Swami Vivekananda gave a new meaning to the Hindu philosophy of tolerance.

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/03/swami-vivekananda-gave-new-meaning-to.html

As I was reading the article about Swami Vivekananda, several paragraphs struck me and I am inspired to write the following article.

When Swamiji talks about, “The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist,” He was talking about religion is a pathway to spirituality. I had just responded to Mr. Yogi Sikand on an article about Dawah work in Islam by Maulana Wahiduddin, and Missionary work in Christianity.   

In my note, I was hoping to read what the Dawah (an invitation to convert) was for? Is it to make one a Muslim or to guide the person to become the righteous one?  Same question goes to Christianity, Sikh, Baha’i, Hindu and other traditions.

When Jesus said, “follow me”, Krishna said, “Surrender to me” and Allah says, “submit to my will”, the call was to follow God’s law of nature; to live cohesively and in harmony. It is about bringing a balance and equilibrium to everything we do. Balance is sustainable and extremity is not.

Personally I value every religion, and do not consider the need for any one to change his or her faith unless he or she finds solace in a different faith other than the one s/he is accustomed to. Every faith does what it is suppose to do to the believer; bring peace of mind.  No one should compel one to convert or prevent one from converting, let one choose what one believes to bring tranquility to him and harmony with others.   Let it be an individual’s choice.  What difference does it make to you if I eat different food, wear different clothes and speak a different language?

Swamiji touches on diversity, indeed, because we are diverse we have survived if we were all one, we could have been wiped out with one single disease. Each one of us is endowed with a different thumb print, DNA, eye print etc, so let’s have a different faith as well. To repeat his words, “The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist,”

Conversion assumes a deficiency in the other faith and that is sheer arrogance. However, I would guide one to be a better Hindu, Jew, Christian, Muslim and ultimately a better human, which is the essence of every religion.  Mahatma Gandhi had emphasized the same thought and Prophet Muhammad’s first model of education was to be truthful, trustworthy and caring and he was called Amin by the people around him.  Jesus embraced every one without flinching, and accepted the otherness of other, in fact he said let’s condemn the sin but not sinner, that was the ultimate in inclusion or I call it Pluralism.

The other thought that really touched me was, “Swamiji was in favour of harmony among religious beliefs and against one religion for all.” 

Indeed the Foundation for Pluralism is about that, and the Parliament of Worlds Religion has set the lofty but simple goals such as: harmony rather than unity, convergence of purpose rather than consensus of belief and facilitation rather than structuring.

Those of us who feel insecure about the interfaith movement and fear losing our identity or diluting it, please be assured that the goal of the Parliament is NOT to UNITE religions, but to facilitate a platform to learn about the others first hand and work together for the common good of mankind. 90% of religion is about doing common good; only 10% of it is rituals that give it its own uniqueness.

There is no proselytization element in any of the events the Parliament facilitates. You may love the theme in Melbourne, “hearing each other and healing the earth”. Indeed, that is the need of the day; hearing each other first hand.

The City of Chicago has honored the Swami by naming a street after him, and now get ready to honor the Swami again in 2014 at the Parliament of World’s religions in Brussels. Save the monies and get ready. Insha Allah, God willing, see you there with a topic on Swami Vivekananda.
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Mike Ghouse, President of America Together foundation is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, and is available to speak at your place of worship, work or in seminars and conferences.

Through the Foundation for Pluralism, Mike champions the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, and is committed to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress.  He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. His work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

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Reference: http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article1587374.ece

Dalai Lama and Worlds Religions

DALAI LAMA & WORLDS RELIGIONS - DALLAS
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2010/12/dalai-lama-and-worlds-religions.html|

December 9, 2010. This very day last year, I was in Melbourne with HH Dalai Lama along with 6000 (plus) people from across the world representing over 200 religious traditions. He was the key note speaker on the last day of the weeklong conference by the Parliament of World's religions.

 He stayed in the Crown Plaza Hotel across Melbourne Convention Center and a full rainbow cascaded over the Hotel on the last day of the conference. Indeed, it was a welcome rain at Melbourne after a long draught of several years.  What a coincidence, Dalai Lama’s presence made it all happen, the rainbow and the rain. This was also the day he had received the Nobel Peace Prize some 20 years ago.

To continue the work of building bridges,  the folks in Dallas are working the bid to bring the Parliament of Worlds Religions in 2014, and they are getting closer on winning the race over Guadalajara, Mexico and Brussels, Belgium. Dallas has got what it takes to host the event, and most importantly, the impact of the event will be deeper and lasting in building cohesive societies around the World. It is this aspect of the event that will make a big difference in the United States through her American City; Dallas.   

