INTERFAITH, FUSION
OF FAITHS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH
May I draw your kind attention to an
exciting Nashville community news item forwarded by one of my participants as follows!
“This is a remarkable opportunity to engage
with our community, celebrating our shared commonalities and significant
distinctions as well as deepening our connections to the Nashville community,”
Zeppos said. The chancellor announced the semi-annual bus tours during his Fall
Faculty Assembly address as part of his commitment to cross-institutional
collaboration and community outreach.
November
5 Interfaith Tour visited the Sri Ganesha Temple and the Hindu Cultural
Center of Tennessee,
where Radha Reddy, a founding board member, greeted the group. The center was
formed in 1980, and the current temple was completed in 1991. There the group
enjoyed a vegetarian lunch in keeping with Hindu customs”
In fact few years back
Rama Kaushik then Chairman of Baal
Vihaar Ganesha Temple Sunday School started taking young students on a visit
not only to local Gurudwara (Sikh Center) and Buddhist center but also to
Various Abrahamic Religious centers of Nashville to inculcate in them
Religious tolerance and promoting peace
and harmony among various faiths
followers living together. I believe there are no Jain centers in Nashville.
I am sure Radha Babu with her long experience with Sunday
School of sri Ganesha Temple would have educated the crowd how Hinduism coming
out of Eternal Tradition, Sanatana Dharma propagates Devo Ekah--There is only One Truth and One god; Eko Viprah bahudaa vadanti – The One
pundits call many; Vasudeva Kutumbakam—whole
world is one family and “sarvejanaah
sukhinoo bhavantu”—May all people on Earth live happily etc., based on
wisdom of Vedas.
Such a welcome of children and teachers of all
faiths to a Hindu Temple is impossible in India. Here again Hindu Americans
have opened the gates of the temple to all faiths not because of their policy of following Sanatana Dharma and its wall-less religion but because of
their compulsion and necessity as many of their children find their partners
from other faiths mostly white race as Hindus have a fad for white skin and
complexion and also attracted by universal binding force of love that believes
in no walls. At the same time I see practically very
little influence of Sanatana Dharma in
sectarian worship and celebration of festivals and conduct of rituals dictated
by sectarian trained priests and practices of Hindu Religion copied from India.
So this
superficial open-for-all Temple policy of Hindu Americans is more a
social compulsion than understanding
wall-less Sanatana Dharma and its propagation. This is evident from their focus on deities like Ganesha with sweet pudding in his
hands and Bala Krishna with butter
in his hands instead of Skanda as Guru Guha and Krishna as the preacher of Gita. Krisahna as a love-loran deity with his childhood love Radha is more popular rather than Panduranga
Vitthala who stood on brick waiting for his devotee and anxious to meet Rukmini
legally wedded wife who left him in
despair. Also very powerful deity like Venkatesahwara who is Universal Lord hailed in all Esoteric
East-West Sanat Kumara Traditions as Jagannatha glorified in Puri Jagannath is
not propagated properly but focused as
another mythological deity of Kaliyuga! !
It clearly shows how Hindu American
though drawn from top ten percent of intellectuals are happy at Kindergarten level of Religion
like majority in India meant for majority
who are illiterates rather than advancing further and focus on Spirituality and
Universal Oneness of Sanatana Dharma strongly promoted by Swami Vivekananda so
badly needed in USA. We have to go a long way to turn back to the
Vedic days and Esoteric East West tradition of Sanat kumara to take pride in
our Temple Traditions and openly declare “Vasudeiva
Kutumbakam”- Whole world is one family. That is why many Western cultures
in USA are more attracted to Buddhism than Hinduism.
