11-02-10 Inter Faith Conference At

Somaiya College Radhanath Swami &

Various Dignitories Chowpatty ISKCON
Anchor: I request them to occupy the seats in the first row. Suprabhat, a very good morning to
everybody with our campus prayers. We request all the dignitaries and the member of the audience to
rise for the prayers. Today indeed is the great occasion for all of us, we are having this glorious interfaith
meeting to discuss a very pertinent topic for today as all of you know the topic. And according to our
Indian calendar today is a special day also which is called the ratha spatami, when the sun enter another
solestars and the sunrays which reach their region very quickly and with all their energy get the
prosperity. So I feel that all the rays of sun and all the energy of sun on this ratha saptami day has been
concentrated on this Somaiya campus, where their will be an over flow of spiritual prosperity and
spiritual wealth. Now I invite the dignitaries, I request Sri Samir Somaiya to accompany them to the
stage and before they take the seat, I request them to light the lamp and then adorn their seats. His
excellency cardinal Okana, Vidyasingh Acaryaji, Radhanath Swamiji, His eminel cardinal o wor…, his
excellency Salvator……..His Grace Ardbita Felix Metardo, Maulanaji and Ashraf Shaikji. Lighting the lamp
is an auspicious beginning according to our Indian tradition for journeys including spiritual one. So by
lighting the lamp we invite the light of divinity in our life and then we start our program. It is a common
practice in a way a parampara of Somaiya Campus that all our programs begin with an invocation in
Sanskrit, because it is our religious and sacred language. I request Dr. Kalaacharya, director of …….. for
Sanskrit invocation.

Translation of Sanskrit prayers: Friends, I have just said in Sanskrit that we have heard arguments, we
can realize the eternal truths in our own religion, but whenever there are arguments somebody is
defeated so there is hatred, there is sorrow. But when there is samvada, a meeting, then we understand
each other and when we understand each other, there is love and when there is love, there is
coexsistence and when there is co-exextence there is a peace for which we all religions try, that’s why
this meeting. Welcome to one and all.

Anchor: A very brief and very concise but a very thoughtful invocation. Thank you Dr. Kala for this. It is
said by Martin Luther King junior, that we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as
fools. Following that tradition we have taken the cause of inter-relegious dialogue. And now I request
Samir Somaiya to give a welcome and opening speech. As you know Mr Samir Somaiya is the vice-
president of Somaiya Vidhyavihar, chairman of Somaiya trust. He has been trained in west, in Corneel
and Harward university, but his soul has been nourished by the leagacy of his father and grandfather
and he has taken up the banner of inter-relegious dialogue very efficiently and with the dedication
which is at par with his father. I request Mr. Samir Somaiya to offer his welcome speech.
Sri Samir Somaiya: Maulana Abdul….., ……. This is the first time that I am here in an inter-religious
dialogue of this nature. until this year, I think my father was very much the pioneer of bringing and
promoting interfaith discourse on this campus. Our campus is unique in Mumbai, in Maharashtra and I
would like to say in India as well. That as an urban campus run by a private education society, Somaiya
Vidyavihar today has about 26-27 thousand students and about 1500 faculties. We teach a very wide
variety of subjects arts, science humanities, engineering education, languages, managenment studies,
vocational studies etc. very wide variety. And further unusual, we have 3 centers of religious learning on
this campus. We have a center of Baratiya Sanskriti peetha, which promotes the study of Sanatan
dharma, we have a center of Buddhist studies and we have a center for Jain studies. My grandfather K.J.
Somaiya founded this campus. He started it in 1955 with a moto of namanushat paroo dharmo, there is
no religion greater than or other than service to humanity. That was his motto, a firm Gandhian by
tradition, followed Gandhi, night and day, work hard his whole life, every Wednesday was a mauna vow
of silence and fast for whole day, I think a vanishing breed that we only read about………… life meant
service to society and if you earn with a hundred hand then give with a thousand, practiced throughout
his life. So the topic came, Kalaben asked me, for the interreligious dialogue what should the topic be?
My thought process was, ok it is was an interfaith dialogue what is this dialogue, what is it supposed to
do? The dialogue is to think of some common issues and try to address some burning topics in society
today. And then the dialogue is with whom? Is it between the members of Hindu, Christian, the Islamic
faith or is it supposed to be a dialogue between the people on the campus who are the wider section of
society and what is the purpose of this dialogue. Where do we want to go with it? If we look at the
newspaper today, whether it is Europe, whether it is India, whether it is the east, it is the west all over
we are finding a decline in morality. That if I can get away with it I will. If nobody is going to catch me, I
will run with it. I think Gandhi was very interesting, Gandhi insisted on a particular moral code, but there
was no dogma, because he encouraged discussion. You could write to him you could get your queries
answered, this is what my grandfather told me and I have read a lot of Gandhian literature. But I think if
religion is to remain relevant and I am being a little strong over here, I am very fond of religion, I read
the Bhagvad Gita almost daily and I hold it very dear to my heart. But I think if religion has to remain
relevant, it has to insist on a particular kind of improvement in morality. I think that many of the scams
that we are seeing, the 2G scam, the 3G scam or whether it is the fodder scam or whether it is the
subprime crisis. I guess most of the people who were the participants in these scams were the people
who considered themselves men of God. But I think that we need to redefine what man of God means is
it is somebody who goes to a church or mosque, the temple, the deherassa. Or is in the living of how
one conducts one’s life. And therefore I think that our choice of topics of today is the decline of morality
and the role of religion in restoring it, is something what this dialogue should seek to address. We have
students over here and we have asked them at the end, if they could ask some questions to all the
people. Because I think as men of religion and spirituality, we try and rise our society to a higher
standards. With this I thank you very much for coming and I hope that we have a very good dialogue
amongst us and amongst the larger audience that we have here. Thank you.

