Fwd: In Memory of 9/11

[Guest guest]

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Uttishthata <uttishthata >

Sep 10, 2006 8:00 PM

In Memory of 9/11

Uttishthata <Uttishthata>, Uttishthata (AT) googl (DOT) com

 

Swami Vivekananda's response to the welcome at the Parliament of Religions

held in Chicago is brought before you to refresh the memories. Even after

113 years it is still fresh, elevating and true even in today's context.

Sister Nivedita in her introduction to the Complete Works of Swami

Vivekananda remarked about His address to the august assembly of learned men

and women of the world:

 

* *

 

*Of the Swami's address before the Parliament of Religions, it may be said

that when he began to speak it was of "the religious ideas of the Hindus",

but when he ended, Hinduism had been created.*

 

* *

 

*At the World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago*

 

* *

 

11th September, 1893

 

* *

 

Sisters and Brothers of America,

 

* *

 

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and

cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most

ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother

of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu

people of all classes and sects.

 

* *

 

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to

the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off

nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of

toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world

both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal

toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a

nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions

and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered

in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern

India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple

was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the

religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand

Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn

which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every

day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having

their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O

Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies,

various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."

 

* *

 

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever

held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the

wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through

whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in

the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant,

fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the

earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed

civilisation and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these

horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is

now.But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that

tolled this

morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all

fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all

uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

 

 

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

 

 

You may listen to the first three famous lectures by Swami Vivekananda at

the Parliament of Religions at the following link. Please note that this

voice is not of Swami Vivekananda.

 

 

 

http://www.theuniversalwisdom.org/hinduism/welcome-address-vivekananda/

 

 

 

I request you to forward this message to as many of your contacts as

possible to spread the message of tolerance and Universal Acceptance.

[Guest guest]

The North Star (unsanitized)

 

 

 

Flying paper, a remembered ticker tape parade.

Exploding fireball. Surreal. Unreal. A movie reel.

Get out. Go north. Away. (They said to stay!)

I left, thirsty, trying to communicate. No connection.

It was no accident.

 

Locked down, get out of town, nowhere to go. Wait.

 

Nothing will be the same again. Wandering souls,

We are trying to get home. Ghosts of dust and ashes,

We breathe your life and remember. It hurts.

Burning, our fear, our dreams, assimilated.

We become you, we are all martyrs, ascending the

Ladders of life, searching for a path home.

Peace be with you, our brothers and sisters.

We shall find the light of the stars together, as we are one.

We are no longer innocent, yet we enter the world again with new

wonder.

Peace in turmoil.

Serenity in chaos.

Blessed and cursed with freedom and love.

 

The kindness of strangers.

 

ZN