All, my humble opinion here.
Eastern religions (Hindu, Jain, Budhha, Sikh, Zen, Tao, Shinto, Bahaâi, many others), have always looked at "faith" as a universal feeling which every human is capable of experiencing towards his/her Isht - or the object of reverence. And Hindus have always looked upon this human experience - the experience of faith - with equal respectfulness and reverence, irrespective of the Isht - or the object of reverence - even if the Isht is different from their own. For Hindus, of essence is the attainment of faith - while the object through which faith is achieved is irrelevant, though still respectable. And then further in the spiritual journey, all the eastern paths, especially Hindu, aim at attaining liberation from all the dualism of life, cycles of suffering, and being ultimately alone. In all eastern religions, therefore, there is a name given to that final aloneness - Moksha (Hindu), Nirvana (Buddha), Kaivalya (Jain),...etc. In this final state, all dualities are gone. The follower, his Isht, his Guru, and his faith/sadhana - all disappear into nothingness. And that nothingness these religions have deliberately refused to describe in words and instead have insisted upon the followers in "experiencing" rather than "believing".
On the other hand, in the western religions - Christianism, Judaism, Islam -impetus is upon "believing". Faith is important, but more important is the Isht or object of faith. Of utmost importance, right in the beginning as in the end, is to keep remembering that my truth is the only truth - and all other facts are non-truths. Of equal importance - especially in Christianism and Islam - is to make sure that all others have been brought into believing in my Isht. That is a favour being done to those folks whom you brought into beleiving in your own Isht. So the journey there is not towards alone-ness but of towards multitude-ness. That is why you donât have concept of Moksha, Nirvana, Kaivalya in western religions. Although Christos may argue it is âSalvationâ but just look little deeper and salvation is nothing of the concept we are talking of. That is why you dont have any tools in these religions like meditation or being alone.
The experience of eastern sages has been different. As per the deshana of Buddhas, and experience of Dhyanis - utility of the object of faith, is faith itself! Once faith is attained, the object becomes of no importance. It is like the parent pointing the child to the moon using their index finger. Once the moon is understood, finger is not important. Eastern religions treat objects of faith like the finger. While the western religions lay emphasis upon the finger and the way it is pointed.
Now, one more clear difference between Hindu and western thoughts has been that Hindus - unlike westerners - have never been demeaning and ridiculing towards the objects of reverence of others. In fact, they treat all objects of reverence - used by anyone on earth - as equally respectable and of utility. That is why you have given birth to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa who demonstrated by living like a Muslim as well as a Catholic for many months at length - to show them that the same faith can be achieved by many ways, all reach the same goal. One faith can be easier and more suitable to some - while other may be more useful and suitable to someone else. Itâs a personal choice and selection. That is why Guru Nanak travels to Mecca. That is why Shri Sai Baba of Shidi doesn't hesitate to live in a mosque. That is why we dont have any thing like conversion!! What has to be converted!!
Let us remain true to Hindu principle of never demeaning anyone's object of reverence, and their teachers - fictions or real. Since others demean our reverence, we have right to defend our faith - and for sure we shall. But in doing so, I request all members not to be disrespectful to Jesus, or other non-Hindu teachers. It has never been a Hindu practice. See Vivekananda literature. He has defended Hindu faith in west very vociferously - but always being respectful to Jesus. See literature of Paramahansa Yogananda or Sril Prabhupada or Acharya Rajneesh also. All of them have always treated all the spiritual teachers of all religions with respect, or at least with indifference - but never with disrespect or abuse. Study how Chhatrapati Shivaji behaved with christo priests and muslim Mosques during his conquests - which is with respect.
So I would request everyone to stop targeting Jesus. For sure let us carry on our assault to defend our faith, but spare Jesus who doesnât have anything to do with the Christianism we are talking about. Who knows if he would have lived today he might have been in an Ashram in India.
Eastern religions (Hindu, Jain, Budhha, Sikh, Zen, Tao, Shinto, Bahaâi, many others), have always looked at "faith" as a universal feeling which every human is capable of experiencing towards his/her Isht - or the object of reverence. And Hindus have always looked upon this human experience - the experience of faith - with equal respectfulness and reverence, irrespective of the Isht - or the object of reverence - even if the Isht is different from their own. For Hindus, of essence is the attainment of faith - while the object through which faith is achieved is irrelevant, though still respectable. And then further in the spiritual journey, all the eastern paths, especially Hindu, aim at attaining liberation from all the dualism of life, cycles of suffering, and being ultimately alone. In all eastern religions, therefore, there is a name given to that final aloneness - Moksha (Hindu), Nirvana (Buddha), Kaivalya (Jain),...etc. In this final state, all dualities are gone. The follower, his Isht, his Guru, and his faith/sadhana - all disappear into nothingness. And that nothingness these religions have deliberately refused to describe in words and instead have insisted upon the followers in "experiencing" rather than "believing".
On the other hand, in the western religions - Christianism, Judaism, Islam -impetus is upon "believing". Faith is important, but more important is the Isht or object of faith. Of utmost importance, right in the beginning as in the end, is to keep remembering that my truth is the only truth - and all other facts are non-truths. Of equal importance - especially in Christianism and Islam - is to make sure that all others have been brought into believing in my Isht. That is a favour being done to those folks whom you brought into beleiving in your own Isht. So the journey there is not towards alone-ness but of towards multitude-ness. That is why you donât have concept of Moksha, Nirvana, Kaivalya in western religions. Although Christos may argue it is âSalvationâ but just look little deeper and salvation is nothing of the concept we are talking of. That is why you dont have any tools in these religions like meditation or being alone.
The experience of eastern sages has been different. As per the deshana of Buddhas, and experience of Dhyanis - utility of the object of faith, is faith itself! Once faith is attained, the object becomes of no importance. It is like the parent pointing the child to the moon using their index finger. Once the moon is understood, finger is not important. Eastern religions treat objects of faith like the finger. While the western religions lay emphasis upon the finger and the way it is pointed.
Now, one more clear difference between Hindu and western thoughts has been that Hindus - unlike westerners - have never been demeaning and ridiculing towards the objects of reverence of others. In fact, they treat all objects of reverence - used by anyone on earth - as equally respectable and of utility. That is why you have given birth to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa who demonstrated by living like a Muslim as well as a Catholic for many months at length - to show them that the same faith can be achieved by many ways, all reach the same goal. One faith can be easier and more suitable to some - while other may be more useful and suitable to someone else. Itâs a personal choice and selection. That is why Guru Nanak travels to Mecca. That is why Shri Sai Baba of Shidi doesn't hesitate to live in a mosque. That is why we dont have any thing like conversion!! What has to be converted!!
Let us remain true to Hindu principle of never demeaning anyone's object of reverence, and their teachers - fictions or real. Since others demean our reverence, we have right to defend our faith - and for sure we shall. But in doing so, I request all members not to be disrespectful to Jesus, or other non-Hindu teachers. It has never been a Hindu practice. See Vivekananda literature. He has defended Hindu faith in west very vociferously - but always being respectful to Jesus. See literature of Paramahansa Yogananda or Sril Prabhupada or Acharya Rajneesh also. All of them have always treated all the spiritual teachers of all religions with respect, or at least with indifference - but never with disrespect or abuse. Study how Chhatrapati Shivaji behaved with christo priests and muslim Mosques during his conquests - which is with respect.
So I would request everyone to stop targeting Jesus. For sure let us carry on our assault to defend our faith, but spare Jesus who doesnât have anything to do with the Christianism we are talking about. Who knows if he would have lived today he might have been in an Ashram in India.