�鶹��

Available for over a year

On Monday, Reynhard Sinaga, described by the Crown Prosecution Service as the “most prolific rapist in British legal history” was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail. Despite the tally of 136 counts of rape, police detectives believe that there are many more victims. Indeed, many assaulted by Sinaga were unaware until police informed them. This has raised the issue if it is right or beneficial to tell someone they were criminally abused. Might it be better not to know? Or does it help to know the full truth – even if upsetting - so that one can start to deal with the fallout and resultant emotions? I imagine that the answer varies from person to person. But, for those who have been confronted with the facts – Hinduism suggests that they are at least armed for progress. As the Upanishads say: “when we go from untruth to truth, we may advance from darkness to light.” The Bhagavat Purana tells the story of a king who witnesses the scene of a ruthless villain beating and degrading the personification of Dharma. The king immediately arrests & is ready to punish the villain. So, he asks Dharma for his testimony: “Tell me the perpetrator of your suffering?” Dharma is satisfied that justice and order has prevailed; the criminal has been apprehended and is no longer a danger to society. So, he uses the king’s question to explore how he, as the victim, may cope and move forward. Dharma replies: “Great thinkers have offered many answers to the question of what is the cause of my suffering. And each of them offers some form of solace and resolution. Some might say I was just unlucky – in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others conclude that even if such events have a cause beyond the immediate – no one can ever ascertain why they happen. Some people suggest our own actions play a part. If so, I may consider what I could do to be less vulnerable in future. Or, perhaps I am part of a bigger picture – a soul travelling in eternal time. Sometimes I meet with good; and sometimes evil. In any case, I find that if I carry the distress of a bad event with me, I perpetuate my pain. So, I try to replace my hurt from unfortunate circumstances with the joy of my relationships – particularly in the unwavering love of my eternal Lord.” My heart goes out to those afflicted by Sinaga’s crimes. It is impossible to know what the victims are going through but I hope that now justice has been served, they may find strength, support and peace and feel enabled to cherish their future.