Namaste

[Guest guest]

Dear VFA Members,

Just a note explaining my over all point. There are two main points

actually.

1)Bush Foriegn Policy in terms of War and Peace issues 'appears' to

be more pro-India and pro-hindu. i guess we will see.the media is

definatley ignoring the high level cooperation that has been and is

going on right now between India and USA. these are mainly in the

areas of defense, space technology and economy. I hope that the VFA

can be instrumental in working in the cultural areas between our two

countries and cultures. That way we can add a cultural component to

India-USA ties. The best way to do this is varied and is an open

topic.

 

2)I am perhaps overly optimistic on this point but I see a

convergence of interests amongst people of faith and tradition. I

also believe that world peace and the 'Golden Age' will only come

about once the various religions/traditions recognize that they all

have the same message on how to live in this world but vary in terms

of how to get out of this world. For starters, we can work on the

fact that there is minimal divergence in basic concepts of piety,

family values and compassion. (I am speaking from Caitanya

Mahaprabhu's concept of being strict with oneself and lenient with

others rather a fanatic application of morality or a fanatic

derision of morality.)

 

A fact also worth noting is that all of us dedicated to these causes

have the same enemies. The basic tenets of all these faiths are the

same specifically in how to live in a fruitful and peaceful world.

Conversion is not an authentic part of these faiths, thus quotes

like,"Those who havent sinned,cast the first stone,"Jesus and," The

real Jihad is the Jihad within." Mohammed.

 

The problem is in the neophyte misinterpretation of priorities and

inccorect understanding. Thus we saw all the insensitivies displayed

by some of Srila Prabhupada's followers in thier outreach efforts.

Though the message was divine, its wrong presentation left a bitter

impression in some.

Another point is that the term 'Fundamentalists' is often applied

improperly. A fundamental is not someone who is dedicated and firm

in their convictions. Rather a fundamentalist is one who tries to

enforce their own understanding of divinity or the lack of divinity

upon others.

 

So the enlightened people of Sanatan Dharma need to expose the

fundamentalist conversionists by revealing their lack of commitment

to the true treachings of Christ etc. and the fundamentality of the

secularists that apply fascistic methods to supress culture.Thats

what I do when I am on these VFA anti-conversion tours. I dont mince

words or give any leeway to them.

 

So perhaps within this forum it appears I am an apologist for them,

yet when the battle is on, I knock their hypocritical arrogant heads

off. That is the real criteria. We can debate internally all we like

but when the battle is on, Do we stand up and Fight? Yes the VFA has

done more to expose the Conversionists than any other western group.

Of that we have alot to be proud of.

So I am personally confident of my commitment to this cause.

 

Yet at the same time on these trips, I highlight that the basic

tenets of Christ's message are basic simple codes of life that are

natural to all traditional indigenous faiths. I am also convinced

that we can go much further by highlighting the similarities and

exposing the hypocricy of these people in thier inability to follow

their own tenets. Rather than rejecting them as source of all the

trouble, we need to recognize its the misinterpretation and

misapplication that is the problem.

 

For example Jesus said something to the effect that his followers go

throughout the world and spread his gospel of love. Conversionists

say that means make people christians. No it means spread Love of

God. Thats why Jesus worshipped at the Jewish temple after ridding

it of the 'money changers' rather than founding another place of

worship.

 

another example, If we were on world tour to teach english, we would

not got go to new zealand to teach english. in other words

srpead the love for God where it is absent. IT IS DEFINATELY NOT

ABSENT IN INDIA.(well generally)

Muslim means Surendered. As in Krsna's statement'abandon all

varieties of religion and just SURERENDER unto me." India already

has this message direct from God and it is therefore harmful to be

pushed on Indians from a foriegn perspective.

 

I have yet to make an indepth study of the Koran and the Bible but

have the Siddhanta of the acharyas of the Gaudiya Vaishnava

tradition as my anchor in undertanding them. from Caitanya to

Prabhupada the message regarding Islam and christianity has been the

same, to challenge the Muslims and Christians to truly live by the

teachings of their faith. in other words highlight their lack of

commitment and understanding of their own teachings. Never did any

in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition discredit the value of the Bible

or Koran. rather they used the teachings of these very books to

confirm the validity of 'truly' following them.

 

in my personal experiance in promoting Vedic culture, I have found

people from all walks of life attracted to the culture once they get

a good explanation of it. Yes even devout Muslims and Christians too.

So my conclusion is that Tradional cultures, faith in God,Divinity

and Sacredness in all forms are the best solution to the world's

woes. Once the various reprentatives of these traditions realize

that working at cross-purposes with each other goes against the very

foundation of Faith and Moral values, then there will be progress.

So the hard part is sifting out those who claim to be spiritual and

of faith but are not and those who are actually dedicated. Not that

one tradition is 'evil' and the others valid.

 

As Paramahansa Yogananda Said," Evil is the absence of true

joy...Evil comes into the picture when one has the potential for

attaining inner joy. anything that separates us from that divine

state of being is evil for us, because it distances our awareness

from which we really are, and that from which we really want in

life."

So all these faiths are meant to help the Seeker indentify their

true identity as Sparks of the Divine, part of God. So in that

sense, the VFA should be highlighting the benefit and value of all

faiths and working with anyone who recognizes this concept.

Pranams,

Vrndavan