any organization which
> gets tangled with governments of multiple countries.
>
Aurobindo, a great yogi, was accussed of various activities in the fight for
Indian independence.  He was fighting for Indian independence well before
Ghandi.

Krsna, in the Mahabharata also used the tactic of 'covering over the sun' to
win the battle.

In another sense greatness is revealed in the fight against aggressors. This is
common throughout various 'scripture'.

See the Ramayana, the great epic. It describes that Shrii Rama with all his
might waged a war against Ravana, who abducted his wife. Shrii Rama's action
was in no way against the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence), because he
invaded Lanka not with a desire to conquer a territory or to cause any harm.

See the Mahabharata. Mahapurusa Shrii Krsna had insisted upon the Pandavas to
take up arms against the Kaorvas, because the Kaoravas were aggressors
(Atatayii) who had taken possession of the land by force. None would accuse the
very incarnation of love, Shriiman Mahaprabhu, one of the great revolutionists
in social and spiritual world, of adopting ways associated with Himsa (violent
intent); but he too had pounced like a lion on the tyrant Kazi (Judge). If
Himsa and use of force were synonymous, Maha-Prabhu, the incarnation of mercy,
certainly would not have done so.

It is cardinal moral principles that count at all stages.  The law should
reflect those cardinal moral principles.  Of course, wild civil disobediance is
not in society's best interest.

THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE MOVEMENT

      When a rogue elephant becomes violent it does not feel
hungry, and consequently it may not eat or even drink for
many days together. In such an abnormal condition, it's over
heated brain compels it to break all rules and
regulations....and it even challenges the laws of nature
themselves.

      You know, those who instigate others to break rules
will always cause bad consequences. Let us take an example.
A prominent leader of India's struggle for independence
started a civil disobedience movement against the British to
attain the political independence of India. Some people
suggest that the aim of this movement was not to break any
rules or disobey the law. The aim was to express the truth
after dispelling the cimmerian darkness. The aim was to
snatch independence from the clutches of the forces of
darkness. It was an effort to find the truth.... it was
satyagraha. However, it makes no difference what name you
call a rose flower, it is still a rose. Even if you send an
ordinary rice crushing mill to heaven, it's function is
still the same. If people have disregard for the law, there
is every possibility that they will follow the path of
law-breaking. This very psychology causes people to
challenges legal statutes, and the result is never good.

      Today if people follow in the footsteps of the past,
they will be led to burn buses and trams which they
themselves have purchased... they will be led to burn
governmental and nongovernmental buildings, destroying their
own hard earned wealth. When people adopt these methods
today, it is because the psychology of the civil
disobedience movement of the British time is still working
-- in other words satyagraha. However, rational people would
not describe such methods as satyagraha but as duragraha --
a hand-tool to destroy the society.

      Those who hold the communist banner and attack
helpless people in the name of revolution, losing sight of
human values under the impetus of their confused, irrational
philosophy, are goaded by the same type of psychology.

      Nature dislikes disobedience or the act of breaking
the law. As long as legal statutes exist, they must be
obeyed. If they are found to be harmful or stand in the way
of the progress of society, or if they hold back the
forward march of humanity like a serpent entwined around the
legs of a person, these statutes should be ground into the
dust and new laws should be enacted and obeyed. Otherwise,
the law of big fish eating little fish will dominate
society, and this will harm the interests of both the
individual and the collective. The civil disobedience
movement has left behind a chaotic imprint on society.

PR Sarkar      11 September 1988, Calcutta Shabda Cayanika, Part
8UfBody