SingaSpeaks – Roar 30

SingaSpeaks A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 30 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 22 OCTOBER 2016

The Ramakrishna Mission deputed Swami Satyalokananda to do the Presentation. Swami Satyalokananda is a serving ViceIn this regard, Jamiyah invited President of the Ramakrishna the Ramakrishna Mission to Mission, Singapore. He succintly present on behalf of Hinduism a pointed out the efforts of 15 mins paper at the Conference Ramakrishna Mission in taking on Friday, 21st October 2016 at several initiatives towards 10.30 am on the topic ‘Religion fostering inter-religious and and Peace: Initiatives from the racial understanding and peace.

Hindu faith perspective’. The His slide-show cum running Jamiyah wanted us to highlight explanation was deeply the work of our Mission in the appreciated by the audience. context of Singapore.

A Two-day International Conference on Religion and Peace by Jamiyah, Singapore The Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore recently received a communication from Dr H M Saleem on behalf of the President of Jamiyah Singapore Prof (Adjunct) Dr Mohd Hasbi Abu Bakar. He informed that Jamiyah Singapore, a community service organization of 85 years of standing in Singapore, would be hosting a two-day International Conference on Religion and Peace: Initiatives of Muslim Organizations in Southeast Asia on 20-21 October 2016.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defence officiated its opening as the Guest of Honour. He also presented Certificates of Appointment to 10 Muslim Youth Ambassadors International from the Southeast Asian region.

This Conference is supported by International Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Several Delegates from Southeast Asian countries attended the Conference held at Mandarin Orchard Hotel.

Honourble Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence officiated the opening of the Conference at 10.00 am on Thursday, 20th October 2016 to a thunderous applause from the delegates.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

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PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 30

PAGE TWO

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2016

Swami Satyalokananda gives a Presentation Delegates and speakers from every Southeast Asian country attended the Conference. Serious discussion on promoting Peace was presented by many Muslim leaders and youths of Singapore and other countries. In the Session entitled "Initiative from other Religions" Hindu, Buddhist and Christian representatives were also invited. Swami Satyalokananda, VicePresident of the Singapore Ramakrishna Mission represented Hinduism. Here are a few snaps of this historic event.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 30

PAGE THREE

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2016

What is Harmony of Faiths?

Sri Ramakrishna, a mystic saint, was born at Kamarpukur, a village in the Hooghly District of West Bengal. He was an extraordinary spiritual aspirant.

In his quest for God or Truth, he performed intense sadhana and reached unprecedented heights of spiritual realization, so much so that even during his lifetime he was hailed as an incarnation of God. He is one of the greatest prophets of harmony of religions.

Of course this is not a new idea to Hinduism.

Our ancient scriptures have declared thousands of years ago that ‘Truth is one, the sages call it variously’ (Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti).

The same idea was explained

by Sri Ramakrishna using a beautiful analogy. He said that people drawing water from the same source, i.e., a pond, call it differently.

The Hindus use one ghat for drawing water and they call it ‘jal’; the Muslims use another ghat of the same pond and call the same water as ‘pani’; and the Christians use

another ghat of the pond for drawing water and they call the same substance as ‘aqua’ or ‘water’. Actually the substance is one and the same, i.e., water, but the people call it differently according to their culture, tradition etc. Sri Ramakrishna also declared: ‘As many faiths, so many paths’, i.e., yato math tato path. His message of harmony of religions was not a Painting: Chitra Mondal, Singapore mere theory. It was not an amalgamation or collation of I accept all religions that were in the past, teachings from different and worship with them all; His message was I worship God with every one of them, in religions. based on his own personal whatever form they worship Him. I shall go to the mosque of the experience.

Mohammedan; I shall enter the Christian’s church and kneel before the crucifix; I shall enter the Buddhistic temple, where I shall take refuge in Buddha and in his Law. I shall go into the forest and sit down in meditation with the Hindu, who is trying to see the Light which enlightens the heart of everyone…

May He who is the Brahman of the Hindus, the Ahura-Mazda of the Zoroastrians, the Buddha of the Buddhists, the Jehovah of the Jews, the Father in Heaven of the Christians, give strength to you to carry out your noble idea –Swami Vivekananda

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

Inter-religious dialogue and harmony are talked about and discussed very frequently these days. But Sri Ramakrishna was perhaps the first ever in the modern century to preach openly the harmony of religions.

Following his message, it was Swami Vivekananda who delivered a unique message of harmony of religions at the first World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893.

singapore@rkmm.org