Excellent website on Brahmoism

Excellent website on Brahmoism

Brahmo Samaj, Brahmoism
A Brahmo web resource devoted to History of the Brahmo Samaj and development of modern Brahmoism with reference to evolution of its main branches the Adi Brahmo Samaj and the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.

Brahmo Samaj FAQ Frequently asked Questions
Q1. Is Brahmoism a religion or a philosophy? Can one adopt Brahmoism whilst retaining one's current faith.
Brahmoism is a religion. The philosophy behind Brahmoism is "Brahmo Dharma". Any person who believes that there is only one infinite "God" can "follow" Brahmoism by subscribing to membership of a "Brahmo Samaj" while retaining their own religion.

Brahmo Samaj Prime Principle
Simple Version[On God:] There is always Infinite Singularity - immanent and transcendant Singular Author and Preserver of Existence - He who is manifest everywhere and in everything, in the fire and in the water, in the smallest plant to the mightiest oak.

Brahmo Samaj - The Articles of Faith
Brahmo Samaj embraces righteousness as the only way of life.
Brahmo Samaj embraces truth, knowledge, reason, free will and virtuous intuition (observation) as guides.

Brahmo Samaj - The Trust Deed of 1830
Trust Deed of ADI BRAHMO SAMAJ
THIS INDENTURE made the eighth-day of January, in the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred and thirty,
BETWEEN
DWARKANAUTH TAGORE of Jorasankoe in the Town of Calcutta Zumeendar,
KALEENAUTH ROY of Burranugar in the Zillah of Havelly in the suburbs of Calcutta aforesaid Zumeendar,

Brahmo Samaj, Brief History & Time Line
[1828 :] Raja Ram Mohun Roy establishes Brahma Sabha (assembly of Brahmins).
[1829 :] Asiatic Society admits the first Indian natives to its membership, the first of whom are Dwarkanath Tagore and Prasanna Coomar Tagore.
[1830 :] Dwarkanath Tagore, Prasanna Coomar Tagore and Ors. establish the first Brahmo Place for Worship through a legal Trust Deed at Chitpur (Jorasanko Kolkatta India). Ram Mohun departs for Britain.

Brahmo Samaj, True Brahmoism
1) Brahmoism is the highest form of Hinduism, and is so very different from what passes for Hinduism today that Brahmos consider themselves to be "beyond the pale of Hinduism" and a separate religion altogether.
2) A "True" Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of ll other religions, or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his faith.

Brahmo Samaj, Did God create matter?
God did not "create" matter, God is matter just as God is equally energy. God created the universe and all the worlds within. Before God there was nothing except Chaos which is still all-pervasive. God sprang from Chaos.

History of the Brahmo Samaj
In order to make the Brahmo Samaj a body of men believing in the One God and worshipping Him in truth and spirit only, Devendra Nath drew up a Brahmo convenant containing a number of vows enjoining the renunciation of idolatry, the worship of the One Only in the Vedanta and the practice of virtue. God as described Devendra Nath himself took the lead in being initiated into Brahmoism by Ram Chandra Vidyabagish by signing this Covenant in Dec. 1843 ; twenty of his friends followed him in this new and momentous departure, Thus was formed the nucleus of a Brahmo community; and by 1874 the number of covenanted Brahmos rose to 767.

The Brahmo Conference Organisation
(Sammilan) was founded on 27 January 1881 at Mymensingh in Bangladesh. It is the inter-faith organisation between the Brahmos of Adi Dharma and some from Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. The stated objectives for founding the organisation are to "achieve purity in Brahmoism" by

Resolving the differences between the 2 existing Brahmic divisions of Adiism and Sadharanism,

Preaching from every platform that the Nabobidhan (a dissenting sect - also known as "New Dispensation") is not the Brahmo religion but totally opposed to Brahmoism.

Adi Brahmo Samaj
As left by Raja Ram Mohan Roy the Samaj was really nothing more than a mere platform, where men of various creeds met from time to time to listen to the hymns and sermons. By joining it nothing was lost, nothing incurred, nothing pledged. Indeed, there were not a few who would attend the service at the Samaj in the morning and worship idols at home in the evening, thus showing that they had never really grasped the meaning of spiritual devotion.
Hence, in the year 1839, DebendraNath a started the Tattvabodhini Sabha, or Truth-teaching Society, and established various schools at different places, so that young men might be trained for national service in the Adi Brahmo Samaj and to propogate the spiritual researches of Raja Rammohun Roy.

Brahmoism, Genetics and memetics
Brahmoism, and information, is transmitted in at least 2 ways. Genetically or memetically. The human "genome" today has around 3 or 4 billion components (DNA / RNA etc pairs). It was the Tattwabodhini under young Master Hemendranath (founder of modern True Brahmoism) to whom were revealed the secrets of the human genome in about 1861. The power of this revelation transformed Brahmoism and also split it asunder and caused the Tattwabodhini (and its secrets) to go underground. Brahmanism is not an acquired trait, it is acquired genetically and reinforced memetically.

Brahmo Samaj and Christianity
This has reference to a remark made by one of the members of the group saying that Bangalore Samaj has fallen into the hands of property dealers and godless Christians like Global Christian Network. The fact is that Bangalore Brahmo Samaj had got itself registered under the Foreign Exchange Control Act way back in 1983 to receive a small contribution of Rs. 25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) from the Social Service Network of International Association for Religious Freedom. It is false to say that heavy donations were received from foreign Christian Aid Organizations to convert Schedule Caste in Karnataka to Christianity.

