Fireworks.....

[Guest guest]

Dear list

 

I have made it a habit of sharing some of my experiences

in London with the list.

 

The experience tonight was a kind of fireworks show : )

 

I was asked by the London Interfaith to talk to a group of

20 Church of England Ministers at their

College on the role of Interfaith.

 

On Saturday I gave them a talk on 'pluralism' and how

it can help with interfaith ideals. That was

extremely well received. The group could not stop clapping.....

 

But then something or someone may have become

concerned.. So the meeting we had tonight focused

not only on the new topic being covered which was

'Respect for life in Hinduism' but also

on 'other questions' they wished to ask of Hinduism....

So I was waiting for some pointed questions, and they

came hard and fast.

 

I have always taught our youngsters that you should not

only know the strengths of all religions but

also their weaknesses. When you encounter people of

other faiths you sometimes need a sword as well as

a shield.

 

Well today I had to use the sword of 'Vivekananda' in

no uncertain manner. It is not the pointed questions that

worry me . I have dealt with these questions in a very

polite manner many a times in the past.

It was the mannerism in which they are asked that

was not acceptable! Well the questions as you can imagine

were something like:

 

" What do you say about compassion in Hinduism - it does not

agree with my experience of visiting Kali temple in Calcutta

with blood and sacrifice and destruction everywhere.... "

 

" How can a nation talk of divinity in man and also

have the caste system? "

 

" Idea of evil as cause of suffering is far better than the Hindu or

Buddhist ideas of progress of living things towards

the final goal where suffering is overcome by realising

the ultimate reality "

 

Questions came hard and fast and the way they were

put across can best be described as a serious put-down

of Hinduism in favour of Christianity.

 

Well I stood my ground and with clenched teeth,

let fly without any reservations......

 

I think and hope our mentor is : )

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London