Notes by Rev. James M. DiLuzio CSP (unless otherwise noted).

Venue: ISKCON Temple, Potomac, MD 20854

Dates: Friday and Saturday, April 14-15, 2023

Topic: “Spirituality, Interreligious Accompaniment, and Dialogue for Everyday Life” — from both theological and lived experiences perspectives

NOTES:

• ON MERCY: The Movement toward “Complete Empathy” is
  a high value in both Hindu and Christian Traditions, acknowledging a
  The lineage of Mercy / Compassion.
  
  • Vaishnava Dynamics of Mercy
  • The Tolerant Mercy of the Vaishnavas | Harmonist
  • Quotes on Mercy in the Bhagavad-Gita:
    • “Discrimination, knowledge, non-delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control over the mind and senses, pleasure, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness.”
    • “One who does not hate any creature, who is friendly and compassionate, free from (the notion of) I” and my”, even-minded in pain and pleasure, forgiving and the yogi who is ever content, who has subdued the mind, whose resolve is firm, whose mind and intellect are engaged in dwelling upon Me such a devotee is dear to Me.”
    • “That one I love who is incapable of ill will and returns love for hatred. Living beyond the reach of I and mind, and of pain and pleasure, full of mercy, contented, self-controlled, with all his heart and all his mind given to Me with such a one I am in love.”
    • “Among the feminine nouns I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intellect, resolve, and forgiveness.”
• Christian Dynamics of Mercy
  • • Jesus built his teachings on Mercy on all that he absorbed from his Jewish identity. See:  The Original Hebrew Meaning of Mercy (patheos.com)
    • More on Christian Mercy:
      • A compilation of Hebrew and Christian Scriptures highlighting MERCY: 50 Meaningful Bible Scriptures on Mercy – ConnectUS (connectusfund.org)
      • The Catholic Year of Mercy Jubilee Year of Mercy | USCCB

• • AWE & WONDER! 
    • Hindu –Christian dialogue is committed to supporting people of both faiths to develop a deepening, ongoing capacity to be “Struck with Wonder.”
      • Awe aligns with the Hindu and Buddhist Movement entitled ANUKAMPA (Mercy)
      •  Anukampā: 25 definitions (wisdomlib.org)
      • Anukampa Bhikkhuni Project – Bringing the Bhikkhuni Sangha to the UK. ~ Oxford Ajahn Brahm Monastery ~ (anukampaproject.org)

• • • Christian Scriptures highlighting awe toward God:
      • “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” Hebrews 12: 28
      • “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 28

      CHILDLIKE WONDER PARALLELS

Jesus’ teaching on childlike wonder in Luke 18: 15-16, Luke 20: 26; Mark 10: 13-15; Matthew 5: 9, 45, and Matthew 18:3 and the Nativity Luke 2

Stories of Krishna’s childhood: playful, joyful, a delight in life, freedom of simplicity;  See Krishna’s
Childhood Pastimes | The Hare Krishna Movement

 4 Steps to Engage in Religious Dialogue

Participants created a 4-step List of the best ways to begin Interreligious Dialogue.  Interlocuters must observe each step in the proper order:

Step 1: Contemplate Divinity.

Step 2: Contemplate My Relationship with Divinity.

Step 3: Meet with Religious Leaders from each respective Faith; Education is essential.

Step 4: Personal Connections are a NECESSITY: Meet with Peers in respective religions (Hindu doctors meet Christian doctors; Christian Neighbors meet Hindu neighbors; Teachers meet Teachers, etc.) i.e., begin with people with whom you have considerable commonality outside of your respective religion.

Vaishnava – Christian PARALLELS identified:

Vaishnava strives to achieve Union with Divinity, especially in yoga and meditation practices.

Christianity strives to experience“Christ in Me,” – an experience of Christ’s presence in mind, heart, spirit, and body, especially in communal gatherings for prayer, worship, Scripture engagement, and for many denominations, engagement in Sacraments.

Common Ground: Attendees concurred on the following concepts:

“God is active in and through all religions of goodwill and in all people.”

 “God accompanies us all the time. We need to develop a constant awareness of that truth.”

The necessity of Ongoing Inward Transformation acknowledging three universal faith dynamics:

We Love God for our own sake, i.e., we are most often concerned for our own well-being and salvation as we understand it (We all begin with self-absorption).

We Love of God for God’s Own Sake – we recognize God is a Love greater than any individual can obtain. We gain transformation and enlightenment by standing in awe of God.

Love of oneself for the sake of God as we are all children of God. This is the path to self-acceptance and the assurance of human dignity and the great worth of all creation of which we are a part.  

Achieving Mutuality is dialogue’s goal.  Mutuality begins with an attitude of reverence toward “the other” that includes:

      1. Recognizing the DIVINE may never be fully known in human terms.

       2. Appreciation of diversity.

       3. An agreement that all involved are SEEKERS – seeking Wisdom, Peace, Harmony, within and beyond one’s beliefs and traditions.

