WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHAOS, CONFUSION AND HATRED IN THE WORLD

Man alone is responsible for the chaos, confusion, hatred and bloodshed in the world. “All the religions” and the “–isms” like Patriotism, Nationalism, Regionalism, Fascism, Nazism, Capitalism and Communism divide the world and create unnecessary hurdles and barriers. Many religious leaders instill hatred and ill-will in the minds of their believers. They propound and expound uncanny ideas, such as superiority on the basis of race, sex and colour. Even the doctrines of heaven, hell and rebirth are invented by priests to exploit their believers with blind faith. They created idols and idol-saints to extract money.

The great culture and civilizations of Afghanistan and Iraq is in shambles; life of the common man in Ukraine and Chechnya is miserable. There is no justification for the bloodshed and loss of life of innocent children and women in West Asia. These are terrible events that shocked the human mind. The religious fundamentalism of Jews, Christians and Muslim; and other –isms are the reason for the chaos and threat to peace and security in the world. I sincerely hope that a world government would emerge out from the chaos and confusions in the present world.

I recall the meaningful lyrics of the song written by a well-known poet, Shri. Vayalar Rama Varma, who expressed his displeasure in the following words in “Malayalam,” the language of Kerala: -

 “Manushyan Mathangale Srishtichoo…

Mathangal Dhaivangale Srishtichoo…

Manushyanum Mathangalum Dhaivangalum Koodee

Mannu Panku Vachu.. manassu Panku Vachu..

(Manushyan Mathangale ………..)

Hinduvaayee Musslamaanaayee Christianiyaayi

Nammale Kandaalariyaathaayee

India Bhranthaalayamaayee

Aayiramaayira Maanava Hrudhayangal

Aayudha Purakalaayee

Dhaivam Theruvil Marikkunnu

Chekuthaan Chirikunnu

 (Manushyan Mathangale …………..)

Sathyamevide Soundaryamevide

Swathanthryamevide Nammude

Rakth Bandangalevide

Nithya Snehangalevide

Aayiram Yugangalil Orikkal

Varaarulloravathaarangal Evide

Manushyan Theuvil marikunnu

Mathangal Chirikunnu

(Manushyan Mathangale ……..)”

The poet expresses his displeasure by saying, “Men created religions; religions created Gods; men, religions and Gods divided the world and divided human minds. They became Hindus, Muslims and Christians and failed to recognize each other; Indians have become confused; thousands and thousands of human minds have become storage houses of weapon; God dies on the street and Devil grins.” The poet laments, “What is the truth? Where is the beauty? Where is our freedom? Where is our security? Where is our constant affection? Where is the new mystic leader who appears once in a century? Men die on the street and the devil grins.”

         

The lyrics of this song were composed by Shri. Vayalar Rama Varma. Shri. Devarajan gave the music. This song was sung by veteran playback singer Dr. Yeshudas for the film, “Achanum Bappayum” in the year 1972.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

THE VISIT OF THE ARCH-BISHOP

One day, His Excellency, Arch-bishop Joseph Parecattil of Ernakulam-Angamali Diocese (later His Grace, Arch-bishop Joseph Cardinal Parecattil) came for a visit to our parish church. He arrived in a fancy boat. Jacob and I were very scared to go near him because of the regal costume and the pompous cap that he wore. The crook he held and the diamond ring on his ring finger added to his might and power. He headed to the altar of the church flanked by a few priests in high-born costumes. The buzz of conversation lessened perceptibly as the Bishop entered; but I gazed the excitement on the faces of people.

I was astounded to learn that bishops lived in massive palaces and had sumptuous, luxurious habits and costumes. I recalled what ‘Ammachi’ told us, children, about God Almighty. “He loved humanity and therefore he sent his son to the earth to redeem them from their sins and other blemishes. He was born in a cattle shed. He moved among the poor as an ordinary man. He was a symbol of humility.” I was taken aback on seeing this bishop in front of me, a totally different image of what was told to us. What a contradiction!! Are the priests, bishops and the hierarchy different from their Master and Mentor, Jesus Christ?  Religion saps the material wealth of the laity and discourages their independent thinking.

The stories narrated in the Old Testament are borrowed from Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Indus-valley, Chinese and other civilizations. So also the fables narrated in the New Testament are highly exaggerated, fabricated and there are a lot of contradictions in it. Christianity has adopted various doctrines, rituals, customs and followed practices from other religions like Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Taoism and Mithraism.

