Query: From your earlier discussion I gather that there is fundamentalism even in Hindu Dharma.
Gurumaharaj : Look I never suggested that Hindu and Islam are Dharmas. What I know is that Dharma is eternal. Dharma is something that eventually survives. All the religious doctrines like Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are mere ripples in the sea of Dharma. These are only a number of sects. From this perspective Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity are actually nothing but sects. Foreigners coined the term ‘Hindu’. Sanatana Dharma embraces all the religions on earth. These days everyone talks about religious fundamentalism. It is true that this is the reason for genocide in many parts of the world. But don’t forget the fact that the political fundamentalists caused more bloodshed than them. The religious fundamentalists carried out mass killings in the name of religion. But they were backed by the political leaders or the capitalist leaders. Christians and Muslims went to many places and set up colonies. In the same manner capitalist regime spread as well. To establish their colonies or extend the capitalist empire they converted people of other religions to Christianity or Islam. Religion was used as the most powerful weapon to conquer land and people.
But
And if you refer to the Crusades, they only served the purpose of the Sultans and the Lords or Barons. It was the means to retain their power. That was why they continued the Crusades for long period of time. But the worst victims of all such Crusades were the common people.
To protect themselves from the tyrannical Lords and Barons, the poor people in England started following militant leaders like Robin hood as their redeemer instead of the King. Then how can you consider the Crusades as Dharmayudh? If you delve deeper and analyse further , you will come across the same pattern in every Crusade! The only Dharmayudh was fought on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Lord Sri Krishna destroyed the unrighteous Kauravas and offered the throne of Bharatbarsha to the just and ethical Pandavas. The killing of Ravana was also another example of the establishment of supremacy of righteousness.
It is important to note that all such religious massacres are backed by various political interests. To serve their own purposes the Kings or the political leaders caused immense harm to the humanity.
Translated by Amitava Saha