Inter-faith

[Guest guest]

Some interesting Inter-faith meetings in London.

 

Let me share my experience of the contribution at two local

Interfaith events in London. On Saturday we had a meeting

at a Christian retreat Centre in Wimbledon. The audience

was mainly Christian. The contribution from the faith

community was provided by a Muslim colleague and I was asked

to make the Hindu contribution. We had the local Bishop

in the audience.

 

The second meeting was this morning at the London Interfaith

Centre where we had some visiting Germans exploring

how the interfaith experience was working out in London.

The local Bishop was present too.

 

Both the meetings went well. I normally present some of

Swami Vivekananda's ideas - these go down a treat.

 

In these meetings I emphasised that:-

However grand the prophet or the messenger of any religion. He

will have to present the absolute in the relative framework that

he operates in. He needs to infuse spirituality as best as he can

dependant on the time, place and circumstances he faces.

Hence we hear things like, " I am the way and the only way " .

This would be applicable in the time and location of those

teachings but do not apply to all times and all circumstances

and to all people.

 

This is quite severe for the Abrahemic faiths to take in.

So far so good, they have not thrown me out.

I am asking them to re-appraise their scriptures!

That is not a minor thing to suggest!

 

The other suggestion I make is that Hinduism - as a pluralistic

religion has a great deal to offer to the Interfaith movement.

In fact Hinduism is the successful working model of Inter-faith.

 

Overall the meetings are going well. The bishops are making

comments like 'there is something to Hinduism'....

 

The part that clinches these meetings is when I introduce

ideas of 'divinity within' ..... the atmosphere gets charged up.

The sharp, well focused teachings of our Vivekananda hits

the spot... It is great fun to watch the reaction it produces!

The reaction from those who are sincere in spirituality

is awesome. They have never heard anything like this.

 

I am having the best time of my life.

 

jay : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two things