Young Voices
A Transforming Sojourn
Sharon Danisha M. Vaswani
Issue 21, Spring/Summer 2009
Sharon Vaswani is a Hindu from the Philippines, who attended the programme in India. She is now part of the steering team that is continuing the work started there.
News of the terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of over 170 people and injured hundreds in Mumbai, spread like wildfire and the deluge of emotions of fear, sympathy, anger and frustration were felt across the world. It is ironic, though, that at the same time this tragedy took place, a group of over 100 young leaders from across the world had gathered in another part of India; in Mayapur, to take the initiative and seek the role of the youth in interfaith dialogue and peace. They say that to succumb to terror is wrong as much as to proliferate it, and this is why the attacks served as an alarming wake-up call to the ignorance in society today, which makes interfaith dialogue even more vital. The transforming experience of the youth in Mayapur gives hope that people, and more importantly youth, are passionate about sharing their faith and are fervent in their desire to understand the differences to build bridges among people of seemingly disparate faiths.
The huge ISKCON complex has a garden setting, and the murmurs of the pilgrims chanting the Hare Krishna mantra with their prayer beads fills the air, and with our presence the “spiritual capital of the world” is turned into a melting pot of people from different backgrounds, faiths, and walks of life. It was a beautiful place to sojourn and meet diverse people with the same heart-beckoning call – that of interfaith dialogue. Our encounter was a kind of pilgrimage, and we were aptly named “pilgrims of peace.” Our environment enhanced our capacity to listen to the other, truly appreciating what the other was saying. The reverence to life was apparent by the care given to each flower, tree, or animal that we came across. This stems from the Hindu belief that each life form possesses consciousness and energy. This was also apparent in the vegetarian meals we were served. Vegetarianism is a natural and obvious way to live with minimum hurt to other beings. The Manu Samhita, a Hindu religious text, advises, “When the diet is pure, the mind and heart are pure.” This is surely one way to uphold the sanctity of life, which can be found in the religious traditions of India. The unparalleled concern for harmony among different life forms was developed early in India and this has led to a common ethos based on non-injury and a minimal consumption of natural resources, which was very much evident in the lifestyle of the ISCKON devotees.
The life of compassion and simplicity of the devotees, served as a model and inspiration to us youth gathered there. The Javanese phase “Memayu Hayuning Bawano” meaning to work for the safety, happiness and welfare of all life was lived out in the areas of sharing wisdom and nurturing cultures of healing and peace. This was brought to the forefront by the youth in our various activities there. The outreach to the children at the Bhaktivedanta Vidya Mandir Primary School enriched their capabilities in living a more equitable lifestyle. Then, the painting of the mural with the children and their visions for peace, gave a glimpse into the dreams of light and love, which could transform our world for the better.
On a more personal note, my faith, Hinduism, which is the predominant religion in India, teaches that all life is sacred, as we all have a part of the divine [atman] in us. This is part of the Absolute [Brahman], and therefore to take life is to hurt it. Though man may have differing points of view, they are all true in their own way as each one takes steps stage by stage, in reaching the pinnacle of spiritual glory. Respect must be given and non-violence [ahimsa] must be practiced at all times.
The youth-led workshops on interfaith education and social and environmental activism all bore out to the commonalities of our various religions in terms of recognizing the sanctity of life. It was evident during my short exchange with people of different faiths how it is necessary that we look beyond our differences, in hope that recognition takes precedence over our notions of difference. I have also come to realize that all religions, not just Hinduism, promote universal and pure love, which is manifest in peace. There is one message that strings all these pearls of wisdom together and that is the message of ahimsa - respect and non-violent living. Love that is ahimsa is like the open blue sky where stars twinkle in the magnanimous canopy of serenity.
The painting of the mural with the children and their visions for peace, gave a glimpse into the dreams of light and love…