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The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma
Ep 382: Kushal Mehra Dives Into Hindu Thought
May 19, 2024
Kushal Mehra, a dharmik skeptic, discusses his intellectual evolution and podcast journey with Amit Varma. They explore atheism in Hindu philosophy, contrasting Western and Indian secular thought, moral relativism, Hindutva origins, BJP's stance on markets, challenges in Indian democracy, and the impact of technology on societal values.
05:30:04
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Quick takeaways
- Childhood influences shaped entrepreneurial mindset and focus on financial security.
- Male bonding and emotional expression are influenced by societal norms and individual behaviors.
- Diverse cultural influences shape emotional communication and authenticity in relationships.
- Charvakas emphasize materialistic understanding and reject supernatural entities for empirical evidence.
- Ancient temples served as central hubs influencing community dynamics beyond worship.
- Balancing personal cosmopolitanism and rootedness in cultural identity is essential for modern individuals.
Deep dives
Childhood Fascination and Influence of Family
From a young age, the fascination with entrepreneurship and freedom drove the desire to become an entrepreneur. Growing up in a household where religion, inquisitiveness, and familial bonds were paramount, the influence of family, especially discussions with cousins and the protective figure of the elder brother, shaped the entrepreneurial mindset. The focus on financial security as a means to achieve freedom was evident even in childhood interactions and aspirations.
Focused Path to Entrepreneurship
The clear goal of entrepreneurship stemmed from valuing freedom as the driving force behind wanting to be an entrepreneur. The inherent desire for financial independence and the belief that money can solve a majority of problems led to a singular focus on building financial security. This goal was nurtured within a familial environment that encouraged discussions, inquisitive thinking, and a blend of religious influences, which helped shape a determined path towards entrepreneurship.
Philosophy of Action and Financial Security
The philosophy of action over the goal was evident in the pursuit of financial security as a means to achieve freedom. The alignment of personal aspirations with the practical goal of entrepreneurship and money-making was rooted in the belief that financial stability facilitates diverse experiences and opportunities. The journey from childhood dreams of entrepreneurship fueled by familial influences to the pursuit of financial security showcases a pragmatic blend of personal values and practical goals.
Male Friendship and Emotional Expression
Male friendship and emotional expression are explored in the context of societal norms and individual behaviors. The importance of expressing emotions and the nuances of male bonding are discussed. The concept of friendship and the different ways men bond with each other are analyzed, shedding light on the intricacies of male friendships.
Freedom to Express Emotion
The discussion delves into the freedom to express emotion and the societal pressures that influence how men show affection and connect with others. The balance between nature and nurture in shaping emotional expression is emphasized, highlighting the need for mutual respect and understanding.
Cultural Influences on Emotional Communication
Cultural influences on emotional communication are examined, focusing on how societal expectations impact male emotional expression. The complexity of navigating societal norms while maintaining authenticity in emotional interactions is explored, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and acceptance in interpersonal relationships.
Existence of Material World and Cessation of Existence
Charvakas advocate materialistic understanding, rejecting supernatural entities, consciousness arises from physical elements. They dismiss creator gods, reject sacrificial practices relying on empirical evidence. Moksha entails cessation of existence. Western atheism, in contrast, is hostile due to blasphemy and apostasy, rituals and monotheistic traits root differences.
Divergence in Hostility and Ritual Practices
Monotheistic roots dictate intolerance to opposing beliefs like Charvakas questioning, contrasting with mutual respect philosophy. Ritual practices in Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Hinduism maintain flexibility even without adherence to central deities. Judaism showcases secularization, promoting openness within rituals.
Monopolistic Monotheism and Pluralistic Traditions
Islam and Christianity's monopolistic traits leave no room for dissenting believers. Contrarily, Indian traditions allow diverse beliefs, transcending souls, and Mandir visits regardless of personal ideologies, fostering community and cultural unity.
The Evolution of Temples in Ancient Times
In ancient times, temples were integral parts of communities and served more than just worship purposes. They acted as central hubs that influenced various aspects of community life. This interconnectedness highlighted the decentralized nature of faith systems, unlike the centralized monotheistic beliefs. The significance of temples extended beyond religious rituals, shaping community dynamics and downstream effects on societal structure and governance.
Impact of Monotheism on Believers
The podcast delves into the implications of monotheism on believers, particularly how monopolistic monotheism influences intellectual beliefs. It emphasizes how individuals emerging from these faith systems might feel intellectually 'homeless' due to their decentralized nature. The difference between being 'intellectually homeless' and having a defined system like in a bottom-up faith structure is highlighted, shedding light on the varied experiences of individuals within different belief frameworks.
Necessity for Rooted Cosmopolitanism in Identity
A discussion in the podcast centers on the concept of rooted cosmopolitanism and its relevance to personal identity. The speaker reflects on their own sense of belonging and highlights the balance between being cosmopolitan yet yearning for rootedness. The exploration of cultural identity and community ties underscores the complexity of navigating modern cultural frameworks while seeking a balance between personal cosmopolitanism and rootedness.
