Following belongs in a Hinduism thread, but somewhat related to a few things about the christoBritish gap in even remotely 'getting' Hinduism (cf. how other Natural Traditionalists get it):
http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts...view-india.html
<b>A British View of India</b>
Cultural Cataracts
By Jack Hebner
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->During the early days of imperial rule in India, the British received some of their first impressions of India's spiritual culture via their encounters in the holy city of Jagannath Puri â encounters which plunged the British deep into severe cultural shock.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Suddenly, heralded by the blowing of conchshells, the smiling face of Jagannath appears in the doorway of the temple. The crowd stands, jumps, and shouts a welcome praise to the Lord of the universe, "Jagannath kijay! Jagannath kijay! Jagannath kijay!"<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Only the christo-possessed Brits would see in that beautifully cute smiling face something to be afraid of. It's so darling-looking, what could have offended them so?
from the end:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Unfortunately, the British did not have the same visions of Jagannath as did his devotees. Not only did they see something less beautiful and charming but they saw something quite ghastly. <b>Perhaps it was a projection of their own inner natures since it was they who had come to India as conquerors and not as seekers of truth.</b>
The British described Jagannath as "a frightful visage painted black, with a distended mouth of bloody horror." Seeing the grand procession of the Ratha Yatra, the British experienced further disdain and coined the term "juggernaut." This word gradually found its way into the Oxford Dictionary with the meaning "a massive, inexorable force that crushes everything in its path." It could hardly be expected that the British should have immediately fallen in love with Jagannath or worshiped him, but at least they could have investigated the meaning and philosophy behind him. Instead they maligned Jagannath to the world as "a horrible, bloodthirsty idol." Lamentable as it was, the British view of India spread throughout the world, and thus for centuries the real beauty of India's spiritual conceptions remained undiscovered.
But fortunately, we in the Western world are gradually maturing culturally, and are becoming more open-minded and receptive than ever before to learning what India has to offer the West. And Jagannath's big eyes are still beaming, and his wide smile still invites all people to come to Jagannath Puri every year to enjoy the spiritual bliss of the Ratha Yatra. I have seen this festival with my own eyes, and I doubt that I will ever experience anything quite as prodigious and jubilant in my life.
Reprinted from Clarion Call Magazine with permission.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Lovely pictures of the ever-cuddly Jagannath at the link! And of the beautiful Temple, of the masses of people. And closeups of the Bhagavan.
Man, the christobritish simply couldn't see what we see... or even bring up the slightest understanding, or attempt to just accept that we had a different view.
But not my loss, is it. Dead christobritish can keep their non-existent jeebus.
We have Jagannath, the Lord of All.
http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts...view-india.html
<b>A British View of India</b>
Cultural Cataracts
By Jack Hebner
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->During the early days of imperial rule in India, the British received some of their first impressions of India's spiritual culture via their encounters in the holy city of Jagannath Puri â encounters which plunged the British deep into severe cultural shock.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Suddenly, heralded by the blowing of conchshells, the smiling face of Jagannath appears in the doorway of the temple. The crowd stands, jumps, and shouts a welcome praise to the Lord of the universe, "Jagannath kijay! Jagannath kijay! Jagannath kijay!"<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Only the christo-possessed Brits would see in that beautifully cute smiling face something to be afraid of. It's so darling-looking, what could have offended them so?
from the end:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Unfortunately, the British did not have the same visions of Jagannath as did his devotees. Not only did they see something less beautiful and charming but they saw something quite ghastly. <b>Perhaps it was a projection of their own inner natures since it was they who had come to India as conquerors and not as seekers of truth.</b>
The British described Jagannath as "a frightful visage painted black, with a distended mouth of bloody horror." Seeing the grand procession of the Ratha Yatra, the British experienced further disdain and coined the term "juggernaut." This word gradually found its way into the Oxford Dictionary with the meaning "a massive, inexorable force that crushes everything in its path." It could hardly be expected that the British should have immediately fallen in love with Jagannath or worshiped him, but at least they could have investigated the meaning and philosophy behind him. Instead they maligned Jagannath to the world as "a horrible, bloodthirsty idol." Lamentable as it was, the British view of India spread throughout the world, and thus for centuries the real beauty of India's spiritual conceptions remained undiscovered.
But fortunately, we in the Western world are gradually maturing culturally, and are becoming more open-minded and receptive than ever before to learning what India has to offer the West. And Jagannath's big eyes are still beaming, and his wide smile still invites all people to come to Jagannath Puri every year to enjoy the spiritual bliss of the Ratha Yatra. I have seen this festival with my own eyes, and I doubt that I will ever experience anything quite as prodigious and jubilant in my life.
Reprinted from Clarion Call Magazine with permission.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Lovely pictures of the ever-cuddly Jagannath at the link! And of the beautiful Temple, of the masses of people. And closeups of the Bhagavan.
Man, the christobritish simply couldn't see what we see... or even bring up the slightest understanding, or attempt to just accept that we had a different view.
But not my loss, is it. Dead christobritish can keep their non-existent jeebus.
We have Jagannath, the Lord of All.