Check out the websites for details:

http://www.facebook.com/DFWInterfaithCoalition

http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/dallasfortworth/

The Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress are taking bold initiatives to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill in building cohesive societies for America and have planned ion conferences dealing with the issues about Anti-Semitism, Demystifying myths about Quraan,  Racial Profiling,  Homosexuality, and other issues. The first in series was conducted on Sunday, December 5, 2010 – more at www.Quraanconference.com

No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to understand the issues and find ways to remove such fears in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America. 

The 7th Annual Unity day, 4th Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides and 14th Annual Thanksgiving Celebrations will continue to be the flagship events of the organizations 2011.  

Dalai Lama says, "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."  This quote was shared by a facebook friend Hem-e Tazi and it prompted me write this whole story.  Indeed, I have been writing HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE for over a decade now and have actually made a sign that reads Happiness is a choice. You are the master of your feelings, despite the difficulties; you are the one who decides how you feel.
Please remember smile is contagious and comes right back to you. I wish happiness to all of you now and for years to come.

Give a gentle smile to some one this week and check out the sites for Dallas bid and volunteer, donate and partake in this mega event.

Mike Ghouse for cohesive America
Americans working together
http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

Parliament event

December 3 - December 9, 2009

I want to thank the Memnosyne Foundation and the founder Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk for sponsoring my trip to the Parliament of Worlds Religions in Melbourne, Australia. I really appreciate it. It was an experience of life time.

Dr. Harbans Lal’s continuous encouragement and support was incredible, I am grateful to him to make the attendance meaningful and successful. I thank my friend Adil Khan for being persistent that I should go when I was debating otherwise due to time, school work and the work and other constraints. Yasmeen and my kids Jeff/Fern and Mina kept up with me while I was getting up at 6 AM and stayed until 11 PM daily at the conference center.

Paul Carus award

My gratitude goes to friends who nominated me for the prestigious Paul Carus award including Dr. Harbans Lal, Dr. Basheer Ahmed, Phyllis Curott, Imam Feisal, Rev. Angie Buchanan and Rev. Bill Matthews to carry out the work of building bridges. The encouragement from Eboo Patel, Sada Cumber and Mary Ann is appreciated as well. I have written updates on the Facebook as well as my random diary at http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/

I was one of the nominees for the award and fortunately, the award went to the most deserving to IAPA, "Interfaith Action for Peace in Africa," an organization formed in 2002 that brings together representatives from African Traditional Religions, Baha’is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Jews for their outstanding contributions to the Interreligious Movement by the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.

IFAPA

"IFAPA," the acronym by which the award-winning group is best known, "models in a creative way, the peace-making potential of the growing interreligious movement," said Rev. Dr. William E. Lesher, Chair of the Council’s Board of Trustees. "The organization is comprehensive, representing the major religions of Africa and also geographically significant with a continent-wide reach and concern," he said. IFAPA’s most public activity has been in the area of conflict resolution, having sent interfaith delegations to Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, North and South Sudan and Togo over the last decade. Other IFAPA activities include a women’s project called, "A Mother’s Cry for a Healthy Africa," and a water project in rural Rwanda.

2014 Dallas

Tatiana Androsov was joined in by Rev. Bill Matthews and Mike Ghouse in placing Dallas for the 2014 Parliament venue. We had meetings with the Parliament executives to discuss about the viability of bringing the event to Dallas. We will be competing with Phoenix, Los Angeles, Bali, Istanbul and Bangkok. The program in Melbourne was borne by the Australian Government, The state of Victoria and the City of Melbourne. I feel positive about it, but we have to do the work and among several organizations in Dallas, we have the combined experience to put an event.

I am delighted that the Parliament gave ample time to the indigenous people from Americas, Africa, India, Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, Philippines, Japan and other areas. We needed to do that and am glad it happened, that really made me happy to acknowledge the ones, who were hitherto ignored by the society.

The theme of the parliament was “hearing each other and healing the earth” and the conference lived up to its theme by including every possible representation of humanity.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
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Obama's Blunder

Obama's Blunder on War

President Obama is wrong in this instance
Congressman Kucninich' note is a piece of wisdom

Only those who are incapable of a dialogue, only those who are short sighted secure their security through war because that is the only instrument they can understand. I am utterly disappointed in the president for lowering himself to appease the Neocons.

