World Interfaith Harmony Week 2013: Anand Ashram Quotes

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Mahatma’s Teachings Echo in Japanese Parliament

NEW DELHI:     Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama invoked the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi during his policy speech at the 174th session of the Japanese Parliament, Diet, to outline the challenges facing Japanese society and the path to their amelioration.

Beginning the speech by narrating the seven social sins inscribed at the Raj Ghat, Mr. Hatoyama confessed that he was struck by how Mahatma Gandhi’s words “incisively” pointed to the problems facingJapan and the world today. The moment he stood before the Gandhi memorial, he resolved to begin his government’s major policy speech by narrating the seven social sins listed by the Mahatma.

“Has the economy that sustained the material wealth of the 20th century made people rich, in the true sense of the word, and happy? How should we control the excesses of ‘commerce without morality’ and ‘wealth without work’ while maintaining a capitalist society? What kinds of economy, politics, society and education are desirable to enable people to live happy lives befitting human beings?” Mr. Hatoyama said.

He answered the poser himself by pointing out that “to borrow Gandhi’s words, our challenge is to foster ‘the morality of commerce’ and restore ‘wealth derived from work’.” India figured again in Mr. Hatoyama’s speech when he mentioned it along with Indonesia, countries that held extremely high expectations for increasing cultural exchange activities between people.

People-to-people exchanges

To meet such expectations, over the next five years, Japan would expand people-to-people exchanges in Asia “dramatically” by inviting over 1,00,000 youth, primarily from the Asian nations.

“We will also reciprocally increase the number of people intimately familiar with the various languages and cultures of the countries of the Asian region dramatically, thereby fostering the human resources that will serve prominent roles at the core of the East Asian community,” he said.

Sandeep Dikshit

Source: The Hindu, dt. 02.02.2010

IN DEFENSE OF ISLAM: The Use of the Word "MODERATES" for Muslims

It does not make sense to me when we use the word "moderates" to identity a certain group of Muslims, who are more inclusive, pluralist, and not extremists, not fanatics, not radicals.

Why?

By calling them moderate Muslims, subconsciously we acknowledge that "Muslims are generally not moderates - however there are some who are moderates."

We do not use the word "moderate" for Christians, Buddhista, Hindus, or the followers of any other religion - who are inclusive, pluralist, and not extremists, not fanatics, not radicals.

We do, however, identify the radicals among them as "radicals".

What does this imply?
It implies, that "generally speaking, they are not radicals, with the exception of few".

Can we see the difference?

By this wrong notion, we have created a collective fear for Islam, and Muslims.
By using the word "moderate" to identify certain Islamic groups - we have actually made a big, big blunder. We have created a negative image of Islam.

I am not sure if the so-called moderates are aware of this or not - but, one thing is certain. They are taking full advantage of this by enriching themselves with funds from USA, Europe, as well as some Middle Eastern countries by posing themselves as heroes, and their organizations as the sole hope against increasing radicalism.

We have to change this.
Islam must be projected as the Religion of Peace, of Salaam.... The wars fought during Prophet's lifetime, and following Him, should be seen as contextual, and in response to the need of the hour. They are not relevant for all times.

Islam must awaken to its true glory, and all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims have a role to play in this. For, we are interdependent. Any harm to Islam is harm to all of us, whoever we are, and whatever religion we follow.

Salaam, Shalom, Sadhu, Om Shanti
www.aumkar.org

Our Religious Leaders

They are good people, some of them sincere too - I do not doubt their sincerity... However, they are far from the hard realities of life. I feel they are no longer connected with the world we live in. They live in their own created worlds.

This is why they do not seem to understand the crux of our problems. They do not know how to deal with those problems.

Giving charity is good, building hospitals and schools is desirable - but consider this. How many more charities, how many more schools, and hospitals? What kind of real change have such charitable ventures brought about?

The world is certainly no better place (more comfortable, may be) to live than, say, a hundred years ago. Or, even 50 years ago in my own life time.

Stop lectures, let us get real...

Let us take our tools and toil....