BUDDHA PURNIMA TODAY ;
HOW RATIONALIST FACE OF BUDDHISM WAS DISTORTED BY BRAHMINS FOR THEIR CLASS INTERESTS AND ULTERIOR MOTIVES ?
Firstly, they launched a campaign of hatred and persecution against the Buddhists. Then, they appropriated many of the finer aspects of Buddhism into their own system so as to win over the “lower” caste Buddhist masses, but made sure that this selective appropriation did not in any way undermine Brahminical hegemony. The final stage in this project to wipeout Buddhism was to propound and propagate the myth that the Buddha was merely another ‘incarnation’ (avatar) of the Hindu god Vishnu. Buddha was turned into just another of the countless deities of the Brahminical pantheon. The Buddhists were finally absorbed into the caste system, mainly as Shudras and ‘Untouchables’, and with that the Buddhist presence was completely obliterated from the land of its birth. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar writes in his book, The Untouchables, that the ancestors of today’s Dalits were Buddhists who were reduced to the lowly status of ‘untouchables’ for not having accepted the supremacy of the Brahmins. They were kept apart from other people and were forced to live in ghettos of their own. Being treated worse that beasts of burden and forbidden to receive any education, these people gradually lost touch with Buddhism, but yet never fully reconciled themselves to the Brahminical order. Many of them later converted to Islam, Sikhism and Christianity in a quest for liberation from the Brahminical religion.

To lend legitimacy to their campaign against Buddhism, Brahminical texts included fierce strictures against Buddhists. Manu, in his Manusmriti, laid down that, “If a person touches a Buddhist […] he shall purify himself by having a bath.” Aparaka ordained the same in his Smriti. Vradha Harit declared entry into a Buddhist temple a sin, which could only be expiated for by taking a ritual bath. Even dramas and other books for lay people written by Brahmins contained venomous propaganda against the Buddhists. In the classic work, Mricchakatika, (Act VII), the hero Charudatta, on seeing a Buddhist monk pass by, exclaims to his friend Maitriya— “Ah! Here is an inauspicious sight, a Buddhist monk coming towards us.”

The Brahmin Chanakya, author of Arthashastra, declared that, “When a person entertains in a dinner dedicated to gods and ancestors those who are Sakyas (Buddhists), Ajivikas, Shudras and exiled persons, a fine of one hundred panas shall be imposed on him.” Shankaracharaya, the leader of the Brahminical revival, struck terror into the hearts of the Buddhists with his diatribes against their religion.
Osho,in his typical sarcastic style has quite logically commented :-"..Buddhists,million of Buddhists,are praying before the statue of Buddha.That is ridiculous,unbelievable,because Buddha's last words were,"be a light unto yourself".And it is strange phenomenon that Buddha's statues were the first to be installed in temples.There are temples of Buddha with thousands of statues.One temple in China is called 'the temple of ten thousand Buddha's-ten thousand statues of Buddha in one temple !The whole mountain has been carved into a temple. If Buddha comes back he will start beating his head,he will commit suicide." [The Goose is out,page 145].

