mainly @JM Truthfully, although it all sounds relatively convincing, I am not at all convinced. This VIGIL Online - Interfaith dialogues and Inculturation - Vatican’s twin strategy; Will we learn? - 2 is an updated version of things. According to this article, the strategy of Saccidananda has been so successful that it has been taken up by several others, so we see the spread of Catholic ashrams. (Which in itself is a contradiction.)
I don't think anyone is purposely trying to deceive here. I think that the deception is a side-effect of same very sincere people whose intentions of dialogue are honorable, but unfortunately the side effect is one of dilution of one of the greatest faiths on the planet. Hence Indian Hindus are very very worried that there will be no pure Hinduism left in a relatively short time.
But I have two main simple points only that I'll reiterate.
1) Christianity doesn't add anything of value to Hinduism. Hinduism is incredibly vast, and it's many schools are tried and true methods to the Self over centuries.
2) Mixing causes confusion. From the advaita view there is no confusion, unless it is the intellectual version of advaita that we see today where it's all done via the intellect and not from inner intuitive meditative experiences. But I've witnessed a ton of confusion first-hand. I've been to Hindu funerals where the people were crying because they thought the deceased just might be going to hell. (Sri Lankan Tamil where the Catholic Church had a large influence.) Our advaita masters intuited and saw reincarnation first-hand: that's where it came from. To claim that each individual has his/her own advaitic realisation is just false. It's the same non-dual God, consciousness, Absolute Reality, Truth, whatever you want to call it, for everyone.
But there are many opposing beliefs. When I asked directly whether it was heaven/hell, or reincarnation, which is just one small example of many opposing beliefs, the answer was, not unexpectedly, a diversion into agnosticism - neither.
The outcome of that is fear, just as it is with heaven/hell. With a true and absolute belief in reincarnation, there is no fear, period. So the result is a fear based belief.
Another one is idol worship, in particular Hindu Gods like Ganesha, and Muruga. I took on the sacred Arupadaveedu pilgrimage a few years back. I believed it was of a valid penance, and I feel the undertaking was beneficial to personal clarity, amongst other more inner reasons. It was, to put it mildly, wonderful, and transcendent. But a Catholic most likely wouldn't see it that way at all. So instead of doing these sorts of things, the mixed faith person who has been told it's not necessary at all, because all paths lead to God, or whatever, just wouldn't be so keen to participate in such beautiful traditions, which is sad, because I believe they're missing out on something.
But I do respect your honesty in sharing the standing and guidelines used at Shantivanam today. I do think religious dialogue is necessary, not just religious mixing.
Editted to add another link ... http://www.haindavakeralam.com/hkpage.aspx?PageID=11045&SKIN=C
I don't think anyone is purposely trying to deceive here. I think that the deception is a side-effect of same very sincere people whose intentions of dialogue are honorable, but unfortunately the side effect is one of dilution of one of the greatest faiths on the planet. Hence Indian Hindus are very very worried that there will be no pure Hinduism left in a relatively short time.
But I have two main simple points only that I'll reiterate.
1) Christianity doesn't add anything of value to Hinduism. Hinduism is incredibly vast, and it's many schools are tried and true methods to the Self over centuries.
2) Mixing causes confusion. From the advaita view there is no confusion, unless it is the intellectual version of advaita that we see today where it's all done via the intellect and not from inner intuitive meditative experiences. But I've witnessed a ton of confusion first-hand. I've been to Hindu funerals where the people were crying because they thought the deceased just might be going to hell. (Sri Lankan Tamil where the Catholic Church had a large influence.) Our advaita masters intuited and saw reincarnation first-hand: that's where it came from. To claim that each individual has his/her own advaitic realisation is just false. It's the same non-dual God, consciousness, Absolute Reality, Truth, whatever you want to call it, for everyone.
But there are many opposing beliefs. When I asked directly whether it was heaven/hell, or reincarnation, which is just one small example of many opposing beliefs, the answer was, not unexpectedly, a diversion into agnosticism - neither.
The outcome of that is fear, just as it is with heaven/hell. With a true and absolute belief in reincarnation, there is no fear, period. So the result is a fear based belief.
Another one is idol worship, in particular Hindu Gods like Ganesha, and Muruga. I took on the sacred Arupadaveedu pilgrimage a few years back. I believed it was of a valid penance, and I feel the undertaking was beneficial to personal clarity, amongst other more inner reasons. It was, to put it mildly, wonderful, and transcendent. But a Catholic most likely wouldn't see it that way at all. So instead of doing these sorts of things, the mixed faith person who has been told it's not necessary at all, because all paths lead to God, or whatever, just wouldn't be so keen to participate in such beautiful traditions, which is sad, because I believe they're missing out on something.
But I do respect your honesty in sharing the standing and guidelines used at Shantivanam today. I do think religious dialogue is necessary, not just religious mixing.
Editted to add another link ... http://www.haindavakeralam.com/hkpage.aspx?PageID=11045&SKIN=C
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