Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma: One and the same

Before claiming copyright for Yoga, I request Shukla and group should pay for the copyright of using English langauge! After all it is not Indian. Indians use it and pronounce it in a very awkward way too. Can we call it 'rape of English langauge' as they call rape of yoga?
In India, I have not seen many people practising Yoga. Only the western people, who are crazy about new ideas, use some part of it as a method of exrcise. It has no spirituality or relgion in it. At best it has some commercial value, that is all.
Is acupuncture owned by the Chinese? Or karate? I dont think so.
The Hindus in America will speak about great principles, which are not practised neither in India nor here. The Western people will think the gurus, god men and women have some magical poweres and follow them (of course after paying.)
Hinduism is just another religion like Islam or Christianity with all the flaws seen in other religions.

My suggestion to the panelist: This type of "yogi-hood" (words in quotes are my characterization of the yoga act described in the web site below) needs to be talked about, more urgently. There is plenty of this going around.

http://mashable.com/2010/04/04/deepak-chopra-earthquake/

Did you know how the unethical US Patent on the famous Indian Basmati rice was fought and won?

http://www.indianscience.org/dyk/t_dy_Q9.shtml

Those quoted words are used by the Moderators of this blog (dated 2006). I understand they are referring to our times as “time of extremism”. I don’t believe they are referring to this topic.

Why is presenting historical provenance or origin or source considered extremism? (Or fundamentalism as Deepak Chopra labeled A. Shukla). If that is the criteria anyone who looks at cultural traditions will be labeled extremists, fundamentalists or purists. Using such labels shuts the door from looking to the past, at the cultural history (myths & historical experience) or the perspective that comes from the place of origin.

Sir, futuralogic,

“Are you being silly or mischievous?” No, I am not. May be, I am born “silly”. I asked the panelists a question, after reading the Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham posting on November 9, 2006 10:19 AM.

I quote from that post to what interested me:

“And so, in a time of extremism -- for extremism is to the 21st century what totalitarianism was to the 20th -- how can people engage in a conversation about faith and its implications in a way that sheds light rather than generates heat? At The Washington Post and Newsweek, we believe the first step is conversation-intelligent, informed, eclectic, respectful conversation-among specialists and generalists who devote a good part of their lives to understanding and delineating religion's influence on the life of the world. ”

“We encourage readers to join the conversation by commenting on what our panelists have to say, offering their own opinions and suggesting topics for future discussions.”

Let us keep that spirit alive, please.

My question is not about who can become a yogi. You can write to me if you have answers. I will not contribute to your ire any more. This is the last post form me to you,

Viswa Sharma

@vishwasharma

And I am positive that you are lazy to not explore and learn on your own such basic facts.

"about the chakras, the petals and the alphabets on then and how they are different for different religions, if they are different. If they are the same, all the people of the world would be same at least in the eyes of the seers of Vedas"

Is that your question? Are you really serious you are posing that? Are you being silly or mischievous? You should know by this time that artificial constructs like religions, per western definition of the word, don't limit possibilities of Yoga. Any human can become a Yogi!

Dear futuralogic,
Thanks for yet another blog pointer. I am now positive you do not have an answer to my question.
Viswa

@VISWASHARMA

"We need to understand what leads to that mass cheating and educate ourselves to avoid those mishaps"

Very good point. The answers are out there, as a seeker you should make efforts to find it. I would start with Shri Rajiv Malhotra's scholary pieces (http://rajivmalhotra.com/) You will not get to Yoga immediately but you will understand the big picture and where Yoga fits in, why anything Indic is misappropriated and such. If you like it discussion oriented, with 1000+ comments, please start with
http://rajivmalhotra.sulekha.com/blog/post/2002/07/the-axis-of-neocolonialism.htm Other essays from Shri Malhotra are also available in sulekha with comments.

@VISWASHARMA

"it is in the interest of inter-faith understanding"

What inter-faith understanding you are talking about? If there is Abrahamic creed involved in this inter-faith activity as one of the parties then it's always a non-starter because of "My God is true, yours is false" racist premise emanating from Islamists and Christists. Unless and until they reliquish this dogma there is no hope of true inter-faith understanding, it's merely an exercise in futility. Of course they participate in such charades while their foot soldiers continue to harvest souls for their Gods by every means - fraud, deception, allurement, inducement and violence. Please read this once

Inter-faith Dialogue: Vatican in sheep's clothing
http://www.vigilonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1122&Itemid=1
http://www.vigilonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1124&Itemid=1

"There are two fraud cases, based on cheating, going on at present"

Can you tell me what you are alluding to?

