There are many Hindus who also respect the RSS for waking up early, exercising and doing the Holy stuff, sacrificing, living up to culture and tradition inspite of odds and even ridicule of the other cool cats of Hindus.
That is their way.
And yet.........
I don't find it very laudable unless one is a secret RSS chap at heart but weak in flesh to follow it.
Many cool Hindus also take their hats off to the RSS chaps even if they don't vote for the BJP!
Fortunately, I don't classify to be either (RSS or cool Hindu) not being in their fold in a religion way!
Sir, you missed the point. I talked about the chaps strict routine, which goes far beyond mere cosmetics!
And I similarly would respect every single Hindu, RSS or not, for their devotion to their religion.
Being a liberal person doesn't mean I should be automatically anti-religion.
I'm a spiritual person, and nothing can be a more spiritual experience than waking up at early dawn and indulging in some prayers and spirituality. It's one of the most serene experiences, no matter which religion you belong to or your method of worship. I admit that I usually tend to get lazy and don't keep up with the routine, but it certainly isn't pointless and I respect every person who can!
RSS doesn't quite figure into this because they are a political group and their projected ideology is outwards, whereelse spirituality is personal. Yet, this doesn't mean that any Hindu who wakes up early dawn, does the surya namaskar or other Hindu prayers/beliefs is automatically an RSS or a "cool Hindu"!
I don't imagine anyone waking up early in the morning before dawn to indulge in some spirituality, and than go about telling every person they encounter throughout the day of their amazing feat.
It's a personal thing.
I only mentioned it about the chap since I lived with him and knew his routine, otherwise, I would never have known!
Rituals are not important. Genuine Faith and Belief is!
Tell me, how does wearing those baggy underwear makes any a superior Sikh or wearing the sacred thread a better Brahmin and a Hindu and doing the Surya Namaskar in the pond?
Sir, every religion's rituals have differing significance. While the Hindu rituals such as Surya Namaskar actually find use in Yoga and meditation exercises, Sikh dress codes, such as the Kachera or the Kirpan is suppose to bring about a code of conduct and discipline. It is akin to asking, how do Military drills, formal military uniforms and military traditions such as saluting make one a better soldier than the rest? That is an easy one. It makes for better discipline and organization, which in turn makes for better leaders and maketh the man! Same way, this teaches discipline and organization, so folks can loose the procrastinating lifestyle and become more constructive and progressive people.
Or wearing a Cross that is so huge that it braises the skin being a better Christian or knocking your head harder on the floor for Namaz and getting a horrid callous on the head a better Muslim?
It doesn't. All would agree with that.
No sir, religion and humanity is in your heart and deed and not in showmanship of religiosity i.e. rituals!
And sir, we are not talking about the chaps who indulge in showmanship. They do not know spirituality.