Divine Guidance
Divine Guidance
We can teach the special and distinctive features of other religions also in our junior balvikas classes, for the purpose of the children of other faiths, without creating any confusion in the minds of the children. The ritual practices and customs of different religions, from the external aspect, may seem to be conflicting with each other, although the basic and fundamental principles of all the religions are one and the same. As the ability to understand and to harmoniously reconcile apparent differences and discrepancies between their religion and other religions may not be there in the young mind, we are not to go into the details of the other religions, except discreetly explaining the broad features, emphasizing the basic fundamental character and principles common to all the religions.
In all the religions, the importance of prayers, the need for worship, the principle of brotherhood of man and the father hood of God, cultivation of love for all beings, are common features. These are indeed universal values upheld by each of the religions. All the religions are but different paths leading to a common goal or destination. These are analogies given to illustrate the points like,’ The ornaments may have different names and forms but the metal out of which they are made is the same i.e. gold. The cows may be of different colours: but the milk they all yield is the same. Similarly, dresses worn by people may have different names and forms but the fact remains that all these different types of dresses are made from cloth only.
The dresses may be in different shapes and designs, say it could be a pant, shirt, bush coat, gown or a sari as worn by different people, but basically all are made from the same type of cloth. Likewise, Hindus have their own way of worship as per their traditions and injunctions based on the Vedas: Muslims pray in their own manner following the injunctions of Koran and Christians have their own mode of prayer as per the injunction of the Bible, but all these are prayers only. Ultimately, what we are all seeking is the Grace of God, only the modes of worship differ in their external form, in the different religions.
What all religions preach are fundamentally the same-like love, compassion, equally (brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God).They reach that man should have equal mindedness towards all and love all alike. They all emphasize the virtue of forbearance. This is the teaching common to Vedas, Bible, Koran etc., Zoroaster also taught that prayer is essential for life and that it purifies and rids our minds of all evil tendencies. All our bad qualities are to be burnt in the fire and that is the true sacrificial offering. He emphasizes that good thoughts, good words and good deeds are the three cardinal codes of a true religious life. Buddha has said, as in the Upanishads, that this world and life are full of sorrow. ’Sarvam Dukham’ and he taught the way to peace through the eight–fold path.
Thus, all the religions teach the same basic truths, though the external aspects, customs, rituals, etc., may differ. Only because our mental attitudes differ widely, we view them differently and as diverse. With the basic understanding of the equality and oneness of all religions, we must teach the children and enrich their hearts with deeper love for their own faith, and respect for other religions.
Ideas of distinction, dislike, intolerance, etc., should not be allowed to enter the children’s minds and if they be there, they should be weeded out for the upliftment of man and to teach the moral and spiritual truths, prophets and God-men have taken birth in this world time and again. While each of them had emphasis on different aspects depending on the needs of the time, the geographical conditions, the conditions of the people and other contingencies, the fundamental teachings are all common. All the religions are but the different facets of the same Truths. If these basic truths are inculcated in the tender minds of the young and fostered and nurtured during their balvikas years, the children will grow with a catholic vision and have a deep conviction in the unity of all faiths.
It is, of course, not in all places and in all the Balvikas classes that you have children belonging to different religions. But wherever there are such centres, the in-charge guru should herself study, understand correctly the particular religion and teach them properly.
[Source: Divine Guidelines to Balvikas (Balvikas gurus’ Conference-1978.]