The all-pervading commonality amongst all beings and objects is not evident to mind-senses. We operate in the world as individuals separate from the world inhabited by other beings and objects and thus we find ourselves opposed to our surroundings. But all world religions essentially point to us the non-duality of existence. The following is a sample of this teaching.
“To see the all-pervading Truth in and through the disturbing trellis of the phenomenal world is to realize the Truth in the outer world of Plurality. How this is harmoniously done is the very theme of the entire Ishavasya Upanishad.” – Swami Chinmayananda
Atheists and secular rationalists blame religions for most violence in the world. True. Throughout history, leaders have consolidated their herd, exploiting emotive ‘us versus them’ issues, and religious affiliation of individual forms the basis of the definition of 'me' and ‘us’ in a very significant way. Some leaders and their ideologies attain extreme popularity because they touch the place where ‘hatred of the other’ resides in the majority of the population. But is this the fault of the religions?
A true leader, in my opinion, teaches the truth of unity beneath the apparent diversity, as is taught in scriptures of all major religions.
Isha Upanishad 6
He who sees all beings and forms,
in the Self, he alone really sees;
he also sees the Self in all beings and forms,
thereafter, he feels no hatred towards anyone.
Our world seems so much friction-filled, leading often to violence based on differences in religious affiliations. Are the primitive clan mentality and subsequent hatred and violence a natural outcome of religious teachings or does the divisiveness stem from power consolidation tactics employed by unethical political leaders exploiting natural ego differences and hatred resident in common people?
Scriptures abound in messages of a single source for all diversity that we encounter in the sensual-experiential world. I reproduce below two selected verses.
Holy Quran 2.213.
Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. And only those unto whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them, through hatred one of another. And Allah by His will guided those who believe unto the truth of that concerning which they differed. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.
Mathew 5.43-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Contrast above unitive teachings of Isha Upanishad, Holy Quran, and The Bible, with divisive hate-mongering of the self-appointed religious and/or political leaders.
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“To see the all-pervading Truth in and through the disturbing trellis of the phenomenal world is to realize the Truth in the outer world of Plurality. How this is harmoniously done is the very theme of the entire Ishavasya Upanishad.” – Swami Chinmayananda
Atheists and secular rationalists blame religions for most violence in the world. True. Throughout history, leaders have consolidated their herd, exploiting emotive ‘us versus them’ issues, and religious affiliation of individual forms the basis of the definition of 'me' and ‘us’ in a very significant way. Some leaders and their ideologies attain extreme popularity because they touch the place where ‘hatred of the other’ resides in the majority of the population. But is this the fault of the religions?
A true leader, in my opinion, teaches the truth of unity beneath the apparent diversity, as is taught in scriptures of all major religions.
Isha Upanishad 6
He who sees all beings and forms,
in the Self, he alone really sees;
he also sees the Self in all beings and forms,
thereafter, he feels no hatred towards anyone.
Our world seems so much friction-filled, leading often to violence based on differences in religious affiliations. Are the primitive clan mentality and subsequent hatred and violence a natural outcome of religious teachings or does the divisiveness stem from power consolidation tactics employed by unethical political leaders exploiting natural ego differences and hatred resident in common people?
Scriptures abound in messages of a single source for all diversity that we encounter in the sensual-experiential world. I reproduce below two selected verses.
Holy Quran 2.213.
Mankind were one community, and Allah sent (unto them) Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed. And only those unto whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it, after clear proofs had come unto them, through hatred one of another. And Allah by His will guided those who believe unto the truth of that concerning which they differed. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.
Mathew 5.43-48
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Contrast above unitive teachings of Isha Upanishad, Holy Quran, and The Bible, with divisive hate-mongering of the self-appointed religious and/or political leaders.
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