Remembering Sept. 11 - Terrorism and Religion

by: M P Bhattathiry

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September 11, 2001, this day has changed the history of the world. People have never seen such a cruelty in the original form towards innocent sections of the society and some have not even recovered from the great mental depression.

Let us express our feelings towards the sufferers of the tragedy on September 11, 2001, at New York and share with all some of the feelings of millions of educated on "Terrorism" and about the difference it has made in our lives, individual and collective.

Let us also recollect the other great historical event that occurred on the soil of United states Of America a superpower on the same date viz. 11th September. Coincidently the appearance of Swami Vivekananda on the platform of the Parliament of Religions of Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago is also on September 11th in 1893 and preached the importance of love among all religions. Strangely the great Swami, in his very first lecture, spoke mainly on tolerance and Universal Acceptance. He said, `we believe not only in Universal tolerance but we accept all religions as true´. He quoted from a famous hymn to God Siva written by Pushpadanta several centuries ago, which stated, `As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in to the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee´.

He then concluded with the following wonderful words, which appear most appropriate to be quoted before: `Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendent, fanaticism have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair Ö let us sincerely hope that the actions taken during the last one year may be the death knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the weapon or with the pen and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal´

Though we are yet to find out what all ideas worked behind that tragedy of September 11, 2001, we can be sure that an extreme fanatic ideology that considered all other ideologies as worth nothing and itself as the only worth living ideology was behind the dastardly act. The further events have revealed that this fanatic ideology was inculcated into receptive minds of the youth who become the instruments of terror that revealed itself at the W.T.O. and other important places,in America. Fanaticism drives away all reason and thus persons with fanatic ideas act like robots, rather, like animals. Fanaticism is the fuel by which the machine of terrorism works.

Fanaticism has been there in human life whenever people have been deprived of their spiritual food. What is this spiritual food? The disciplines or values of life that lead persons to realize their oneness with the Universe and with God and thus come to love humanity and God resulting into peace evrywhere.

The Vedas, the oldest available scriptures to humanity,The Holy Bible, The Holy Koran and all other religious scriptures say that all this creation is God alone and should love each other -. It implies that this Divinity is in every creature as its fundamental, inalienable nature. That is why Swami Vivekananda proclaimed the `Divinity of man´ in his many lectures in America. He thundered, `Ye, the divinities on earth, sinners? It is a libel to call a man so´.

When this idea of the Divinity of man is widely taught, not only in our schools and colleges but also in all churches, mosques, pagodas, Tabenacles and Temples where most innocent minds throng in millions, then only people will get their highest respect and regard, irrespective of their gender, wealth, intelligence, power etc. Then only the very idea of harming anyone, be it for any cause, would appear abhorring. Then alone can violence be radically uprooted from society.

In spite of the utmost technical and science education that people are getting now a days, the love and respect for fellowmen as a brother in God is lacking. This is what has made our scientists and politicians prepare nuclear weapons, biological bombs, ultimately killing all the fellow-feelings in the hearts of people. Is there any wonder if such people indulge in wholesale destruction of their fellow-beings as in the `program of Hitler´ or `the tragedy of September 11 of 2001´ in New York? This is the mental impact that Terrorism of September 11 has made on the thinking men like us.

The difference it has made in our life is that it has awakened a sense of urgency to educate people against falling a prey to the `brain-washing´ ideologies masked under various garbs . In killing innocents, there can be no religion except Demon´s dance.

Men who join such fanatic´s training camps are generally the poor and the deprived. They are `brainwashed´ to think that by killing others not of their fold, will confer on them the gift of `Heaven and its unending joys´ as a reward for their religious and pious act!

This is made possible in general where people don´t have basic freedoms of democratic rule, but are lead by nose as it were by selfish politicians. We have to stop all help to such non-democracies and pseudo-democracies. We have to push on with meaningful education supplemented with scientific skills and spiritual and morale`values´ that will make our men and women not only efficient but also good. Goodness can be summarized as truthfulness, a feeling of brotherhood of whole humanity, a sympathy to serve the needy and a firm conviction that humanity is one Divine family and to hurt anyone would mean bringing unhappiness on ourselves. Let us make a simple prayer thus: `Oh God, please bless us all with the will to spread these ideas of love and brotherhood to all our brothers from wherever irrespective of cast, creed and religion.

The philosophy that the material body can´t exist without a power which we say God is same in each and every living being.If all understand this it will become clear that we are all brothers and no tendency to kill others will originate. Mind should be brought up like this to avoid all sort of terorism.

Let us understand the essence of all religions.

God´s plan for us was not just endowing us with a comfortable material life. Then we would only be well fed, well clothed, well housed, academically-degreed animals capable only of functioning upon the animal level.

What is it that distinguishes human beings? The ability to be compassionate, the ability to feel for the joys and sufferings of others, the ability to wish to ameliorate the sorrows and troubles of others. Animals, instinct bound, are able to live for themselves. Human beings are the unique creatures, the unique animal in God´s creation, who can think of others, who can try to live for others. Living for oneself every bird and beast can do.

If, while you live for yourself, you also start living for others, wanting to make others happy, then you become human, because this is the essence of humanness. Understanding that what is unpleasant and painful to you is unpleasant and painful to others also, live in such a way that you do not give such experience to others. Knowing also that those things which give you joy and happiness, must similarly give joy and happiness to others, engage yourself in doing such things that bring about these similar experiences to others.

What is religion but fulfilling the will of God in our daily lives as it has been expressed in the wisdom teachings of all the great scriptures of the world, as it has been expressed in the lives of all the saints, sages, seers, messiahs, prophets and messengers which He has been sending from time to time to remind us of His will. Fulfilling the will of God in our daily lives is the soul of religion. Otherwise, if religion is a thing to be confined to some time of the week in some place in our city and no more than that, then our world has no hope of any improvement. It is only when true religion fills us from the top of our heads to the tip of our toe nails and becomes part and parcel of the living of our lives, then alone this world can be a place where to live would be a joy, to live would be to love. One of the solutions to avoid terrorism in my opinion is that religious leaders should study their holy scriptures deeply and should understand that love, truth and happiness is God and Religion.