The Difference That Is Noticeable.

Basic difference between the texts of sanatana dharma and books of other religions.

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I have not studied the Gita in the depth. Only some bare readings of it I can say to have had made of this text.I have not studied texts of other religions either even superficially. My knowledge of matters of religious importance is specious. Even then in the course of discussion with knowledgeable ones and by dint of my smattering knowledge on such matters,I dare to make distinction between the text of Sanatana Dharma and those of others. 

Those who are in the "know of things" are expected to correct me by their special knowledge and wisdom.

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1.Texts of Sanatana Religion don't compel to be read; much less to repose faith in them. Its reading or study or recital is completely voluntary.

                  Whereas texts of other religions enjoin upon its followers to read the same compulsorily. It enjoins its followers to profess faith publicly; the failure in which may land them to a situation where they are liable to be declared as heretics in the least or apostate in the worst. 

                 *But if you don't read any text of sanatana/hindu religion you don't cease to be hindu. You are still a hindu 

                 * As a matter of fact most of the hindus don't read them either because of lack of interest or time (?). 

                  * If you don't visit temples to pay obeisance or offerings, you don't cease to be a hindu.you are still a hindu.

                   *When you disdain or scoff at so many hindu practices; good or bad continuing since time immemorial, you are still a hindu.

                   * You don't cease to be a hindu even when you don't sport tilak or tika on your forehead or keep shikha (hairlock on the rear of your skull) on your rearhead.

                    *And the height is when you criticize this religion or its practices by your intellect and wit in public you don't lose your identity as a hindu;not even in the situation when you equate any text of this faith with a well known poison named "potassium cyanide".

 Even in that case also you are still a hindu!

                          What a great freedom of self-realisation and exploration one can have while being a hindu!

                   Is it not an interesting and unique feature of hindu religion that is conveniently ignored by those who criticize these texts without truly understanding them?

        SO THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IDENTITY CRISIS ASSOCIATED WITH SANATANA HINDUISM.

2.Whereas other religions may motivate or prompt and sometimes dread ones with evil consequences if you don't read their texts even when you are not inclined;the texts of Sanatan religion do exactly the opposite.

               I will finish my point by quoting a shloka from the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita.

  इदं ते नातपस्काय ना भक्ताय कदाचन।

  न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति।।

                                              (ch.१८/verse.६७)

यह (गीता)वचन तुम्हें अतपस्वी को नहीं कहना चाहिए;अभक्त को भी नहीं कहना चाहिए तथा जो सुनना हीं नहीं चाहता हो उसे तो कदापि नहीं कहना चाहिए और उसे तो कथमपि नहीं जो इसमें दोषदृष्टि रखता हो.

Sometimes I wonder as to why there's some voice in favour of the Gita to be designated as course material. Majority of people advocate its reading without themselves having read it even once. 

Those who are fortunate will automatically be drawn towards it. 

*What is needed is to make it a part of our everyday life whether or not we make it a part of the syllabus of mere academic curriculum. 

                    Do you expect that modern rational thought that claims to be secular will allow it to be made a part of the curriculum?

                   R.R.Prabhakar.

                      03.04.2022.