Fake Pilgrims? Perfect Example of Tamas (तमस)

September 24, 2012

It is a strange situation when people undertake a pilgrimage that is a saatvik (noble, pure action) activity but becomes an expression of tamas (stupid, thoughtless attitude). This India Today report of the Amarnath yātris who produce fake medical certificates of fitness to go to Amarnath is a sad story. This is a quote from the report:

Dr. Anita Murthy, who volunteered to serve Amarnath yatris at the Baltal base camp, said most of the medical certificates given to the pilgrims certifying that they were fit for the yatra were obtained through fraudulent means. "Their medical certificates are not genuine. Action needs to be taken against doctors who issue such certificates," she said.

According to her, most of the yatris have respiratory, cardiac and orthopaedic problems. "Many yatris do not come with adequate clothing and commence climbing without any acclimatization, attempting to complete the yatra in the shortest possible time.

Bhagavad Geeta 18-25 is a perfect description of the actions of these pilgrims.
अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् |
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ||१८-२५||
anubandha.n kShayaM hi.nsaam-anapekShya cha paurushham.h .
mohaad-aarabhyate karma yattat-taamasam-uchyate .. 18-25..
That "action" which is undertaken from delusion, without regard for the consequence, loss, injury, and ability, is declared to be TAMASIC (dull).

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji says:

Such actors never care for the loss or injury caused to others by their actions, nor do they pay any attention to their own status and ability, when they act. All such careless and irresponsible "actions" undertaken merely because of some delusory misconception of the goal, fall under the Tamasic type.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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