Author: Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami
Publication: Hinduism Today
Date: October / November / December
2002
Megatrends is a term coined by
futurist John Naisbitt in 1982 to name the major underlying forces, both
positive and negative, that are transforming society and shaping the future.
Naisbitt's best-selling book, Megatrends, was enormously influential at
the time in helping individuals, communities and nations understand and
adapt to the changing times. In 1989 Hinduism Today formulated ten Hindu
megatrends to help Hindus worldwide understand the complex interaction
of a rapidly advancing world with our ancient Sanatana Dharma. Our editors,
at the behest of the magazine's founder, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami,
solicited the insights of prominent Hindu religious leaders, scholars,
priests and business people. The resulting ten trends proved useful to
the global Hindu community and, in retrospect, were reasonably accurate.
So much has transpired since our
first exposition of Hindu megatrends thirteen years ago that an update
is in order. The 1990s and the opening few years of the new millennium
have seen momentous events and advances, including the development of the
Internet, the fall of communism, the emergence of India as a center for
information technology and the financial boom of the 90s, which increased
many a Hindu fortune. There has been a dramatic increase in migration of
Hindus to America and Europe not only from India and Sri Lanka, but from
countries of the 19th century diaspora, including Trinidad, Suriname, Mauritius
and Fiji. This migration has reached the point where Hinduism has become
a significant minority faith in many Western countries. And September 11
brought to the world's sympathetic attention the unconscionable terrorism
which India has suffered for more than a decade, a fact of life that will
unfold in the years ahead as the issues in Kashmir are addressed.
Our editorial team formulated the
original ten trends using the input of twelve Hindu leaders and our own
knowledge of the Hindu world. This update is based on our own observations,
the past 13 years of reports in Hinduism Today and input from several globally
connected Hindus.
1. From Hindu Meekness To Hindu
Pride
Though Swami Vivekananda began this
trend a hundred years ago, even up to recent times Hindus were afraid to
identify themselves as Hindus, or as members of a particular Hindu sect.
Through the effort of many people and organizations, Hindu pride and self-confidence
have replaced the self-doubt and timidness instilled during centuries of
foreign rule. Native dress becomes fashionable.
Update 2002
A greater knowledge among Hindus
of our traditions continues to contribute to the trend of increasing Hindu
pride, as does the building of magnificent Hindu temples, such as the Shree
Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, called the eighth wonder of the
world by Reader's Digest. It attracts over half-a-million visitors annually
and is described by Bochasanwasi Shree Akshatar Purushottam Swaminarayan
Sanstha as representing the sacred faith and beliefs of a people that date
back over 8,500 years. India has seen a decline in the popularity of communist
doctrine and an unprecedented rise in Hindu identity and purpose. Suddenly
in India it is almost faddish to be a good Hindu, and people who were once
silent about their faith now speak openly and frequently about it. Easy
Internet access to clear and unbiased information on Hinduism is offsetting
the generally negative presentation of our religion common in Western and
Indian media and sourcebooks. On the other hand, the generation born to
Hindu parents outside of India and Sri Lanka is not strongly religious.
Many of these children of the diaspora in the West, like their counterparts
in other religions, are following the prevailing trend away from religion.
2. Village Awareness to Global Awareness
Hindus have lived outside India
in countries such as South Africa or Fiji for over a century, but only
now are we reaching beyond a limited village worldview, achieving a global
consciousness and establishing worldwide communication. Among other results
of this trend, Hindus are taking a prominent place among world religions
in every forum.
Update 2002
Realizing that significant populations
of Hindus have decided to permanently live in Europe and North America,
organizations formerly found only in India are establishing new centers
in these countries to be of service to a specific lineage or to the general
Hindu community. The 300,000 Tamil Hindus now settled in and around Toronto,
where they have created a traditional community and added measurably to
Canada's human resources, is an example of the trend. A greater global
awareness also comes from families still in India having children living
abroad in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and elsewhere and regularly traveling to spend time with them.
The Internet, and especially e-mail,
is allowing Hindus to create a global village of friendly contacts and
information sharing.
A notable example of Hinduism's
finding its rightful place in the world was the massive presence of Hindu
spiritual leaders at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and
Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York in August 2000. Hindu
leaders are traveling and lecturing extensively, something uncommon fifty
years ago.
3. From East Only to Both East and
West
Not only have our people nerved
from East to West, but our Hindu truths have found welcome homes in many
corners of Western life. The civil rights movement, the health/ vegetarian
movement, the ecumenical movement, the "New Age" movement and the concern
for the environment are all deeply affected by Hindu thinking. Subtle Hindu
ideas fend their way into mainstream world thought.
Update 2002
This trend continues as strongly
as ever, seen, for example, in the common and accurate use of the word
karma in movies and on television, both of which are adopting Hindu philosophy
more and more. Hinduism's tolerance for a wide variety of belief is setting
a needed example in a world full of intolerance. Twenty-five percent of
Americans believe in reincarnation, and the percentage increases each year.
