Racism is illegal in the USA. So is casteism in India. But both flourish in the hearts of people. That laws are passed against racism and casteism do not mean that these spiritual and moral evils have been eradicated from the minds and hearts of people, where these evils stay enthroned and dance their deadly dance of destruction. About a hundred years ago a low caste person could have been bludgeoned to death if he or she crossed the prescribed legal distance of a high caste person. Similarly a black person who violated a certain prescribed law related to race or color could have been shot or lynched (hanged or burnt at stake) with no questions asked. A black man looking at a white woman or walking with her could have been seriously injured or ambushed and killed. Honor killing of a daughter or sister who violated the unwritten norms of the clan still happens in some parts of India. While fine laws against racism, casteism, sexism, and violations of human rights exist in the books, most of the human minds and hearts all over the world, that harbor these evils, stay untouched. Unfortunately, history shows that major religions that should have been forerunners of human rights, and that should have consistently, insistently, and forcefully advocated human rights as an essential part of spirituality, have not only miserably failed in the area of human rights but have even actively or passively participated in the violation of human rights. Most persons in all major religions are led by blind and unenlightened leaders or administrators who culpably lack training in spirituality and the morality of human rights. Even in this day and age they encourage or passively tolerate rites, rituals, cults, devotions, and practices that are superstitious, discriminatory, and degrading of humans. For instance, women do not have the same rights in Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. A woman cannot become a priest in Catholic Christianity marked by patriarchy and autocracy. Married priests from Anglican or Episcopalian Churches are brought into the Catholic Church through the back door unbeknownst even to the vast majority of Catholics. A menstruating woman does not have entrance to the Hindu shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala (India). Most of these unaware, blind religious leaders, will be saved, because, the words of Jesus on the cross: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23: 34) apply to them too.

             While racism and casteism are the twin peaks of human suffering, folly, and ignorance, where humanity was mercilessly sacrificed, I became aware of the subtle racism, for instance, that is widely prevalent in Kerala. I have known persons talking about the degrees of fairness or blackness of skin color especially in the context of match-making and marriage. A successful, practicing Indian psychiatrist, whom I know in the USA, does not mind, through his own peculiar thinking, in categorizing African Americans (Blacks!), and Indians (Browns!), and Caucasians (Whites!) in to grades of racial superiority. Looking into the depth of my own inner being, occasioned by certain realities closer to my own heart, a few years ago, I became painfully aware that I myself was emotionally racist while I was intellectually non-racist. In other words, while I was cognitively preaching equality glibly, I had emotional remnants of inequality. To bring our cognition and emotion together, and to integrate our thought and affect with regard to race, caste, religion, and gender is a life-long, gigantic task. I can categorically assert in no uncertain terms that without true integration coming out of this kind of rigorous, relentless, and on-going search for truth, no true spirituality is possible. Certainly, in this endeavor the importance of the Grace of God or the Universal Force of Creation or the Cosmic Energy is never underestimated.

Child Rearing

            Controversial News related to the conviction of an Indian couple living and working in Oslo, Norway, and consequent sentence of jail terms for father and mother for 18 and 15 months respectively has exploded in the Indian horizon yesterday (December 4, 2012). The news as I culled from different newspapers related to parents physically and emotionally punishing their 7-year old son after he urinated or wetted his pants in the school bus. The child is also reported to have behaviour problems. Without a comprehensive evaluation report, the child abuse and the extent of its severity cannot be determined. From the sketchy reports it is not clear whether the child intentionally urinated in the bus or accidentally wetted his pants, whether he has bladder control problem or some kind of Oppositional Defiant Disorder or, for that matter, he simply could not control his urge to urinate as he did not plan for the bus ride young as he was. The stress related to the whole family being transplanted from India to Norway could have been enormous. It could have been considerably worse for a child of such tender age with little coping skills.

            The scenario of the child having emotional or behavioral acting out problems are not rare as I came across these situations while working in a children's psychiatric hospital, and in private practice as a Clinical Psychologist. I directed/co-ordinated a Cooperative Day Treatment Program (CDTP) jointly sponsored by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the St. Louis Special School District in the USA. The CDT Program operated from a well-known Children's Psychiatric Hospital was for children with severe emotional and behavior problems, and could not function in regular schools. From the news reports of the child in question I might conclude that the child might have an adjustment disorder or a mild emotional and/or behavioral problem.

             While we can have have hind-sight 20-20, we need to be very careful in our comments about the Oslo situation. It is good that the Government of India did not get involved in this situation. There are definitely clashes of cultures. But abuse is abuse wherever it occurs. While the West is pushing the envelope, the East is lagging far behind with regard to necessary legislations in the sphere of human rights violations. Parents need be taught about child-rearing and parenting skills, physical and emotional abuse and neglect. Many parents all over the world believe that they can punish their child as if children do not have any rights, or as if children are their property. I remember when I was in St. Louis, USA, a mother told me in connection with a child of hers with severe behavior problems: "I brought him into the world, and I will take him out (kill) if I need to". I was shocked even though she was in extreme stress and frustration at that time. I was also surprised when a member of our Ashram teaching in a school nearby told me a few days ago that teachers come to classes with sticks for compliance. Corporal punishment should be outlawed from all settings. We need to be very careful in not engaging in any kind of verbal and emotional abuse. The world in varying degrees coming out of a culture of feudal, authoritarian and autocratic structures and gross discriminations of all sorts, often we are not even aware of subtle prejudices, discriminations, and abuses. Children belong to this great cosmos. They have been entrusted to us for some years (18?) before they are formed and considered to be majors or adults like ourselves. They are not our possessions to be treated and used and abused any which way. They are the best gifts God/Cosmic Force has given us. They need to be cherished, loved, and respected. They are very fragile, and handled with extreme care. They can give us immense joy. And as the great writer Kahil Gibran said we need to give our children roots and wings: wings so they can soar high and go wherever they want, roots so they can come back and get refreshed for their further adventure. All this can happen only in a climate of unconditional love and acceptance.