Nature of "True Brahmoism
"True Brahmos abhor any kind of image worship."
"True Brahmos respect the 1830 Trust deed of the Samaj which forbids the admission of any graven work, painting, sculpture or image etc. into the premises"

Adi Brahmo Samaj on caste
Brahmos constitute a "clan". Being a minority, preservation of the distinctive identity of the clan is paramount. Caste within the clan is almost always patriachal, so a female Brahmo Brahmin who marries a Brahmo Kayasth becomes a Brahmo "Kayasth" . If somebody is admitted to the clan (say by Brahmo wedding, marriage or adoption) then equivalency of caste enters the picture to safeguard the clan.

"True Brahmo" principles
a) Declaring a firm belief in ONE GOD. The True Brahmo conception of "God" is quite different from most other religions which have a Supreme Creator who created everything. Brahmos do not worship "The Author and Preserver" as "God". For us there is only "the One without a Second" what we nowadays describe as "Singularity" - a point where the infinite folds back onto itself to generate "innumerable infinities" - being thereby both immanent *and* transcendant and where all laws of science breakdown.
b) Declaring that one will abide by the Brahmo articles of faith.* These are not "blind faith" articles to be followed like a robut automaton. Brahmoism is now a very scientific religion, well grounded in doctrine after centuries of theological struggle against some of the world's largest religions. Our doctrine is the result of consensus of many ordinary people and a few brilliant individuals. We do not believe in revelations from God to be imposed by "Adesh" as "God's will" through his "chosen messengers.

Salvation in Brahmo Samaj
As is very well known Satyendranath Tagore was a close associate of Keshab and also a Freemason like Keshab. After Satyendranath sided with Keshub during the troubles of 1866 and Hemendranath took over from him, all neo-Christian, Unitarian and Masonic doctrines were exorcised from Brahmoism by Debendranath (and Hemendranath), as Sastri has recorded himself in his History.

When Keshab founded Nababidhan, Satyendranath's composed hymns on salvation were adapted in the Vaisnav sankirtan manner as Sastri records at Page 222.

"To grant salvation the merciful God has sent his new faith of Brahmoism. Lo ! the gates of salvation are wide open. He calls one and all, entrance through his gate is free ; no one ever returns disappointed; the rich and the poor, the wise and the ignorant, all are equally welcome there."

Anusthanic Brahmos, Ananusthnic Brahmo Samaj
In 1902, the Highest Appellate Court of the British Empire (ie, the Privy Council) confirmed the detailed 1899 finding by the High Court of the Punjab that "Anusthanic Brahmos are not Hindoos but the anAnusthanic Brahmo Samajists may very well be Hindoos".

What divides Brahmos

Dear Tapesh

I have spoken today evening to the Secretary of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj - Kolkatta, a Mr Das. He confirms that the website you received the donation request from ("Hindu Widows Welfare fund") is affiliated to Sadharan Brahmo Samaj at Kolkatta.

I also informed him that it was deceptively similar to one of the official websites of the World Brahmo Council, ie. http://sadharanbrahmosamaj.org/ but he explained his helplessness since their website (with an extra "h') has been out of action since 2006 and they (SBS) are just reviving it again.

Anyway just a reminder, that since Tapesh had contacted me last week we have had a caution up at our Sadharan Brahmo Samaj website saying

"WARNING: BEWARE Deceptive Websites asking DONATIONS for BRAHMO SAMAJ

WORLD BRAHMO COUNCIL neither solicits nor accepts money from the public or organisation or State, either directly or indirectly. It is further clarified that Brahmos are not required to make donations on religious occasions. Payment of annual subscription fee (approx. Rs.100 - US$2 which is the minimum legal amount specified for Societies in India) to a Samaj is optional and does not affect one's religious status as Brahmo. Donations solicited for idolatry, repairing tomb or installing busts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy etc. are anti-Brahmo and nothing but cheating."

and

"Illustrative list of fraudulent "Funds" to cheat Brahmos and NRIs

General Fund, Mission Fund, Charity Fund Building Repair Fund, Mahila Bhavan Fund, Balya Bhavan Fund, Medical Aid Fund, Indigent Brahmo Family Fund, Indian Messenger, Fund Tattwakaumudi Fund, Publication Fund, Sadhan Ashram Fund, Calcutta Congregation Fund, Brahmo Samaj Relief Mission Fund, Mofussil Brahmo Samaj Fund, Library Fund, Brahmo Samaj Education Society Fund, Hindu Widows Home Fund, Brahmo Social Service Organisation, Brahmo Ambulance Fund"

