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 --- SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: 
>    From: "Ram Anbil" <Ramanbil@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Overseas travel forbidden-Why?
> Dear Bhagavatas:
> I discussed this issue with several Yathisreshtas
> and Acharyas of Bhagavad 
> Ramanuja- Swami Desika Sampradaayam. I also put
> forward several arguments 
> favoring the ?crossing the oceans?:
 In the absence of such mention, our
> Acharyas deem it "Swaroopa Viruddham" to venture
> abroad.
                  ************

Dear members,
It is heartening indeed to read about the wisdom with
which our sages, "yateeshwara-s" conduct themselves in
this particular matter of going abroad. 

Sanyasins are bound by an age old dharmic code of
conduct. If this code is begun to be broken, and if
sanyasins start taking liberties with it under the
pretext of demands of the modern times, then the Vedic
institution of sannyAsa itself loses meaning and
purpose. In a world where role-models are becoming
increasingly and woefully scarce in every sphere of
life, be it religious or secular, our sannyAsi-s are
perhaps the last remaining exceptions. It makes one
really proud to see that at least they stand firmly
for something ... whatever it may be! 

Apart from all the reasonings put forth about
"anushtAnams" and "Acharam" etc. I think the ancient
"yati dharma" that prohibits sannyAsins from
travelling aboard does so because it is founded upon
ancient wisdom. Here is why I think so:

Whenever religion has been exported out of one country
across the seas to another, history has shown us that
it invariably caused trouble amongst peoples and
societies. Evangelism, proselytization and  crusading
zeal to spread enlightenment across the borders of the
world -- all these activities have always caused much
turmoil and unhappiness in the history of human
affairs. I do not wish to name those religions which
did (and still do) export their faith abroad nor do I
wish to recount here the unhappy consequences of their
efforts. That is a matter of common knowledge. But I
have no doubt in my mind that the history of mankind
would have been far less bloody than we know it is, if
only the leaders of principal religions, in their own
times, had slapped a complete and effective travel-ban
on their respective missionaries, crusaders, apostles
and/or other similarly-named 'soldiers of God' to
leave for foreign shores in the quest to
spread/strengthen religion.   

Of all the religions of the world, it is the Vedic
religion of India alone that had recognized the
inherent danger that there is in the export of
religion. When religion gets exported across the
borders it invariably leads to "himsa". When religion
goes abroad it might begin with the best of intentions
but sooner or later it is sure to tread the usual
trade-routes of mercantilism. What begins first as
"prachAram" soon turns into flourishing "vyAbAram".
And where trade and commerce go, there politics too
soon follows... And wherever commerce and politics
converge, can war or strife be far behind?  

The Vedic religion prohibited its sannyAsins from
going abroad because it clearly saw the wisdom of
drawing cultural borders exactly where geographical
limits ended. Our sannyAsins and achAryAs had no
interest in furthering their ministries beyond the
shores of India because they grasped clearly that it
would really serve neither the interests of world-
peace nor the happiness of peoples across seas. Our
great 'sannyAsis' sought to conquer 'brahmalOka' (as
the Mahanarayana Upanishad says) i.e. the territory of
the spirit, the kingdom of God... They saw little  use
in the expansion of mere terrestrial influence. 

It was because of this unique Vedic travel-ban on
sages and sannyAsins, and the consequent barrier to
the possibility of any aggressive sort of export of
religion from out of India --- it is for this reason
that we can surely say India and Indian civilization
has never once carried out aggression -- military,
ideological, imperialist or otherwise -- we have never
carried out aggression anywhere outside our borders.
The greatness of India lies in its dharma indeed --
the dharma that respects, and which scrupulously
refuses to encroach upon, not only geographical but
cultural borders too. 

It is thanks to our sannyAsins that we Indians can
today hold our heads high and say that we belong to an
ancient civilization of nobility and wisdom.    

Regards,
Humbly,

dAsan,
Sudarshan

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