[world-vedic] Royal pilgrimage of a Hindu kind

[Guest guest]

We participate in many activities relating to Hindu educational work in the UK.

Letus share our thoughts on how different aspects of Hinduism are being

portrayed:-Miracles:Haberdashers, a well known private school in North London

asked for an assemblyon Hinduism. We talked about 'miracles'. We suggested: At

best, Hinduism sayswhat is considered to be miraculous may be metaphysical in

nature and shouldbe tapped into for the benefit of mankind. At worst, this

concept asks us to switch offour rational faculties and leave us open to all

sorts of nonsense in the name of religion.If we want to see a miracle of God

then we just have to look around, what we see is sofinely poised! The famous

mathematician Roger Penrose has worked out that:-The chance of this universe

coming into existence as it is: One part in ten to thepower ten to the power

one hundred and twenty three! This can indeed be called amiracle of God! But

then surely we cannot be satisfied with that!! - We want him to dosome card

tricks too! Though he may decide to do that too : ) that is his business!We

have to take care that in the name of religion we do not switch off our

rational faculties. Religions may claim to supersede rationality but they never

ask us to accept things that arein contradiction to

rationality!Education:Meeting with the University Examining Boards on the role

of Hinduism:-We have told these bodies that the portrayal of Hinduism in the

West through theeducational system can be improved. At the moment almost all

Religious Educationteachers in the UK equate Hinduism to the Caste System and

Polytheism.Such teachings parading as Hinduism, do a great deal of harm. They

obscure the morerelevant and important teachings of Hinduism offering the best

resolution to manycontemporary issues. How religions can co-exist peacefully in

a multi-faith society?These Hindu teachings also offer the best response to the

serious challenges faced byall the world religions posed by the rational and

scientific lobbies. We are pleased to saythat the these educational bodies in

the UK are beginning to listen to us.Community relations:Tonight we offer our

views to the Harrow Council for Racial Equality. We will emphasisthe important

role Hinduism can play in generating greater community cohesion. Thepluralistic

aspects of Hinduism offer the best cohesive and yet religious force

urgentlyneeded in a multi-faith society.Interacting with the Christian

Theologians:Tomorrow we conduct a two hour session at the Theology department

in Canterburyperhaps, heartland of Christian theological teachings in the UK.

The session will focus on:-How can many World religions (mostly exclusivists)

co-exist without having to compromise?How to co-exist with other religions

without threatening or feeling threatened?This will be an interesting encounter

as we are expecting some theology lecturers to be in attendance.Next week we

have a session at Kingston University on the theory of Reincarnation.A session

with Hampstead Interfaith on the crucial role of Interfaith in our society.A

session with the Caribbean Hindu Society on the role of Hinduism in the West.By

the grace of our mentors our work in promoting spirituality continues to grow.

regardsjay (dilip)Vivekananda Centre London[This message contained

attachments]__________Message:

4 Wed, 19 Mar 2003 03:11:42 -0500 Ananta

<sarada (AT) global2000 (DOT) net>Vivekananda Mailing List-3/19/03In the external

world the idea of law is the same as in the internal - the expectation that a

particular phenomenon will be followed by another, and that the series will

repeat itself. Really speaking, therefore, law does not exist in nature.

Practically it is an error to say that gravitation exists in the earth, or that

there is any law existing objectively anywhere in nature. Law is the method, the

manner in which our mind grasps a series of phenomena; it is all in the mind.

Certain phenomena, happening one after another or together, and followed by the

conviction of the regularity of their recurrence - thus enabling our minds to

grasp the method of the whole series - constitute whatwe call law.

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