India's geo-political and strategic options in next 15 years...

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Until India is militarily capable of handling Terrorist state of Pakistan (TSP) and People's republic of China (PRC) simultaneously, US should and will stay in the Afghanistan. Of course, I am not claiming that they will stay for us, they have their own reasons. 

India is in amidst of modernising the army, navy and air-force. She would be ready by 2020. It is my guess that if current trends continue, India will try and avoid getting in any hassles till 2020 AD. My gut feelings say, it will be between 2020-2025 that India will be ready to exercise her hard-power to solve her problems to their logical ends.

Until then, the West and TSP will suffer attrition. Somehow, from current responses of India, it seems that she is not sure about her capabilities. In case of war, it should be and perhaps will be an all-out war with defeat and assimilation of Pakistan, completely or substantially. Pakistan has nothing to lose right now, whereas India has achieved quite a lot. Until we develop a technology to comprehensively protect everything that we have achieved, we won't go for direct war. 

The policies and measures needed to be implemented in the process of readying India for her launch as global power are -

* Rural empowerment so that many people can stay in villages and earn respectably - (helpful in case of nuclear war) - India and Hinduism have historically been de-centralized entities. The village makes up the fundamental structural and functional unit of Indian civilization even today. If villages in most of India are provided with 24x7 electricity supply, investment in sustainable and renewable energy sources in rural India, access to water for drinking and irrigation, Roads and education, banking, insurance, basic consumer goods (FMCGs) rural India will fuel the growth of nation at much faster pace than world could ever imagine. 

For the sake of record, it must be known that for 4800 years out of 5000 years of Indian history, India has been among the largest of all economies in world. India lost her prosperity when institution of village was destroyed by British. This needs to be reversed. This is where vision of Gandhi regarding village empowerment can do miracles.

Also, since the population will be scattered around, there won't be many casualties in case of nuclear fall-out. Also, the burden on cities like Mumbai will decrease a bit and economy won't be hit as badly as it will be now.

* Navy strong enough to assert dominance over Indian ocean - From Malacca to Hormuz/Suez. Atleast 4 aircraft carriers, 5 SSBN's required. Army strong enough to assert dominance over entire Indian subcontinent. It should be made clear to everybody that nobody can display their dominance in South Asia except India. USSR respected that when they invaded Afghanistan. USA needs to respect the influence of India on Indian subcontinent and Indian ocean, without which there can't be trustworthy Indo-US strategic relationship. Indian ocean and Indian subcontinent belongs to India.

* Functional missile defence shield with extensive coverage.

* Functional coverage of Indian navigational satellites (IRNSS) over entire Indian subcontinent - From Afghanistan to Myanmar.

* Ability to strike first with conventional weapons and strike hard in blitzkreig fashion of warfare so that Terrorist state of Pakistan (TSP) never gets a chance to retaliate. Ability to destroy most of its military infrastructure in a simultaneous strike on an unprecedented scale. Something like 2000 missiles (mixture of prithvi, agni, and others) with huge conventional bombs launched for different military and strategic destinations simultaneously immediately followed up by massive air strikes and infantry and marine invasions.

* Complete operationalisation of MCA, FGFA, LCA-mk2, GTRE-Kaveri and her subsequent improved versions, F-INSAS, and other programs which are still in pipeline.

* RAW functioning in subcontinent with at least 90% efficiency of Mossad and/or CIA with extensive network in Baloochistan, Afghanistan, Sindh, Myanmar, BD and Nepal.

* Increased covert operations by RAW in TSP by selective elimination of high-value people of Taliban, Al Qaida, ISI and their subsidieries.

* Reformation in Indic religions and assimilation of Islam into mainstream Indic society. This is expecting too much in such short time, but at least the awareness should be present among Hindus about the need of assertion of Hindu identity.

* Meanwhile, heavy investment in friendship with Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Vietnam. Creation of sufficient good-will for India in Northern Afghanistan and Myanmar. Increasing the bilateral ties with Vietnam. There was a plan of Vajpayee government to build a railway-line from New-Delhi to Hanoi. I guess, that would be an excellent means of increasing presence and influence of India in south-east Asia. Liberal use of her soft-power in Afghanistan to make afghans and Iranians perceive Indians as good guys with power. 