SANCTIMONIOUS DIVINE SANCTITY FOR MORAL TURPITUDE !
Various scams and scandals have surfaced in the recent past all over the country.Location,caste,creed,race,sect,political brand,gender,color etc have no bearing on them.Scams have been facilitated largely because of the vitiated atmosphere that our religious system has created in the country.Our mythological heroes,sacred books and our 'great' sages are responsible to major extent for said vitiated atmosphere.It is well known and testified in 'holy' scriptures itself that almost all mythological heroes were past masters in the game of deceit, treachery and hypocrisy.The devices and stratagems employed for the liquidation of the opposition are no different from that our leaders are resorting to today.The tactics employed by these mythological heroes can hardly be expected to inspire us in honest ways.Present day values,norms and social practices owe their origin,inspiration and justification to the postulates in sacred books.Our sacred texts emphasize ritualism and obscurantism in place of social and moral behavior. In our country ritualism and religious exhibitionism are the only gauges to evaluate the character and dignity of man. Even a most corrupt and wicked man is regarded pious and religious if he visits a religious place [of any brand] daily.
Our scriptures assure us that the sin and immoral acts of many consecutive births can be absolved by mere recitation of 'god' or by mere dip in 'holy' river.
*anya khaitray kratam papam kashi khaaitray vinshate [Kashi mahatmya]. [sins and immoral acts committed in any part of the world are absolved by pilgrimage to Kashi.]
*gangha ganghayiti bryodo jnanaam shatair api,
muchaty sarv papay bhyo,vishnolokam sa gachtee.[brham puran,chapter 175,shalok 82; padampuran,uttarkhand,chapter 23,shalok 2].[any person,who recites gangha- gangha,even from distant places,hundreds of miles away,is absolved from all committed sin and immorality and his place is reserved in vishnolok after his death].
With such cheap,easy and quick remedies at hand,why should a person be scared of committing sins ?
Bhaghwat Geeta is revered and believed to be extraordinary treatise of morality and righteousness and recited daily by a large section of devoted Hindus. What is its sermon and guideline about sin and immorality ?
*apichetso duracharo bajtay maam anany baak,
sadhur aiv sa mantvya sabhyagh vivyasita he sa [Ibid,9/30]
[Any person even after committing heinous crime,is to be considered saintly,once he appeases me with total devotion].
*khipram bhavtee mahatma shashv shantim nighachtee,
koonteya prati janehe,na ma bakhta pranshytee [ibid,9/31].
[the person attains saintly status in a jiffy [khipram] and peaceful solace;oh Arjun,let it be known,person surrendering to me in totality is protected by me].
*sarv dharmaan parityjay maam aikam sharnam vraj,
aham twaam sarv paapye bhyo mokhshyamee ma shuchh.[ibid 18/66].
[forego all other forms of religiosity and just surrender to me;i will absolve you from all committed sin and immorality,don't worry be assured].

SANCTIMONIOUS DIVINE SANCTITY FOR MORAL TURPITUDE !
Various scams and scandals have surfaced in the recent past all over the country.Location,caste,creed,race,sect,political brand,gender,color etc have no bearing on them.Scams have been facilitated largely because of the vitiated atmosphere that our religious system has created in the country.Our mythological heroes,sacred books and our 'great' sages are responsible to major extent for said vitiated atmosphere.It is well known and testified in 'holy' scriptures itself that almost all mythological heroes were past masters in the game of deceit, treachery and hypocrisy.The devices and stratagems employed for the liquidation of the opposition are no different from that our leaders are resorting to today.The tactics employed by these mythological heroes can hardly be expected to inspire us in honest ways.Present day values,norms and social practices owe their origin,inspiration and justification to the postulates in sacred books.Our sacred texts emphasize ritualism and obscurantism in place of social and moral behavior. In our country ritualism and religious exhibitionism are the only gauges to evaluate the character and dignity of man. Even a most corrupt and wicked man is regarded pious and religious if he visits a religious place [of any brand] daily.
Our scriptures assure us that the sin and immoral acts of many consecutive births can be absolved by mere recitation of 'god' or by mere dip in 'holy' river.
*anya khaitray kratam papam kashi khaaitray vinshate [Kashi mahatmya]. [sins and immoral acts committed in any part of the world are absolved by pilgrimage to Kashi.]
*gangha ganghayiti bryodo jnanaam shatair api,
muchaty sarv papay bhyo,vishnolokam sa gachtee.[brham puran,chapter 175,shalok 82; padampuran,uttarkhand,chapter 23,shalok 2].[any person,who recites gangha- gangha,even from distant places,hundreds of miles away,is absolved from all committed sin and immorality and his place is reserved in vishnolok after his death].
With such cheap,easy and quick remedies at hand,why should a person be scared of committing sins ?
Bhaghwat Geeta is revered and believed to be extraordinary treatise of morality and righteousness and recited daily by a large section of devoted Hindus. What is its sermon and guideline about sin and immorality ?
*apichetso duracharo bajtay maam anany baak,
sadhur aiv sa mantvya sabhyagh vivyasita he sa [Ibid,9/30]
[Any person even after committing heinous crime,is to be considered saintly,once he appeases me with total devotion].
*khipram bhavtee mahatma shashv shantim nighachtee,
koonteya prati janehe,na ma bakhta pranshytee [ibid,9/31].
[the person attains saintly status in a jiffy [khipram] and peaceful solace;oh Arjun,let it be known,person surrendering to me in totality is protected by me].
*sarv dharmaan parityjay maam aikam sharnam vraj,
aham twaam sarv paapye bhyo mokhshyamee ma shuchh.[ibid 18/66].
[forego all other forms of religiosity and just surrender to me;i will absolve you from all committed sin and immorality,don't worry be assured].