Neocons do not understand the nature of peace. To them peace comes when you oppress the dissenters, or annihilate them altogether. When you inflict suffering on others, the law of Karma goes to work, and brings insecurity and fear in you for the wrongs you have done.

Just war is a deranged ideology, it justifies the animal in humans to murder and annihilate, the president needs to understand religion, any and every religion and the idea of co-existence, to raise above animal instincts of survival.

We are the most powerful nation on the earth, and we should not be abusing it, our power gives us the power to bring peace through peaceful means.

There is a Chinese saying - if you want to eliminate the enemy spend half as much time and money and make them friends. War creates bitterness and insecurity, friendship removes enmity in the long run.

President Obama - you are a religious man, please reflect upon seeking peace through peace and not from bullying. Your and my mentor Martin Luther King has demonstrated that, please don't get big headed... have the humility to accept your goof up and make a turn around and earn the respect of the world and resist the temptations to be Bush.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
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Congressman Kucinich’s Response to President Obama’s “Just War” Doctrine

WASHINGTON - December 11 - “Yesterday, our president mused about the inevitability of war, war’s instrumentality in the pursuit of peace and just wars. It is important for us to reflect on his words, because once we believe in the inevitability of war, war becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Once we are committed to war’s instrumentality in pursuit of peace, we begin the Orwellian journey to the semantic netherworld where War IS Peace, where the momentum of war overwhelms hopes for peace. And once we wrap doctrines perpetuating war in the arms of justice, we can easily legitimate the wholesale slaughter of innocents. The war against Iraq was based on lies. Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan are based on flawed doctrines of counter-insurgency. War is often not just; sometimes it is just war. And our ability to rethink the terms of our existence, to explore the possibility of peace without war, may well determine whether we end war, or war ends us.”

URL to article: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/12/11

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12 Apostles

Friday, December 11, 2009
Melbourne, Australia

Took the ocean drive tour - about 150 miles from the City

Today's hightlight was walking in the rain forest near Melbourne, it was an incredible experience of the serenity, the melody of birds cooing and the tranquility of the place... it was indeed uplifiting, and the smell of the flowers, eucalyptus and the sounds of bristling leaves was very very invogarating. May be this how it would fell in the elusive Paradise.

Visited the 12 apostles - 12 upright 100' diameter mud hills raising straight up from the ocean close to the cliff-lined shores.

Mailed post cards to Yasmeen, Jeff/Fern, Mina/Tim, Adil/Nosheen and Everett/Lilly from a town returning from the Rain Forest.

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Musuem of Indigenouse People

Museum of Indigenouse people
Melbourne

Visited the Musuem for indigenous people, they were good to share the list of all the indigenous communities. I taped a scene where it shows the Colonialilst shooting at the Natives and the pre-recorded commentary goes, that the colonialists shoot the aboriginees less ceremoniously than they would shoot at stray dogs. ...I was stunned and took me a long time to get out of that corner. I am in no mood to visit anything

I was going to visit the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, as it is kind of sacred to me, but decided not to go anyplace as showing my cocern to fellow earthians from the native traditions. I was very committed to the development of Cricket in North Texas and I have done my share as President and recepient of the recognition for the best overall development of Cricket in the Americas.

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Parliament 15

Summary of the Parliament visit

I am pleased to share some random notes from the Parliament of World's relgions. I had 3 presentations and was a moderator for two programs and attended 4 programs a day for seven days.

About 8,000 people, 250 religious traditions, people from 110 countries attended the event. It was so good to see the native people of Australia, Americas, Africa and Oceanic countries were given prominence. I met with several of the people and visiting them this Sunday in their nations within Australia.

It was a pleasure to meet all the big names in Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jews, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Wiccan, Pagan and Native traditions. Met with SriSri Ravi Shankar, Amma, Mihir Meghani, Many a Swamijis, Dalai Lama, Bhai Avatar Singh, Dr. Taranjit Butalia, Dr. Tariq Ramadan, Phyllis Curott, Angie Buchanan, Uncle Max (Native), Imam Feisal, Native Clarke, Dr. Muzaffar, Dr. Kaziwini, Dr. Quraishi, Imam Moujahid, Rabbi Lerner, Rabbi Rosen and several Rabbis... Iftekhar Hai....the list is quite big and it was a pleasure that they read my articles. The president of Islamic Association of the State of Victoria, Ahmed Rehab was a great host.