Oh well, one can never be too careful

Sarbajit

--- In brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com, tapesh majumdar <tapesh.majumdar@...> wrote:
>
> Dear friends
> I'm very concerned to learn that only 177 brahmos were listed in 2000 census.
> This surely is not a  correct number for brahmos in India. something must be
> done about it, and all Brahmo Samajs must educate their membership to
> register themselves correctly. This is decidedly a problem affecting all Bramhos
> & we must do something right now setting our mutual difference aside.
>
> I also agree with Mr Biswajit dutta that this must be tackled by Bramhos at
> new delhi. Who is the secretary of delhi samaj now?
> Tapesh
>
> On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 10:57 AM, sarbajitr <sroy1947@...> wrote:
> >
> > Dear Biswajit
> >
> > There is an active legal battle for Brahmoism's "minority" status. Unfortunately, it is connected with the education case for the 3 colleges in Kolkatta managed by the Brahmo Eduction Society affiliated to the Sadharan Samaj runs.
> >
> > It appears that these colleges are thoroughly mismanaged, teachers salaries not being paid, PF funds embezzled etc, and the teachers approached the West Bengal Govt asking for these colleges to be nationalised. The BES promptly went to Court claiming they were Brahmo Samaj is a religious minority and hence entitled to Constitutional protection. After 25 years in 2004 the Supreme Court disposed of the matter while not going into the question of Brahmoism's minority status.
> >
> > Thereafter, emboldened, the BES victimised the staff anew and they pressurised the WB Govt to file a strong review petition in the SC which is pending. BY ALL ACCOUNTS THE BRAHMOS ARE GOING TO LOSE !!!!
> >
> > It s unfortunate that due to the corruption and mismanagement of a handful of pseudo-Brahmos (ananusthanic Brahmos) sitting in Kolkatta, Brahmoism everywhere is going to be affected.
> >
> > Re, the census. I really have no hopes for the Samajes. They are all mismanaged (or under-managed). All we can do is exhort everyone who is willing to listen to insist they be registered as "Religion - other - Brahmo" and refuse to be registered as "Religion - Hindu".
> >
> > Also, every member of these groups should highlight this message for discussion at the next Magh Utsav of their Samajes and try to put it on the agendas of their GB meetings - and include it in their newsletters.
> >
> > I can also put up an online email Petition on the brahmo.org website requesting the Registrar General of India to allot a special numerical code for Brahmos during the census.
> >
> > The Delhi Brahmo Samaj does no social work / activism whatsoever.
> >
> > Sarbajit
> >
> > --- In brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com, biswajit dutta <bis_dutta2000@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Dear Sarbajit ,
> > > I know . 177 declared Brahmos is a matter of concern . You have been highlighting it for long . What steps do you think we should take to correct position in 2010 census ? Should one Samaj take the initiative & (a)Conduct a nationwide Brahmo census of its own (b)Launch a campaign to educate Brahmos that they shouldn't declare themselves as Hindus as Brahmo Dharma is a separate religion .

Go not to the temple - Rabindranath Tagore

Dear Shymal,

Alhough it is not from any of Rabindranath's well known works like
Gitanjali, it seems to be based on Sufism - specifically Kabir's poems
which were translated by Tagore in 1915. It is referred to in a Govt
of India website (page 56) as being from a poem called "True Worship"
http://mpbse.nic.in/blueprint/11thtraining/General%20English-11th.pdf

It is also interesting that many religious websites of Christians and
Saibabists contain this poem without attributing it in any way to
Rabindranath. A Saibaba website even claims it is by Satya Sai
Baba(??)

The "Temple of God" of God the poet speaks of refers in microcosm to
the human body and in macrocosm to the Universe/Multiverse.

Kabir's 4th poem translated by RNT (1915)

"Do not go to the garden of flowers!
O Friend! go not there;
In your body is the garden of flowers.
Take your seat on the thousand petals of the lotus,
and there gaze on the Infinite Beauty."

Sarbajit

--- In brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com, Shymal Dutta
<shymal.dutta@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Debanjan Ray
>
> This poem is widely circulated on the Internet as Tagore's, but I am
> unable to locate the precise work it is from. Can anyone help me
> to trace its source.
>
> Warmly Shymal
>
> On Sat, Dec 12, 2009 at 10:57 PM, Debanjan Ray <debanjan.ray@...>wrote:
> >
> > Just wanted to share the following quote from Rabindranath Tagore:
> > -------------------
> >
> > "Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,
> > First fill your own house with the Fragrance of love...
> >
> > Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,
> > First remove the darkness of sin from your heart...
> >
> > Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
> > First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen...
> >
> > Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
> > First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden. ..
> >
> > Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,
> > First forgive from your heart those who have sinned against you."
> >
> > - Rabindranath Tagore

Gleanings from the Katha Upanishad - Part 4

The Katha Upanishad is presented as dialogue between
Nuchiketa (the son of a Brahman under obligation) and
Yamu the God of Death. Selected extracts from Rammohun's
translation of the 1st 'Valli', concerning life after
death and the nature of the soul.


Yamu, "Make, O Nuchiketa! thy third request."

Nuchiketa then said : lf Some are of opinion that
after man's demise existence continues, and others
say it ceases. Hence a doubt has arisen respecting
the nature of the soul ; I therefore wish to be
instructed by thee in this matter. This is the last
of the favours thou hast offered."

Yumu replied : "Even gods have doubted and disputed
on this subject; which being obscure, never can be
thoroughly comprehended : Ask, O Nuchiketa ! another
favour instead of this. Do not thou take advantage of
my promise, but give up this request."

Nuchiketa replied: "I am positively informed that gods
entertained doubts on this subject ; and even thou,
O Yumu ! callest it "difficult of comprehension". But
no instructor on this point equal to thee can be found,
and no other object is so desirable as this."

