Talk at the Swaminarayan Temple in London

[Guest guest]

Dear list

 

As I had indicated earlier, I was invited to speak to a large

assembly of Swaminarayan devotees in London. There were

a few thousand people at the meeting. They had requested that

I should speak in English and Gujarati.

 

The focus of my talk was the importance of religious education

for the youngsters being brought up in the West. I suggested

that the best inheritance we can pass on to the next generation

is not our cultural traditions, or food habits or even teaching

Gujarati but passing on the spiritual knowledge that

we possess. Promoting our mother tongue is wonderful but

language is just a medium. On its own it has a very limited

value. It is what is being communicated that is important.

 

I mentioned that learning about Hinduism will not make these

youngsters feel less inclined towards their own sectarian body.

On the contrary they will gain a more comprehensive understanding of their

movement.

 

Hinduism has always been a conglomeration of sectarian

movements. Sectarianism is not a weakness of Hinduism but

a reflection of its very strength. Each sectarian body represents

the process of spiritual consolidation that takes into account the

special needs of contemporary society.

 

This was the largest audience I have ever addressed, I was

garlanded by the main Swami of the temple and shown a great

deal of respect..... no doubt all this can only happen by the grace

of our mentor.

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London