RELIGION IS THE OPIATE OF THE PEOPLE : KARL MARX ;
Religions are authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate your free will. They’re power structures that aim to convince you to give away your power for the benefit of those who enjoy dominating people. When you subscribe to a religion, you enroll in a mindless minion training program. Religions don’t market themselves as such, but this is essentially how they operate.

Religions are very effective at turning human beings into sheep. They’re among the most powerful instruments of social conditioning. They operate by eroding your trust in your own intellect, gradually convincing you to put your trust into some external entity, such as a deity, prominent figure, or great book. Of course these instruments are usually controlled by those who administrate the minion training program, but they don’t have to be. Simply by convincing you to give your power away to something outside yourself, religion will condition you to be weaker, more docile, and easier to control. Religions actively promote this weakening process as if it were beneficial, commonly branding it with the word faith. What they’re actually promoting is submission.

Religions strive to fill your head with so much nonsense that your only recourse is to bow your head in submission, often quite literally. Get used to spending a lot of time on your knees because acts of submission such as bowing and kneeling are frequently incorporated into religious practice. Canine obedience training uses similar tactics. Now say, “Yes, Master.”

Have you ever wondered why religious teachings are invariably mysterious, confusing, and internally in-congruent? This is no accident by the way — it’s quite intentional.

By putting forth confusing and internally conflicting information, your logical mind (i.e. your neocortex) is overwhelmed. You try in vain to integrate such contradictory beliefs, but it can’t be done. The net effect is that your logical mind disengages because it can’t find a pattern of core truth beneath all the nonsense, so without the help of your neocortex, you devolve to a more primitive (i.e. limbic) mode of thinking. You’re taught that this faith-based approach is a more spiritual and conscious way to live, but in reality it’s precisely the opposite. Getting you to distrust your own cerebral cortex actually makes you dumber and easier to manipulate and control. Karl Marx was right when he said, “Religion is the opiate of the people.”

INDIAN PATIENTS BEING EXPLOITED AS GUINEA PIGS BY MULTINATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ! The Supreme Court, some time back had expressed concern over alleged illegal clinical trial of drugs in the country, saying it's "unfortunate" that humans were being treated as "guinea pigs".

A bench headed by Justice RM Lodha had pulled up the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh government for not filing their response on PIL's alleging large-scale illegal drug trials in the state and other parts of the country.

The bench had said, "There has to be some sense of responsibility (on the part of the government). Human beings are being treated as guinea pigs. This is unfortunate." The bench had granted the government and Medical Council of India eight weeks more time to file their replies.

The court was hearing two PIL's filed by a group of doctors and an NGO alleging that illegal and unethical clinical trials were being done on poor persons including juveniles, tribal s and dalits who were used as guinea pigs for testing of drugs and vaccines produced by multinational corporations.
Now,as per latest media report [Hindu,dated May 13,2013] and in gross violation to Supreme Court directives,drug trails on humans in Rajasthan over the last eight years,have claimed 95 lives,while 291 persons experienced serious adverse events. The data was provided by state Government's latest deposition before the Supreme Court in an ongoing public interest litigation.
However,the total number of deaths could be much higher as a total 326 trails were conducted in Rajasthan during this period.Some of the drugs for which trials were conducted include,Talactoferril,KremizinAliskirel,SU011248 [code name],Prasugrel and Clopidorgel.
According to information submitted to the court by the Union Health Secretary in the case,a total of 2,644 deaths and 11,972 serious adverse effects were reported during clinical trails in India between January 2005 and June 1012.