Yumu said : " Do thou rather request of me to give thee
sons and grandsons, each to attain the age of an hundred
years ; numbers of cattle, elephants, goat, and horses;
also extensive empire on earth, where thou shalt live as
many years as thou wishest.  I will enable thee to enjoy
all wished-for objects, but do not put to me, O Nuchiketa!
the question respecting existence after death."

Nuchiketa then replied. "The acquisition of the enjoyments
thou hast offered, O Yumu! is in the first place doubtful;
and should they be obtained, they destroy the strength of
all the senses; and even the life of Bruhma is, indeed,
comparatively short. But the only object I desire is what
I have already begged of thee.  A mortal being, whose
habitation is the low mansion of earth, and who is liable to
sudden reduction, approaching the gods exempted from
death and debility, and understanding from them that there
is a knowledge of futurity, should not ask of them any inferior
favour and knowing the fleeting nature of music, sexual
gratification, and sensual pleasures,. who can take delight in
a long life on earth? Do thou instruct us in that knowledge
which removes doubts respecting existence after death,
and is of great importance with a view to futurity, and which
is obscure and acquirable with difficulty. I, Nuchiketa, cannot
ask any other favour but this."

End of the first Section of the first Chapter (ist Bullee. \

Yumu now, after a sufficient trial of Nuchiketa's.
resolution, answers the third question,

(to be continued)

Gleanings from the Katha Upanishad - Part 3

{English Works of Rammohun Roy - Vol.1 page 60}

TRANSLATION OF THE KUTH-OPUNISHUD OF THE UJOOR-VED,

ACCORDING TO THE GLOSS OF THE CELEBRATED SUNKURACHARYU.

CALCUTTA.
1819.

PREFACE.

IN pursuance of my attempt to render a translation of the complete
Vedant, or the principal parts of the Veds, into the current languages
of this country, I had some time ago the satisfaction of publishing a
translation of the Kuth opunishud of the Ujoor-ved into Bengalee ; and
of distributing copies of it as widely as my circumstances would allow,
for the purpose of diffusing Hindoo scriptural knowledge among the
adherents of that religion. The present publication is intended to
assist the European community in forming their opinion respecting Hindoo
Theology, rather from the matter found in their doctrinal scriptures,
than from the Poorans, moral tales, or any other modern works, or from
the superstitious rites and habits daily encouraged and fostered by
their self-interested leaders.

This work not only treats polytheism with contempt and disdain, but
inculcates invariably the unity of God as the intellectual Principle,
the sole Origin of individual intellect, entirely distinct from matter
and its affections and teaches also the mode of directing the mind to
him.

A great body of my countrymen, possessed of good understandings, and not
much fettered with prejudices, being perfectly satisfied with the truth
of the doctrines contained in this and in other works, already laid by
me before them, and of the gross errors of the puerile system of idol
worship which they were led to follow, have altered their religious
conduct in a manner becoming the dignity of human beings ; while the
advocates of idolatry and their misguided followers, over whose opinions
prejudice and obstinacy prevail more than good sense and judgment,
prefer custom and fashion to the authorities of their scriptures, and
therefore continue, under the form of religious devotion, to practise a
system which destroys, to the utmost degree, the natural texture of
society, and prescribes crimes of the most heinous nature, which even
the most savage nations would blush to commit, unless compelled by the
most urgent necessity.

I am, however, not without a sanguine hope that, through Divine
Providence and human exertions, they will sooner or later avail them
selves of that true system of religion which leads its observers to a
knowledge and love of God, and to a friendly inclination towards their
fellow-creatures, impressing their hearts at the same time with humility
and charity, accompanied by independence of mind and pure sincerity.
Contrary to the code of idolatry, this system defines sins as evil
thoughts proceeding from the heart, quite unconnected with observances
as to diet and other matters of form. At any rate, it seems to me that I
cannot better employ my time than in an endeavour to illustrate and
maintain truth, and to render service to my fellow-labourers, confiding
in the mercy of that Being to whom the motives of our actions and
secrets of our hearts are well-known.

Keywords:
Rammohun Roy, Katha Upanishad, Yajur Ved, Brahmo Samaj, Brahmoism,
Sankaracharya

Gleanings from the Katha Upanishad - Part 2

Opening Prayer

Aum
saha nau~ avatu
saha nau b&#688;unaktu
saha v&#299;ryam~ karav&#257;vahai
tejasvi nau~ ad&#688;&#299;tam astu
m&#257; vi-dvi&#7779;&#257;vahai
&#257;&#363;&#7747; &#347;&#257;nti&#7717; &#347;&#257;nti&#7717;
&#347;&#257;nti&#7717;

Oh Supreme Brahma
May Thou Protect us both, (teacher and taught).
May we both strive to absorb your grace.
May our combined energies be productive.
May our study bring us illumination.
May there be no discord among us.
OM! PEACE! PEACE! PEACE!

Note:
1) This is the opening invocation used by the teacher and the taught
before they approach the work.

2) If there are any comments, including on the translation (mine) of
this series, kindly email me before it is hosted to the Brahmo
websites.

Gleanings from the Katha Upanishad - Part 1

Rammohun Roy was the first to translate the Katha Upanishad into any
European language.

Description from Max Muller's version introduction.