* Gradually increasing exertion of power by Saam, Daam, Danda and Bheda in Nepal and Bangladesh.

I guess, until objectives somewhat similar to these are met, India will avoid starting an all-out war with Pakistan. I guess looking at current rate of development, India will be ready by 2020. Hence time is running out for Pakistan and China to lure India into open combat when she is not ready. India should keep on building up her powers and inhibit the growth of Pakistan by maintaining a constant pressure. This is ensured by US presence in Afghanistan. They won't be able to solve the problem because they do not know what the problem is. If trends continue, they will continue to be present in Afghanistan for at least 10-12 more years and continue to suffer slow attrition. But, they will buy India precious time.

Analogy - It is like small bunch of honey-bees trying to sting a running elephant with thick skin. The elephant is India and the bees are militants and bee-hive is TSP. Know that when bee stings, she dies. India can sustain few more cuts before we grow large enough to eat the bee-hive and drink the honey. Meanwhile, bees are growing weak. Just that, we are being followed by a dragon (PRC) who is protective towards bee-hive but does not care about bees. The only interest of dragon is to keep bee-hive intact so that it can produce enough bees to trouble elephant, not more, not less. Hence, before elephant chooses to finish off the hive, it is practical enough for elephant to get stronger so that in case dragon thinks thrice before acting out in defence of hive. And even if dragon chooses to act, elephant is strong enough to resist any such attempts and repeal dragon out of its backyard. Furthermore, dragon is not problem-free. Its own backyard is full of problems and potential friends of the elephant. Elephant should be friends with distressed neighbours of the dragon.

Meanwhile, Eagle (USA) is wary of growing dragon and is pissed off by some stinger bees. Hence, the giant eagle is near bee-hive to fight the bees, but not bee-hive. Although the bee-eating rate of Eagle is ferocious, more bees it eats, more are still produced from Bee-hive. I guess, eagle will take time to learn that problem is the hive, and not bees. Eagle can't finish the hive without elephant but elephant demands or will demand larger share, rather complete share, since, there is no place for Eagle there.

Then there are Fox and Bear (Iran and Russia) waiting anxiously and are friendly towards elephant, but not towards Eagle. 

The point is, there are so many other forces acting in this complex web of vested interests. Elephant is just one node of that complex web. The vector sum of all these forces will determine the coming world order. India has the right direction, but needs to increase its magnitude tremendously, so that it influences the resulting vector sum in its favour. TSP is a pawn. Its not just about capturing pawn, its about capturing it in such way that establishes complete dominance of India in subcontinent and Indian ocean.

I only hope that India has better leadership in next 10 years, unlike Manmohan Singh. I guess, this will be the last chance India will get to rise to the position of her former glory. If we mess these 10 years, we will be doomed to suffer for next few centuries.

When NATO leaves Afghanistan after 15-20 years...

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What will happen when this ongoing war on terror ends? When will it end? Will it end with division and disintegration of Pakistan and subsequent removal of NATO forces from the region? Will it really end so easily? These are difficult question which have evolved from complex interrelations amongst history, philosophy, religion and sociology over at least a thousand years. Hence, to ponder upon the possible solution to this problem from Indian point of view, one needs to understand the influence of sociology and religion on history of India in past 1400 years.

The Dharmic religions have been the peculiarity of Indian sociology. Irrespective of their faith in Vedas, all of them emphasize on attainment of Dharma (Righteousness/Duty/Basic nature), Artha, Kaama and Moksha/nirvana as the key to a successful life. The rewards associated with this life or the next one, are based upon the the theory of Karma, which again is common in all of the Indian paths.

It is interesting to note the trends in Indian history with respect to Islam -its arrival and its demise from the place of socio-political supremacy in India. Before arrival of Islam, it is worth noting that Indian philosophical scenario was in particular dominated by agnostic and atheistic philosophies. Of course, theism was also prominently found as Bhakti movement traces its origin in 500 AD in Tamil Nadu's Alvar saints. However, agnostic and atheist philosophies were also very much popular amongst Indian intellectuals. For example, Saamkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Buddhism, Jain and others were the major atheist/agnostic philosophies in pre-Islamic India. Vaishnava and Shaiva and Shakta were major theist philosophies dominant in India. So was Tantra, which is difficult to categorize as it has the elements of both.

