Guest guest Posted May 15, 2001 Report Share Posted May 15, 2001 Thanks Jay for sharing with us your experience. I have already sent to you a copy of the presentation that I made here at Multicultural Meeting sometime back. The Bishop of St Anthony's Cathedral contacted me and desired for a further dialogue over a cup of coffee which I have agreed. ITHis is for infomation. Regards Yours sincerely Milind Sathye Department of Finance and Banking University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba, Queensland 4350 Australia Phone 61 +7 + 4631 5509 Fax 61+ 7 + 4631 2625 web page: http://www.usq.edu.au/users/sathye Vivekananda Centre [vivekananda] Tuesday, 15 May 2001 2:30 list; viv list [ramakrishna] Inter-faith 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 Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah Vivekananda Centre London http://www.vivekananda.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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