Identity question

Recently we had a discussion on ‘identity’ for the question ‘Who you are and What you are’.  The bhakta, who raised this discussion, said that as a bhakta for him his identity as a devotee of God is more important which could settle other issues regarding ‘identity’ based on ‘sociology and anthropology’.  But for me, the main criterion in identity is ‘relationship’.  Particularly our human identity is always decided by this one criterion of ‘relationship’.  Here even the identity as a ‘bhakta’ too is mainly based on relationship with God.  Because the very word ‘bhakti’ derived from the root ‘baj’ stands for relationship.

Next, any ontological or epistemological understanding of identity based on our relationship only with God is not enough as our identity as a bhakta is tested through the categories of sociological and anthropological factors too.  Any bhakti, particularly with God if not tested and reflected in our relationship with others won’t withstand in the current of life.  The sociological criteria will not only test the authenticity of such bhakti, but also will help us to understand how true our bhakti in God is.

At least in India, bhakti has created some kind of ‘other worldliness’ in the minds of people not to have sociological dimensions to demonstrate it.  This does not mean that there is no sociological concern in India.  From time in memorial, we have it as part of our dharmic value, but it is not centered (anchored) in God.  Dharma, Karma and Rin(a) could be the main factors to decide one’s social and other obligations.  As part of duty (dharma), or because of one’s own karma or to dispose of the debt (rin), with which each one is born, guide one to carry her sociological obligation.  But bhakti could work independently from all this.  That is why morality (ethics) can be easily set aside from bhakti.

So for me my identity begins and ends with my relationship both with God and fellow human beings. 

 Db.

August, 20, 2013