From 640 AD, Arabs started invading India and were defeated continuously for about 70 years until the successful incursion of Mohd bin Qasim. Even after Arab occupation of Sindh in 711, Islam was defeated continuously for about 300 years by the chain of Rajput Kings of western India. This was achieved not only by the means of victories on battle fields, but also on sociological arena by facilitating the conversion of neo-converts of Islam back to Indian religions, by rulers such as Bappa Rawal and scholars such as Deval Rishi and Bhashyakaar Medhatithi. Thus, it was an all round retaliation which successfully defeated Arabs. It must be noted that it was at the Zenith of Arab conquests when Indians defeated them. 

Meanwhile, an extremely interesting sociological shift is seen in Indian society with rise of Adi Shankaracharya. This man single handedly defeated all the atheistic and agnostic philosophies, both Astika (believers in Vedas - Samkhya, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Vaisheshika) and Nastika (non-believers in Vedas - Buddhism, Jain). There is seen a significant shift in psyche of Indian intellectuals and subsequently Indian population towards theism from 800 AD. As a part of weird co-incidence, this shift actually helped in clubbing different Indian religions and philosophies together and unknowingly facilitating in equipment of Indian society to Islamic onslaught which began in 1100's with Ghurid incursions. It is to be noted that although Mehmud of Ghazni invaded India, he did not cause much damage since his son was conclusively defeated by Rajputs in battle of Bahraich in 1033 AD. The converts were again taken back to Indian religions which had become more God-Centred by then, thanks to efforts of Adi Shankara. Muslims could not invade India for about 160 years after their defeat at Bahraich and subsequent reconversion of most of the converts back to Indian faiths.

Thus we see a pattern here. Just before Indian mainland was hit by Islam, Adi Shankara revolutionized Indian sociology and increased the importance of the concepts like God, Faith, and overall theist belief in India, giving a back seat to Free-Rationalism seen in India. Which is corroborated by the fact that when Islamic supremacy was removed in India, the reformist movements sprung up which worked in order to shift the Hindu people away from extreme faith and encouraged free-rationalism. I consider this as fortunate coincidence which helped immensely in saving the identity of India. In medieval times, theism helped a lot in rallying Hindus in the name of god against Islamic invaders. Those people who remained atheists like Buddhists from NWFP and eastern bengal, were converted en masse to Islam, thus changing the demographics of the region permanently. The effect of which was seen in 1947 as partition of India.

The problem of Islam has to be dealt with in similar fashion, but with new modifications in Indian religions. The shift away from faith and towards free rationalism is essential as it will keep the Indian society free and progressive. At the same time, sharp display of allegiance towards Indian religions by Hindus should be shown in order to encourage the assimilation of Muslims in Indian system of religions. The assimilation of Indian muslims in mainstream Hindu society should be encouraged as, philosophically, there is no problem for a Islamic core philosophy to be practised in India AS LONG AS IT IS KEPT STRICTLY PERSONAL. Indian religions by default at secular. 

For good or for evil, the moment when NATO decides to leave Afghanistan, the situation would be extremely serious in India. Given the current political and cultural instability of GOI and Hinduism respectively, the primary response of India towards the problem of Pakistan will be that of profound confusion as it is today. I guess, since India and Hindus do not have answer towards solving the problem of Pakistan and Islam respectively in subcontinent, their current reaction is instinctively based upon buying as much time as they can and wishing maximum possible infliction of damage on Pakistan by NATO. I guess, if NATO stays in Pak-Afghan region for 12-15 years more (which most probably they will), they will end up exhausting and squandering most of their wealth and lots of their men in the region. 

The direct beneficiaries of this scenario will be China and Islamic world and in weird way, India. I consider this situation similar to one in deccan in late 1600's when 27 year long Deccan conquest of Aurangjeb ended up weakening Mughal empire and strengthening Marathas. Now, who will play the role similar to the one which Marathas played in 1700's is matter of great interest. 