\
I know in my younger days how people used to
respect white skins in India saying “Durai vandaru’’ Lord has come when they
see a White British. With all the laws prevailing in India which
is secular Temples are exclusively for Hindus. Churches in India have open-for-all
policy. When I was in school I have visited Santhome church and church on St. Thomas
Mount with all children of all faiths. Recently after convincing my Chairman about the noble ideals of Sanatana
Dharma I visited Chennai with him. He was eager to visit Ancient churches and
temples in Chennai. I visited Santhome Church and Velanganni Amman Temple in
Chennai. I was afraid to take him to Srivaihnava Parthasarthy Temple as
Vaishnavites are very conservative and orthodox unlike me (I am an Iyengar). I thought Saivites are more open and
adjustable and so took him to Kapali temple in Mylapore. I was able to get into
the Temple with the Chairman whose appearance clearly indicated that he was a
White Westerner and not a Hindu. Even in the outside prakaara we were shouted down
by two dark skinned priests shouting at me as to take away that phirangee
(white man) as he was polluting the temple. Fortunately my friend did not
understand Tamil and I just told him that these priests were telling that there
is stampede inside and want us not to go in. I managed the situation thus and
whisked him away! See how the noble ideals of Sanatana dharma are operating in
India! These priests could have been mistaken for African Americans if they were in USA! In
spite of the temple Entry Bill opening the temples to all Harijans Caste Hindus
can’t tolerate visit of Harijans to temples if they know they are Harijans.
But they can’t stop if they are Neo-Buddhist
(harijan converts) which movement Dr. Ambedkar started. In Karnataka Ramanuja
the Vaishnav saint of 12th century admitted lot of these
down-castes to Vaishnmavism and gave
them the right to wear Srivaishnava Symbol of Urdhwa Pundram (namam—two
parallel lines of White china clay mark with the middle streak of red vermillion)
and ordered that once a year they should all be permitted to the temple in
Melukote (Thiru Narayuana Puram) which tradition you can see still today when
large crowds of Harijans enter the Temple declaring themselves openly as
Harijans enter the temple. It is
unfortunate Orthodox Vaishnavites avoid the temple visit on that day!
Theoretically Radha Babu will be right if she
had described Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma. But unfortunately Hindus in India have built several walls like sectarian
walls, cultural walls, traditional walls etc.,
within Hinduism moving away from Sanatana Dharma with no walls, open to
all with no sex, caste, tradition or race consideration. They often forget Hinduism itself has been
carved out of many races like Hans, Yavanas,
Gandharas, Saindhavas etc. It had
such an open policy in the ancient past practicing Sanatan Dharma. Hinduism as is practiced today in India is widely moved away from Universal Oneness
of Sanatana Dharma influenced by later texts and reforms by Sankara with his
Shanmata and Panchayatana Puja and is
working more as Abrahamic Religions.
Hinduism is a more recent nomenclature given to a conglomeration of
heterogeneous traditions and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long
history of development from the Vedic (that which has originated from Vedas—the
four ancient texts which contain the core of Hindu Philosophy and
beliefs)sacrificial religion through the worship of epic and Puranic heroes and
personal deities, cults and sects, as well as philosophical system
rather than to a monolithic tradition or structure based on a single system of
beliefs and worships or single text as scripture. Today it draws lot of support from Bhagavad
Gita which itself is a compendium of all Upanishads and philosophic thoughts. Gita
says world needs different religions, cults, and deities to meet the
vastly different needs of individuals. It has thus moved away from Universal
Oneness of Sanatana Dharma which Vivekananda wanted bring back and argued Vedanta is the Religion of
the Future in his Chicago address
to World Forum of Religions.
Evidently Hindu Americans drawn from the
global forum majority coming from India have their own problems. Gradually
their children have broken all religious, tradition and culture walls and are
attracted to white race partners which
number is increasing. Hindu American philanthropists in their anxiety to
quickly establish Hindu culture for the benefit of HHHHhhindu society have built several Temples as One
Temple for Many Traditions in cities where they are settled. Having no religious background or sectarian
held views if religious these
philanthropists having no time for religious activities bogged down by their
focus to build fortune and career mostly
depend on sectarian trained priests and sectarian advices from India. In
frustration some rich and prosperous groups have also started their own
Gurudwaras, Swami Narayan Temples and SaibabaTemples adding confusion instead
of Unification and fail to lead the country spiritually. Only Hindus are well
suited for Inter-faith discussions and gradually move towards fusion leading to
Universal Oneness and Peace.