"while we hear these lectures about ownership of Hinduism aka Santana Dharma"

I am stunned! Unless you used words carelessly these lectures are NOT about ownership, if even after 5 posts on this topic if you are not getting the core of it then it sounds like you are trying to obfuscate just like the infamous Deepak "How to Deconstruct, Repackage and Sell Hindu Philosophy Without Calling it Hindu!" Chopra is trying to do. He has his reasons, do you have one too?

To Dr. Shukla,

WELL DONE.
Game, set, and match.

*********************

To Dr. Chopra,

As I wrote on your initial article, this non-Vedic, non-Sanskrit, non-Ancient, non-Yoga, non-Hindu shloka is best for you:

"You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run"

You have shown your hand, and now it's time to quietly walk away.

Dear futuralogic

Let me know when you have an answer please. (you can contact me: viswa.sharma@gmail.com, if you don't want to publish it). The site you mention does not provide answers to my questions. I visited it and sent them a thank note with my "infowish".

You have the right to your comments. But, please note my questions are for the esteemed panelists (and I understand that public is invited to ask them questions)

The question is a fundamental question and it is in the interest of inter-faith understanding. It is one thing to argue about who invented what in which religion and when, and who profited by it. But, it is a different thing to understand the utility of the "inventions" rather observation by those who possess that skill to observe, the mechacnis of the life on earth, the earth/world and the cause of that life and the earth/world.

I am not arguing that the source should be ignored. If any one is of the faith, they take the methods of observation on an oath of hypocrisy. Rest of us talk freely.
We also shoudl not condone the followers who cheat on a regular basis. There are two fraud cases, based on cheating, going on at present, while we hear these lectures about ownership of Hinduism aka Santana Dharma or Arsha Sampradaya (R’shi tradition). We need to understand what leads to that mass cheating and educate ourselves to avoid those mishaps.

@ ZAHLEN9418

"I would be careful painting the whole society as racist which it is NOT."

Did I say whole society? But in Texas it's pretty close unfortunately!

@ VISWASHARMA

Why are you trying to be lost in semantics. Yoga applies to all Human beings. But being a Yogi is no easy task. I don't think the Abrahamic creeds with their silly dogmas can achieve Yogic state. But if they do, they have dropped their dogmas along the way, good for everyone. Truly Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam!

http://hinduwisdom.info/Yoga_and_Hindu_Philosophy.htm

Great, may be there will be calm after all. Is Dr. Chopra going to offer free service from now on or pay a penalty for his past deeds? (He was charged as profiteer from this culture)
The too hard to say word 'Sanatana Dharma', or the simple Hindu word, as both of these men agree follows yoga. The seers will indeed be pleased.
However, I am still waiting for answers to my simple question of Yoga by either of them: about the chakras, the petals and the alphabets on then and how they are different for different religions, if they are different. If they are the same, all the people of the world would be same at least in the eyes of the seers of Vedas. If we all agree, we can go about making that vision a reality in the land of the seers and elsewhere in the world.

I would be careful painting the whole society as racist which it is NOT.

America still is one of the freest and most welcoming society. It has one of the diverse populations and they are making an attempt to understand what they are not familiar with. Americans are some of the nicest people that I have met.

In articles such as this Dr. Shukla is trying to present some aspects of Indian history. We need to be pro-active and be ambassadors of our heritage (including conveying the history of yoga in Hinduism) which is part of American story now and try not be reactive to every incident. We are all Americans too!

"He never faced the innocently cruel queries of classmates that I faced and my children still answer today"

Absolutely. Only a victim can feel the pain in this racist society. Check out this letter from a 14 year old Indian girl in Texas!

http://www.hvk.org/articles/1003/0.html

If we were to begin calling ourselves Sanatana Dharmapanthis tomorrow (as a matter of fact Swami Dayananda Saraswati considers everyone a Hindu by default) as Hindus are known in Punjab in contrast to Arya Samajis, Dee Chops would find some new label for himself.His obsession with labelling hides deeper flaws he has no intention of correcting. Aseem you are a practicing MD. thanks for taking the time and trouble to put Dee Chops in his place.

Why is DC afraid of using Hindu word? Usually immigrant Hindus are mild and shy but it should not take this long for him to shake it off, especially in these times of Obama. Unless you demand freedom you won't get one.