Anchor: Thank you Samirji for raising very pertinent questions regarding the theme. Now we start the
session for the inter-religious leaders and before we start the Christian session, I request Prof Father
Gilbert to render the Christian prayer.
Father Gilbert: 25 years ago, the late Pope John Paul 2 nd came to india and 25 years ago on this day he
was in Mumbai. His life and vision continue to inspire us today and so we pray. Dear Lord we thank You
for the gift of the servant of God, Pope John Paul 2 nd, who carried the Your message of hope and dignity
to the whole world. During his pontificate he visited as many as 129 countries and 14 …. And 100 other
major documents he authored are a remarkable testimony to his vision, wisdom and tireless energy .
Challenging the world to concretely realize a civilization of love. Lord we thank You for Pope John Paul
2nd for his fundamental conviction which was the foundation of his vision of a civilization of love, namely
the Christ who is Lord and savior, redeems humanity from sins and brings us back in communion with
God and one another through holy spirit. Lord we believe that Pope John Paul in the deeply spiritual
person he was into the crucipal of suffering, which he experienced right from the first moments of his
life. He suffered Nazism, the loss of his parents as a youth and a communism which denied basic human
rights to the Polish people. And guided by your holy spirit, he responded with courage and joy the call of
priesthood. The rest as we know is history, in Your providence, he was elected the first Polish Pope and
first non Italian in 450 years. Lord Jesus, Pope John Paul had a special charisma, to reach out to children
and youth, recognizing the havoc that contemporary culture, which foster materialism hedonism,
consumerism, relativism and insecurity can have on the spiritual lives of the young. He guided them like
a loving shepherd, to overcome these disastrous pitfall at various youth rallies organized all over the
world. We especially thank You Lord for Pope John Paul’s firm commitment to life in all its stages. He
believed in human life and human rights and did not compromise on the principle that were founded on
the gospel. We thank You for empowering him to speak courageously against artificial birth control,
abortion, capital punishment and euthanasia. Branding all of them into what he called a culture of
death. We also remember O Lord with gratitude, his address to religious, social, culturally, economical
and political life of India at the Indira Gandhi stadium in New Delhi on Feb 1986, when he spoke of the
need to pursue the integral human development of every person. He also maintained that since India’s
greatest contribution to the world is the spiritual vision ……. All religions need to collaborate to renew
humanity. We realize Lord that Pope John Paul did not expect his bold and inspiring vision for civilization
of love to be achieved either quickly or painlessly. But we sense him reminding us that it begins in the
heart and souls of each and every one of us. And that together we can strive to construct a civilization of
love with patience and with unshakable faith.