MAHABHARTA-FANTASIES AND IDIOSYNCRASIES;
MOUNTAIN OF FOOD AND DRINK OF THE HEIGHT OF TWO MILES EACH !
"Narada said, 'King Sasavindu, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. Of great beauty and of prowess incapable of being baffled, he performed diverse sacrifices. That high-souled monarch had one hundred thousand wives. From each of those wives were born a thousand sons. All those princes were endued with great prowess. They performed millions of sacrifices. Accomplished in the Vedas, those kings performed many foremost of sacrifices. All of them were cased (on occasions of battle) in golden coats of mail. And all of them were excellent bowmen. All these princes born of Sasavindu performed Horse-sacrifices. Their father, O best of monarchs, in the Horse-sacrifices he had performed, gave away, (as sacrificial presents), all those sons unto the Brahmanas. Behind each of those princes were hundreds upon hundreds of cars and elephants and fair maidens decked in ornaments of gold. With each maiden were a hundred elephants; with each elephant, a hundred cars; with each car a hundred steeds, adorned with garlands of gold. With each of those steeds were a thousand kine; and with each cow were fifty goats. The highly blessed Sasavindu gave away unto the Brahmanas, in the great Horse-sacrifice of his such unlimited wealth. The king caused as many sacrificial stakes of gold to be made for that great Horse-sacrifice of his as is the number, double of sacrificial stakes of wood in other sacrifices of the kind. There were mountains of food and drink of the height of about two miles each. Upon the completion of' his Horse-sacrifice, thirteen such mountains of food and drink remained (untouched). His kingdom abounded in people that were contented and well-fed. 
[Mahabharta,Dronparv,chapter 65].

PRESENTATION ABOUT "ANCIENT ALIENS" ON HISTORY CHANNEL;
RELIGIOUS MYTHS,FANTASIES AND SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT SUPPOSED NON TERRESTRIAL BEING 'REDEFINED' WITH THE HELP OF 'DIVINE' IDIOSYNCRASIES !
Anyone familiar with History Channel’s series Ancient Aliens can understand the double-edged sword that is presented to us: we are set up to believe that beings from other worlds came here and either altered history or actually calculated it for us. On the surface this may not be any more disturbing than thinking, “Okay, so the Egyptian pyramids were built by guys from Orion” ; however, it does, upon deeply thinking about it, change the very fabric of what it means to be human beings on this planet.

Let us suppose that these “ancient alien theorists” (unseen experts constantly referred to on the show) are correct. Long ago aliens came to earth and manipulated our DNA; they let themselves be worshiped as gods; they taught us how to do things like metallurgy and masonry; they gave us language and alphabets; they showed us how to build things (some of them very big things); and basically changed the course of human history. If we accept any or all of these things, then the whole notion that we rose above the beast of the fields on our own is a lie; furthermore, the concept that some of us believe from the Bible (that were chosen by God to be special among the creatures of the earth) is incorrect.

All of this can keep you rather sleepless at night if you start thinking about it. The show is very adept at getting under your skin and making it crawl. They dig up these so-called experts, among them Erich von Daniken (author of the famous book Chariots of the Gods), who is either crazy as a loon or as sly as a fox. He has been promoting his theory of ancient visitations by the aliens for years, and this is the ultimate forum for him and others like him who want to stoke the fires of these theories.

If you watch the show even for a few minutes, it is easy to get sucked in. They take you to exotic locations in pursuit of these places where the aliens may have been. It is easy to look at things and think, “Humans could have never done this alone,” which is basically what the show is about in every episode. It also makes us seem ineffectual, that had Zodor and his minions from Orion’s belt not visited the earth, we would still be walking around in loincloths and bopping each other over the heads with clubs.
[Victor Lane].

SELECTIVE DENIGRATION AND CHARACTER ASSASSINATION OF RAVANA!

