The first of the Scriptures of the world, the Rig Veda, contains the major Declaration of religious harmony: "it is true but sages call it by various names". In general, religious harmony has been the central theme of the eternal religion (Santana Dharma).
Buddhism was an attempt to reform Hinduism when he had become degenerate; but never spread by fire and sword was made much later in the case of Christianity and Islam. Message of Buddha's enlightenment penetrated everywhere in a peaceful manner. Emperor Ashoka, who was a staunch follower of Buddhism, conditioned the edict:
"Who out of respect for their own faith disparages the"
"beliefs of others inflicted the damage on their own".
The spirit of the enabled dynamic universalism Hindus assimilate into his double a number of racing - native and foreign - with its diversity of cultures and customs.
In the first centuries of the Christian era, many Christians came to the India as refugees, but many came later as conquerors, and trying to convert others to their faith, sometimes used force and various unfair means. Many missionaries supported by foreign rulers grossly wrong the hospitality of the India and vilified the Hindus who were tolerant to a fault. The India atmosphere with its religious harmony, however, was responsible for changing the attitude of some of the missionaries and Christian followers.
At the beginning this attitude was one of the wholesale denunciation and destruction wherever possible. The hindu religion was considered "a darkness weltering chaos, terror and uncertainty". It was "the work of Satan". Later, some of the leaders of Christian thought came to celebrate:
"In his (India) literature, philosophy, art and regulated life there is much"
It is useless, much also that is distinctly unhealthy; However, the Treasury of
"knowledge, wisdom and beauty that contain are too precious to be lost".
(Hymns of the saints of Tamil Saivite, Eds, f. Kingsbury & G.F. Phillips.) (Editorial preface).
It was the attitude of the following:
"Other religions are broken lights;" Christianity is complete and perfect light.
Other religions are prepared for the reception of Christianity. Christianity is
compliance. "Christ is the Crown of Hinduism."
A more tolerant and more recent perspective is now gaining ground in terms of different religions as 'legitimate', as well as different types of human language are genuine products of local conditions; but the attitude still maintains a sense of superiority: This reminds one of the comments of the English on the language of the Americans: "Speak the same language as us, but not so". "You speak that our cousins in America call English!" Something of this snobbery still exists among the best of the Christian missionaries in the India, but the spirit of universalism is certainly at work.
This is partly true also of Muslims who arrived as conquerors and finally settled on Earth. Despite occasional outbursts of fanaticism, has lowered a little militant faith of Islam, also. Under his influence of universalism, the Mughal Emperor Akbar tried to lay the foundations for a new, comprehensive and eclectic religion. He stated:
"Each person according to his condition gives the Supreme being"
"a name, but in reality to name the unknowable is vain."
His son Jehangir argued that the science of Vedanta is the science of Sufism or mysticism of Islam. Dara Shuko, grandson of Jehangir, recognized the universal spirit of Islam and Hinduism and was instrumental in having the Upanishads translated into Persian. This later resulted in a jargon of latin, Greek and Persian and drew the admiration of the German philosopher Schopenhauer, who declared:
"This incomparable book awakens the spirit to the depths of the soul."
It has been the solace of my life; "it will be the solace of my death."
(Cited by Prof. Max Müller). (The six systems of philosophy India).
Muslim fanatics destroyed many Buddhist and Hindu temples and converted people by force, but even so, the Hindus, in general, continued to allow them and other perfect freedom of worship. In this sense that Abdul Razak, the Persian Muslim Ambassador to the hindu Court in Calicut, India South, wrote in the mid-15th century, is very revealing:
"The (Calicut) people are infidels;" therefore I consider myself
be in an enemy country, as the Mohammedan considered each one to
It has not received the Koran. However, I recognize that I meet with perfect tolerance
and please even; "We have two mosques and are allowed to pray in public."
(Quoted by S. Radhakrishnan, Eastern and Western religions thought.)
Conditioned minds with preconceived notions of what religion is or should be may find it difficult to understand the hindu attitude that spiritualism is something else, in fact, infinitely more, than that of tolerance. It is the acceptance of all religions as true, the fact that God can and must be made through roads as many as possible, that is its true essence. This echo of Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion), which covers the voices of all religions - in his own universality and arrogance - has a lasting attraction for all of us.
Some kindly reader can leave a comment or "rating" of this article. Thank you.
Bhaskar Banerjee is deeply involved in the quest to unravel the source of force contained within all of us. Its diverse inspiration awareness programmes, talks, Exchange articles, newsletters, have helped many to take a look into the joy of his being. Currently associated with a Web site member 24-7 for products in high demand, you want to click below to have a look that could be of interest and value to you.
http://www.BlueHost.com/track/Bhaskar/Text1