How Freedom Tends to Democracy
The podcast episode explores how political freedom guarantees spiritual freedom in the West, highlighting the contrast with the focus on spiritual freedom in India and the need for balanced political and spiritual values for a more enriching societal future.
The Importance of Discipline and Willpower
Discussion about the significance of discipline and willpower in maintaining a stable personal life, avoiding the negative influence of authoritarian tendencies on social media, and the power of curated habits and offline existence in a digitally driven world.
Cultivating Curiosity and Respect in Conversations
Emphasis on the habit of engaging in conversations with curiosity, respect, and openness, focusing on the value of challenging and evolving one's opinions, highlighting the importance of humility in exploring differing viewpoints, aiming for accuracy over mere opinionation, and the impact of online interactions on offline life.
He describes himself as a dharmik skeptic, and has written a book about how atheism evolved within Hindu philosophy. Kushal Mehra joins Amit Varma in episode 382 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his intellectual evolution-- and his journey as a podcaster. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Kushal Mehra on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and his own website. 2. Nastik: Why I Am Not an Atheist -- Kushal Mehra. 3. The Cārvāka Podcast -- Kushal Mehra's podcast on YouTube. 4. Kushal Mehra's YouTube monologues. 5. 'How We Spend Our Days Is How We Spend Our Lives' -- Amit Varma. 6. Hanlon's Razor. 7. Tim Urban's tweet on getting to know people. 8. The Harm Principle. 9. Deepak VS and the Man Behind His Face — Episode 373 of The Seen and the Unseen. 10. A Life in Indian Politics — Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jayaprakash Narayan). 11. I, Pencil -- Leonard Read. 12. Why People Believe Weird Things -- Michael Shermer. 13. Richard Dawkins on the God of the Old Testament. 14. Vinamre Kasanaa and Prakhar Gupta on YouTube. 15. Kushal Mehra on Dostcast. 16. A Meditation on Form — Amit Varma. 17. Sowmya Dhanaraj Is Making a Difference -- Episode 380 of The Seen and the Unseen. 18. The God Delusion -- Richard Dawkins. 19. Robert Sapolsky’s biology lectures on YouTube. 20. The Evolution of Cooperation -- Robert Axelrod. 21. A Manual for Creating Atheists -- Peter Boghossian. 22. A Godless Congregation — Amit Varma. 23. Tell Me You Love Me -- Amit Varma. 24. Dr Chatterjee and therealnihal's Instagram post on friendship. 25. The New Atheism and the Four Horsemen. 26. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett on Amazon. 27. ‘Wet Streets Cause Rain’ — Michael Crichton. 28. The Big Questions -- Steven Landsburg. 29. Three cultures of atheism: on serious doubts about the existence of God -- Simon Glendinning. 30. Charvaka and Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa. 31. Tattvopaplavasiṃha — Jayarāśi Bhaṭṭa. 32. The Rooted Cosmopolitanism of Sugata Srinivasaraju — Episode 277 of The Seen and the Unseen. 33. Imagine There’s No Svarga: Rediscovering Cārvāka, India’s 2,700-Year-Old Atheistic Tradition -- Kushal Mehra on Quilette. 34. Moral Foundations Theory, proposed by Jonathan Haidt, Craig Joseph and Jesse Graham. 35. Hitchen's Razor. 36. Consciousness Explained -- Daniel Dennett. 37. Who We Are and How We Got Here — David Reich. 38. Soul and Sword: The History of Political Hinduism -- Hindol Sengupta. 39. Hind Swaraj -- MK Gandhi. 40. Yugank Goyal Is out of the Box — Episode 370 of The Seen and the Unseen. 41. Hindutva -- Vinayak Savarkar. 42. Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India -- Akshaya Mukul. 43. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism — Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul). 44. Rangila Rasul. 45. The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva — Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel). 46. The Populist Playbook -- Episode 42 of Everything is Everything. 47. Don't Insult Pasta (2007) -- Amit Varma. 48. Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government Is Holding Indians Back — Subhashish Bhadra. 49. Subhashish Bhadra on Our Dysfunctional State — Episode 333 of The Seen and the Unseen. 50. The Progress of Humanity -- Episode 101 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Steven Pinker). 51. Colours of the Cage -- Arun Ferreira. 52. Modi's Domination: What We Often Overlook -- Keshava Guha. 53. The BJP Before Modi — Episode 202 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vinay Sitapati). 54. Anand -- Hrishikesh Mukherjee. 55. How We Do the Small Things -- Amit Varma. 56. How Not To Get Trolled -- Amit Varma. 57. The Pursuit of Happyness -- Gabriele Muccino.. 58. Andaz Apna Apna -- Rajkumar Santoshi. 59. I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto -- Tupac Shakur. 60. Shiv Kumar Batalvi on Rekhta. 61. Bulleh Shah on Wikipedia. Amit’s newsletter is explosively active again. Subscribe right away to The India Uncut Newsletter! It’s free! Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on YouTube. Check out Amit’s online course, The Art of Clear Writing. Episode art: ‘Study’ by Simahina.
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