Christiane/ Pope John Paul II is dead

[Guest guest]

Dear Christianne

Thak you very much for a sincere response

to mr. ram's posting.

You wrote

"I am aware that some Hindus do not respect this,

once mleccha always mleccha."

I would like to say thatr only those who are

ignorant of the essence of vedanta only would say that

As you said there is no dobut that Pope Paul II is

a great saint like Sri Ramana. All religions have great saints.

On the thought of conversion and 'the speech' referred

to I would like to add that the misunderstanding is arising on one basic

issue. I have not read Bible

and other books on christian religion. But with little interaction I had

with few christian friends, christians feel that according to their scriptures

that .'Christ is the only way" . People who worship others should

be saved. It is with this sincere belief Pope Paul also must have

made his speech. (I know a christian friend, who sincerely prays

for me for the sin I am committing in doing idol worship). So Pope Paul

was doing his religious duty when he made the speech. But the problem

arises when other religions like Hindu religion does not endorse

such a stand. (I still have a doubt whether the interpretation

of scriptures that .'Christ is the only way" is correct interpretation

of christian scriptures, for when I listened to some lectures of some Christian

Priests on TV and Radio, the teachings tallied perfectly when interpreted

with Hindu advaitic phylosophy. After all Truth could only be one. I

felt that in christianity also, like many hindus are ignorant of true essence

of hinduism, very few could really understand the real spirit of christ's

teachings.

Inspite of absence of caste system in

christianity, I think in matters of understanding true spirit of

religion they are not on a higher pedastal. It is not just lower castes

that have limited knowledge of Hindusm, it extends to all castes. But many

hindus, literate or illeterate, low or high caste know who is Rama

and what he stands for. Each house of a hindu has a special place of worship

and not a day passes without lighting a lamp, and food part taken

without offering it to God like prayers of christians before meals. it

is part of their life al through the day and not just on a week end.

As regards to your exhortation

that hidus should do this or that to other hindus, I refer you to Bhagavan's

reply to many who ask Him why he should not tour and give lectures?

Much has been said on that.

The problem with Hidus is their tolerance

and non belief in propogation. I am just wondering what would happen if

Pope delivered the 'lecture; in Soudi Arabia or such strong Muslim country.

I wonder whether he visited any of those countries.

In conclusion I would like to add that

reactions like those from Ram would be coming so long as stands unacceptable

to other religions are taken by christian church

I always remember Sri Bhagavan's teachings.

What every individual should do is reaise his True Self. Unless this is

done any help that one does to other is what a blind man could to another

blind man. Of course this does not preclude help to others as part

of one's life.

I do not know whether I

expressed my views correctly. But what I felt I wrote as I am not an expert

in queen's language

Ramana Sarma