Seek and ye shall find

Vanitha Vaidialingam finds that by diving deep into the scriptures, it is possible for us to patiently and gradually lay bare the wisdom contained therein

- Vanitha Vaidialingam

It all began when I was introduced to Sanskrit more than three decades ago. My Sanskrit text consigned my very solid world to the realm of the illusory (may). I could not understand or appreciate why anyone would categorise this world that I can touch, feel, see, and hear as insubstantial. It seemed very solid to me. I protested very loudly and vociferously, and got sent out of class for misbehaviour.

The long and short of it is that my teacher failed to explain to me the concept of maya or illusion, that is the core of Hindu belief. He either had no clue about the meaning or thought I was not ready for the meanings encapsulated in the words. Decades later, here I am, still grappling with the concepts referenced in my Sanskrit classes and still struggling to make some sense of them for myself. Over the years, I discovered that there are many more terms that are never clearly and unambiguously explained to the Hindus as a part of their religious upbringing. Why is that?

Hinduism is not really a religion in the sense that Christianity or Islam is. It is a democratic, fluid setup that looks upon the atheist, the agnostic, and the believer with unfazed indifference. Belief is a very personal thing, and no one has the right to dictate the terms of belief. Those who seek will find the meanings and the path. So, the seekers have learnt the meanings and travelled the path to realisation. Non-seekers have heard the echoes and have remained forever uncaring or enthusiastically unbelieving.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Ask a 'Hindu' and you will get the reply: “There is nothing good or bad. It is their karma. They will seek if they are destined to.”

Karma and free will