Unfortunately this is coming more from Abrahamic religions who are frustrated
with their own religion and worried about the
fights and killings that are going on in the name of religion and
atheism alarmingly raising.
Over a decade I have been delivering several
discourses focused on these Hindu American problems and how Hindu Americans
should raise to the situation and lead the country in spirituality and Universal Oneness, Swami
Vivekananda dreamt of. For this they
should prepare themselves first by setting their house in order breaking the
sectarian oriented Temple Traditions By consolidating deities and focusing on
deities like Venkateswara, Jagannatha, Skanda and Sanat Kumara Traditions that
are not only acceptable all Hindus and religions that came out of Sanatana
Dharma but also Abrahamic religions which was in existence 2000 years before as Esoteric East
West Sanatkumara Tradition.
I expected any Hindu cultural or Religious Society or temple society would grab my free offer to
dedicate my work for the cause, appoint an
expert committee to review them and bring them in
a book format for the benefit Hindu community in USA. No such book is
available at one source as far as my
knowledge goes for my approais one of evolution and not an abrupt change or
dictation. From the appreciations
received from several people I believe no such compilation oriented to Hindu
American community is available anywhere.
Strangely it has caught the attention of an Inter-faith group who are
seriously considering to edit properly and bring forth a book for the benefit
of all Americans while struggling for finance resourcing. I am not sure of its fate. I have done my job
and willing to offer the same free for any good cause.
I give below all the discourses suitable for
Inter-faith dialogue, Fusion of religions for happy living, Community Outreach and Universal Oneness. You
may go through them and decide for yourselves how they differ from existing
literature or the way they are rendered. I have tried to bridge the gap between
theory and practice and also gone deep into scriptures of Abrahamic religions
whom we want to outreach or live in harmony with
ETERNAL TRADITION (SINDHU TATTVA) FOR COMMUNITY OUT-REACH, INTERFAITH & FUSION OF FAITH
L. TOPICS ON HINDU AMERICAN’S INTERACTION WITH MAJOR
CULTURES OF USA
1. Wisdom of Geeta’s Teaching and
Bible’s Preaching (August 2011)
2. Christianity Echoes Wisdom Thoughts of
Eternal Tradition (DEC 2011)
3. US court says Atheism is a Religion; Hindu
Sanatanists say Hinduism is not a Religion (Oct 2013)
4. “In God We
Trust“, “E Pluribus Unum” and “Satyameva Jayate”
(March 2012)
5.
Samhain Eve—Spiritual alternative to Halloween Night (Oct 2013)
6.
Did Holy Blazing Fire and Bizarre Colors inspire Christianity and Color Run?
(April 2014)
7. Hindu Reflections on Mating season Festival
that inspired St. Valentine’s Religious Festival (Feb 2014)
8. Hindu Reflections on Eclipses and Blood Moon (April 2014)
9. Satanic Nine/Eleven and Spiritual
Nine/Eleven (September 2014)
10. How Religious Valentine’s Day can be
Adapted by Hindu Mode of worship) (Feb 2015)
11. Vedic Soma Yajnas and their
Imprint on Christian Eucharist Rituals (October 2015)
12. International Yoga day and the Legacy of
Yoga to Mankind (June 2015)
13. Let us Foster and Spread the Message of
Peace around the World (January 2014)
14. Did Bharatiyas Help the Growth
of Christianity ( December 2014)
M. HINDU AMERICAN HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS
1. Thanksgiving Day Celebration in Hindu
Temples of America (Nov 2011)
2. Festival of Lights—Ancient in
Tradition; Universal in Appeal (Dec 2011)
3. January 1—Hindu American Worship in
Temples (Dec 2011)
4. Hindu American Perception of Mother’s