Anchor: I now request Arch Bishop Philips Mechado to speak on this vision. Felix Mechardo has a special
place in the heart of Somaiya. We think him as our own because with him we entered this field of inter-
religious dialogue and with him we are progressing in this field. I request Arch Bishop Felix Mechardo,
Arch Bishop of Vasai to speak on this occasion.

Arch Bishop Felix Mechardo: Respecti……. On the days my dear sisters and brothers. As much as we can
we must multiply these kinds of cocassions. It is not a time to sit back but it is a time for us, people of
good will, belonging to different religions. We must multiply these kind of meetings. Let us not wait for
crisis to come and the think that inter-religious dialogue is some kind of an ambulance or fire brigade
that we are going to take out and put of the fire, no. when we are friend s we must deepen that
friendship. As Pope Benedict 16th almost on the day he took the reins to lead the catholic church, he said
we must build bridges of friendship. We must come close to one another as he reminded us of the
words of Pope Paul 6th when he came in Mumbai in 1964. Inter-religious is not a matter of reading some
kind of papers in conferences. 40 page paper which would have 400 footnotes, that is not necessarily an
inter-religions dialogue. I am very happy that at the outset, Samir bhai has pointed out to us, what does
it mean to come out together. What does it mean to meet …… inter-religious dialogue, first and
foremost doing something together in our world. And that is what Pope John Paul 2 nd has told us
Catholics. Having worked for him in the interreligious dialogue in the Vatigon, I learned that it is
necessary for us to join hands and do something about the problems our world is facing. I was delighted
when Samir bhai suggested for this. Let us talk about values and declining morality in our society. I think
that is very very relevant for us here in India, in Mumbai. I donot mean to say that, that may not be
relevant for other parts of the world, but we must begin with India. So I am very happy, I would just like
to conclude by sharing with you my experiences. The first time I was invited to Somaiya campus, for the
training of the trainees, it was a course for teachers. That we form the teachers, the teachers will go and
form the students. I was asked to speak about Christianity. There were many teachers belonging to
many different religions. There were monks of Swami Narayan for example and I just began making
friendship. I was their teacher but they treated me as their friend. The family of Bharatiya Sanskriti
peetham began to tell me by their gestures and by the loving affections they showered on me that I am
their brother. And slowly I was introduced to Dr. Shantilal Somaiya, who took me to see his ageing
father. There is sang Masaya dan, the prayer I love very much of Saint Dyaneshwar and when I finished
singing the prayer, Karamji asked me, are you Hindu? I said, no. why do you sing this prayer? I said
because I respect my Hindu brothers and sisters. And he said to me you don’t have to be Hindu, but
respect everyone. When Shantilal Somaiya on several occasions has visited the Vatigon, has meet the
Pope John Paul 2nd who was there for the installation of Pope Benedict 16 th. On several occasion he
came to the Vatigon. And I remember, this made me laugh, but it made me grow and think, he said,
“father Felix I see, whenever I come into the Vatigon here, there are some who go with their religious
dog, what we call cassettes and don’t see you with that.” I use to be some kind of …. Kind of suit, black
suit, which is the dress generally worn by those of us priest of some religious belonging. And he said to
me it would be good if you sometimes wear that cassette and he passed on to me some envelop with
some money in it. I was moved by that, he wanted me to be a good Catholic priest, a Hindu brother of
mine and I would say he was an elder brother for me, says to me that you have to be a good Catholic
priest. This is respect for other religions. Mahatma Gnadhi’s name was mentioned by Samir bhai. I
remember in his ashram, the phatan from Afghanistan, Gafar Khan. when he came, not knowing
whether Gafar Khan needed to eat meat in the ashram which was a vegetarian ashram, Gandhi sent
someone to buy meat, thinking that Gafar Khan being a Muslim, might need for his meal meat. This is
friendship that goes across religious boundaries. And I think that is the core of inter religious dialogue. It
is not kind of changing of one another’s religion, it is not forcing each other to do this as I believe or ask
him to do that because I am convinced of it. We witness to that, I live my Christian faith with integrity,
without any compromise. But my Hindu friends, my muslim friends, my Jain friends, my Sikh friends help
me, sometimes even correct me to tell me that, “you are a priest, you have taken certain promises, you
are man of God and you must practice that integrity. You must live that example.” Yes, as Samir bhai
said, the values, the morality that our religions teach, that needs to be put into practice. And when we
do this we enrich our own religion and we enrich the society in which we live. That I think is the core for
me and the significance of inter-religious dialogue. We respect one another, we get to know one
another, we get to know each others religious beliefs and deep respect for one another. I remember K
Panikar great Indologist who said, “that which does not make sense to me does not be non-sense.” And I
think that should be the core of our inter-religious dialogue. Not trying to eliminate differences that are
there, not trying to play down or play up one another’s religions but to respect one another. Because
that which doesn’t make sense to me is not nonsense. Jai Hind. Jai Maharashtra.

