A book on spiritualism worthy to be chewed and digested

 Pithily written book ‘Dharma, Yoga aur Aadhyatm’ by Supreme Court Advocate Shri Radha Krishna Kumar is indeed like food for thought for each and everyone; regardless of his/her being a deeply religious, non-religious or even an atheist. One is amazed to find the gems of knowledge in the book. It is not merely a painstaking collection of axioms by a researcher, but it reflects the uncanny understanding, nay the subtle practices of dharma and yoga in life by the writer. The book contains four independent chapters. The first one deals with different religions of the world, and the rise of faiths.  The crux of all major religions has been given in the most succinct manner and astonishing style. The description of the Buddhist theory of Pratityasamutpad (cause and effect), Astaang Marg (eightfold path), Panchasheel(five codes of conduct) and four Arya Satya (noble truths) are like eye-openers for the human being steeped in ignorance.

  It may be noted here that births and rebirths have been the foundation of almost all religions except Islam. While Buddhism says that there is sorrow in the world, and there is a reason for it. The sorrow can certainly be overcome because there is a way to it. Jainism tells us that as long as Kashayas (passions) are not eschewed, it is difficult to get Kaivalya (liberation). Those passions are Avidya(ignorance) Krodh(anger) Ahankar (ego or false pride), Maya (illusion) and Lobha (Greed). More or less, the same canon has been said or propounded by all indigenous religions.

  The second chapter is centred on Yoga and its different forms like Bhakti Yoga, Gyan Yoga and Karma Yoga as preached by Lord Krishna, enunciated by rishis like Patanjali and Kapil. There is no dichotomy between Gyan Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Goswami Tulsidas was of the view that human being was a mere puppet. So, he/she must make total surrender to God, but it is not so easy. Lord Krishna says: Chanchalam hi manah krishna pramathi balvaddridham. Tasyaham nigraham manye vayoriv sududskaram i.e. mind is very fickle but determined and strong. Therefore, to control the mind is as difficult as controlling the air. Sant Kabir says: ‘Man ke mate na chaliye, man ke mate anek. Jo man par aswar hai, soi sadhu koi ek’. (Do not go by the dictates of mind because it is very capricious, and only rarest of the rare can keep the mind under control’).

  The third chapter is on the Aadhyatm or spiritualism. It has navigated us through the Saguna and Nirgun form of God, which exists in every scintilla of the creation. Sant Kabir has rightly said: ‘jaise til men tel hai, jyon chakmak men aag, tera sai Tujh men hai, jaan sake to jaan’ (As oil is found in seeds, stone has fire in itself, similarly God is within you, so He needs to be realised). A person performs his Karmas(deeds) in three ways namely;mun, vachan and sharir (mind, words and body). While good deeds change the fortune of the person for good, bad karma spoils his/her fate. The writer has explained the etymological meaning of the word ‘GURU’. ‘Gu’ stands for darkness and ‘Ru’ means remover. Thus, one who removes the darkness and enlightens life is a real Guru.    

  The fourth chapter contains 18 spiritual stories. The very first story and the best among all (in my consideration) narrates the reality of life. The gist of the story is that a person while going to the town had to pass through difficult terrain and dense forests.  On his way, at some distance, he found a mound of bones. He thought that any violent animal must have killed all those travellers who passed through the intractable path. To his surprise, he found that a lion was chasing a man. The man jumped on a banyan tree. The lion also climbed on the tree. Then he saw that a rope was suspended with the tree towards the deep lake, and the man caught hold of the rope. There were two crocodiles in the lake waiting for the man to fall to devour him because the rope was being nibbled by two rats. In the meantime, he started enjoying the drops of sweat and delicious honey falling in his mouth.

Then a person in the crowd quipped how foolish he was. Upon it, Lord Buddha smiled and said it was none but you and explained that mounds of bones exemplify the mortality of human beings. Lion denotes Yamraj (the God of death). Two crocodiles were like two enemies- lust and anger. Two rats were day and night busy in shortening their life. Drops of honey were like momentary pleasure. Therefore, the human being must come out of ignorance to realise the realities.

  The absorbing book has been written in a very lucid style. However, there are some printing and spelling mistakes causing eyesores.

 

 

 

Law to Weed out Touts is Inadequate and Needs to be Done More

The presence of touts is ubiquitous in any court, be it district, High Court or even the Supreme Court. Why only courts- this is a common sight of any government office dealing with the public. So much so, even in the hospitals, touts rule the roost. Police stations remain hovered by the touts all the time. Even an FIR cannot be lodged without the help of the touts. As far as the courts are concerned, touts are found on all their gates itself. Many advocates depend on them because it is they who bring cases to them and in return get good commissions. Many touts have their own independent offices, and they operate by giving a façade of computer operators or typists. That is why, the Advocate Amendment Bill 2023 passed by Parliament the other day is a welcome law.

   Verily speaking, the judicial system is swamped with touts. The definition of tout that has been given in the new Advocates (Amendment) Bill of 2023 is ‘ a person, who procures, in consideration of any remuneration moving from any legal practitioner, the employment in any legal business.’ It further says that ‘who for such procurement frequents the precincts of Civil or Criminal Courts or revenue-offices, or railway stations, landing stages, lodging places or other places of public resort.’ The need for bringing in changes in India’s judicial administration was felt immediately after independence. The Law Commission was tasked with preparing a report on reforms. In its 249th Report titled ‘Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal’, the Commission recommended repealing the 1879 Act. Additionally, the All-India Bar Committee made its recommendations on the subject in 1953. Taking these into account, the 1961 Act was passed.

  However, this Amendment is inadequate unless the judges and advocates come forward to root this out, it will be highly impossible to get rid of this disease. The new provision, Section 45A, states that the Bill enables every HC and district judge to frame and publish lists of touts. However, no person’s name will be included in any such list until they have had an opportunity to show cause against such inclusion. Further, any authority empowered to make lists of alleged or suspected touts can send them to any subordinate court, which, after holding an inquiry into the conduct of such persons, will allow them an opportunity to show cause. After this, the lower court will report back to the authority ordering the inquiry. If proven to be a tout, the person’s name will be included in the list of touts that will be published by the authority and hung in every court. The court or judge may exclude any person whose name is included in any such list from the court’s vicinity. Additionally, this provision punishes anyone acting as a tout ‘while his name is included in any such list’ with imprisonment up to three months, a fine that may extend to five hundred rupees or both.

  Touts are, in fact, all-pervasive. They are present at the houses and offices of ministers/ politicians, who not only make money but also allow the touts to make money due to their influence and proximity to powerful politicians. The names of the touts can be published by the courts but what about touts who are Ll. B degree holders and work in the garb of advocates? These people work as middle persons for the judges and the advocates, which is monetarily and mutually beneficial to both. It may sound strange, but it is a fact that touts are operating even at the famous temples, and they swoop on pilgrims at the bus stations, inside the trains and railway stations or near the temples.

  Apart from the effective laws, what is needed is general awareness among the people. The administration has to have determination and necessary firmness in dealing with the pests of touts. But then the administration itself will have to cure itself from the infection of touts. If the senior advocates and judges do not show any leniency towards touts, more than half the problem will be automatically solved.

 The decision of the government to repeal all obsolete and superfluous laws, which have lost their utility, which is often used by insensitive officers is also a welcome step. In the process, more than one thousand laws have already been abrogated but hundreds more need to be consigned.