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
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