Anchor: I request Mr. Samir Somaiya to felicitate, Arch Bishop Felix Mechardo. Arch Bishop we are all
aware that you are arch Bishop but fondly we call you father, because you are father figure in dialogue.
As the next item in our agenda, I request Mr. sabir Shaikh to recite an Islamic prayer. Mr Sabir Shaikh is a
student of Somaiya Bharatiya Sankruti peetham and he is great resourse person for us in yoga and we
are looking forward to him for joining us as faculty member. Mr. sabir Shaikh.

Mr. Sabir Shaikh: Thank you mam. (Islamic prayers) Glories to Allah, the cherisher and the sustainer of
the world. In the name of Allah most gracious, most merciful. I would like to start the prayer with
opening chapter of Koran itself. (Islamic prayer)praise be to Allah, the cherisher and the maintainer of
the world, most gracious most merciful. Master of the day of judgment. Thy do we worship and Thy aid
do we seek. Show us the straight way. The way of those on whom, Thou have bestowed Thy grace and
those who donot astray. Friends let me introduce you all to …… first comes the surah, the beautiful
chapter of the 7 verses, rightly called the essence of holy book Koran. It teaches us the perfect way, for if
we can pray, it means that we have knowledge of Almighty Allah. Of His attributes, of His relations to us
and His creations which includes ourselves. That we glimpse the source from which we come and that
final goal which is our spiritual destiny. Under Allah’s true judgment, we offer ourselves to Allah and
seek His light. The inspired one thought us a prayer that sums up our faith, our hope and our aspirations
and things that matter. We think in devotion of Allah’s name and nature. We praise for His creation and
His cherishing care. We call to mind the realities seen and unseen, we offer Him worship and ask His
guidance. And we know that straight from the crooked path by the light of His Grace that illumines us.
Thank you.

Anchor: Now I request advocate Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh, to speak on this occasion. Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh
is a practicing advocate in Mumbai since 2008 and is been involved in many welfare activities since last
11years. He has been the member of Maharashtra association of United Nations and under the banner
of this organization he has done a lot of community work. He is associated with SNDT university and he
is working on human rights. He is connected with many areas, ward committees and civic bodies under
which he is working and he is devoted to the cause of social amity and welfare. Thank you sir.

