Jain Spirit 2000 03 No 03

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 51

HINDUISM TODAY
INTERFAITH
TO LIVE IS TO LOVE
A bold inter-faith message from Hindu saint Swami Chidananda,
A
t the time I write this, the whole world is waiting and looking forward to the dawn of the 21st century, the Ladvent of the third millennium. What do they have in store for mankind? What will they bring to this world where the common man is wearied of war and violence, and longs to see an era of peace, friendship and goodwill prevail upon earth? This has been the dear dream and the fond hope of all human beings throughout the world over many centuries. The law of jungle must cease to be. A humane humanity all people wish to
see.
If a major world-catastrophe is to be prevented in time, the foremost philosophers, saints and men of goodwill of the world must come forward. Theirs is this sacred duty. For the light of divine knowledge, the radiance of the universal power - that
Jain Spirit March May 2000
50 Jain Education International 2010_03
Swami Chidananda
man
ОД И А
holds all beings together, supports the whole universe and sustains it - expresses itself through them. Their personalities are the manifestations of the great cosmic law. In ages past, whenever there was need to prevent the decline of righteousness, there have appeared on the scene great prophets and messengers of God. Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus, Lord Mahavira, Lord Zoroaster and such beings-so many of them appeared, when and where divine intervention was needed in the affairs of mankind. There is such a need now. But times have changed. The world has shrunk considerably. The pace of life has been greatly accelerated. Even benevolent autocracy and monarchy have had to yield to democracy. Not a king or any such individuals rule anymore. People themselves rule the nations, through an elected representative body. It is no wonder that divine intervention too, might take a similar form. Not an individual prophet, but the united body of world philosophers and mystics can solve the present-day problems of the world, and give the proper lead to those who govern the nations, their businesses, their social life etc.
Today, it is not enough if His message is delivered on a battlefield (Gita), or on a mount (New Testament), or in a holy place (Sarnath), and is allowed to take its own time to spread far and wide. Simultaneously, everybody should hear the word of god all over the world, and take to the right path. This is possible only through the agency of a united body of world philosophers and leaders and therefore, divine intervention might well take that form.
The philosophers, saints and men of goodwill of the world must come now to the rescue with their spiritual insight. For they have the impartial eye of rational intellectual discrimination, and dispassionate guidance of human society for the good of all. They discern what is right and what is wrong. To them the laws of God are living realities. They know that love is divine and hatred is undivine. They know that God has created the world in order that men might love one another and not kill one another. Their word alone, endowed with the authority of their inner communion with God, can save the world from the worst calamity. The problem is serious and urgent. Philosophers must act at once.
The first thing is to set the house in order. The foremost philosophers, belonging to the various major religions of the world, must organise and conduct research into the