day Celebration (May 2012)
5. Wise Advice and Prayers from Vedas
for Graduation Day Celebration (May 2012)
6. Hindu American Way of Father’s Day
Celebration (Pitru devo bhava) (June 2012)
7. Graduation Day Worship in North
American Hindu Temples (June 2013)
8. Father’s day Worship in
American Churches and Hindu Temples (June 2013)
9. Hindu American Thoughts on
Thanksgiving Day (Nov 2013)
10. Hindu Reflections on Christmas-tree and
Lighting (Dec 2013)
11. Why do Hindus rush to Temples to Celebrate
New Year? (Dec 2013)
12. Mother’s day—A Day for Veneration and
Worship ( May 2014)
13. Philosophically Thinking about Father’s
Day (June 2014)
14. Hindu American Way of Labor Day
Celebration (Sept 2012)
15. Thoughts on Earth Day from Hindu
Reflections (May 2013)
16. Hindu American Thoughts on Grand Parent’s
Day (Sept 2013)
17. West Meets East Traditions during
Spiritual Deepaavali Season (Nov 2013)
18. Thinking of Transcendental Pi and Brahman
on March 14 [American Pi Day] (March 2014)
19. Let Us Center Ourselves Widening Our Vision
of Festival of Lights (Dec 2014)
20. Thinking of Mother Earth on Mother's Day
(May 2015)
21. Hindu American Religious and Philosophical
Thoughts about Father's Day (June 2015)
22. Hindu worship of Weapons, Tools and
Universal Crafts Person led to Labor Day Celebrations (October 2013)
PRELUDE TOPICS INTRODUCING SANATANA DHARMA
1.
Hindu Education System through the Ages (Sept 2011)
3. US court says Atheism is a Religion; Hindu
Sanatanists say Hinduism is not a Religion (Oct 2013)
3. Let us Turn Spiritual and Strive to Make All
Spiritual (July 2016)
4. Sanaatana
Dharma is for the World, Not for Hindus Alone- (Jan 2012)
5.
Enigmatic Hindu Gods Asvins who influenced Western Culture (Jan 2015)
6.
Early and Medieval Hindus Contribution To Science and Technology (September
2010)
7. Modern Science in Hindu scriptures ….. (Jan
2016)
8.
Hasrtinapura, the City of Wisdom near Buenos Aires (October 2015)
9. Did Vajasaneyee Samhita inspire worship in
all cultures (Feb 2015)
10.
Science Spirituality and Religion… (April 2015)
11. Festival of lights—Ancient tradition of
universal Appeal
13. Let us center ourselves spiritual Wisdom…on
Festival of Lights (Dec 2014)
14.
Vedanta r Religion—Everlasting…. (May 2016)
15.
Uncommon Understanding of the Unknown…….. (April 2016)
16.
Love is Universal Binding Force…… (Feb 2016)
17.
Why I am called Hindu ….. (Nov 2015)
18.
Vedic Soma Yajana………. Eucharist Rituals
(Oct 2015)
19. International Yoga Day and the Legacy of Yoga
to Mankind (June 2015)
20. Did Bharatiya’s help the Growth of
Christianity (Dec 2014)
21. Hindu Reflections on Mating
Season… that inspired Valentine’s Day (2/10/2014)
22. Hindu reflections on Christmas
Tree and Lighting (12/28/2013)
23 Let us Foster and spreads the
message of peace around the world
(1/9/2014)
24.
Hindus are most Suited to Promote Spirituality the World Needs Today (July
2016)
TOPICS YET TO BE
POSTED
1. Need for
Spiritual Education
2. Skanda, Hindu God is Sanat Kumara in Many
Faiths & Tradition
3. Venkateswara is
Sanat Kumara who casts his Magic Spell
on Millions
4. Let us
Consolidate Temple Traditions started by Adi Sankara
5. Hinduism as world Religion
All Topics need to be arranged
properly for continuity and sequence
(The
month and year of publication in the blog is indicated against each discourse
within brackets).
A BIRDS-EYE-VIEW OF HINDUISM
Besides
I have another set of discourses that are suitable to all Hindus as a general
one source guide. Here again you will not find such a compendium all at one
source to the best of my knowledge:
H. TEMPLE, TEMPLE WORSHIP AND PILGRIM CENTERS (14 Discourses)
E. HINDU
GODS AND GODDESSES (32 Discourses)
A. HINDU FESTVALS (35 Discourses)
B.