This trend has also been enhanced by the ready availability of clearer
and less biased presentations of Hindu belief and practice. Ayurveda has
become a household word in the past 10 years. Its sophisticated understanding
of the causes and treatment of disease is welcomed by many seeking an alternative
to the drugs and surgery style of Western allopathic medicine. Hinduism
continues to get stronger in most countries of the old diaspora-Fiji, Guyana,
Trinidad, Mauritius, Malaysia, whereas one might have thought fifty years
ago that it would decline. The communities into which they have migrated,
by the hundreds of thousands, such as the Suriname Hindus to Holland and
the Guyanese to New York, are maintaining their unique Hindu identity there.
Another trend is the increase of bringing Westerners into Hinduism as well
as their receiving diksha, traditional initiation one of our Chennai correspondents
recently reported that in April of this year the respected elder of the
Sivachariya priesthood of Chennai gave samaya diksha to an American lady,
a professor at Harvard University, who adopted the name "Amba." In recent
times the scientific community, especially physicists and cosmologists,
has looked to Hinduism for insights and answers to the most profound inquiries.
There is a broader interest in Hinduism's teachings of tolerance and nonviolence
after the September 11 terrorist attacks including the need for domestic
nonviolence-a home free of spousal and child abuse. This trend is highlighted
by the presence of scholars like Dr. David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri) at
major Hindu events, by the presence of major ashrams in Europe, by Western
pujaris actively performing regular Hindu rites at the Devi temple in Rochester,
New York, and by our own Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order, which has Hindu monks
from seven nations.
4. From Men Only to Men and Women
Reflecting a global trend among
all nations, Hindu women are rapidly becoming more involved at all levels
of Hindu religion. Some are influential religious leaders; others are instrumental
in running large Hindu organizations. Hindu women are joining the workforce
and confronting "feminist" issues from an Eastern point of view. They no
longer tolerate unfair treatment, such as forced marriages, abuse by their
husbands or economic disadvantage.
Update 2002
For many decades it was the male
swamis from India who were the most well-known exponents of Hinduism touring
in the Western countries. However, recently it seems to be the women's
turn, as Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and Karunamayi Bhagavati Sri Sri Sri
Vijayeswari Devi are the ones in the headlines. Tens of thousands have
attended their gatherings during world tours, and the media reception has
been warm. When our founder addressed 1,200 world spiritual leaders at
the UN in New York in 2000, Hinduism and the other Indian-born religions
were the only ones to have their women leaders speak from that prestigious
podium. The number of women priests has dramatically increased since 1989,
and they've found acceptance from the general population. Based on traditions
followed in Vedic times, women are being given the sacred thread ceremony,
especially in and around Pune. Today it is somewhat easier for women to
get justice when faced with domestic violence or dowry abuse. This is especially
helped by numerous women's groups created to protect them from violence.
The media voice of women is also growing with magazines such as the outspoken
Manushi, published by Madhu Kishwar. On the other side, the advent of working
mothers is leaving children without the stable home life of past generations,
and a small but telling increase in divorce among Hindus is adding to the
instability.
5. Temple Decline to Temple Renovation
Ever since the last Hindu kings
lost power, Hindu temples and our priesthood have deteriorated. Right now,
we are rediscovering their intrinsic value and religious necessity. Not
only are new temples being built in many places outside of India, old temples
in India are being renovated and the problems of the priesthood addressed.
Likewise, other traditional family observances, e.g., samskaras, are being
revitalized.
Update 2002
The wealth among Hindu families
living in the West has increased significantly in the 90s. It is even postulated
that nonresident Indians outside of India earn more money than all the
people in India. As a result, generous donations are being sent to Hindu
institutions in India by Hindus and non-Hindus in the West. The impact
of this flow of money back to India appears to be increasing, and may be
one of the most important happenings of the next few decades. Many ashrams
and temples have been renovated and are expanding and building new facilities
such as the temple in Neasden, England, Tirupati temple in India and Sabarimala
where 50 million make their pilgrimage each year. So many temples in Malaysia
are being renovated, often with government monetary support, that there
is kumbhabhishekam, rededication ceremony, every two to three months. The
renovations in India are more often in private institutions than in those
overseen by a state government. State governments in India are tending
to invest money in those temples which are popular, while neglecting the
many smaller ones. Contrary to our expectations in 1989, the problems of
the Hindu priesthood continue without resolution (see sidebar page 23).
6. From Introverted to Extroverted
Responding to internal pressure
and outside threats, Hindus creatively reach out to help and serve others.
Various forms of institutionalization and ministry reflect stronger Hindu
social consciousness. Our introverted village awareness has extroverted,
leading to aggressive (and occasionally violent) solutions to our challenges
and difficulties.