Ashraf Ahmed Shaikh: islam valle khum. I am happy to be part of this august gathering and I think all of
us should thank the Lord Almighty who has bestowed upon us this opportunity, to be under one roof to
discuss. Interfaith dialogue, since last few years we have been hearing this terminology. Under this
concept various programs have been held and undoubtedly soamiya is been in fore front in bringing
people from various faiths together. Also the catholic church have been instrumental in bringing so
many activites and reforms for interfaith dialogue. Friends today’s topic “Decline of morality in public
life and role of Religion to restore it”, I have been asked to speak on this from Islamic point of view. First
we need to understand what is morality. In the field of arts, now-a-days it is the era of modernization,
computerization, technology, cyber laws etc. when you have to opt for subjects, earlier people used to
opt for arts, may be science. Now-a-days people want to go for technology and in the arts they are not
opting for the subject like political science or ethics. Because for them it is not which will give them
reward in long term. Alright, so for them it is not scoring, in general. Then also today we are discussing
such kind of issues, what is the relevance of it. The very fact and relevance of this subject is because we
are away from morality, morality is going away from our lives, we are having problems in our lives. And
because we are having problem in our life, we need to take stake as to where we have gone wrong and
why we have gone wrong? Then the question arises do I need to teach morality to anybody? Or if
somebody asks in the audience to us that, “by giving lecture on morality are you going to inplant those
qualities in anybody.” No, because it has to come from within. And how it has to come from within,
because each one of us belongs to some religion and every religion teaches morality and values because
that is the core principle. That is the fundamental principle. And so what Islam is? The standards of
morality in the light of holy Koran has time and again reiterated Allah’ s mention and the mention of His
attires and the tributes. And no page of holy Koran is without it. The objective is not to earn the readers
praise and devotion, but impress the readers mind in diverse ways with divine attributes, so that he can
duplicate these qualities within you. Friends it reminds me of the last teaching of prophet Mohammed.
When he stood and he said this is my last sermen, he very correctly and aptly gave few examples and
few lessons to the human kind with respect to the morality. He has always focused that if the rights are
protected of the individual, yours as well as people around you, then your morality will be protected ad
yourselves will be protected. But in reality is it happening so? And because of it not happening, we are
having problems. I would like to share an example and an incident for the history. Once Prophet
Mohhamed was walking and there used to be a lady who used to always throw garbage on him. So
when he used to used to come near the window, she would throw the garbage on him. Everyday this
was happening, once, twice, thrice, everyday this was the practice. When he used to pass, she used to
be in the balcony or the window, waiting for when he will pass and throw the garbage. One day when he
was passing by, that lady did not throw garbage. He was amazed, that “today I donot have any garbage
on myself.” He went up to inquire that why that lady had not thrown garbage today and he saw that the
lady is lying on bed and the lady is not well. He went to her and said, “mother, o mother what has
happened to you, today you did not throw garbage on me?” She said, “I am not well.” She did so much
to you, wrongs to you and today when you came to know that I am not well, why I have not thrown
garbage, you had a hint something is wrong. You came to me to ask, that is your morality and I promise
that I will not continue this act and she converted herself. Islam teaches that you are equal but it also
teaches that you are not above anybody. Anybody in the mankind thinks that I am superior in any form
amongst the others, will not be amongst the Muslims. Islam teaches the method of brotherhood. Islam
teaches equality before law, equality before man and women. Islam forbids the betray of interests,
Islam teaches you the basic and fundamental rights with your neighbors. Starting with your neighbor,
then with your brother and your sister, then your parents, then your grandparents, now what we call
the rights of senior citizens. It is there in our holy book. Islam also teaches you how to behave, how to
conduct, if your neighbor is hungry you are not supposed to have your meal, you are not supposed to
have your meal, you are supposed to check first whether he is hungry. If your neighbor has nothing to
eat you must be ready to share your food with them. Otherwise it will be haram on you. Haram means