Though there are many other mythological characters in epic Valmiki Ramayan,  who are classical  symbol of evil and moral turpitude, yet quite contrary to logic and  reason, only Ravana has been selectively targeted for denigration and character assassination. What was the yardstick and criteria for negative exclusiveness? Otherwise, also the story of Ramayna as a whole cannot be described as some sort of treatise of morals. Moral degeneration, betrayal, arrogance and eccentricity is integral part of the individuality of so many other characters like,  Daryodhan,  Vibheshan ,Sugreev,  Bali ,Yudishter and Shukani, yet non of them has been made        exclusive target of denigration and character assassination. The     history of Hindu  scriptures is full of such characters, but non of them has been either criticized or condemned in comparison to Ravana.

In Rigveda, there are eight verses [Mandal 10,Sukt 125] about one Rishi Vagambhrini, who has been described as sadistic, eccentric and arrogant. Gita is classical example of eccentricity and self-glorification, in which Krishna has exhibited self-elation and self-glorification as many as 375 times. And,        then his role as manipulator par excellence and intriguer in the war of Mahabharta is definitely questionable.

May be, abduction of Sita by Ravana was gross violation of “established norms”, but was it not more or less reflection of provocation ,precipitated by Rama and Laxmana themselves by their arrogant, indecent and uncivilized behavior with Ravana’s sister Sarupnakha. Was expression of love on part of Sarupnakha, for Rama some sort of heinous crime, for which she was not only humiliated but also mutilated? Ravana was still decent and civilized in his behavior with Sita. Even author of Valmiki Ramayan has himself testified said fact: firstly Ravana exhibited respect and honor for the dignity of Sita and deployed only female watch and ward staff  during her captivity and secondly his bold moral declaration to Sita,” despite my extreme carnal desire, I will not even touch you, till there is natural desire in you for me.”[Valmiki Ramayan; Aranyakand,sarg 54/4,15 and Sunderkand,sarg 2/6]. Well known historian R.C.Majmudar ,in his well documented book titled “ancient India “has stated that Ravana definitely exhibited and  followed better moral values than his opponents.[Page 209]. Moreover epic itself testifies that anguish and suffering of Sita was more due to egoistic and male chauvinistic behavior of Rama, rather than revengeful behavior of Ravana. It will be pertinent to point out here that, Rama himself made innocence of Sita ,questionable and doubtful by refusing to accept her even after much publicized Agnipariksha.

And then supposedly, abduction of Sita by Ravana  was an act of indecency and immorality, what about abduction of  Rukmani by Krishna, Subhdra by Arjuna, three daughters [Ambha,Ambhalika and Ambhika] of  Kashiraj by  supposedly great moralist Bhisham Pitamaha? Well, diehard apologists will argue about the married status of Sita and question the morality of Ravana. Anyhow, said abduction is not an case of isolation in Hindu mythological scriptures. As per Bhaghwat  Puran [9/14/4-5], there is episode of  Chanderma Devta [Moon god],who forcibly abducted Tara, wife of his Guru Brahispati,which ultimately resulted in war between Deities and Demons. As per Brahm Vaivrat Puran [part first 49/36-40], Radha, daughter of Vrashbhanu, was married with Rayan, who was brother of  Krishna’s mother Yashudha. Accordingly Radha was maternal aunt [Mami] of Krishna, yet Krishna abducted her own maternal aunt and got ‘ married’ with her in the jungles of Bhandir and his  ‘marriage’ was solemnized by non other than celebrated priest Brahspati [Ibid 15/124]. Sugreev and Vibheshan  are two respected and celebrated characters of Ramayana and  both of them were instrumental in getting their own brothers killed  by Rama. Both of them were traitors of their respective families and country. Their treachery and immoral nexus with Rama against their own kith and kin is definitely questionable and then their act of forcing, widows of Bali and Ravana for marital status lacks moral authority and by any logic cannot be justified. It will be again pertinent here to point out that even Tulsidas, author of Ramcharitmanas, has not justified their immoral acts.[Ramcharitmanas, Balkand].

It is interesting to note here that, Krishna, Chandrama, Vibeshan and Sugreev,have been nowhere denigrated in any scripture and on the contrary accorded respect and honor in socio religious practice and perception. It is beyond any comprehension that why Ravna alone has been made target of selective denigration and character assassination?