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Parliament 14

Imam Abul Malik Moujahid

Dr. Imam Moujahid is elected as the chair person of the Parliament of World's religion, it a great honor for Muslims for him to be honored with this position. This is one of the well respected bodies. It is all about Pluralism and co-existence.

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Parliament 13

Australian TV

It was a pleasure to be on Australia' TV at the Parliament event. I share the greetings from various traditions. Insha Allah, one of the radio stations is interviewing me on Saturday.

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Parliament 12

Quraan in light of Peace

Due to heavy security for Dalai Lama, Dr. Tariq Ramadan was late by 10 minutes and I carried the presentation, when he joined, he asked me to continue... however, I came to listen to him and yeilded after summarizing. It was a thrilling moment in my life when Dr. Ramadan, one of my favorite thinkers in Islam wanted me to be on the panel with him on the topic of Quraan and the perspective of peace. It was the highlight of my day.

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Parliament 11

A New Conscience

It must be my day! My presentation on " the new conscience" received tremendous reception from the gagthering including a few clergy. As I traced the development of conscience from pre-historic times to the present and predicted what it would be in the near future. I spent hours developing the program and thank God, it was meaningful to the congregation.

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Parliament 10

Dalai Lama Plenary

Dalai Lama was the highlight of the closing plenary today. His speech was short and succint and he urged the audience to follow up with the work on peace. I was blessed to be seated along with the trustees and the board members of the Parliament of the World's religions, Thanks to Phyllis, Angie and Prabhu for making me part of the PWR team.

Indeed, it is a blessing that the board members and the trustees appreciate my writings on Pluralism and Islam.

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Parliament 9

The indigenous people of Australia

The indigenous people of Australia have the same issues as the indigenous people of Americas, they have taken advantage of so many times that they have difficulty in trusting any one. I met with three elders and 2 medicine men and hope to be visiting them this Sunday - a 150 KM drive from Melbourne. Thank God, we connected in spirits and communicated well.

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Parliament 8

Wisdom of Muslim Prayers

Dr. Suhair Quraishi, an educator from Saudi Arabia shared the wisdom of Muslim prayers and I joined her in sharing the knowledge with the public. She and I spoke the same language, the lanugage of inclusiveness and respect for every faith. It is so good to see a Saudi is also teaching respect for other traditions

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Parliament 7

Islam and the West

The Plenary session was about "Islam and the west" explored by 4 giants of Islamic pluralist thought - Dr. Tariq Ramadan, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Imam Feisal Rauf and Ali Karizimi, moderated by the Dean of BYU, Utah. One of the most attended programs. Quite a powerful talk and I hope to write it up the key points asap.

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Parliament 6

Jews, who do we want to be?

A powerful panel discussion by the Jewish community on " What do we want to be " - by Rabbi Rosen and four other prominent Rabbis from US, Australia, Israel and UK. I have made the notes well debated one. They have gone through what we are going through now. It indeed helps me write a chapter on Muslim Agenda. and when I get the chance, I will write the report. It was an englightening conversation and

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Parliament 5

Scriptures and their intended use

Scriptures and its intended use was shared by Christian, Sikh and Islamic tradtions. My presentation on Islam was effective and I am very pleased with the outcome and feedback. One of the members in the audience was a Christian Minister from Jerusalem and knew Arabic, I asked him to read the verse on the screen and ......he acknowledged to some 20 raised hands that the translation dished out to them for years was wrong. It was a packed house.

I recall it was like this when I presented the program "Muhammad the peacemaker" in January this year.

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Parliament 4

It was an exciting day meeting with some of my favorite speakers - Rabbi Michael Lerner, Imam Feisal, Dada Vasani, Amma and Dr. Suhair, a Saudi Arabian educator, she gave an outstanding interview on the live TV today, she spoke the language of Pluralism and it was so good to meet with her.

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Parliament 3

Homosexuality and Apostay

One of the packed house programs was on Homosexulaity and Apostasy, the presenters were a Judge of the High Court in Australia, a Female Pastor and a Muslim Scholar - they were pointing out how some parts of the scriptures were highlighted to portray Homosexulity as an abomination, while ignoring the other parts about adultery and other sins defined in religions.

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Parliament 2

11:30 - 1:00 Session

The plenary session was a live TV show by ABC Compass, - It was refereshing to see Australian TV was about presenting differents points of view to understand and perhaps find solutions- God has to help us Americans to give guidance to Fox and CNN TV to do the same instead of spewing hate and creating chaos.

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