forbidden. They teach us basic fundamentals how you conduct yourself in society. How you represent
yourself because each one of us is the representative of God. Right or not? We are representing, we are
representing the soul, we are representing the light, we call it the nor. And if that light is shaded with
unethical code of conduct are we the ambassadors of social justice and peace? This is not the subject of
arts. Some one told me you speak this, you quote this, I said nothing doing, wherever we go people
quote big words and then it doesn’t go in somebodys mind. And then they wait when this speaker will
go and we have the next speaker. Religion is not that complicated, religion is very simple. Whether you
are Muslim, you are Hindu, you are Christian. Every holy book every religion has given the same basic
principles, which we have forgotten. We have to see ourselves, I am getting up in the morning sleeping
in the night. Am I following what I am supposed to follow? You need not ask anybody, you have to ask
yourself, “what I have done?” So these are the basic ethics and values which cannot be thought over the
lectures, which has to come from within. And how will it come from within? Because there is a religion
within you and you need to look at it. Religion teaches morality values and ethics, why people are not
within the conformity of these guidelines given to us? Because we are religious only on face of it. We
have not understood in deep. If we go and read our holy books, instead of reading google, instead of
chatting on yahoo, instead of making profiles on facebook and orkut, if we take out time and read atleat
one page of our holy books, all our concepts and misconceptions will be cleared. Because I am sure that
nobody will agree in this hall that any religion is deviser. Every religion says you have to carry people
along, you have to learn to work with people who have different point of views. That’s what Islam
teaches and I am sure that dignitaries on the dais will agree with me that every religion teaches that.
Trust and accountability is the another issue and the principle which we need to have within ourselves
when we are dealing in the society. We need to have trust. Trust is something which cannot be brought
and accountability is something which cannot be purchased. You need to trust on people then only will
you be accountable. Now-a-days we are asking the government that why the government is not
accountable. Then we file petition, then we do agitations, still we find some corruption. Government is
not something that is come from heaven, government is made of people like us. Someone in this hall
may become MP or prime minister or something like that. So accountability and trust are the 2
principles. You need to trust people and then you will become accountable. Financial obligations and
interests. Whenever we are dealing with somebody, Islam say that you have to be very thorough and
careful. And It also gives us lesson that whenever we are entering into any agreement, whether oral or
other wise it has to be reduced into writing, so that there is no conflict further. Treatment of wives, you
should treat the wives in par with yourself. Brotherhood, superiority is the only pity in submission which
I have already spoken and duties regarding others. So these are the few examples of the religion and the
light that I have taken in a nutshell in this august gathering. And I am sure we need not be very
philosophical. I once again say that religion is very simple, Islam is very simple. The minute I address you
I said islam valle khum that means peace be upon you. The other person then replies valle khum
assalam which means peace be upon you also. So this is how you begin, you give message of peace. You
have to greet, even if you are walking on a street you have to greet. In every religion you say, in Hindu
you say, in Christian religion you say hello, hi. That means when you are walking in public field you have
to get introduced to others. Why you have to go to pray to namaz or masjid, why you have to go to the
churches? You can pray from your house also, but basic principle is when you go out of you houses, you
go to the churches, you go to the masjids, you go to the mandirs, you meet other people of the same
faith, that will create harmony, you will become friends. Otherwise God is everywhere, you can even
pray from your home, there is no restriction. But these small small examples and fundamentals are
there in the religion so that there is brotherhood. So if you have brotherhood trust and accountability,
the initiatives of interfaith dialogues meetings will be successful in the near future. I once again thank
the organizers, the dignitaries on the dais for taking such keen interest in the session. And I also thank
the lovely audience for coming here. This shows that you are part of this movement and insha allah, in
future we will have a difference and together we will make a difference. Thank you.