"THE Katha-upanishad is probably more widely known than any other
Upanishad. It formed part of the Persian translation, was rendered
into English by Râmmohun Roy, and has since been frequently quoted by
English, French, and German writers as one of the most perfect
specimens of the mystic philosophy and poetry of the ancient Hindus.

It was in the year 1845 that I first copied at Berlin the text of this
Upanishad, the commentary of Samskara (MS. 127 Chambers 1), and the
gloss of Gopâlayogin (MS. 224 Chambers). The text and commentary of
Samskara and the gloss of Ânandagiri have since been edited by Dr.
Roer in the Bibliotheca Indica, with translation and notes. There are
other translations, more or less perfect, by Râmmohun Roy,
Windischmann, Poley, Weber, Muir, Regnaud, Gough, and others. But
there still remained many difficult and obscure portions, and I hope
that in some at least of the passages where I differ from my
predecessors, not excepting Samskara, I may have succeeded in
rendering the original meaning of the author more intelligible than it
has hitherto been.

The text of the Katha-upanishad is in some MSS. ascribed to the
Yagur-veda. In the Chambers MS. of the commentary also it is said to
belong to that Veda 2, and in the Muktikopanishad it stands first
among the Upanishads of the Black Yagur-veda. According to Colebrooke
(Miscellaneous Essays, 1, 96, note) it is referred to the Sâmaveda
also. Generally, however, it is counted as one of the Âtharvana
Upanishads."

Brahmo websites to have own servers

Dear Fellow Brahmos

Very shortly (Jan 2010) the 4 "Brahmic" websites which we had
recovered shall be hosted on their own high speed high capacity (advt
free) dedicated servers. At present the websites are hosted on free
facilities like googlepages.

The scope of these websites is as follows:

1) http://adibrahmosamaj.org
This specialised website is for the history, philosophy, activities
etc of the "Adi Brahmo Samaj" connected with Rammohun Roy, Dwarkanath
Tagore, Debendranath Tagore, Raj Narain Bose, Hemendranath Tagore etc.
and its modern developments.

2) http://sadharanbrahmosamaj.org
This website is for the history, philosophy, activities etc of the
"Sadharan Brahmo Samaj" connected with Sivnath Sastri, Anandmohan Bose
and so many others.

3) http://brahmo.org
This website is for the present day activities of all Brahmos, and for
news about Brahmos, Brahmoism, Brahmo Conferences etc

4) http://brahmosamaj.org
The "official" website for Brahmos. This website shall attempt to
incorporate the entire spectrum of Brahmoism's diversity including its
controversies.

Contributions, news and articles etc are open to everybody. There
shall be online forms for anyone to contribute, news, jokes, pictures,
articles, speeches, songs, videos, prayers, upasanas etc. about
Brahmoism.

Sarbajit Roy
New Delhi

Rituals and superstition rule

From: Rahul Dev Sharma <rahul.d>
Date: May 16, 2009 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [brahmoconferenceorg] Rituals and superstition rule

Dear Mr Biswajit

'Ad homimem' attacks are what trivialise the real issues. I am glad
that we at least agree that superstition, mumbo-jumbo, dogma and
non-reason etc are opposed to Brahmoism. But how many others here (so
called Brahmos), would agree with you or me ?

The current articles of faith for "True Brahmos" being very well
defined, you may clarify if you reject / disagree with any of them, as
only then can our debate proceed:-
(source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmo_religion )

* Brahmos embrace righteousness as the only way of life.
* Brahmos embrace truth, knowledge, reason, free will and virtuous
intuition (observation) as guides.
* Brahmos embrace secular principles but oppose sectarianism and
imposition of religious belief into governance (especially propagation
of religious belief by government).
* Brahmos embrace the co-existence of Brahmo principles with
governance, but oppose all governance in conflict with Brahmo
principles.
* Brahmos reject narrow theism (especially polytheism), idolatry and symbolism.
* Brahmos reject the need for formal rituals, priests or places
(church, temple, mosque) for worship.
* Brahmos reject dogma and superstition.
* Brahmos reject scripture as authority.
* Brahmos reject revelations, prophets, gurus, messiahs, or avatars as
authority.
* Brahmos reject bigotry and irrational distinctions like caste,
creed, colour, race, religion which divide beings.
* Brahmos reject all forms of totalitarianism.
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notion of "sin".
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notions of "heaven" or "hell".
* Brahmos examine the prevalent notion of "salvation".

( Adherence to these articles are required only of Adi Brahmos or such
Sadharan Brahmos who accept Adi-ism ie. Trust deed of Brahmo Sabha
1830 as the source of their faith or Trust deed of Sadharan Brahmo
Samaj 1880)

We may also consider that no matter how much we may disagree with
others and their irrational (to us) beliefs, Brahmoism does not permit
us to disparage them / their beliefs publicly.

Finally, concerning the issues which nobody wishes to rake up, it is
precisely because nobody wishes to discuss them that they must be
exposed publicly in dedicated groups such as this, and knowledgeable
people like you must participate.

