Abstract
Abdullah Hussain’s novel, Interlok, has been the source of discussion and conflict among various factions in the multi-ethnic and multi- religious community of Malaysia. As an alternative to some of the current negative impressions of the book, and accusations directed at the author, this essay presents a view of the novel and of the author’s motivations. It draws on two elements, evidences from the text itself, and an inward level or esoteric interpretation of the text. From an approach of Hindu religious and spiritual doctrines, and universal metaphysical truths from a Traditionalist perspective, it concludes that a fair and unbiased textual analysis which foregrounds Truth allows a genuine reader to understand what the author actually wrote, and to see beyond the conflict and accusations. Keywords: Hindu esoterism, discernment, Traditionalist perspective, human integration
Highlights
LALITA SINHAScriptures of the world’s major religions are in concord about one thing: all exhort man to know his quest or purpose of life, which is, to know one’s true nature
It is commonly agreed that there are two opposing elements in constant tension within the human being–consciousness of the perfection and boundlessness of God, and in opposition to that, ignorance or unconsciousness, which is, human imperfection and limitation and the relativity of the created, physical universe. Man is in this imperfect world by default of his own imperfection, and his mission or quest in life is to find the path of return to his original, perfect and divine nature. This ideal, constituting the underlying universality expressed in different ways in all spiritual traditions, has been referred to as religio perennis (Schuon, 1984:137), where religio is a “bind”, that is, religion binds or links the human to the Divine, and perennis meaning, eternal
As an alternative to some of the current negative impressions of the book that are proliferating, and the accusations of deliberate disparagement of Indians directed at the author, this essay presents a view of the novel and of the author’s motivations, based firstly on evidences from the text, and reinforced by an inward or esoteric interpretation of the novel
Summary
LALITA SINHAScriptures of the world’s major religions are in concord about one thing: all exhort man to know his quest or purpose of life, which is, to know one’s true nature. In Hinduism, this involves discernment of the Real and the illusory, or between the Eternal and the temporal Such knowledge leads man to wisdom, and realisation of the Absolute, Truth, Ultimate Reality or any of the well-established references to God. It is commonly agreed that there are two opposing elements in constant tension within the human being–consciousness of the perfection and boundlessness of God (brahmavidya), and in opposition to that, ignorance (avidya) or unconsciousness, which is, human imperfection and limitation and the relativity of the created, physical universe. It is commonly agreed that there are two opposing elements in constant tension within the human being–consciousness of the perfection and boundlessness of God (brahmavidya), and in opposition to that, ignorance (avidya) or unconsciousness, which is, human imperfection and limitation and the relativity of the created, physical universe Man is in this imperfect world by default of his own imperfection, and his mission or quest in life is to find the path of return to his original, perfect and divine nature. In the perspective of religio perennis, every authentic religious tradition leads one back to the Eternal, or God
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