One thing for sure, if NATO forces are unsuccessful in defeating taliban in Pakistan-Afghanistan region (which most probably they will, since they are yet to clearly identify their enemy), even if they succeed in fracturing and dividing Pakistan, the devastation caused by them will be a catalyst for the formation of new Islamic state which will be modelled upon the Caliphate. Taliban is a movement, an ideology which cannot be defeated by weapons alone. It has to be tackled by ideas, a crucial point which is missing in the apparent War On Terror by the West. Without participation of India, West cannot win in south Asia. And India cannot win unless Hinduism finds a way of successfully assimilating the Muslims in the subcontinent. This process will take at least 60-80 years, perhaps more but definitely not less.

India and Islamic federation backed up by China, both might have a fair chance to rise over the ruins of defeated West, just like Marathas rose on the ruins of Mughals. The odds will be in favour of Caliphate, given the laziness of Indians. However, if by then Indian religions find a satisfactory answer for assimilation of muslims in mainstream Indian society ending their alienation, India will rise for sure.

The direct consequence of battle of Rajasthan (Rajputs Vs Arabs) and simultaneous rise of Adi Shankara on India was 400 years of complete stability, prosperity and independence to India. India's only hope is to deliver a similar performance again.

The Theory of Yoga

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The theory of Yoga is almost same as Samkhya.. If Vedanta and Saamkhya is theory, then Yoga is Practical.. Knowledge, IMHO, can't be attained by any one single approach. This is the opinion of all the Astika schools.

Yog literally means Union.. It extensively deals with psychology and training which mind and body needs to be given for achievement of supreme knowledge.

It is defined as controlling the tendencies of Mind. (Yog: Chitta Vritti Nirodh:). Control need not necessarily mean oppression. Some times in some conditions, some tendencies need to be over-expressed. So it is relative, and should be governed by Dharma (righteousness and Duty, more fittingly basic nature, in terms of Yoga).

When, tendencies of mind are controlled, the characteristics of mind which is governed by Prakriti of three characteristics slowly change to neutral state of mind. This is called the process of going back towards birth (Prati-Prasava) of these tendencies.

eg. If a person gets angry too often, trying to get rid of this quality by suppressing anger is illogical. Instead, slowly, the quality is taken towards its birth. Finding out the root cause of why one gets angry, and trying to work on the cause. Slowly, the intensity of anger will reduce and eventually vanish. Thus, one Characteristic of the given mind is controlled. Similarly to all characteristics.

When all the characteristics of mind are controlled, person attains a state where the mind and the ego are dissolved. Because, Mind and Ego are said to be characteristics made up by Prakriti and Purusha. 

Hence, a seedless state of mind (Nirbeej Samadhi) is attained, where the existence of individual as mind, intellect, and separate identity vanishes and he becomes Kaivalya or Singularity. This is state of Liberation or Moksha - Liberation from one'e mind, body, intellect and even a sense of separate individual existence.

Kaivalya is not same as Ishwara.

Thus we see, Samkhya, Yoga and Vedanta are mutually complementary to each other and belief in God does not matter. There are plenty of complications, though..

The aim of Samkhya-Yoga is to transcend the universe made up of Purush and prakriti made up of trigunas.

Not only the universe, but mind (manas), Intellect (buddhi), Ego as in sense of self (Ahamkar or Atman) are in the domain of tri-guNas. Samkhya-Yoga aims at attaining the stage of Kaivalya where the Sanskaras (attributes) of Prakriti-Purusha at all stages be dissolved.

Maanas to be dissolved in Buddhi.. Buddhi in Ahamkaar... and ahamkaar in Kaivalya...

Ishwar praNidhaan or Bhakti is one of the way of controlling the mind.. Ishwara of Patanjali is more about a psychological measure to control rein-free mind. Nothing more.. The PraNidhaan of Ishwar won't give you Moksha.. What is gained is stability of mind..

Instead of Ishwara, one can do praNidhaana/bhakti on donkey or whatever... controlling random thoughts by focussing on one thought is the concept... Donkey will give you peace of mind, if used as prescribed by Patanjali...

Controlled mind is essential for DharaNa (framework of mind for meditation)...Accomplished DhaaraNa is essential for Dhyaan (meditation) - Dhyaan is concentrating on one Desha (region or idea, nothing/Shunya)...When Dhyaan is accomplished, we experience Samaapatti (Samadhi). Samadhi is state where mind is in unison with subject of meditation. ..Samadhi gives some thing creative to seeker. Hence it depends upon what subject he chooses to meditate upon.

