Cultural Digestion: The digestion of one culture(dominant) is carried out by other under

the guise of a desire to assimilate, reduce the difference and assert the sameness in
place of less dominant culture.
As a result the less dominant culture loses its cultural or traditional values which are
absorbed by the dominant culture and becomes part of it.

Few examples of Digestion:

Digestions Completed:
Christmas Tree/Easter has been digested from Pagans and now are widely accepted as
part of Christianity.

Digestion in Progress:
Surya Namaskar => SON Salutation (SON here refers to Son of GOD)
Yoga ==> Christian Yoga (However the term YOG remains. This is
the power of Sanskrit-Non Transalatables)

Significance of Non-Translatability of Sanskrit

In Chapter 5 of Being Different, the author primarily asserts that "holding on to Sanskrit
terms and thereby preserving the complete range of their meanings becomes a way of
resisting colonization.
The non-translatability of Sanskrit is important for non-digestibility of Indian traditions
Since there is a whole philoshiphy behind Sanskrit work as you will see below.

As evident from the word YOG remains as Sanskrit and could not be translated
into Exercise, Prayer or Gymnastic. The non-translatability would ensure that YOG is
a Sanskrit word and hence originated in India and thus preserve the whole philosophy of
Yog.


Here are the lists of important Non-Translatable Sanskrit words for the Book (and why
they should not be translated to its "equivalent" English meaning)

BRAHMAN
IS NOT
SAME AS GOD
Brahman comes from root word 'brih'
means to expand.
The all expansive ultimate reality that
creates all,lives in all and transcends all

In Judaism, GOD was seen on
Mount Sinai who is creator of
universe
Brahman is the cosmons and reside in all

In Judeo-Christian sense GOD
of us unrelized as atman is separate from universe

Brahman is not authorative or punitive

GOD is authoratative and
punishes those who transgress
rule and do not follow HIS
religion

Ishwara, Brahman, Devta and Bhagwan
all have different meaning and context

They all can not be replace by
GOD like uncle doest not
necessarity means chaha,
mama etc always





ATMAN
IS NOT
SAME AS SOUL
In dharmic tradition, the true nature of
self is 'sat-chit-anand''

In Christianity,all human are
born as sinner due to original
sin by adam-eve.Hence the true
nature of self is 'sinful'
The true nature of self can be realised
with sadhna or adhyatam vidya

Only through Jesus, soul can
attain salvation

Atman is also present in plants and
animal. Hence the nature is as sacred as
the self.

Soul is NOT PRESENT in plants
and animal. In Bible, GOD gave
mankind dominion over plants
or animal

Atman reincarnate. Hence the body is
cremated once atman has departed

Sould DOES NOT
reincarnate.Hence in christianity
you get only one body that must
be preserved till the 'end time'















DHRAMA
IS NOT
SAME AS RELIGION
Dharma comes from sanskrit word 'dhri'
which means
'that which upholds' or
'that without which nothing can stand' or
''that which maintain stability and
harmony of universe''

Religion is worship of divine that
is separate from human, has
religious institution/authority and
governed
Has set of rituals
Is based on an event that
happened some time in
history(Hence all abrahmic
religion ie Judaism, Chrisitanity
and Islam are history-centric)
Dharma is
conduct,duty,justice,morality,virtue,right
but is still not complete

No such explanation for Religion

Dharma is not LAW as law is
authoratative

Western religion believe GOD's
law must be obeyed and hence
non-followers must be
converted or punished
Dharma is not only for human. Animal or
Plants have dharma but not religion.
Electron have dharma but not religion

Religion is only for human



















MURTI
IS NOT
SAME AS IDOL
Sanskrti word 'murti' means real,
awakened and expressive of divine sprit

In Christianity, If an object is
revered/respected but not
worshipped is termed as
'ICONS' but if elevated as divine
status is called 'IDOLS'.
In Orthodox christianity,
icons/images are KISSED,
TOUCHED, REVERED,
RESPECTED but 'technically'
not worshipped. So what
christians revered are ICONS
while images/murtis/devotional
objects were termed as IDOLS
(and not ICONS)
Prana-Pratishtha' pooja is the ritual of
infusing the images/murtis with prana or
divine energy. Its only after prana-
pratishtha pooja is offered to murtis

No such thing happens with
idols


Visarjan is the ritual of throwing the murti
to holy water to encourage detachment
from the murti ie encourages non-
attachment to murtis
No such things happens with
idols
As per Aurobindo, its not the stone but
the divine presence/energy figured in the
murti that the prayer is offered

-












GURU or RISHI or YOGI
IS NOT
SAME AS PROPHET or SAINT
Guru is one who guides individual
disciple's sadhna

Saint is one who is dead now
and church recognized him
enjoying the bliss as promised
in christianity
Yogi/Rishi is one who devote his life to
attain highest level of consciousness

Most Saint were martyrs of
spreading christianity


Prophet is one chosen by GOD
to communicate with human


Saint/Prophet do not attain any
advancement in meditation or
enlightenment


Some other Sanskrit Non Translatable are:
Salvation Moksha
Karma Suffering
yajna Sacrifice
Devta Pagan God
Kundalini or Shakti Holy Sprit
Avatar Jesus
Jati or Varna Caste
Veda Bible

Why this Book?
In one line, this book is all about Reversing the Gaze. So far European/American
Indologists have been studying india and mapping its culture/tradition onto their own
framework.In this book author has tried to study Abrahmic tradition from Dharmic point
of view and has highlighted the difference between the two. The intention is not to claim
one is superior or other but to understand them as DIFFERENT.
Other important chapters and concepts highlighted in the books are
a) Mutual Respect between Religions vs Tolerance
b) Difference anxiety
c) Why Abrahamic traditions are classified as History-Centric and Dharmic
traditions based on Embodied Knowledge or Adhyatma-Vidya
d) How Yog can lead to Freedom from History-Centrism
e) Why Dharmic traditions are more comfortable with Chaos & Why Abrahamic
traditions have urge to set the Order
f) Sanskrit & Pan-Asia civilizations, Sanskrit Non-Translatables

Useful Links:
Being Different Book
Rajiv Malhotra's Youtube Channel
Being Different Discussion Forum