Anchor: thank you Mr Ashraf Shaikh, you represent the modern Indian muslim youth, who think that
religion is so simple and we pray to God that we find so many people of the same thoughts in our young
generations and they go back to their scriptures and find religion so simple to follow. I request Draupadi.
Kalaacharya to felicitate Dr. Ashraf Shaikh.

I now invite maulana Abdul Mallik to speak on this occasion. Maulana Abdul Mallik is an accomplished
Islamic scholar, he has learnt traditionally at the Durban university and he is a practicing maulavi. He has
holy Kuran form Mothersa, form th ….. He is the maulvi from the board of Arabic and Persian in India. He
is allen from board of Arabic and Persian. He is fazil from the board of Arabic and Persian. And the most
interesting part of his carrerr is that he has been trained in English language and how to teach English.
He is incharge of those activities at a school in Delhi, Motivalla Public school and he is teaching Islamic
students to study madersa and traditional Islamic learning in English, which will open up the minds of
many people. And he acts like the bridge to the traditional Islamic learning and the modern language of
communication. I request him to speak on this occasion.

maulana Abdul Mallik

Honarable respectable dignitaries and all my audience, first of all I would like to greet you with the
Islamic greeting, salaam valle khum, may the mercy peace and blessing of Allah be on all of you. I offer
my sincere thanks to Allah the almighty to give me this opportunity and I feel extremely fortunate to be
here. Audience when I look around me and when I look at the condition of the society, I find that people
are not only involved but immersed in immorality. Worst than it they don’t consider it to be wrong.
When 2,3 person assemble together there comes no warmth in their meeting , till they slander
somebody or talk something bad about somebody and they rather indulge in such gossip just to pass the
time. Having reflected deeply on these problems, I came to the conclusion that the reason behind these
problems is people are self-centered. They are self-conceited, they are selfish . They always follow their
own inclinations, without considering other people’s feelings. Their wings become their vows, and
believe like the slaves of their desires. Fulfillment of their wishes and their self aggrandizement becomes
the be all and all of their life, and never agitate to turn to bribery, conflict and conspiracy and other
kinds of ways and means to achieve their aims. Now it is only religion it can overcome these problems,
which can save the humanity from that devastation and destruction. And then morality will spread in
the society. But there are other problems here, that in spite of being affiliated by the religion people are
neglecting the rights of others, and they are creating the disturbance in the society. Actually they belong
to their religion but their religion is confined to their local provocations.
When it comes to following the religion practically and if it is against their personal interests, so they
start making reasoning to their prohibited things lawful to them. Let me just suggest an example, for
example to a person religion says give charity in the way of God to the poor people, his reply is, charity,
will lessen my wealth, instead I will take interest on my money and in its connection he will never
hesitate to take everything belongs to that later. However hungry and poor may be. The religion says all
those things are truth, and shall lie. But his reply is why? Why shall I do with the truth which is not in my
favor? And which brings loss to me. Why should I avoid lying, when it can bring benefit to me? He visits
to a lonely place and sees a precious metal is lying there and the religion says in such a situation don’t
take it, it is such a property. But his reply is there is no one is here to see me picking, but why should I
not have it. There is no one who could go the court of law, who could registers in the court. Why I
should not have it. Somebody keeps a deposit with this man, and eventually he dies. The religion says
now, every religion, be honest with the property, because it is not your own. But he would say lies that
there is no evidence that this wealth belongs him. Even his children have knowledge. When I can
appropriate it without any difficulty, without any risk of leagal claim and which can cut my reputation,
why should I not do so. So in short the religion leads him to walk in a creation direction, it definitely right
path. But he goes in the opposite direction, why there have to be reason, he is selfish. Now, what are
the best solutions of this problem are is mentioned in the Holy Koran, in chapter no 3, verse no 102 “Oh
you should fear Allah as you fear”. In this unique verse of the holy Koran the people are instructed to
have fear of Allah in their heart. Now the question arises here, how the sense of being fearfulness, of
being fearful will be created and cultivated in the hearts of the people, the reply again is given by the
Ismail himself in chapter no 24, verse no 53 says – where really Allah is well acquainted with all that you
do , in this verse of the Holy Koran it is clearly mentioned that Allah has full knowledge of what people
are doing. And He is ever watchful to them, whatever people are doing is being recorded and preserved
and it will be presented on the Day of Judgment, where all the humanity would be assembled. They will
be held accountable for what they are doing. This belief of fearfulness of Allah will produce in the
people the highest degree of honesty and faithfulness. It will also produce in dam the sense or modesty
and honest. They will never be navigator from that if they have fear of Allah. They will look at everything
that belonging to the same Lord and they belongs too. They will be virtuous and they will be apride.
They will love sympathy and services which will not be confined to any particular sphere of group. And
this believe will provide the mind and the heart of jealousy, envy, greed and cupidity and the most
important effect of this belief is to them all that pleases Allah, and all that invokes displeasure to the
evil. A good act according to it and remain good, which brings no benefit to them and if enters in loss of
some world possessions or injure to their personal interest.

Because they will be confident, that the God, Allah would reward me in the eternal life and be all
success. Similarly they will not fall prey to the evils. For they know even if I get punishment in this short
worldly life but I will be looses in the end, because will not be able to kept the punishment from the
court of Allah’s handover, the God. As the similar kind of meaning is mentioned in the “Hubbies” that
one’s upon a time was Mohammad Saleem came with one of his companion where all are sitting and he
asked do you know who destitute is. The companion replied “Yes Prophet, that will be the destitute
among us he who has no wrath. Prophet Saleem said no, the destitute among us is one who would come
on the day of judgment with lot of charities and with lot of prayers and worship that since he as accused
others, and lawfully consumed the wealth of others, shed the blood of others, his virtues would be
credited into his victims account and his good deeds are fell short to clear the account then the sins of
his victims would be entered his account and he would be thrown into their account.

