Vikas Akalwadi's contribution to Ramakrishna and Islam

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A long message from Vikas Akalwadi is posted underneath

after reducing the length of his post.

 

" vikas akalwadi " <vikas_akalwadi

<vivekananda

Cc: <sureshrshenoy

Thursday, June 10, 2004 03:34

to moderator sir - ramakrishna and islam

 

dear sir,

 

I am a devotee of Shri Ramakrishna, and an ex-student

of mission. Here are some of my thoughts on a subject

that is a 'complex' issue to me also.

 

About Shri Ramakrishna, sarvadharma-samanwayacharya

several articles can be found on the net. It is

impossible to validate each and every religion in this

world, for example shintoism, confusianism were not

followed by Shri Ramakrishna. Moreover it is not very

clear if 'sarvadharma' meant different religions or

'duties' (of ideal son, ideal husband, ideal guru etc.

which were demonstrated by Shri Ramakrishna). As i

understand, the purpose of Shri Ramakrishna was not to

'validate' each and every religion. The lesson that we

can draw is that 'God is not the exclusive property'

and can be realised irrespective of the religious

dogma. Shri Ramakrishna when practised the teachings

of different faiths, showed full sincerity. <snip>

Hence he attained God through all

the paths 'though straight or crucked' (ruju-kutila

patha). God listens to those who have a pure heart.

At the same time he avoided being dogmatic. Though he

believed that Christ, son of God was an incarnation;

based on his own experiences he did not believe that

christ alone was the incarnation. He expressed his

disapproval of the 'doctrine of Sin' (when Ramalal

read from Old Testment). He also understood the

limitations/drawbacks of Tantrik practices. He also

advised the devotees to follow those paths of devotion

which suited their nature (advising swami abhedananda

to follow advaitic mode of sadhana).

 

It was Swami Vivekananda whose thoughts have been

greatly documented and he was capable of thinking from

the point of 'society'. Hence we find lots of

references by him about Sufi saints, which show his

appreciation for the spiritual side of Islam (and

other arab-pagan practices which have crept into

Islam) while he highly condemned 'conversion', 'power

of sword' in Islam etc. His writings make us clear how

culture is 'erased' from the mind of neo-converts and

the missionary menace of seimatic faiths.

 

I have spoken about these thoughts of mine to swamijis

of ramakrishna mission, who heard them patiently . I

have myself seen the violent reaction that are

produced when politics and religion

(pseudo-secularists) get together " Idgah maidan

episode at Hubli " , " bombing of churches at Hubli " . It

is also true that i have interacted with fine people

who are followers of islam and christian faiths. Hence

these thoughts.

 

regards,

vikas