One of my friend, Arnab commented in the blog. This is a reply to his comment. I'm posting it outside the comment section because I wanted to share with others. Anybody's comment is welcome here.
_____________________________
Beloved Arnab, I quote from your comment: "I find all religions provide us with similar and unique teachings and if we can gather all religions together and learn from each other, the world could have been a much better place. "
I can't agree more with you. You said it... and I love your thoughts. I also believe that all religious philosophy in the deep, echoes the same message. As you can see, whether with purpose or without any purpose we are merging into a globla community. and thus we r learning from each other more.
With more day passing this will increase. We will eventually learn more from other religions. May be thats the best thing we gained from 9/11, all the terrorist bombing and all the wrong labeling of 'islam' in all those incidents. What happened in the end? ppl r getting more curious about this so called 'fanatic, extrimist's religion'. so they r trying to learn. You will find more copies of Quran in Usa now than any other time in the history.
All the problem of communical hatred and everything comes from our ignorance (aviddya , if i may use the word of Gita) and egoistic behavior. We simply don't realize the beauty of Vedanta, we simply forget the teaching of Muhammad. We simply put the photo of Sri Ramakrishna in our house, but ignore his universal teaching of love, his teaching - 'all path leads to the same goal'. We simply say 'peace be upon Muhammad' hundred times a day but ignore his teaching of forgiveness at the highest point, ignore his teachings of peace. We know 'God is Love' but don't feel ashamed when fail to apply it.
Shame on us !! I'm nobody... just a lonely voice who at times get frustrated with the sad happenning in the world but never the less want to say in Jesus's word, 'Love thy neighbor' and want to revoice the message of Divine Love.
Arnab, u also said, "I believe Islam is not just for Muslims but for all humanity. It's not a property of Muslims. Therefore, fundamentalism and terrorism against humanity by the name of Islam is really contrary to its essence."
What a beautiful thought! Praise be to Divine Mother !! Let me join with you, Vedanta is for the whole world to learn and share ... Jesus is for the whole world ... Islam is for all humanity. Who says they belong to Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Who are Hindu, Christian and Muslims? Aren't they all beloved children of God? Then for God's sake why we divide us??
About my identity. No, I'm definintely not someone from Ahmadiyya (but i would love to know about their philosophy more...), and I'm also not from them who cry loud, 'Label Ahmadiyya Non-Muslim'. I'm just a weak servant of God. And I don't feel shame to call myself Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim at the same time. (confused? u can read this post of mine for a clarification). I'm just a below average human being who is too emotional, too poor. So, pls keep me in your wishes and prayers.
On the same thoughts, these post may focus more light:
Tag: Religion
I don't think you are a below average person as you are claiming. :)
ReplyDeleteActually, I am rather surprised to see your respect for other religions. It is really rare among people. Therefore, I am just wondering how did you manage to create such a tolerant point of view. I do know that the Sufis are really tolerant and believe in religious harmony but you seem to be in the front position of religious harmony. Your knowledge on other religions is really worthy of praise. Therefore, hats off to you.
Actually, now-a-days, being religious means being fundamentalist. However, being religious while being a liberal person is really hard and you seem to achieve that enlightenment. Do let me know how you have managed to gain such a beautiful tolerant mind.
The reason why I thought you were an Ahmadiyya because I also find them (along with Bahais, followers of Brahma Samaj, etc) in the front lines of religious harmony. They (along with Bahai Muslim community) believe that the God has sent many prophets to this world. Therefore, they directly consider people like the Lord Gautam, Lord Krishna, Sri Ramkrishna, Vivekananda etc prophets of Islam. There are other interesting things in Ahmadiyya. You might want to check out the following sites
http://www.alislam.org/
http://www.ahmadiyya.ca
Did you know that Pakistani Physicists, who won the novel prize was actually an Ahmadiyya. Because he was an Ahmadiyya, he got no respect in Pakistan but outside Pakistan, he was able to gain lots of respect.
I also denounce the current approach of many people asking to brand Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslims. My argument here is that religion is a solely personal thing. By saying that "You are not a Hindu" or "You are not a Muslim," you cannot make someone stop following Gita or Quran. Besides, in my opinion, religion itself is more important than religious identity. I believe today my religious identity is a Hindu because I was born in a Hindu family. However, if I were born in a Christian or Muslim family, I would have been a Christian or Muslim respectively. Therefore, religious identity sort of looks hypocritic to me. Just like you, I look upto myself followers of all ideologies.
Beloved Arnab,
ReplyDeleteI feel really uncomfortable to write anything about me. But since u asked, let me shed a little light.
I have a deep interest about religion, faith, philosophy as well as theology. So i started reading about them years back. I read Quran, as well as love to read Upanishad, Gita, Yoga Philosophy, Buddhism. I love reading Gospel. Comparative religion is something that fascinates me all the time.
Thanks to God that it came to my realization that all religion, deep in their message is speaking the same thing. We only argue about the outward differences. (Yes, there may be things which are simply man made, and motivated by power or money. But let those negative things not shadow the whole positive things. )
Then when I became more familiar with Sufi ideas, writings of Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, Buddha's wisdom ... i simply fell in love.
Later on, thanks to God i could do a lot of reading from internet of so many sources who also appreaciate Universalism. Personally I observe the way of Submission (Islam) and i think i don't need to reinvent the wheel, since its there already. Also i found Islam to be most evolutioned faith, most modern in attitude and interms of spirituality.
No, pls don't say i'm enlightened, thats very uncomfortable. Only Father in Heaven knows the exact condition of our heart and mind.
When i read about Bahai' i simply liked it. (u may wonder, whats the problem with this guy who like all faiths... actually i love the idea of, "Condemn none, Love all". it could be from Ramakrishna or Vivekananda.) I felt really sorry how they suffered in the past because of their faith. the same feeling goes for Ahmadiyya.
About Brahma Samaj... i simply say, they are excellent in terms of spirituality. They sounds more in Submission to God (Muslims) than muslim named people. If i wasn't a muslim and God asked u choose another one, i would hv choose Brahma Samaj perhaps.
Brahma Samaj is the perfect example how enlightened is Hinduism, the ancient religion of east. And i'm proud for them. They realized and follow the truth more than anyone else in the world perhaps.
Actually the belief that God sent many prophets to the world is a central theme in Quran. Some it mentioned by name, and some it didn't. But some blind ppl just don't preach those universalims of Quran. And God doesn't send prophets directly from Heaven, Prophets are born in the time of need. All prophets, messengers including Buddha, Rama Krishna, Jesus, Muhammad were social reformer above all. And to reform, religion had been a central motivator in the past.
Those who says Religion is myths, then i would love to ask, what else u could use if were in that situation and simply wanted betterment of your countrymen or social men... Money? No. religion was needed and it will be needed in the future. perhaps only harmony is missing now.
Thanks for the websites.
In our country, it really bleeds in my heart when i see someone is denied a just position because he is a Hindu or Ahmadyya. Surely its shameful. And feel sorry for them cause they never realized their own faith and it's teachings. God forgives.
Blessed be you and your family, Arnab... and whoever read this comment.
One more thing to add,
ReplyDeleteGod guides whoever He wills, surely He is the most Merciful and Beneficient.
And God shows the path.
And He helps whoever deserves it.
I ask protection to God from my self ego. Forgive me if I sound pompous, that certainly was not my intention.