If subject is based on Tarka (logic), it is first stage of Samadhi.... If subject is based on Vichaara (thought/idea), which is refined form of Tarka, we attain second stage..... Samadhi without Vichaara is Nirvichaara Samadhi OR Sananda samadhi where person experiences bliss...

Beyond Saanand is Sam-Pragnyaat samadhi which involved awakening of Pragnaa, an intellectual faculty of mind. In common lingo, the MOMENT when an ORIGINAL IDEA strikes to a person, is the moment of 4th stage of samadhi.... Fifth stage is when a person attains Samadhi without having a need to entertain a thought in mind or intellect. This is one of the higher stages. 

However, this is not the highest. In all these stages, Prakriti is involved. In fifth stage, person is in unison with his SELF or ahamkaar or Aatman...

But this seed of "I" as separate identity still lingers.. Hence all these samadhis are known as Sabeej Samadhi (one with seed of identity). When a seeker's karma-vipaak is burnt, that is, when he has either nullified or experienced all his Karma, he attains the supreme Samadhi where this seed is lost. This is known as Nirbeej samadhi (Seedless Samadhi)....

What remains then, is Kaivayla...Singularity... person ceases to exist as separate ego and becomes Singularity...

Phylogenetic Clustering of Indian Philosophies

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Phylogenetic Clustering of Indian philosophical schools: 

They originate from same culture and parent civilization. Hence, although they amongst themselves are different belief systems, they belong to same family and share lot of characteristics with each other. Lets perform a phylogenetic assessment of Indian religions. 

Shaiva and Vaishnava are different belief systems. however, they both accept the Vedic philosophy and authority. Although different religions, they belong to same family and are comparatively very close to each other, as compared to say Buddhism and Vaishnavism. Buddhism and Shaiva, although different belief systems, are comparatively very close to each other when compared to Buddhism and Islam.

Its like Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Humans, belong to same family and are genetically very close to each other. In fact, almost 98% of genetic similarity between chimps and humans. But, remaining 2 percent makes them different species. Hence they are clubbed under the family name of Hominidae. On the other hand, Tiger belongs to feline (Cat) family and is very far away from Hominids in terms of genetics. Even amongst the family Hominidae, Humans are more closer to Chimps than they are to gorillas. 

Similarly, Shaiva is more closer to Vaishnava, than it is to say Buddhism. Each of them are different species, but yet, we have such clusters on basis of common characters. This is not possible between a Cheetah and Orang-utan, just like it is not possible to cluster Jainism and Christianity.

Furthermore, if we extend this logic - say if an intelligent lion enters territory of hominids for the first time, with intent of conquest, he will identify everybody with similar characters as one group. Although if he is smart enough he will observe the difference between Human and chimp, but, since him aim is conquest and all of them are his enemies, he will cluster them as hominids :-

Just like Islam clubbed Indian religions as Hindu, simplicity for persecution.

There was no need for clustering between Humans, Chimps, Gorillas, Orang-utans, Bonobos when they were living amongst themselves. Everybody knew and identified their own kind. It was only after the encounter with member from whole different family, who came with intent of conquest and conversion of ape land to cat-land, did this necessity arise.

There were other conquerors like Greeks, Kushans, Huns, Scythians, they came, they won, lost, got assimilated in one of the many philosophical schools of India eventually. Muslims came to change the identity of the India as Islamic land, not just to cherry-pick India's wealth. Hence need of clustering. 

However, in retrospect, that makes sense, because, all the species of Ape land are in fact very close to each other and have similar genetic and behavioural patterns in some respect and different in some other respect.Hence when comparing with members of other families, it makes sense to treat them as one family, instead of separate species, because, there are so many of different species of Hindu religions, that it just becomes too complex if we treat this at species level.

Hence the term Hindu religions OR Dharmic religions. Hindu denotes a family, not a individual species which is has name as the family in modern times. Hindu is synonymous to Indian in Persian.

Better understanding of evolution will tell that this is simplification to have better resolution of extreme complexity. The differences between Saamkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Shaiva, Vaishnava, Buddhism, Jainism and others are too subtle for a crude eye of an outsider to understand. Furthermore, all these school of thoughts, started as intellectual movement by a person or group of person having a different take on nature of universe, but coming from same background. Buddha himself was a Kshatriya and by that standards, he must have learnt Vedas and other vedic philosophy existing prior to him in his formative years. Same is the case with Mahavir. Using this education, they built a different opinion about universe. 