HINDU RITUALS (13 Discourses)
F. YAJNA, HOMA AND SELECTED MANTRAS IN HINDU
WORSHIP (25 Discourses)
C. HINDU SAMSKAARAS (11 Discourses)
I. HINDU
CULTURE (14 Discourses)
G. HINDU PHILOSOPHY AND
PHILOSOPHERS (5 Discourses)
D.
DISCOURSES ON UPANISHADS AND GEETAA (35 Discourses)
J.
DISCOURSES ON SELECTED TOPICS OF HINDUISM
( 45 Discourses)
K. SELECTED HINDU SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES (22
Discourses)
For
the title of these discourses click the link below:
Open policy of Hindu Reflections: These discourses are compilations
from the references indicated in each discourse as well
as other sources as prepared lectures for delivering at Vedanta Class of
Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville. TN, USA. I do not claim anything as original
though I have included my explanations and comments elaborately
suitably editing. Anybody is free to download partly or fully any
discourse from the blog Hindu Reflections
<nrsrini.blogspot.com> modify and redistribute for spreading
the wisdom of Vedas and scriptures further.]
Inter
-religious Summit in Rishikesh
Two Day Inter-religious Summit & Two Day
Training inaugurated at Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), with the joint
collaboration of KAICIID, the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance & Parmarth
Niketan RISHIKESH:
Prominent Hindu and Muslim leaders and youth
joined forces at Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) in a first ever, historic event
on strengthening interreligious collaboration of Hindu and Muslim leaders and
youth. The historic event was organized by KAICIID the International Dialogue
Centre (KAICIID), Vienna, the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and
Parmarth Niketan as a show of interfaith unity and harmony in a time of growing
global strife.
Acceptance, unity in diversity and peaceful
coexistence are foundations upon which India’s democracy has been built,
maintained and sustained. From the founding of India, Mahatma Gandhi and great
patriots not only led the nation to independence, but also fought for the cause
of peaceful and inclusive societies. India is striving assiduously to hold to
these values, and recommits itself each year to fostering inclusivity and
coexistence. As we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth,
the Summit came together to re-emphasize this vital process. Religious leaders
have been crucial in addressing many challenges that have arisen and in
strengthening ties within, between and among communities in India, resulting in
a wealth of knowledge and experience with the potential to serve as guidance
for each other, as well as other religious leaders. In this light, this two day
Summit, from the 8-9th December, was held bringing religious leaders from the
Hindu and Muslim communities to share their work and experiences, celebrate the
peaceful ways societies embrace diversity, discuss challenges and potential
solutions, highlight successes, and identify potential areas for concrete joint
collaboration.
The gathering will also take dialogue into
action through a two-day youth leader training at Parmarth Niketan from 9-10th
December, during which young faith leaders and youth from faith-based
organizations and intergovernmental organizations were trained to be champions
of peaceful and inclusive societies. They will also learn hands-on practices to
promote peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution.
The inauguration was graced by the presence of
renowned faith leaders including: Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji - Muniji,
President of Parmarth Niketan, Co-Founder of the GIWA, Acharya Bal Krishna Ji
of Patanjali Yogapeeth, Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasiji, Chief Imam of the All
India Imam Organization, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Secretary General of the
Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Pujya MM Swami Kailashanand Brahamchariji
Maharaj, Pujya MM Swami Harichetnanandji, Haji Syed Salman Chisthyji, Gaddi
Nasheen of the Ajmer Dargah Sharif, Maulana Abdul Hannan Qasmiji, Principal
Deoband Madrasa, Maulana Kokab Mujtabaji, Maulana Lukman Tarapuriji, National
President, Global Imam Council, Gujarat and many others (list of the faith
leaders below). Joining the three-day event from KAICIID headquarters in
Vienna, Austria and coordinating the leadership and dialogue training were Dr.
Mohamed Safiullah Munsoor, KAICIID Program’s Director, Mr. Anders Franzen,
KAICIID Senior Programme Manager for Asia and Africa and Ms. Renata Katalin
Nelson, KAICIID Coordination Officer.
