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CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION OF THE SURVEY RESULTS
6.4. Discussion of Objective Three: Identification and analysis of interpersonal means used to provide information by reformed Hindu organisations
6.4.1. Review of question 3.1
esteem by Hindus, especially those who seek religious guidance. The religious leaders belong to various schools of ideology and philosophy.
Reformed Hindu organisations often used texts and documents written by the founders of their organisations and the works of authors with academic credentials. The works of authors who received their knowledge through higher divine power was acknowledged by 13 reformed Hindu organisations. Such knowledge came from long periods of deep meditation and living as hermits or through interaction with other individuals who had such powers.
This knowledge has to be disseminated to devotees for their spiritual growth.
6.4. Discussion of Objective Three: Identification and analysis of interpersonal
organisations to be educated/intellectual individuals who often did read religious and cultural material of their own free will.
Use of non-print media
Websites, videos, films, drama presentations, and slide presentations were also used to disseminate religious and cultural information. These methods of dissemination sparked interest in devotees whose numbers increased when such presentations were announced early enough. A few organisations used a balanced approach which involved the distribution of printed material and included an oral explanation of the contents of the printed material.
A host of methods of information dissemination was used by the various reformed Hindu organisations. The most popular non-print methods of information distribution were talks and CDs. Talks were popular because of the intimate atmosphere that existed in the ashram where devotees were familiar with each other and their swami, guru or religious leader. The direct nature of the exchange of information made the information acceptable and devotees paid attention to what was said. Talks were also popular because such presentations allowed for questions and answers.
The use of CDs to disseminate religious and cultural information was also a common choice with 11 organisations. Many of the CDs that the researcher encountered had recordings of religious music, talks delivered by religious leaders and the chanting of mantras. The DVDs that were used included interactive copies of religious texts like the Bhagavad-Gita. A few DVDs contained religious stories for young children in a cartoon-style format like the Stories of Hamiman.
Commercial videos and films from India were shown to devotees. A few videos and films about the spiritual journeys of saints and their teachings were viewed by devotees. Films shown to devotees were essentially art films that contained strong moral storylines or had dance routines based on Indian classical dance form.
Dissemination of information about the organisation, nationally or internationally, was done through websites. There were only seven reformed Hindu organisations that had their own websites which included information regarding the South African branches.
Cassettes of recordings of religious songs, mantras and talks given by religious leaders were found in library collections.
Sketches were used as a means of information dissemination to entertain and to inform the devotees of religious and moral teachings. Seminars and story-telling were popular methods of information provision. Workshops were also used as a means of disseminating religious and cultural information.
Television programmes were used to spread teachings of Hinduism, to explain the celebrations and festivals celebrated by Hindus. Interviews regarding a number of topics that affected Hindus were done for radio, particularly Lotus FM. VCDs, computer programmes, and slides were also used in efforts to provide information to devotees.
Problems associated with non-print methods of information dissemination
There were organisations that owned electronic equipment and had regular devotees in charge of setting up and maintaining the equipment. These organisations did not experience any problems when using electronic equipment. However, three organisations found it financially difficult to maintain faulty equipment or found that the equipment that had been hired or borrowed was faulty. Six representatives cited the forgetfulness of devotees as a reason for not using non-print methods to disseminate information. Five reformed Hindu organisations had limited access to other formats and equipment as they could not afford to buy the equipment or to loan it regularly. Their devotees, too, generally had little or no access to such formats, for example, devotees did not have access to the Internet at home or devotees did not possess DVD-players. There was also a lack of interest among devotees in using such media outside the ashram.
Two reformed Hindu organisations had problems in transferring talks from the cassette formats to CD format. A lack of interested individuals and those with skill for such tasks was seen as a problem. People with skill or interest had to be found and coerced into doing the job.
The setting of dates for devotees to attend functions where different kinds of media could be used to disseminate information was problematic. Other problems associated with the use of
non-print media were: devotees found that the information had little meaning when none of the religious leaders gave live explanations; piracy, for example, CDs had been illegally copied and sold; and getting appropriate speakers for the sathsang.
Locations/venues/circumstances for information provision outside the temple/ashram Reformed Hindu organisations found that invitations from other Hindu organisations were good circumstances to distribute pamphlets, issue invitations or to inform other Hindus, through talks, about the activities, programmes and teachings. Special mass functions held at public places like the municipal grounds, or community halls were used to disseminate information to Hindus. Fairs held by community organisations, invitations to schools, higher educational institutions and business houses were considered good opportunities for information dissemination. Special campaigns, like visiting markets, malls and popular family picnic spots, were organised to disseminate information.
Individuals responsible for information dissemination of print and non-print media The services of senior members were sought to disseminate information orally to devotees and interested individuals. Reasons forwarded for the choice of senior members included:
maturity of the individuals, stability of characters and knowledge of the teachings and working of the organisation.
Members who had training and practice were chosen as information officers in four of the organisations. The number of information officers varied from two to six. These were individuals who understood the needs and plans of the organisation. Generally older members who had been with the organisation for a fairly long period of time were used as information officers. Such members understood the religious teachings of the organisation and could answer questions put forward by interested individuals.