East Vs West
Historically, the West has evolved from a Socialist conscience to a Capitalist one, but the regular hiccups in the economies of the Western world are giving a serious beating to capitalist endeavours.
In the East, we have to choose between the ideology of the West and our own indigenous ideas. The Western world teaches us to fight for our survival, that the world is a dog eat dog place and that human birth is only to live in affluence and plenitude. The Western world, symbolized by Christ, preaches that to be idealist and good, is to be different and if you will be different, you will be crucified. The Western world also teaches us that family and relationships are more important than anything else in the world and that love makes the whole world go round. Competition, jealousy, greed, aggrandizement are all ‘foreign’ to us. Although the Bible does preach that Christians and non Christians alike are children of god, their belief in science has driven them away from their own religious beliefs, driving them to life of licentiousness, greed and an animal instinct. So, the Westerners are torn between the diktats of their maker, Christ, and their own creation, science.
Eastern thought, specifically Indian, believes in an afterlife, in karma, destiny, in the fact that the whole world is one family and that we are all children of one god. That we are essentially of the nature of the spirit and that we should strive to know our true nature.
And our scriptures speak of science too, but it is a branch of our religious source and not an opposition. Science in the Eastern context doesn’t take on Satanic proportions, as it does so in the West, as Science is an off shoot of Hinduism and not a rival.
Now that we know both views, we must choose the best way forward for all humans and adapt a system that benefits the whole of humankind. I personally favour the Indian system of thought, word and deed and the time has to proclaim to the world that I am a devout, proud Hindu, not ready to convert to anything below my standards.
Neha Singh
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