VML-2/19/00

[Guest guest]

Dear Brother,

 

Observe the ecumenical work of Sri Swami Satchidananda, Rabbi Gelberman, and

Brother David. They have done countless ecumenical services and retreats

together and the LOTUS (Light of Truth Universal Shrine) in Buckingham, VA is

a lasting monument to their spirit of ecumenical understanding and worship

that began with the great Paramahamsa of Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna. Great

spiritual work is often unseen.... it starts with small spiritual seeds that

begin to sprout in our hearts and minds and manifests itself in small acts of

love, compassion, and selfless service.... acts of kindness that only God may

see....

 

I think if we truly understand one religion in it's complete depth, then we

have truly understood all of them in their essence. We are fortunate to have

so many beautiful paths to suit the tastes and temperments of various

individuals. The important thing is to chose one Ideal and follow that Ideal

with complete devotion. Like so many wonderful dishes to eat, the important

thing is to satisfy our hunger. We can argue endlessly about which foods are

truly delicious and nourishing, we can analyze the menu or hear other

people's description of how good the food tastes, what the ingredients are,

etc. But until we finally sit down and eat, we won't really be satisfied.

[Guest guest]

This is the only recognition of universality that we can get. So far

it is all right theoretically. But is there any way of practically

working out this harmony in religious? We find that this recognition

that all the various views of religion are true has been very very

old. Hundreds of attempts have been made in India, in Alexandria, in

Europe, in China, in Japan, in Tibet and lastly in America, to

formulate a harmonious religious creed, to make all religions come

together in love. They have all failed, because they did not adopt

any practical plan. Many have admitted that all the religions of the

world are right, but they show no practical way of bringing them

together, so as to enable each of them to maintain its own

Individuality in the conflux. That plan alone is practical, which

does not destroy the individuality of any man in religion and at the

same time shows him a point of union with all others.

_____

It has pleased God that divine verities should not enter the heart through

the understanding, but the understanding through the heart. --Blaise Pascal