Christianity adopted monotheism, heaven, hell and sacrifice from Zoroastrianism. Christianity accepted from Judaism stories from other civilizations which were included in Hebrew book, Divine Thora with suitable changes and followed some of the doctrines of Zoroastrianism which were followed by Jews. Christianity adopted the trinity in God, (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva or Maheswaran corresponding to Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the doctrines of heaven, hell and incarnation, meditation – Yoga from Hinduism. Christianity adopted rosary, confession, meditation - Yoga and Zen, asceticism and the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the reddle cloth from Buddhism. Christianity adopted rosary, meditation - Yoga from Jainism. Christianity adopted meditation-Tao – chi from Taoism. Christianity accepted the doctrine of one God from Sikhism and Islam. Christianity followed the teachings, beliefs and practices and adopted the Holy Mass, Sunday worship, Mother-God, which was transformed into Virgin Mary, the major festival of Mother-God in Mithraism celebrated on December 23^rd to 25^th was converted into Christmas. Mithraism ultimately merged with Christianity. Christianity also adopted from Paganism the idol worship - grottos and saints, and realized it is a money-minting business.

The accumulation of wealth and worldly power offered a temptation for the clergy to neglect their spiritual duties and become engrossed in worldly pursuits. The spiritual power is only a means to attain temporal powers of the world. Neither a religion nor a political party could hold people or a nation together for a long time. To think otherwise is an utopian dream. The priests and bishops do not believe in equality. They prefer dining separately in their private premises or palaces to dining with their laity even for a marriage or other important events.

The parish priest persuaded us and the other children to meet the bishop. He asked us, “What our ambitions were?” After Jacob said he wanted to become a bishop. It was my turn to answer; I replied that I wanted to become the President of India. He advised us to work hard to attain our goals in life.

After the evening tea, we broached our meeting with His Excellency to ‘Ammachi’. She advised us, “Whatever be your job, occupation or profession you should work hard with devotion and dedication to excel in it. Your endeavour should be to become a useful member of the world.” These sublime words of wisdom chanted out to us by our mother made us what we are now. Years later, Jacob became a Marine Chief Engineer; now superintendenting the building of warships in France and I became a lawyer practicing in the High Court of Kerala at Cochin. 

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

A RITUAL

It was a practice every evening after our routine prayers to read the Holy Bible. One day when ‘Ammachi’ started reading a portion from the Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. I asked ‘Ammachi’, “What was the material used by God to create human beings?” After a brief pause she asked us, “If we had heard of the word “Humus?” It is a Latin word, which meant organic constituent soil made out of decomposed flora alone. When one dies, one’s body disintegrates to form the same organic soil. It is from the same word that words like human, humane, humanism, humanist, humanitarian, humanity, humankind, humanoid, human rights, human shield, human chain, humble, and humility have originated. The last two words play a vital role in our lives. As one climbs the ladder of success, one should become more and more humble. The Bible also advises, “One should give up pride and turn away from arrogance. Humility will revive you from destruction.” It is with these lofty thoughts and quotes from the Bible that our ‘Ammachi’ moulded us. In fact, my parents were the greatest role models for us, children.

 How correct is her statement! I have observed the bamboo trees. It is an epitome of her teachings. “The taller the bamboo tree grows the lower it bends.”

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

CENTRAL AREA OF KUMBALAM

 The Vathuveettil provision shop and bakery, Pushpangadan’s tea shop, vegetable market, General Store, Co-operative milk marketing shop, Party offices, P.K.M. Club, cement outlets, sanitary dealers , artisans, cobblers and hair cutting saloons are  all situated here.  In the adjoining secular open spaces around, people of all castes and classes mingle.  It is here that meetings and public issues are discussed. Various elite representatives are challenged and hopes for an egalitarian society aired in this venue.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

“HUMAN BEINGS ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD”

Rev. Fr. Alexander Eravimangalam (Layappilly), Thycattussery, one of Appachan’s close cousins, came to visit us. Jacob and I paid him our respects by greeting him in the name of the Lord and then giving him a warm hug and kissing him. He held both of us close to his chest and said, “You are so sweet. Do you know why? You are made in the image and likeness of God.” He then asked us, “Whether we have seen God?” He said, “God is a Super Natural Being. He is a gigantic creature, who is omniscient, Omni-present and Omni-potent, God is a synonym for love. He loves children very dearly.”

I told ‘Ammachi’ that I could not imagine or even comprehend such a creature. He told us something about ‘trinity’ as well. She told us, “It is metaphysics, a difficult subject to understand. Uncle Father might have told you about three independent entities in God, namely the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Other religions too speak on the same tone. The Hindu religion teaches that there are three persons in Easwar. They are Brahmavu, Vishnu and Siva (Mahadevan).” These three entities have three special tasks to perform. Bramavu is the creator; Mahavishnu gives life, and sustains or maintains the creations and Mahadevan (Shiva) executes the destruction. A human being is also capable of performing all these functions himself. Therefore, a human being is an epitome of God Almighty himself. It is curious to know that the word “God” is derived from the words Generate plus organize plus destruction. Generate means to bring into existence or produce [based on the Latin  word generatus]; organize means make into a living being [from medieval Latin organizare] and destruction means the process of being destroyed or a cause of ruin [from Latin destructio.]

