[Posted October 12, 2007]

Transcending Caste, Creed, Time and Place

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

What's in common and what's different is not the point; the point is what is pleasing to God, that we cooperate to serve God.

BBC NewsOctober 12, 2007 - ROBERT PIGOTT

Emerging voice of mainstream Islam

A total of 138 of the world's top Muslim leaders, clerics and academics have written an open letter to the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and other leaders of the Christian world.

It warns that world peace depends on better dialogue between them, and points to the fundamental beliefs each have in common.

But the real significance of the initiative lies in the creation of a powerful new lobby in world politics. go to story

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Transfaith

For the Love of God Hansadutta das

it doesn't matter if you are a follower of Christ, Mohammed, Krishna or Chaitanya. Just like it doesn't matter if you go to New York University, Berkeley University or London University. The subjects are the same. The conclusions are the same. The place may be different, the language may be different, the teachers may be different, but the science is the same. Two plus two equals four anywhere. So religion is not different in the Bible or in the Bhagavad-gita or in the Koran. Religion is one thing: the orders given by God. And God is one. Therefore religion is one. By our own interpretations and manufacturing our own ideas, we have created so many different sects and communities. But in fact religion is one thing.

And what is that? Service to God. Everyone is God's servant. And that is the meaning of religion. As soon as we agree to serve Him without any reservation, then we are actually religious. And then we become indifferent to being Christian, Mohammedan, Hindu or American or German or black or white. We become free from material designations. more

Above the principles of religious rituals

Chaitanya-charitamrita Madhya-lila 25.121, text & purport

"'As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the person, the country, the time and the circumstance. In devotional service, however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental to all such considerations.

PURPORT
When we are on the material platform, there are different types of religions–Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and so on. These are instituted for a particular time, a particular country or a particular person. Consequently there are differences. Christian principles are different from Hindu principles, and Hindu principles are different from Muslim and Buddhist principles. These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considerations. The transcendental service of the Lord (sadhana-bhakti) is above these principles. The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be achieved in transcendental devotional service. This is the verdict of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When one becomes a Vaishnava, he becomes transcendental to all these limited considerations. This is confirmed by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (14.26):

mam cha yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."

The devotional activities of the Krishna consciousness movement are completely transcendental to material considerations. As far as different faiths are concerned, religions may be of different types, but on the spiritual platform, everyone has an equal right to execute devotional service. That is the platform of oneness and the basis for a classless society. In his Amrita-pravaha-bhashya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura confirms that one has to learn from a bona fide spiritual master about religious principles, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately liberation. These are the four divisions of regulated life, but they are on the material platform. On the spiritual platform, the four principles are jñana, vijñana, tad-anga and tad-rahasya. Rules, regulations and restrictions are on the material platform, but on the spiritual platform one has to be equipped with transcendental knowledge, which is above the principles of religious rituals. Mundane religious activity is known as smarta-viddhi, but transcendental devotional service is called gosvami-viddhi. Unfortunately many so-called gosvamis are on the platform of smarta-viddhi, yet they try to pass as gosvami-viddhi, and thus the people are cheated. Gosvami-viddhi is strictly explained in Sanatana Gosvami's Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wherein it is stated:

yatha kañchanatam yati kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksha-vidhanena dvijatvam jayate nrinam

"By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated, he can acquire the qualities of a brahmana."

The conclusion is that devotional service is open for everyone, regardless of caste, creed, time and country. This Krishna consciousness movement is functioning according to this principle.

Sri Guru and Gauranga