Is there such a thing as an Absolute culture? What do you think?
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By Tri-yuga das in General Published: Monday, 06 April 09 - 02:49 PM (GMT +11:00) |
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The idea of the existence of an Absolute culture is proposed in opposition to the idea that all cultures are relative, or in other words, that all cultures arise due to people adapting to their environment, and then evolve over subsequent generations.
As a further clarification, ‘culture’ maybe defined as the traditional manner and form in which a certain group of people carry out the activities of life. For example, eating is a universal activity – everybody eats, but culture determines HOW a group of people will eat – i.e. with chop-sticks (Chinese), knives and folks (European) or with hands (Indian) etc. Another example is dress – everyone wears something to shield their body from the elements, but culture will determine the STYLE of that dress – i.e. suit and tie (European), or saris, dhoti and kurta (Indian), or kimono (Japanese), or fur coat (Eskimo), burka (Muslim), etc…
This question as to existence of an Absolute culture comes to mind and is important to clarify because certain philosophies would seem to suggest that, yes, there must be an Absolute culture, while others would suggest not.
For example, in philosophies that feature a Personal God Being with personal likes and dislikes and a will as to how the activities life should be performed, it would seem to follow that there must be a God ordained culture, or in other words, a specific way that the God Being prefers things to be done, right down to everyday things such as eating, dressing, language, music, manners, so on and so forth. Since in such a philosophy God can be defined as “He whose will defines reality”, such a God-ordained culture maybe termed ‘the Absolute culture’ (this culture then becomes the culture of the commonly conceived ‘kingdom of God’ that the devoted believer hopes to attain after-death). In such an instance the ‘Absolute culture’ would stand out as elite and divine, all other culture being nothing more than the relative contrivance of mortals.
Philosophies not centred around the concept of a personal God Being as the cause and sustenance of existence, would seem to suggest that all culture has non-divine origins. One common alternative understanding is that all cultures arise out of people adapting to their environment, and then evolve over subsequent generations, gradually growing in complexity and becoming ingrained as vehicles of social identity and the basis of many moral judgements. In this instance, any given culture maybe viewed as relative, flexible and evolving, no part being inherently sacred.
So, what do you think? Is my reasoning sound?
Is there an Absolute culture?
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| The modes of nature provide a standard b (...) | Sita-pati das | 04/06/09 |
| Is there no such thing as the spiritual (...) | Caitanya dasa | 04/07/09 |
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Top | Reply to this Author: Sita-pati das (http://www.atmayogi.com) Date Posted: 06 Apr 2009 04:19 PM (GMT +11:00) The modes of nature provide a standard by which cultures can be measured. Physical things which are closest to their spiritual analogs, according to the model of Gaudiya Vaisnava Vedanta, are those things in the mode of goodness. Spiritual is defined as suddha-sattva, or goodness uncontaminated with rajas or tamas - "passion" or "ignorance". So, for example, foods which are in the mode of goodness - appropriate for the season and locale, prolonging of life, obtained without undue endeavour or the imposition of unnecessary suffering - are closest to spiritual. Then there is another aspect - the consciousness with which things are utilized. When they are used in the consciousness of the self as part of the Complete Whole they are spiritualized.So when you rock out on your Roland TD-04 electronic drumkit in a kirtan glorifying the name and fame of the unlimited personal manifestations of the Supreme Brahman, that's spiritual culture. ;-) So these two things are there: the mode of goodness, and the mentality or motivation behind the cultural manifestation. I think if you have the second your culture will gradually evolve to the first. If you have the form but not the mentality then your culture will degrade in terms of becoming more and more rajasic, then tamasic. |
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Top | Reply to this Author: Caitanya dasa Date Posted: 07 Apr 2009 02:19 AM (GMT +11:00) Is there no such thing as the spiritual world? Krishna's culture is the ABSOLUTE culture. The reason that many western devotees want to impose their own mleccha western cultures onto Krishna consciousness is because they are CONDITIONED. It is as simple as that. I have decided to leave ISKCON. I wrote a letter called "Why I am leaving ISKCON" and have posted it here: http://harekrishnadiary.blogspot.com/ I request you to take the time to read it. Thank you very much. das,
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