The Malayalam word ‘Thathwamasy’ means, “He is you are”. The great sage, Sree Narayana Guru, belonged to this school of thought. It is for this reason that he made a mirror, a deity, as the mirror reflects the absolute truth. Shri. Kabir Das, a great Hindi poet, has written a famous ‘Doha’, stanza, to the effect, “The naval of the ‘Kasturi Mrigh’, Muskdeer, found in Himalayas, contains ‘Kasturi’, musk. This is a valuable medicine, which is very fragrant.  The deer does not realize that his own body is emitting the fragrance. Therefore, it keeps moving from one pasture to other hunting for the origin of this fragrance created by the ‘Kasturi’ within him. 

I have observed that all the fauna and flora on earth have this capacity of creation, maintenance and destruction. This power varies depending on the number of chromosomes in each of them.  The higher the number of chromosomes, the higher the degree of power noticed. The number of chromosomes varied in each of the fauna and flora.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

On several occasions I had the opportunity to hear the narration of the story of creation in the Holy Bible, (Genesis 1, verses 3-5,) 3. God commanded, “Let there be light” and light appeared. 4. God was pleased with what he saw. Then he separated the light from the darkness 5. and he named the light, “Day” and the darkness, “Night.”

         

Is the statement true or correct? Is there any scientific basis for that?

I am aware that in Scandinavian countries, the day time is very long during summer; sometimes it is more than 18 hours. Therefore, they put thick layers of drapes to reduce the light in their bed rooms to relax.

Darkness is nothing but intense light the eyes cannot catch. Blazing light so close from a passing vehicle blinds our eye. It is not absence of light but intense light. Man’s visual faculty is limited as are the rest of his mental concepts of senses. (Similarly higher decibel sound deafens our ear-sense of hearing.) The mind is able to appreciate only the difference of different wave-lengths of light and is unable to recognize wave-lengths of light beyond a certain spectrum. The inability to appreciate light is experienced by man as darkness.

Scientific inventions have enabled us to overcome so-called “darkness.” For instances: a lens in a microscope can magnify micro-organisms and other objects and reveal details invisible to the naked eye. Similarly, a lens in a telescope enables us to magnify distant stars and planets since objects far away appear nearer and larger.

If darkness were real even animals would not be able to see. But it is well known that certain species of the animal kingdom roam around in darkness in total freedom.

It is significant to realize that life begins in so called darkness rather than in light. The seed germinates in darkness within the seed under the ground. The sperm fertilizes the ova in the darkness of the reproductive system. Eggs hatch within the darkness of the egg-shell. Life begins in darkness as darkness is light.

You can neither create darkness, nor can quantify it since darkness is unreal. Therefore, narration of creation in Genesis of Holy bible is only an illusion made by the anonymous author.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com

METAMORPHOSIS AND REBIRTH

I have marveled the metamorphosis amongst certain insects like the butterflies, dragon flies and mosquitoes; and amphibians like the frogs. The process of metamorphosis is interesting to observe in them. I have watched with keen interest how these creatures of nature change into different shapes and forms during their growth from the egg into larvae. It is amazing to watch them adapt to different habits unlike their parents. Finally they shed their outer covering and move into a totally different environment.

Unlike insects and amphibians, the advanced beings in the animal kingdom, the mammals including human beings, undergo a similar metamorphosis in the womb of the mother. The human life cycle begins at fertilization, when an ovum, a cell inside a woman, and a sperm cell from a man fuse to form a one-celled zygote. Over the next few days, the single, large cell divides many times to form a hollow ball of smaller cells, and this hollow ball latches into the wall of the mother's uterus / womb. Once all the organs have formed, he / she is called a foetus. The placenta connects the embryo to the mother's blood supply. This embryo grows rapidly while in amniotic fluid. Between three months and nine months the foetus grows until it is about twenty times as long. In about nine months the baby comes out to an entirely new environment. It is an incarnation in the sense that the characteristics of the parents and his predecessors have been passed on to the baby through the genes embedded in the chromosomes, a scientifically proven fact.

Is metamorphosis (found in smaller organisms and higher animals) the basis for re-birth?

A small healthy twig taken from a broken down branch of a good variety of mango tree can be used for budding. Cloning has been made possible in the case of animals. Even certain parts of our body such as the heart, kidney and eye can be donated before or immediately after death and transplanted into another being. Similarly, when plant produces or the flesh of an animal that has been slaughtered is consumed, we obtain starch, proteins and amino-acids required for our body system.  But a re-birth is unfeasible or impossible after death. Death is a clear and unequivocal expression of life force leaving the body. The religious ethos of hell, heaven and rebirth or resurrection is cooked up by priests to exploit their blind believers.

 Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com