Great Thinkers and Religious Tolerance
Swami Viveananda made his famous speech at the international Congress of World Religions at Chicago after a deep study of the Quran, Bible and scriptures of all other religions. He affirmed that Hindus accept all religions for these are so many attempts to grasp and realize the Infinite. Each attempt marks a stage of progress. Vedanta is the mother of all religions. He propagated universal Brother Hood.
Mahatma Gandhi:
Mahatma Gandhi stated that all religions are true but some of the faulty interpretations have brought in some errors. This created the need for refinement of reasoning for mutual respect and learning.
Mahatma Gandhi pleaded that we must rise above all these religions. At the individual level, he advised gathering the truths of many religions and practicing them in life.
At Noakhali, when he met the Hindus and Muslims, who were killing each other, at the time of the partition of India, he declared that he was a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian and asked them to realize that his listeners were all of these. He went beyond toleration to participation. His prayer meetings were always begun with “Sarva Dharma Prarthana” that is verses from the Geeta, Quran, Bible and other religions were recited.
Both Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi believed that true religion is service to humanity.
All the religions preach love, compassion, sacrifice and acts of kindness. Shri Nagaraj Rao, an educationist, former Principal, J.K. Singhania School and author of the book, Asian Lights, brings out the characteristic features of various religions in the following manner:
Zoroastrianism: Hukhta, Humata and Huvarsha are good words, good deeds and good thoughts. Islam preaches human brotherhood, when it states that those high in status should be the first to greet the less privileged with the words “US Salam Alekum”.
- Jainism emphasizes deep reverence for life in all its forms.
- Buddhism prescribes a model Code of Conduct including right speech and right action and rising above desires to overcome life’s miseries.
- Judaism or Jewish religion preaches high respect for women as is indicated by the husband singing a song in praise of his wife at prayers before meals.
- Bhagabvadgeeta preaches devotion to duty without desiring the fruits. Bhagavadgeeta defines yoga as excellence in action.
- Christiannity preaches selfless love.
Sikhism preaches truthful living.Guru Singh stated “Service to Humanity is to God.”
Expressing his own views, Shri Nagaraja Rao states: “My subject is man, not God and my focus is on earth, not heaven.”
So religion in whichever form it may be is a matter of faith and gives direction to life. The real religion is love for animals, people and Nature. Religious tolerance means respects for all religions, finding out the common aspects of the teachings of all religions and using them as guiding principles of our lives. Leo Tolstoy, whose writings inspired Mahatma Gandhi states: “The Kingdom of God that is within us can be discovered through selfless service.”
The true home of God is not a grand architectural edifice, but the heart of man.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.