      4. A commitment to Understanding one another,

      5. An agreement to withhold all judgments and avoid occasions for debate.  

      6. A longing for articulating commonly held beliefs while respecting unique approaches
to those common beliefs.

Mutuality requires RISK-TAKING. A willingness to be:

      a. Vulnerable.

       b. Honest.

       c. Open.

       d. Humble – a recognition that each person is a work- in-progress.

        e. Engaged in Scrutiny of Self and of one’s tradition –

       f. A True Love and Acceptance of SELF -unique, flawed, beautiful.

       g. Cultivate KENOSIS (Late Greek kenōsis, from Greek, action of emptying) as              applied to transcending ego to union with God and a liberating experience of          interconnectedness of all peoples and all creation.

        h. Infused with a Commitment to JUSTICE

Eastern Religions influence Western / European religions.

Brother Roger, the founder of TAIZÉ, was inspired by Sitar chants.  See Hindu Sacred Music | Sacred Music Radio

Classic Christian text WAY OF THE PILGRIM that promulgated THE JESUS PRAYER to be chanted in solemn repetition as inspired by Hindu practice.  See Christian Devotional Classics: The Way of a Pilgrim – Emerging Scholars Blog

Contemporary Christianity’s Influence on Hindu Thoughts and Initiatives Religions 

§  Fraterni Tutti encyclical by Pope Francis

§  Laudato Si encyclical by Pope Francis

Common Social Justice Initiatives are mutually affirming.

General Comment: Archbishop Felix Machado of Mumbai has made strides in Hindu / Christian dialogue Felix Anthony Machado – Wikipedia

Understanding the Ways Contemporary American Divisions compare with conflicts in India such as

RSS – “India for Hindus Only” erupted in villages circa 2016 but its fascist philosophy
is rooted in a movement that began in 1925

§  Hindus only: How religious nationalism has spread through India’s villages
(religionnews.com)  February 2023

§  Bandi Venkatramana is the district coordinator for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu nationalist paramilitary organization and the ideological forebear of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. He said he wanted to send out a clear warning to non-Hindus entering this village: “There will be consequences!”

§   India’s RSS Has Played A Powerful Role In The Rise Of Hindu Nationalism: NPR

§  See Religions for Peace USA on ‘Rise of Hindu Nationalism in the United States” Video Discussion at  https://www.facebook.com/100064666780568/videos/1588050935361443   OR go to Religions for Peace USA Facebook Page, click “MORE” and then choose “VIDEOS” and choose: Rise of Hindu Nationalism in the United States” https://www.facebook.com/ReligionsForPeaceUSA/videos 

§  RSS History:   Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh – Wikipedia

§ See the NYTIMES article: Why Do People Who Need Help From the Government Hate It So Much? – The New York Times
(nytimes.com)

 RESOURCES as Referred to or Inspired by the Dialogue

Multi-Faith Education Resources: Learn Religions – Guide to the Beliefs and
Religions of the World

Vaishnavism What is Vaishnavism? –
ISKCON – The Hare Krishna Movement

Encyclopedia Reference: Bhagavadgita
| Definition, Contents, & Significance | Britannica

The Embodied Philosophy Movement About – Embodied Philosophy –
Embodied Philosophy   The Wisdom School  Embodied
Philosophy  The Wisdom School includes over 1000 hours of in-depth courses, workshops and mini-trainings in contemplative studies, wisdom traditions, yoga philosophy, and mind-body integration for lifetime learners, seekers, yoga teachers, therapists & scholar-practitioners.

Yoga and Social Justice Activism:  Home – Embodied Philosophy –
Embodied Philosophy

Five Book Recommendations  

#1: Unifying Hinduism by Andrew Nicholson Unifying
Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual History (South Asia
Across the Disciplines) – Kindle edition by Nicholson, Andrew. Politics &
Social Sciences Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

#2: Andrew Nicholson’s Translation of Lord Śiva’Song:  The
Īśvara Gītā Lord Śiva’s Song: The Īśvara Gītā – Kindle edition by Nicholson, Andrew J. Nicholson, Andrew J. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

#3: Reversing the Rivers A Memoir of History, Hope, and
Human Rights by William F. Schulz  Reversing
the Rivers (pennpress.org)   From 1994 to 2006, William F. Schulz headed Amnesty International USA.  Reversing the Rivers: A Memoir of History, Hope, and Human Rights by William F. Schulz, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

#4: Strangers In Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right By Arlie Russell Hochschild. Hochschild argues that people might vote against their economic needs, but they’re actually voting to serve their emotional needs:

#5: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri’s short stories offer insights
into the ways Hindus and people of other faiths perceive the dominant American
Christianity and its cultural influences.  See Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri | Goodreads Synopsis available at Interpreter of Maladies – Wikipedia

 

AN INVITATION: Christians interested in participating in next year’s
Vaishnava – Christian Dialogue may contact me with a note including your
denomination, degrees, multifaith organization(s) or involvement, and I will
forward your information to Iskon.
Blessings to all!   

 

Iskon News Item: https://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/26th-annual-vaishnava-christian-dialogue-held-in-washington-dc

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