Self-styled Hindu leaders must know that hate is a serious spiritual sin

Paramansa Yogananda, one of the greatest yogis that India has ever produced, advised: “Anger destroys the very purpose for which it was aroused.” Anger is not an antidote to anger. An intense anger might push another to suppress his weaker anger. But it won’t kill the weakest rage.”

Yogananda explained that anger generates jealousy, hatred, malice, revenge, destructive instinct, wild thoughts, cerebral palsy, and even temporary insanity. “The wise is content with knowing that God runs the universe…He is free from anger, hostility, and resentment.”

Yogananda, who yogi’s biography Ranked as one of the top 10 spiritual books of the 20thThe tenth Century, he wasn’t saying anything new. It was echoed by a long line of Indian spiritual and religious symbols as well as Hindu religious classics.

Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, who has presided over Kachi Kamakoti Peetham at Kancheepuram for 87 years, explained that emotion, anger, hate and fear belong to the mind, not the soul. Judging from some devotees who have hatred for Muslims, Chandrashekhara Bharathi, the 34The tenth Acharya of Sringeri Sharada Peetham was explicit: “Hostile, hatred, jealousy and revenge do not promote religious feelings and spiritual growth.” The Vishnu Purana Believers are asked not to treat others inappropriately, not to speak openly about the faults of others, not to create enmity with another human being and to avoid speaking if the words would cause pain to the listener.

However, we have a strange situation where those who consider themselves leaders of the Hindu community continue to abuse minorities and sow hatred against minorities, and slander Hindu religious principles. Worst of all, they prostituted the name of Lord Rama, having cut off the king of Lanka who had kidnapped his wife, he told his younger brother Lakshmana to go to where Ravana was lying gravely wounded, not dead yet, and asked for his blessings. When the perplexed Lakshman did what he was told but complained that Ravana had not spoken to him, Rama scolded him for going and standing near Ravana’s head; He was asked to return to be near the feet of the dying man. Even after what Ravana did, Rama showed no trace of his opponent’s hatred.

In his final months, Mahatma Gandhi lived through hard times as Hindus and Sikhs killed Muslims while Muslims killed Hindus and Sikhs during the terror of partition. But despite the poison in the air, Gandhi remained committed to nonviolence. On January 21, 1948, nine days before his assassination, Gandhi denied reports of a feud between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel. “They cannot be enemies of Muslims,” ​​he stressed. “I have no doubt that whoever is an enemy of Muslims is also an enemy of India.”

Referring to violence against Muslims in Delhi and Ajmer, Gandhi said at a prayer meeting on December 12, 1947 that Hinduism does not benefit Muslims. “God did not create man to live by killing others.” He also defended the sanctity of the Qur’an. “These verses are ancient written by the Holy Prophet 13 centuries ago. The extracts we read are considered sublime. Their very reading gives the reader an advantage.”

If someone feels that Gandhi was biased towards Muslims, let us read what Swami Vivekananda said during a visit to Sialkot: “The different religions that exist in the world, though different in their form of worship, are really one…in every religion out there have been good men. and capable, which makes the religion to which they belong worthy of respect; and since there are such persons in every religion, there should be no hatred of any sect whatsoever.” He added that hatred “greatly obstructs the course of bhakti”.

If this is general language, Vivekananda was specific in a speech he gave on February 3, 1900, in Pasadena, California: “Muhammad showed by his life that among Muslims there must be complete equality and brotherhood … you see the greatness of Muhammadi behind other races.” Subject on March 25, 1900, in the San Francisco Bay Area, calling Muhammad the “Great Asian Prophet” saying: “The ancient message of Krishna is one harmonious message – Buddha, Christ and Muhammad.”

Swami Chidananda of the Sivananda Ashram described Muhammad as a “great spirit” who was “born with the temperament of a saint”. Swami explained in detail the spiritual significance of Ramzan, noting “sadhana“Fasting the month of Ramadan. Swami Chidananda explained that Muslims began fasting Ramadan in”BrahamohurthaThe sacred time when Hindus are urged to pray and meditate. He said: “This fast (Ramadan) is the spiritual way of yoga… Being seekers, we belong to a global brotherhood that gathers under the common flag of the unity of all religions. Let us also, on this very blessed day of the first month of Ramadan, pray fervently to the Prophet Muhammad and God Who is like Jehovah, Ahura Mazda, Almighty God, the Father in Heaven or Atma or the Supreme Spirit.”

Are today’s self-proclaimed Hindu leaders greater than Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda? Learn more that those who presided over Uday Shankara Bethams? more discreet to Sanatan Dharma Who are sages like Paramanza Yogananda and Swami Chidananda? Unlike all the great Hindu preachers, we have people today – some of whom wear saffron incredibly – constantly torturing and verbally and physically attacking minorities – Muslims in particular – preaching hate and insulting their religion. Falsehood and insinuations are weapons used freely to discredit minorities. Not many realize that advocating hatred of other religions, other scriptures, and other deities is a terrible sin.

“Why are Protestants and Catholics fighting in Ireland? … Why are Hindus and Muslims fighting? “Ignorance is responsible for all misunderstandings and disagreements,” wrote Swami Vishnudevananda, who is also about Sivananda Ashram whose works on yoga and meditation are considered classics. Swami Vivekananda was even more ruthless:

“For all the demons for which religion is blamed, religion is not at all guilty: no religion has ever persecuted men, no religion has ever burned witches, and no religion has done any of these things. So what then incited people to do These things? Politics, but not religion, and if this policy bears the name of religion, then who is to blame for that?”

Was Swami Vivekananda, speaking in California in 1900, perhaps referring to the India he had predicted?

Narayan Swami is a veteran journalist.