Muslim-Hindu Peace Plan

10-08-2001, 08:04 PM

Muslim-Hindu Peace Plan
BY ISA DAS
EDITORIAL, Oct 5 (VNN) — The Muslim-Hindu Peace Plan
based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada
The desire to prevent World War III and bring peace to the world
is most likely the inner mood of most of us today. To do that we
need to come to a common understanding of religious
terminology and beliefs.
For example most of us have no idea that the name Allah comes
from the Hebrew letter Alef, our A, in the English alphabet.
This simple point contains enough information for every
Christian, Jew and Hindu to accept Allah as a name of God.
I will explain further, in the "Old Testament" which Jewish people
call the 5 books of Moses, God explains that He is the beginning
to the end. This same idea is expressed in the New Testament.
Revelation 22:13, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End. This English usage of
Alpha is based on the Hebrew Alef. Also in the Hindu (Vedic)
scripture, Bagavad Gita, Krishna says "of letters I am A."
Has God sent so many messengers, each with a different
message? Is He sitting in the Garden of Eden laughing at us? I
think not! We have twisted His message based on our own
material desire, creating our own Hell on Earth.
The objection we find from our Muslim brothers and sisters
today, comes from the desire to bring the word back to God and
His ways. We find this mood in our Jewish-Christian tradition
also. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
This lack of disciple, this foolish rush of insane materialism is
what every deeply religious person objects to, no matter which
faith he or she is coming from. We can take good example from
our Amish brothers and Hindu (Vedic) sages.
An error of modern society and religion is to identify the body as
the self. The Bhagavad-Gita clearly explains that we should see
and accept the spiritual essence (the soul) of each living being
as spiritually equal. There it is said, "The humble sage, by virtue
of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle
Brahman, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcast]."
[Bagavad Gita 5.18]
How does the learned sage see every living entity with equal
vision? He sees the spirit soul within the heart of each of God's
creations. He understands that although living forms may
appear different, those appearances are only the external
coverings of the soul, and that spiritually we are all equal.
A careful analysis shows that all problems result from our first
mistake of identifying the body as the self. If we identify ourselves
by race, religion and ethnic group we will then suffer or enjoy the
results of that identity, but the fact is we are spiritually equal and
the bodily identity that we accept is both temporary and
insignificant compared to our eternal spiritual identity. We suffer
due to birth, disease, old age and death; we need not identify
with the body, which is being afflicted by these difficulties.
If everyone understood and acted on the level of the soul rather
than the body, the world's problems would practically cease.
Understanding the difference between matter and spirit, and that
God is the controller of all things, is the essence of knowledge.
It is natural that when we become overwhelmed by difficulties,
we become aware of our dependence on God.
Unfortunately, due to our deep attachment to materialism, we are
drawn to perceive religion in much the same manner, as we
perceive ordinary social activities. That is, we become attached
to identifying with the external or social side of religion, while we
forget its essence-loving service to God.
Our modern use of the word religion, expresses an external
alterable faith, while the Sanskrit world dharma, implies an
internal or essential eternal relationship with God. Our religion or
faith can change but the soul's relationship with God is eternal.
For example, I may claim that I am a Christian today, but I may
adopt the practices of a Hindu or of a Jew tomorrow. However,
whatever faith you my follow, the essence of that faith is loving
service to God.
We must understand that our Muslim brothers and sisters who
have come to understand the true message of Allah accept all of
us as children of God based on this verse from the Koran.
2.62: Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the
Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the
Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their
Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
We should also understand that as a nation, nay as a human
race if we do not come to follow God's laws and develop our love
for Him and His creation, our future is all to clear.
For Our Lord says: Isaiah 46: I make known the end from the
beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My
purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Thank You and God's Blessings
William Glick (Isa das)
http://www.equalsouls.org