Spiritual Capitalism
To
rail against undifferentiated capitalism is passé; industrial and finance
capitalisms have been through multiple sieves (each convulsion they experience,
albeit temporarily is a sieve) but have come out unscathed.
However,
I know only a few episodes of danger to spiritual capitalism – Martin Luther in
Christianity, perhaps the split in Islam, and some in the Hindu pantheon of
gods and saints (the contest among Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita schools
of philosophy).
In
northern India, Diwali is celebrated as the day of crowning of Lord Ram
upon his return to Ayodhya. In the south (at least among TamBrahms), Deepavali
(note the difference in spelling between the north and the south for the same
festival) is celebrated as the day Lord Krishna killed a demon. Then, with such
basic difference in the reason for the celebration, why do I call it the same
festival? What makes it so? Gift giving! It had taken some years for this
disease to catch on in the south, spreading from the north, but it indeed has.
Stupidity has no bounds and is a vicious spreader, more so than COVID-19!
Read
this
essay to understand what Baruch Spinoza was–a Sephardic Jew–and what he became,
an atheist. Was there any other kind of Jew? Yes, Ashkenazi Jew. These two may
not even be fraternal twins as the two have a variety of differences, yet they must
be just tolerating each other. However, it appears that gift–giving is moderated;
only sweets and perhaps toys to children during Hanukkah.
The
day after Thanksgiving in the US is the foremost example of such a
differentiated capitalism. I do not how it is now, but decades earlier the
Friday after Thanksgiving was the official start of Christmas purchases.
In other words, that was when spirit and commerce (abbreviations
of Spiritualism and Commercialism) became unified. Most probably it is the
Department of Commerce that calculates the per day take by commercial enterprises
(you would repeatedly come across, “Commerce clause” as given in their
Constitution, in discussions on how any particular law would affect it if, for
example, marijuana is taken across state lines!) during the Christmas season. A
season for Christmas? Mary really would have had a very difficult time giving
birth to Jesus! Thanks Giving is not a religious holiday. Therefore no
gifts to be given or received on that day!
In
England, I learn that Boxing Day is the day after Christmas. Why not Christmas
day? There lies an element of commerce, between masters and labourers. Masters
needed the services of the labourers on Christmas Day. Therefore, labourers
cannot afford to enjoy unwrapping the presents under the watchful eyes of
Ebenezer Scrooge. Hence, the next day, which the masters have so graciously and
benevolently declared a holiday!
All
said, Spiritual Capitalism flourishes across religions.
Amen,
Tathastu, Shalom, As-salamu alaykum ...
Raghuram
Ekambaram
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