What matters most, truth or change?
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:12 am
Recent times have been trying and testing to any person remotely connected to the Dawoodi Bohra community. While the succession fiasco has been heart breaking and soul shattering for most bohras, it has enabled a few to do some soul searching by forcing them to ask questions and think progressively. I write this with reverence to the greatest religion I know. A religion that is devoid of power and politics; a religion away from tyrannical practices and submissive acts; a religion that values human life, love and respect above all. A religion that not only promises heaven in the afterlife but realizes it in one's lifetime. A religion that is now forgotten... A religion called humanity...
The two factions SKQ and MS are likely to establish their own empires. The Bohra in general are a business minded community and with the money existing within system, will perpetuate with prosperity, albeit under two different heads. In the long run, (my logical deduction says that) the dushmani will be forgotten and people will be comfortable following the faction that they believe in. Socially, occasionally they will hurl a laanat or two at the other faction, but by and large one's existence will not bother the other. What happens to faith in the mean time? Every faction claims guidance from the Imam. Is it too difficult to contemplate someone in the near future claiming Imamat for Himself? Where do we go then?
The average mumeen today believes he is special, he is made to believe so during high volume bayaans, where the speaker sheds false tears and explains how the Dai and Imam will provide deliverance on Judgement day. This feeling of being special makes a Bohra blind and oblivious to the naked truth of our community. I often wonder, how can one not realize that deliverance (if delivered), will be on account of deeds and not tears? All religions list their own 'Do's and Dont's'; the comprehensive spirit of all of these put together can be summed up in a kindergarten student's Moral science text book. Why is it so difficult for us then, with all the education, enhancements in media and science to understand this simple truth?
I want to clarify here that I (not that it matters) support neither factions. Off course we want to know the truth and follow who is right, but isn't it high time that we focus on the "What" instead of the "Who"? There are fundamental problems that plague our community (mankind overall). Mass corruption, shortage of basic infrastructure, disrespect of the poor, indifference towards female rights, lack of encouragement for education and progressive thinking, shortage of medical supplies to needy,etc. This is the "What", that is more important. Can we practice this religion, the religion of humanity and just focus on deliverance being doing good to mankind, by providing love and care to humanity on a whole.
There is no way that one can ever know the entire truth (Gautham Buddha and Mahavir Jain spent their lives trying to seek it!); we never will. Change in the other hand is both possible and desperately needed.
thanks for reading!
The two factions SKQ and MS are likely to establish their own empires. The Bohra in general are a business minded community and with the money existing within system, will perpetuate with prosperity, albeit under two different heads. In the long run, (my logical deduction says that) the dushmani will be forgotten and people will be comfortable following the faction that they believe in. Socially, occasionally they will hurl a laanat or two at the other faction, but by and large one's existence will not bother the other. What happens to faith in the mean time? Every faction claims guidance from the Imam. Is it too difficult to contemplate someone in the near future claiming Imamat for Himself? Where do we go then?
The average mumeen today believes he is special, he is made to believe so during high volume bayaans, where the speaker sheds false tears and explains how the Dai and Imam will provide deliverance on Judgement day. This feeling of being special makes a Bohra blind and oblivious to the naked truth of our community. I often wonder, how can one not realize that deliverance (if delivered), will be on account of deeds and not tears? All religions list their own 'Do's and Dont's'; the comprehensive spirit of all of these put together can be summed up in a kindergarten student's Moral science text book. Why is it so difficult for us then, with all the education, enhancements in media and science to understand this simple truth?
I want to clarify here that I (not that it matters) support neither factions. Off course we want to know the truth and follow who is right, but isn't it high time that we focus on the "What" instead of the "Who"? There are fundamental problems that plague our community (mankind overall). Mass corruption, shortage of basic infrastructure, disrespect of the poor, indifference towards female rights, lack of encouragement for education and progressive thinking, shortage of medical supplies to needy,etc. This is the "What", that is more important. Can we practice this religion, the religion of humanity and just focus on deliverance being doing good to mankind, by providing love and care to humanity on a whole.
There is no way that one can ever know the entire truth (Gautham Buddha and Mahavir Jain spent their lives trying to seek it!); we never will. Change in the other hand is both possible and desperately needed.
thanks for reading!