Rahul

Rituals and superstition rule

From: biswajit dutta <bis_dutta2000@yahoo.co.in>
Date: May 16, 2009 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: [brahmoconferenceorg] Rituals and superstition rule

The messages you are trying to trivialize are very germane to Brahmoism :-

a)Brahmoism is all about logic, rationality & scientific mindedness .
It denounces all social evils including Sati which is still very
occasionally practiced & glorified by some Indians living in darkness
.

b)Brahmoism is dead set against all forms of superstitions/mumbo
jumbo/black magic etc. which are as yet popular among a large segment
of our population .

c)Brahmoism is all about tolerance & open mindedness . Learning needs
to be source agnostic  . Dogmas & set beliefs have no place in our
religion . Mere mention of Hitler generated needless fury on the other
site no too far back .

d)All the above messages reinforce key Brahmo ideals & hence very relevant .

e)I can confidently say that a majority of us are not at all keen to
debate schisms , splits & controversies of the Brahmo Samaj you are so
enthusiastic about . Why rake up the past ?
What's the big deal washing dirty linen in public ? Why is it being
discussed here ?
Regards,
Biswajit Dutta

--- On Sat, 16/5/09, Rahul Dev Sharma <rahul.dvsharma@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Rahul Dev Sharma <rahul.dvsharma@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [brahmoconferenceorg] Rituals and superstition rule
To: brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, 16 May, 2009, 12:29 PM

Dear Debanjan,

We should ask ourselves

Is Brahmoism about rationalism ?
Is the Brahmo Samaj a NGO ?
What is the purpose of such messages being collectively mailed to
"Brahmos" by these groups ?
Are messages on Hitler's supposed management genius relevant to "Brahmos" ?
Is the suppression of  sati and similar practices important in modern
Brahmoism ?

Regretably no Brahmo is prepared to publicly debate such matters (or
the earlier 8 I had listed).

Rahul

Sitanath Tattwabhushan Dutta

The Anusthanic Brahmo movement frowns upon seeking donations in the
name of our religion. We base this upon the 1830 Trust Deed text which
forbids "oblations" and offerings to be collected within.

The Ananusthanics on the other hand are charlatans soliciting funds at
every stage. There can be no better example than this of  "Pandit"
Sitanath Tattwabhushan who in 1880 was one of the 8 Brahmos of Sylhet
who issued the provlamation denouncing Keshab Sen and Navabidhan. (see
Sivnath Sastri's History of the Brahmo Samaj"). Tattwabhushan (whose
real name was Sitanath Dutta) then tried to insert a pseudo-Brahmanism
into the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj by publishing in 1921 his "Manual of
Brahmic prayer and devotions" which exhorts the Sadharan adherents at
every stage to "donate" to the Brahmo Samaj. Got married ? - donate,
Recovered from illness ? - donate, Setting up a new Samaj ? - donate.

Although Tattwabhushan (Dutta) claimed to have compiled his devotional
manual from 4 sources - 2 Hindu podhattis, the Adi Samaj Anusthan
Paddati and the Navabidhan 'New Samhita', we find that such out and
out commercial practices are only in the Navabidhan Samhita followed
by one faction of Sadharan Samaj.

Dutta's manual was roundly denounced in 1921 when it was first
published and no sensible person would rely on it today except as an
awkward anachronism.

All right thinking Brahmos should be careful of these Dutta's in
Brahmoism, ie Sitanath (Tattwabhushan) Dutta, Narendra (Vivekanand)
Dutta etc and their descendants who have always been counted amongst
the enemies of True Brahmoism for trying to commercialise Brahmoism
into a Ramakrishna "Mission" model at every step.

Rahul

On 3/31/09, sroy1947  wrote:
> "Peddling" ??? This raises an interesting issue - "Does Brahmoism permit
> donations to be collected within Samaj premises?"
>
> "and that no sacrifice, offering or oblation of any kind or thing, shall
> ever be permitted therein;"
>
> Sarbajit
>
> --- In brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com, Rahul Dev Sharma
> <rahul.dvsharma@...> wrote:
>>
>> Brahmoism is a religious system, Brahmo Samajes are societies which
>> peddle a diluted (universally palatable) version of True Brahmoism.
>> What is peddled at Brahmo Samajes is more often than not unacceptable
>> to Brahmos.
>>
>> I think you are confusing nationalism with patriotism.
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 5:23 PM, biswajit dutta
>> <bis_dutta2000@...> wrote:
>> > It appears that you make an artificial distinction between Brahmo Samaj
>> > &
>> > Brahmoism . I am afraid your views may not resonate with the majority
>> > for
>> > whom :-
>> > a)Brahmo Samaj & Brahmoism are not at cross purposes .
>> > b)The terms "universalism" & "nationalism" may not be mutually exclusive
>> > .
>> > That I have a tolerant/open/rational mind willing to imbibe global best
>> > practices does not mean I am anti-national or less nationalistic . On
>> > the
>> > contrary , universalism can lead to improved nationalism .
>> > c)By distillation of essence(accepting only what is suitable/relevant)
>> > from
>> > other religions Brahmoism has become a better religion . There is no
>> > harm in
>> > assimilating the good or the great from others .
>> > d)Sivanath Sastri's interpretation of Brahmo history finds wide
>> > acceptablity
>> > with most Brahmos .
>> > e)I don't know by what yardstick , Sadharan Samajis can be regarded to
>> > be
>> > the basest of Brahmos ? This appears to be too sweeping a statement .
>> >
>> > Biswajit Dutta
>> >
>> > --- On Sat, 14/3/09, Rahul Dev Sharma <rahul.dvsharma@...> wrote:
>> >
>>
>
>
>


------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brahmoconferenceorg/

<*> Your email settings:
   Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brahmoconferenceorg/join
   (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
   mailto:brahmoconferenceorg-digest@yahoogroups.com
   mailto:brahmoconferenceorg-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   brahmoconferenceorg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
   http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[brahmoconferenceorg] Sadharan Brahmo Samaj politics disgraces Brahmoism

Date: Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Subject: [brahmoconferenceorg] Sadharan Brahmo Samaj politics disgraces Brahmoism
To: brahmoconferenceorg@yahoogroups.com

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090110/jsp/calcutta/story_10368702.jsp

It is really shocking what the Managing Committees of some of our Samajes are upto. The sooner these "temples of Brahmoism" and their bodies are disbanded the better since they are blackening the name of the Brahmo religion.