Pujya Swami
Chiananand Saraswatiji said, “India is not merely a piece of land but a land of
peace. We are the longest standing democracy that has provided refugee and home
to people of all faiths. To me interfaith is when we enter into the common
faith of our one humanity. We remember that we may worship our own but we
must respect all. “KAICIID Programme’s Director Dr. Mohamed Safiullah Munsoor,
expressed, “On behalf of KAICIID it gives me profound joy to be part of the
Parmarth Niketan & Global Interfaith WASH Alliance launch of this event on
Peaceful Dialogue, diversity, social co-existence. This partnership is
important for us to enhance the Interreligious Dialogue within the Indian
context. Together we are working to accomplish the noble goal of strengthening
peace and harmony, which is the quintessential aspect of life of all religions
and between and within communities. “Acharya Balkrishanji shared, "When we
come together we pave the way to walk and work together. This is a great
beginning in which we are coming together to share and live together in greater
peace and harmony and this is the core values of our nation. We are all
one." Imam Umer Ahmes Ilyasiji stated, “When Pujya Swamiji, Sadhvi
Bhagawatiji and I first brought Gurukul and Madrasa children together at
Parmarth Niketan we had a great purpose and intention behind it and that
was that it would be the beginning of a nationwide revolution which will begin to
shape a more peaceful and inclusive societies. These children from our faith
institutions will be the future priests, Maulanas and muftis of tomorrow then
there will be no conflict over Mandirs, Masjids or any place of worship because
innately they will no longer see these as separate. I am so glad that today
that seed is beginning to grow and the future of our nation is being shaped as
we speak as these children watch our example and connect with each other.
“ Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji expressed “The
essence of Indian culture, regardless of our religious tradition, is Vasudhaiv
Kutumbakam, the whole world is one family. This great event is bringing us
together to re-emphasize our togetherness, to learn together and grow together.
The future is in the hands of the youth and that is why we have called all our
young sisters and brothers together today – from Gurukuls, Veda Vidyalayas and
Madrasas to be taught, touched and transformed by the Dharmagurus and to join
hands as One Earth Family for peace and togetherness.“ Haji Syed Salman
Chisthyji, said “It is crucial that today the voices of peace, love and
togetherness be amplified and spread not just those of violence, terror and
separation. It is vital for our news and media share these dedicated efforts that
are taking place across the nations and the thousands of year tradition.
There were so many other powerful and inspiring messages and speeches of
the interfaith leaders. The event began with songs of peace and oneness from
Gurukul and Madarasa children and concluded with beautiful music from renowned
artists from Kolkata and a special laser music show on the theme of interfaith
harmony and Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat (United India).
Pujya Swamiji added, “Now is the time for us
to take up a new global prayer, a new mantra, and a new song. Let its words be
that of unity, may its harmony be that of all voices together. Let its
crescendo be lasting peace. Today, the music begins, this is the music that the
world needs today.” “There was also beautiful and divine sharing and campfire
in which young Hindu and Muslim children and their elders/leaders shared their
experiences in a more intimate, loving environment with each other. Today was
the second day of the Summit and first day of the training which included
diverse and inspiring messages by more of the Hindu and Muslim leaders gathered
together for the occasion in the green surroundings of the Parmarth Yoga
Garden. There was a special pledge that reaffirmed the faith leaders commit for
working together to abate climate change, plant more trees and protect our fast
dwindling water resources. They offered sacred Rudraksha saplings to young
Madrasa and Gurukul student as symbol of their commitment to instill these
values of environmental preservation in the next generation. There was also a
beautiful launch of the Hindi translation of the United Nations' Plan of Action
to Prevent Atrocity Crimes, a holistic and comprehensive approach for faith
leaders and faith actors to build peaceful and inclusive societies. Pujya Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji, Imam Umer Iliasiji and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji had
been part of the preparation of the Plan of Action with the United Nations
Office of Genocide Prevention and the Hindi version was prepared by Parmarth
Niketan and launched on the second day of the event.
--Interfaith
harmony, Oneness, Love & Peace, Paramrtha Niketan
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