Update 2002
The massive response of Hindu groups
to the January 2001, earthquake in Gujarat proved the strength of this
trend. In that disaster, Hindu religious organizations were second only
to the Indian army in providing an immediate and effective response, eclipsing
the Red Cross and other large relief groups. Later they were instrumental
in both consoling survivors and rebuilding towns in the spring of 2002
we saw shocking Hindu riots in Gujarat State. Though currently a minority,
certain groups crying "we've suffered enough in meekness," are aggressively
condoning the use of violence in the name of Hindu pride and protection.
Even the Prime Minister of India said he was "ashamed" of his fellow Hindus.
Some defend the deadly riots as a justified reaction to the horrific Godhra
massacre, while others question the wisdom of any such retaliatory violence.
To the dismay of many peace-loving Hindus, friends and neighbors are increasingly
crying out, "We have taken enough and will endure no more suffering in
silence." This vindictive attitude is growing, as outspoken Hindu aggressors
call for revenge whenever Hindus are attacked. Hopefully, Mahatma Gandhi's
peaceful ways will not be forgotten.
7. From Limited Tools to Abundant
Resources
Increased literacy in India and
the need to teach Hinduism in multi-religious environments in other countries
all lead to the development of sophisticated teaching tools-children's
courses, Hindu schools and universities, academies for art, dance and music,
Hindu encyclopedias, Sanskrit studies and more. Talented Western scholars
provide unexpected resources with unbiased and in-depth studies of Hinduism.
Update 2002
Hinduism is benefiting immensely
from the Internet. Although India's phone network is still substandard,
e-mail allows us to bypass the phone and fax era and have efficient and
quality communications globally. Many Hindu leaders and institutions in
India have found they are able to communicate easily via e-mail with devotees
worldwide. The Ramakrishna Mission, for example, stepped into the information
age when its young monks inspired it to adopt e-mail communication between
its globally distributed centers. Additionally, Internet websites provide
ease of access to information on Hinduism, from on-line dictionaries to
real-time videos of temple events, easily located through the major search
engines. Several Hindu encyclopedias have been published and there is a
burgeoning demand for Indian books, multimedia CDs and websites. There
are better teaching tools, but still not enough good material for children,
for whom Indian comic books remain a primary and sorely inadequate source
of information on Hinduism. A new part of this trend is the movement for
Hindus to claim the scholarship of Hinduism and Indian history, rather
than allow it to remain in the hands of Western scholars and universities
just one aspect of this trend is the attempt to rid textbooks of incorrect
Eurocentric interpretations of Indian history, including the discredited
"Aryan Invasion" theory, which is the source of dozens, if not hundreds,
of erroneous explanations and interpretations of Hindu beliefs and customs.
Archeological discoveries are revealing that Indian 'spawned some of the
highest cultures of the ancient world. Recently universities' and schools'
have started offering courses in Sanskrit, Vedic astrology and temple ritual.
Religious television channels in India are a new phenomenon. Some programs
are little better than the comic books, but others are bringing India's
living saints and sages right into the living room. These shows are immensely
popular, as the saints are giving talks on practical Hinduism and how it
applies to daily life. Presentations of gifted, charismatic preachers,
such as Morari Bapu, are now broadcast all over India. Newspapers and magazines
are now running regular articles on Hindu concepts in simple, easy-to-understand
ways.
8. From Colony to Superpower
India is emerging as the world's
newest superpower This augments Hinduism's newfound strength and unity,
just as the material success of Western countries lent strength and authority
to Christianity in the past.
Update 2002
The world's view of India, its national
strength and rich heritage, continues to improve. India is now an acknowledged
nuclear power. The new sensitivity the world has to terrorism, following
recent disclosures that Pakistan is harboring terrorists while India is
a victim of terrorism, has shifted world moral support away from Pakistan
and toward India. This has lead to more sympathetic and frequent Western
news coverage of events in India which used to be totally ignored by the
press. By extension, the Hindu faith is gaining respect in the Western
press, examples being the supportive reports on Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
in the New York Times and respectful articles about Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami's
passing in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the wire services.
9. Agricultural Era to Technological
Era
Rapid technological advancement
in Asia permanently transforms India and thus Hinduism. India's mastery
of nuclear power, space and computers will bring modern conveniences into
even remote areas of India with unprecedented speed, bypassing some stages
of development experienced in other parts of the world. The broadcasting
of the Ramayana throughout India is just one example of how this affects
Hinduism.
Update 2002
The continuing increase of India's
information technology expertise and the global recognition of it are improving
India's position in the world. The city of Bangalore alone has 1000 software
firms and 80,000 engineers. India exports US$6.2 billion in software annually.