Sarbajit Roy

<quote>
Ballot box trouble in Brahmo battle
POULOMI BANERJEE

The Brahmo Samaj ballot box.

The general body elections of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, one of the oldest democratic institutions in India, ran into rough weather on Friday after two of the contestants found the lock of the ballot box open.

Elected representatives of the Samaj, a breakaway faction of Raja Rammohun Roy's Brahmo Samaj, manage six schools, colleges like Amherst Street City and Heramba Chandra, a library and women's and children's homes in the city.

"Mina Mukherjee and I visited our Bidhan Sarani office to cast our votes and found the ballot box open. We alerted the other members," said Utpal Bose on Friday. Both he and Mukherjee are contesting this year's elections.

The annual poll is being held since 1878, when the Samaj was founded by Shibnath Shastri, Umesh Chandra Dutta and others.

Polling started on December 26 and was to end on January 11. "We sent ballot papers to our 1,002 members spread across the country. They either mail their ballots or visit our office and drop it in the box," said Asim Ahmed, the assistant secretary who is contesting for the
post of secretary.

The keys to the ballot box and the room where it is kept were with Sitala Prasad, the caretaker of the building for decades.

According to him, the ballot box was not locked. Secretary Samir Das insisted that the box was locked.

He also refuted Ahmed's claim that the box should not only have been locked but the lock should also have been sealed.

"The lock might have been broken by those who want to hold on to their posts. Though no salary is paid, the honorary posts carry certain perks," said Das.

"The financial strength of the Calcutta body is about Rs 88 lakh," added the secretary.

A repoll, which has never happened in the organisation's history, seems the only way out.

"The secretary will have to propose a repoll to the general committee, which will take the decision. It is the only way out for us now," said president Ashish Kumar Pain.

True Brahmos versus False Brahmos

>RE: [brahmoconferenceorg] X'mas Greetings

>
>Dear Mr. Rahul Dev Sharma,
>What is the definition of True Brahmo?
>Where is it written?
>Why is it True?
>
>Regards,
>- Debanjan Ray

You may refer to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brahmoconferenceorg/message/157
and make your own decision

Malay Sanyal

Some group members have sought clarification on
"True Brahmos and False Brahmos" and some other incidentals.

Our position on these subjects is:-

1) Brahmoism is the highest form of Hinduism, and is so very different from what passes for Hinduism today that Brahmos consider themselves to be "beyond the pale of Hinduism" and a separate religion altogether.

2) A "True" Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of all other religions, or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his faith.

3) "False" Brahmos are those who believe that "following" the principles of Brahmoism is sufficient. These people have given Brahmoism a very bad reputation. Prominent examples of such "False" Brahmos are "Keshub
Chunder Sen" and Nabobidhan "New Dispensation" who have preached and propagated Rosicrucianism and other Masonic beliefs in the guise of Brahmoism. Even today they operate secret societies to attract neophytes to their symbolic devil worship in the name of Brahmoism.

4) To distinguish Brahmoism from such fakes and charlatans,  the Brahmo religion was compelled to rename itself, first as the "Adi Brahmo Samaj" and later the religious aspect was termed as "Adi Dharm". Our
religion has no secrets or mysticism or initiation or rites or rituals. The creed and tenets are widely known, anyone can follow and practice them.

1. There is only One "Supreme Spirit", Author and Preserver of Existence
2. There is no salvation and no way to achieve it.
3. There is no scripture, revelation, creation, prophet, priest or teacher to be revered
4. There is no distinction.

Once these core principles are accepted we progress to our complete "articles of faith" which define our "Dharmic" religion

* Brahmos embrace righteousness as the only way of life.
* Brahmos embrace truth, knowledge, reason, free will and virtuous intuition (observation) as guides.
* Brahmos embrace secular principles but oppose sectarianism and imposition of religious belief into governance (especially propagation of religious belief by government).
* Brahmos embrace the co-existence of Brahmo principles with governance, but oppose all governance in conflict with Brahmo principles.
* Brahmos reject narrow theism (epecially polytheism), idolatry, ascetism and symbolism.
* Brahmos reject the need for formal rituals, priests or places (church, temple, mosque) for worship.
* Brahmos reject dogma and superstition.
* Brahmos reject scripture as authority.
* Brahmos reject revelations, prophets, gurus, messiahs, or avatars as authority.
* Brahmos reject bigotry and irrational distinctions like caste, creed, colour, race, religion which divide beings.
* Brahmos reject all forms of totalitarianism.
* Brahmos reject the prevalent notion of "sin".
* Brahmos reject the prevalent notions of "heaven" or "hell".
* Brahmos reject the prevalent notion of "salvation".

