Day 24 – Q 1.Do you find any philosophical similarity among various religions of India? Discuss.
1. Do you find any philosophical similarity among various religions of India? Discuss.
क्या आपको भारत के विभिन्न धर्मों के बीच कोई दार्शनिक समानता मिलती है? चर्चा करें।
Introduction
- Many great civilisations such as Mesopotamia and Nile valley civilisation established by human races but later they vanished from the face of the earth. India is an exception, ancient Vedic culture along with many other subsequent religions and cultures still exist here. This is because of special ability of ‘assimilation’.
- From Vedic religion to Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the most recent Baha’ism, all these religions in India are may be different due to their practices and rituals, but they have many similarities with respect to their core philosophies.
Body
Aspects of philosophical similarity among various religions of India:
- Universal brotherhood
From Sufi Islam to Vedic Hinduism, all the religions in India have same message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, the world is one family.
- Love and compassion
From Sufi “Sama” to Bhakti, all religion in India converge on the same message of love which also reiterated by Christ: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth”.
- Peace and nonviolence
All the religions in India agree with the message of Islam, “Killing of an innocent is equal to killing of whole humanity. The same message is in maha-vratas of Jainism and Panchsheel of Buddhism.
- Equality of all human beings
All the religions hold the philosophy of equality. Human beings deserve equal consideration and respect because of their common humanity.
- Devotion
Be it Sufi music or Bhakti songs all religions in one or other form converge on devotion to supreme power. This devotion is filled with love and peace.
- Sacrifice and Charity
All the religions promote sacrifice and charity for wellbeing of the society as a whole. It includes Zakat of Islam and alms of other religions.
- Oneness of the truth
May be there are different ways, routes and rituals, but almost all religion give the message “ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti…” i.e. “Truth is one, but the learned refer to it in different names…”
Conclusion
All these are few of many examples which prove the philosophical similarities between the religions in India. To conclude we can consider one last example of Baha’i community, a minority in India.
“The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.” – Bahá’u’lláh
Best Answer: Seema
