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Being Different by Rajiv Malhotra: A Synopsys
Being Different by Rajiv Malhotra: A Synopsys
Western Universalism
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Approach JS
Caveats:
1. This is my view of the book, not the book summary
2. Based on my reading of the book, no prior subject expertise
3. I have no knowledge of Sanskrit; a major handicap
Objective of the Book (based on what is stated in the book)
4. Set terms for a deeper and more informed engagement
between dharmic and western world
5. To highlight the unique and core ideals of dharma using the
west as a foil
6. Refute Western claims of universalism
Author’s Methodology: Purva Paksha
Diagonal Challenge
• Yoga /Vipasana vs. Abrahamic Religions seen as
Embodied Knowing vs. History Centrism
Vertical Challenge
• Integrating Rationalism and Mystism seen as
Synthetic Unity reflected in Evolution-Creation debate in the west, and
Integral Unity reflected in the idea of Evolution-Involution, leading to acceptance
Horizontal Challenge
• Anxiety over Chaos – Science supreme, but inability to explain spirituality
Comfort with complexity –Sensing adequate, explanations not adequate
• Cultural digestion vs. Sanskrit non-translatable
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a challenge of translating multi-dimensional concepts in binary language
Being Different: Visible In
Tolerance vs. Respect JS
Western Eastern
• Charcoal Burner • Garland Weaver
– Tribal focus – Individual focus
– Only path – Multiple paths
– Salvation – Sat-chit-ananda
– Evangelizing or Soul – Individual moksha
harvesting • Mutual Respect for other
• Distrust for other religion, paths/ religions
current position tolerate
other religions
Dharma Judeo-Christian
The Belief independent Belief based
Ultimate Impersonal, multiple forms Male, Father
reality God not separate from world God and world distinct
The Individual: sat-chit-anand Individual: sinner
Human Reincarnation One life
Self-made destiny-karma Circumstances unexplained
Moksha: individual effort Salvation: Grace of god
The Infinite cycle of creation Finite time and space, linear
World No collective end; moksha personal Judgment day for humanity
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Integral Unity vs. Synthetic Unity:
Issue of Contention JS
• Synthetic Unity: Binary world of True and False
– Emphasis on reasoning to bifurcate promotes ego or isolation
– Higher isolation/ inflated ego leads to higher needs
– Inflated ego promotes selfishness and violence
• Result, pursuit of infinite growth in a finite world
• Focus on freedom to
• A range of states: (7 in number) Negation, Approximation,
Absence, Difference (with some similarities), Reduction /
Diminution, Badness / unworthy, Opposite/ contradictory
– Concept of prana –unifying mind and body focused on feeling
– Process to integrate self with the ultimate reality, by eliminating
ego
• Focus on freedom from
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Integral Unity vs. Synthetic Unity:
Implications JS
Description Dharmic Judeo-Christianity
World view Cosmic centered system Human centered system
Time horizon Infinite Finite
Relationship with Interdependence Subordinate to man
nature
Approach to problem Discover solutions Invent solutions
Concept of Progress Sustainable co-existence Material progress
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Anxiety Over Chaos vs. Comfort with
Complexity: Issue of Contention JS
Uni-dimensional Ethics:
• Commandments or the one Right path for all
Contextualized Dharma:
• Universal dharma an oxymoron
• Dharma is life-stage specific, occupation specific and era-
specific, Dharma is open ended and evolves
• Practice can be both right and wrong; they are context specific
• Push for unity
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Anxiety Over Chaos vs. Comfort
with Complexity: Implication JS
• Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram implications
Western view:
• True, good and beautiful is integrated
• White skinned, symmetric gods and heroes, dark skinned,
malformed villains
• Was used to justify slavery
Dharma View:
• Beautiful need not be good, good need not be beautiful, both
good and beautiful need not be permanent, i.e. true
• Dark skin seen as beautiful and good, : Rama, Krishna, Vishnu
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Cultural Digestion vs. Sanskrit Non-
translatebles: The Idea JS
• Four levels of Vak (the root/ source of creation): un-manifest,
subtle potential, mental image and outer expression
• Words have multiple meaning and is context specific
– Bridaranyaka Upanishad: The 3 meanings of Da
• Translating Sanskrit into other western languages misses the
essence
– It is like assigning constant value to an algebraic variable
• Brahman and Ishwara ≠ God, Impersonal vs. Personal, universe
vs. creator
• Shiva ≠Destroyer, Shiva is transformer, there is no end
• Atma ≠Soul; True self vs. waiting to be save by God
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Cultural Digestion vs. Sanskrit Non-
translatebles: Implication JS
Religion viewed Differently
Aspects Christian view Dharmic View
Divine Distinct from individual Within; but not essential as in
Buddhism, Jainism, Carvaka
Source of Single source Multiple sources; library vs.
Knowledge books
Governance Institution of Church Not essential
Route to A standard set: Multiple routes: Jnana,
salvation repentance and Bhakti, Karma,
acceptance
Membership Formally granted No formal membership, a way
of life
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Western Universalization JS
Idea
• Globalization means westernization
• Progress is salvation or scientific secular progress
• Concept of Universal History, linear in nature
Issues of Contention
• Binary categories like sacred/ secular, monotheism/polytheism,
creation/evolution, political right/left cannot explain Dharma
with multiple hues
Implications
• Other cultures selectively used to forward Westernization:
Germany and Sanskrit
• Uni-dimensional concept of success
– Cultural genocide in the name of development
• Eliminating local production and seasonal eating
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JS
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