Notes from PEACE PILGRIM

[Guest guest]

sadananda <sada writes:

>The beauty is the truth is the same how one arrives at it. A reminder

not

>get carried away by the differences in relative paths but pay more

>attention to that goal that is pointed. One can develop ones own

pointers

>that one is comfortable with , that which can lead one to the pointed.

>She reminds me that the ultimate pramaana is not even the shaastraas

but

>your own indwelling self! Which can never be denied nor contradicted-

but

>only to be ascertained!

 

Greetings Advaitins:

 

Mahatma Gandhiji remembered more for his spiritual leadership and

October is the month to remember this great soul. Shri. Sadanand has

rightly pointed out that the goal is more important than the merits of

the relative paths! Gandhiji during his discussion with Professor

krzenski focuses on the same message. The premises of such religions -

of Christianity, of Islam, of Marxism- Leninism-Maoism - are that there

is one Truth; that it has been revealed to One Man - the Son of God

Jesus, the Messanger of God Mohammed, etc.; that it has been enshrined

by him or on his behalf in One Book - the Bible, the Quran, etc.

 

Ram Chandran

Burke, VA

 

 

PREMISES AND THEIR INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES

On January 2, 1937 a Professor of Philosophy from Poland, Krzenski

came to see Gandhiji. Krzanski told Gandhiji that Catholicism was the

only true religion.

"Do you therefore say that other religions are untrue?" Gandhiji asked.

Krzenski: If others are convinced that their religions are true they are

saved.

Gandhiji: Therefore, you will say that everyone would be saved even

through untruth. For you say that if a man really and sincerely believes

in what is as a matter of fact untruth, he is saved. Would you not also

hold, therefore, that your own way may be untrue but that you are

convinced that it is true and therefore you will be saved?

Krzenski: But I have studied all religions and have found that mine is

the only true religion.

Gandhiji: But so have others studied other religions. What about them?

Well, I go further and tell you that religion is one and it has several

branches which are all equal.

Krzenski: I accept that no religion lacks divine inspiration but all

have not the same truth, because all have not the same light.

Gandhiji: It is an essentially untrue position to take, for a seeker

after truth, that he alone is in absolute possession of truth. What is

happening to the poor astronomers today? They are changing their

position every day, and there are scientists who impeach even Einstein's

latest theory.

Krzenski: No. But I have examined the arguments in favour of other

religions.

Gandhiji: But it is an intellectual examination. You require different

scales to weigh spiritual truth. Either we are all untrue - quite a

logical position to take - but, since truth does not come out of

untruth, it is better to say that we all have truth but not the complete

truth. For God reveals His truth to instruments that are imperfect.

Raindrops of purest distilled water become diluted or polluted as soon

as they come in contact with mother earth. My submission is that your

position is arrogant. But I suggest to you a better position. Accept all

religions as equal, for all have the same root and the same laws of

growth.

Krzenski: It is necessary to examine every religion philosophically and

find out which is more harmonious, more perfect.

Gandhiji: That presupposes that all religions are in watertight

compartments. That is wrong. They are always growing. Let us not

limit God's function. He may reveal Himself in a thousand ways and a

thousand times.

Now the Professor switched on to the next question viz., that of

fighting materialism.

Gandhiji: It is no use trying to fight these forces without giving up

the idea of conversion, which I assure you is the deadliest poison that

ever sapped the fountain of truth.

Krzenski: But I have a great respect for your religion.

Gandhiji: Not enough. I had that feeling myself one day, but I found

that it was not enough. Unless I accept the position that all religions

are equal, and I have as much regard for other religions as I have for

my own, I would not be able to live in the boiling war around me. Any

make-believe combination of spiritual forces is doomed to failure if

this fundamental position is not accepted. I read and get all my

inspiration from the Gita. But I also read the Bible and the Koran to

enrich my own religion. In incor- porate all that is good in other

religions.

Krzenski: That is your goodwill.

Gandhiji: That is not enough.

Krzenski: But I have great respect for you.

Gandhiji: Not enough. If I were to join the Catholic church you would

have greater respect for me.

Krzenski: Oh yes, if you became a Catholic, you would be as great as St.

Francis.

Gandhiji: But not otherwise? A Hindu cannot be a St. Francis? Poor

Hindu!

Krzenski: But may Take your photograph?

Gandhiji: No, surely you don't care for materialism! And it is all

materialism, isn't it?

 

(The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol 64, pp.203-4)

[Guest guest]

At 06:58 AM 10/6/98 PDT, Ram Chandran wrote:

>

>PREMISES AND THEIR INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES

> On January 2, 1937 a Professor of Philosophy from Poland, Krzenski

>came to see Gandhiji.

 

Thank you Sri Ram for this lovely post! This dialogue between Ghandhiji

and Prof. Krzenski was wonderful!

 

--Greg