Technology in India is advancing at an accelerated pace due to a return
of money and talent from abroad. There is a growing recognition of the
need for appropriate technology, rather than energy- and resource-wasting
methods. Thousands of highly educated Hindus have returned to India, bringing
with them their global technological expertise. For example, Dr. Anil Rajvanshi,
engineer-inventor, left a successful career in America to return to India
where he focused on appropriate technology, developing an improved lantern
and cycle rickshaw. The move from agricultural to technological is also
a move out of villages into cities. Some of the consequences of this on
the family unit are that the extended family support of the village is
no longer there, leaving husband, wife and children on their own as a nuclear
family. The move into cities is creating a growing middle class whose knowledge
of Hinduism in some families is greater than their parents and who in general
stand apart from Hinduism's militant faction.
10. Major Blows to Fewer Setbacks
Sporadic abandonment of Hindu ideals
causes localized setbacks, but nothing such as we've suffered in the past.
The occasional adoption of violence to achieve some ends is the most obvious
compromise of our ideals. Other negative trends include: the neglected
religious education of children in the West (which has possibly caused
the loss of an entire generation); the failure to encompass the inevitable
intermarriages outside Hinduism; and the tendency to give up the vegetarian
ideal. External hazards may continue along the lines of the failed attacks
upon us by "anti-cult" movements and the worldwide confusion caused by
non-Hindu Rajneesh.
Update 2002
The Hindu retaliatory attacks upon
Muslims in Gujarat are an alarming development, which brings into question
the wisdom of provocatively advocating the rebuilding of the Ram Temple
in Ayodhya, which creates a volatile situation periodically erupting into
significant Hindu-Muslim clashes. For major setbacks, Kashmir can hardly
be equaled it has become the biggest challenge of the last decade from
an outside military force, requiring the presence at the Pakistan border
of nearly half-a-million Indian soldiers and raising the specter of nuclear
confrontation. Its resolution will surely be on our list of trends for
the next decade, unless something unanticipated comes from the fallout
of September 11.
A consequence of the Hindu diaspora
is an increased number of Hindus marrying outside their community, as subsequent
generations become more and more identified with their new country. Cross-cultural
marriages are more common among Hindu girls than boys. An unverified statistic
we were given for the Houston, Texas, area is that ninety percent of Hindu
girls and fifty percent of Hindu boys marry a non-Hindu. The question then
is will the non-Hindu spouse be accepted into the Hindu community and be
allowed to convert to Hinduism, or will the Hindu convert to the religion
of the spouse, which leads to the Hindu community's disappearance into
mainstream America?
In England, many parents get brides
for their sons from India, leaving fewer Hindu boys for the UK-born girls.
There is, however, a trend for matches to be between Hindu boys and girls
born in the country. As in Houston, more girls than boys marry outside
the Hindu community.
Religious education of children
is improving in some locales around the world, Malaysia being a notable
example, though in other places the duty of passing our faith on to the
children remains seriously neglected. Fortunately, the "cult" issue has
declined as Indian Hindus have established hundreds of traditional temples
in the West. Also, the general mood of the non-Hindu population in the
West has shifted toward self-help and health-improvement interests and
away from meditation, which is identified with Buddhism and Hinduism. The
exception is hatha yoga which, as a stand-alone practice divorced from
religion, has increased in popularity.
For some communities language is
a problem in educating youth. Hindu leaders in England noted that most
youth can't understand the lectures given by the priests because they only
speak in high Hindi. This discourages youth from going to the temple as
well as from listening to lectures and learning the philosophy. This is
less of a problem in the Tamil community, as most of their priests speak
English.
One measure of how well the youth
absorb Hindu values can be seen in the emergence of old-folks homes in
England just for people from Southeast Asia. Aging parents are sent to
such homes instead of living with their children, a break in tradition.
Malaysian youth are characterized
by at least one religious leader as more interested in Western entertainment
and ideas than in temples or Hinduism. He blames the trend on a lack of
education on the basics of the religion. Hindu leaders in England do see
a religious revival among the youth in the last few years as a result of
several major youth festivals and Hindu youth groups. A very positive sign
is the six UK-born young men who took sannyas, the lifetime vows of Hindu
monasticism, in the BAPS Swaminarayan order of monks.
Summary
Focusing on the megatrends of Hinduism
gives us a good sense of how Hinduism will develop over the next decade.
It also allows us to influence this development by consciously taking advantage
of the positive trends as well as focusing on finding and implementing
solutions to the major problems. We were told that, as an important part
of each Kumbha Mela gathering, Hindu spiritual leaders, the swamis and
sadhus used to discuss such issues and present a consensus to guide the
populace, but that this tradition of common agreement, known as vyavastha,
has waned. Perhaps it can be revived, or at least supplemented, by making
such discussion a central part of all Hindu symposiums and conferences.
Your comments and suggestions on any of these trends is welcome. E-mail
them to megatrends@hindu.org.