Hence the similarities. Differences are due to their different takes on the issue.

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya

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Brahma satyam, jagat mithya is one of the hallmarks of Adi shankara's philosophy. The usage of jagat being Mithya is later, an addition by Adi Shankara. There is reference of the world being referred to as a MithyA entity by any of his predecessors.

The meaning of this popular phrase is beautifully enfolded when we look at the acutual meanings of the term involved. The terms involved in the phrase are-

Brahman - ब्रह्मन - literally, it means one which expands.

Brahman is the most fundamental physical entity which makes up universe.Using modern physical terms as an analogy, it can be said that quantum fields which is hypothesized to make up everything in universe is Brahman. Now quantum fields may or may not be brahman.If it is proven that quatum fields do make up everything in this world including space-time and dimensions then it will be proven that quantum field is Brahman.If not, then perhaps there something even more fundamental in this universe than quantum fields.

It was just that they expected, just like modern physicists, universe is madeup of some fundamental entity. Indian philosophers did not inquire into the physical nature of that fundamental entity. Practically, it was impossible as they were bronze age people with bronze age technology. Hence they simply named this expected fundamental physical entity as Brahman, without inquiring much about its nature.

Satyam - one which is eternal, changeless and existent

Jagat (Universe/World)- This is an interesting term to think upon.

Jagat - Ja + Ga

Ja - jaayate (to arise, originate, born)

ga - gamana: - ga - (one which goes/moves or changes)

It means, one which is born (janana) out of gati (speed/change) is Jagata: That is Universe is said to have come into existent due out of constant change.

Mithya - has word root as 'Mith'. This is the most interesting and illuding term on this phrase.

As given by Apte Sanskrit Online dictionary, Mith - to associate with; to unite; to hurt; to understand; to wrangle; to grasp

Thus, when we apply these meanings to the phrase Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya, following meanings are deduced.

1) Brahman is existent, jagat is associated (with Brahman)

2) Brahman is Existent, jagat is united (with Brahman)

3) Brahman is existent, jagat is hurt (does not make sense)

4) Brahman is existent, jagat is understood by (brahman)

5) Brahman is existent, jagat is wrangled/tended/herded (by brahman) (wrangle = to herd, to tend)

6) Brahman is existent, jagat is grasped by brahman

The popular translation of Brahman is truth and world is false is in fact a disbelief.I guess the word root Mith which makes up the word MithyA, is also the word root for Mithuna and Maithuna (sexual intercourse), which again is related to union or being associated with.

When translated all the words, the phrase becomes-

"That one which originates/exists due to constant change (jagat) is associated with/United with/being tended by (mithyA) Brahman which is changeless existence (satya) - Brahma Satyam, jagat MithyA..."

There is one more meaning of word MithyA - to be made up/ to fall in place. 

Perhaps the word Mith is originated from same Proto-Indo-European ancestor which also makes up the greek word (mythos). Mythos also means to be made up. From Mythos comes Mythology. 

When applied this meaning, the phrase translates as

"That which arises out of change (jagat) is a phenomenon of things falling in place/made up, where as Brahman is changeless existence."

There is a catch though. This meaning is not corroborated from any online sanskrit dictionary, but I distinctly remember reading it in some authentic source. 

Furthermore, the interpretation of word Mithya determines whether a person is advaitin OR dvaitin OR vishishtadvaitin.

If Mithya is taken as United, then a person is advaitin (brahman and jagat are united and satya).  This is in sync with Sarvam Khalu Idam Brahma (everything that exists is Brahman)

If mithya is takes as association, then the person is vishishtadvaitin. (brahman is satya and jagat is associated with satya, but not completely satya). 

If mithya is taken as wrangled (to tend), then, he becomes a dvaitin (brahman is satya, jagat is being wrangled/tended/herded (by brahman)). Here, World is being herded by the separate herder that is God.

Thus we can see, differential interpretation of this phrase by Shankara eventually ends up in conjuring vastly different world views towards life and universe. I pay my homage to great genious, Adi Shankaracharya...