The test of a Brahmo Samajist (the wider community which follows Brahmoism) is acceptance of the Trust Deed principles settled permanently in law by Rammohun Roy, Dwarakanath Tagore etc.

The test of a Brahmo religionist is if he adheres scrupulously to the Adi Dharm principles and submits to the binding Articles of Faith.

Everyone else is unworthy of the Brahmo name and needs to be denounced.

Brahmoism and Christianity

Even a cursory reading of the Bible shows the vast chasm between Brahmoism and Christianity which the Christians in our midst should be aware of.

For example the book of Genesis (1:26, 1;27 and 2:7) we are told by Christians that "God created Man in his own image from the dust of the earth". Rammohan had challenged this and we say that to the contrary
"it was Man who creates (idols of) God from the dust of the earth.". Rammohan foresaw the great importance for Christians that Man is in God's image for does not Christ have the same image as his Father GOD
(Corinthians).

Another example would be of the "Fatherhood of God". This is a decidedly Christian concept (inserted by Keshab Sen) antithetical to Brahmoism where the "Godhood of father" is upheld. Christianity asks us to accept that Christ is God's son and that salvation lies through
God's Son and his chosen representatives on earth (namely Popery). Keshab went on to introduce more alien Christian concepts "Motherhood of God", "Kingdom of God" "Loyalty to Sovereign" etc which True
Brahmos reject out of hand.

Nay, Brahmoism is to be regarded as the highest form of a much debased Hinduism, a Hinduism which has now ceased to be Brahmoism.

Rahul

On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 5:53 PM, Sumanta-Sandhya Niyogi wrote:
> Dear Friends and Fellow-members,
>        Merry Christmas.  On this solemn occasion we pray,"May the Almighty
> God and one of his noblest sons, Lord Jesus Christ shower Their choicest
> blessings on you all." Jesus Christ is such a universally loved and revered
> soul that even in our Hindu-majority country there are millionms and
> millions of people who virtually worship him. It gives us a wonderful
> feeling to send our greetings to you on such a grand occasion. May his
> sermons, the words of wisdom and benevolence, guide, protect and inspire us
> all.  As Brahmos,we feel proud of the way Raja Rammohun in his classic work,
> The Precepts of Jesus, and Swami Vivekananda (his broadness and liberality
> originated from his Brahmo background) in his Thus Spake the Christ, paid
> their homage to Jesus Christ.  Vivekananda wrote, "If I, as an Oriental, am
> to worship Jesus of Nazareth, there is only one way left to me, that is to
> worship Him as God and nothing else." This reflects our universal and
> cosmopolitan tradition. Interestingly enough, it is the Brahmo Samaj which
> was the first Indian non-Christian religious community to start the annual
> celebration of the Chritmas and to conduct upasana on the occasion. Later
> the Ramakrishna Mission follow3ed the example.
>            On such a holy occasion we generally make it a point to read the
> Holy Bible, at least some portions, if not the whole, of it. This time one
> message of Jesus that deeply touched us is that one should not evaluate what
> he/she has got or could not get from God, but should find joy and happiness
> from His divine presence within himself/herself all the time and the way he
> protected us at different times. That will bring greatest satisfaction to
> everyone and this will be as good as the key to the Kingdom of God. What a
> profound message and so similar to the thoughts of our ancient sages and
> Brahmo pioneers.
> Regards,
> Yours truly,
> Sumanta and Sandhya Niyogi
>

Maghotsab in BD

Brahmo Samaj in Bangladesh celebrates Maghotsab

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=112674

Maghotsab, the biggest annual festival of the country's Brahmo community, concluded yesterday with a two-day programme at the Brahmo Samaj Complex at 2-3-4 Lyall Street at Patuatuly in the city where a large number of people from all faiths attended.

On the main day of the festival yesterday to mark the founding of the Brahmo Samaj building 179 years back in 1830 by a group of social reformers headed by Raja Rammohon Roy, the Brahmo flag was hoisted in
the morning which was followed by rendering of Usha Kirtana. Recitation of verses from the holy Upanishad, the Geeta, the Bed, the Tripitak, the Grantha Saheb, the Bible and the Quran with Bengali translation, obituary reference and recalling the contributions of the
Brahmo stalwarts as well as rendering of solo and chorus Brahmo Sangeet by the artistes of "Biswabeena" led by Ustad Khairuzzaman Quiyyum were the programmes of the festival.

Besides, the main prayer session seeking divine blessings for peace, prosperity, happiness and welfare of the people throughout the world was conducted by Acharya Pranesh Samaddar.

He also delivered sermons also for peace and prosperity of the country and its people while the festival concluded with lighting of candles at night for enlightenment of the people at the Samaj Complex. The festival was inaugurated on Saturday night with the rendering of
the Brahmo Sangeet with analysis at the Samaj Complex with Acharya Pranesh Samaddar narrated and analysed the inner meanings of the solo and chorus Brahmo Sangeet and devotional songs rendered by the
artistes of "Biswabeena" led by Ustad Khairuzzaman Quiyyum.

The Maghotsab will also be held at Kaoraid Brahmo Samaj in Gazipur district and at the Brahmo Samaj in Tangail town on February 13 and February 20 respectively.