Religious conversions take place due to faultlines in our society, the most prominent ones being the caste idea and the rigid barriers of hierarchy. It is these things we must recognise and change. But since we cannot change others, at least personally be the example of the change. We have reached this state because right now because we have deviated from our own truth, the full truth of the Sanatana Dharma. We focus and emphasise excessively on the non-essentials, outer rituals, fasting, and other practices, which make life quite complicated. On the other hand, we have almost completely forgotten the spirit, the true spirit of Sanatana Dharma, the growth of our soul and embodying high and noble, godlike qualities, self-mastery, Godward turn and seeking, love for Truth and courage to stand up for the true and the beautiful. There is almost a blind subjection to all kinds of external authority instead of a simple, direct contact with God straight from the heart. Of course, this is true right now of every religion, but it is quite prominent in Hinduism, though much more so in Islam. Christianity capitalists on this faultline with its emphasis on faith in God and love towards fellowmen. It is important to recognise this faultline and correct it and reorient our life and philosophy along the lines of the Gita rather than all kinds of Shastra. Regular reading and understanding of the Gita must become part of our everyday life rather than an excessive preoccupation with food, outer behavior, rituals, festivals and auspicious times.
Obviously, vandalising others would only make things worse and push many fence-sitters to the other side of the wall.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