Now we can easily understand that this sense of fearfulness people will not only believe in the relativity
of the moral values but also stick on the standard will of the Allah. And they will live a life according to
them irrespective of their personal gain or injury in this world. Now I will conclude my speech and
message with a beautiful Hubbies of Prophet Allah Salem it is mentioned in Termers, it is one of the
book of Hubbies, authentic book, and the number of Hubbies is 1987. In this Hubbies Prophet
Mohammed says the golden rule, to make the society in particular home and in general a place of
peace, love, prosperity and happiness – it is narrated by Abusar me Allah Bibuse with him, where the
prophet of Allah Mahemmad Salem said always fear Allah, and if you ever happen to commit any sin and
evil, do a virtuous act after that, so that that good deed would remove and wash away the bad effect of
that evil you have committed and behave people with the best of their morals.

Thank you.

Speaker: Anchor

Thank you very much Moulanaji, because of the fear of God will keep us on the right path, that was the
messeage that you try to give to us and it has been shared by all religious traditions that we have to be
afraid of God if we do something wrong, that keeps us on the right track. And a request to Mr. Sameerji
to fesilitate Moulanaji. Now I invite the students of K J Somaiya Rastriya Samstan Samskruti vidyapeet
for the Hindu prayer.

Prayer by the students: Translation in Hindi

This famous vedic peace invocation song seeks peace in all the elements of nature and from within us.
So it seeks from within us and from outside. After this peace invocation I will request HH Radhanath
Svamiji to speak on this occasion. HH Radhanath Svamiji in 1970 , he left his home in America and went
on seeking spiritual knowledge, his journey and his adventures are his traverses took him to India,
where he was initiated by Svami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupadji. His journey in the quest of spiritual truth
has been recounted in the recently published memoir “The Journey Home” and it is a very popular book,
which has received great reviews. He is present the head of the ISKCON centre at Chowpatty, and under
his guidance many social welfare schemes are being implemented like the mid-day meal and some such
schemes. I request svamiji to speak on this occasion.

Speaker: HH Radhanath Svami Maharaj

I am very grateful for this opportunity to be with all of you, my special gratitude to the exalted spiritual
leaders who have assembled and Sameer, and Somaiya College for giving us this opportunity and to all
of you for taking your precious time to be with us today. I was remembering when I was 8 years old, I
was sitting on my mother’s bed facing in front of a mirror. She turned to me and said everyone likes your
father and everyone likes me but somehow your father and myself don’t like each other anymore. We
have decided to separate. I was 8 years old, when I heard those words it was like the whole world
disappeared under me. I felt so bewildered and lost and confused, I cried. When my mother saw my
tears she was speechless, she didn’t know what she should say. Hours later when my father returned
home, they met in their bedroom and closed their door, but I put my ear to the door outside, because it
was so something very critical to me. She told my father how I responded for what they have already
decided. And I heard them come to a conclusion that for the sake of our children we will stay together
and resolve our differences no matter what is what.

When my mother passed away few years ago, they have been married for 58 years. As the years went
by I saw a relationship of love and affection and dedication to each other that is extremely rare. And that
came only because they pay the price of resolving their differences on the basis of a higher principle.
Apply it to spirituality religious leaders are like parents to their congregations. And it is the need of the
day that we learn to resolve our conflicts on the basis of higher principles. In the Srimadh Bhagavatam of
the Vedas there is a beautiful verse.

“Savai pumsha paro dharao eto bhaktir adokshaja

Ahetuki apratihata ye atma suprasidati”

The supreme dharma, the supreme religion is that which awakens pure love and devotion to the
supreme Lord and such Love and Devotion must be not influenced by any selfish egoistic type of
interests, and not diverted by temptations and fear’s of this world. That I have found in my studies of
various religions is the essence of great religious systems. In the Bible it is said that the first and great
commandment is “to Love God with one’s mind, with one’s heart and soul”. And when that Love of
Godhead is actually awakened within the heart ,then the natural consequences that we will love our
neighbor as or self. Everyone is our neighbor. The Bhagavath Gita tells

“vidya vinaya sampanye brahmane kavi hastine,

Sunichaiva svapakecha pandita sama dharshina”

What is real wisdom, it is the ability to see every living being with equal vision, why “Aham bija pradha
pita”. Krishna tells in Bhagavath Gita “I am the seed giving father of all living beings, weather one is a
high priest, or a criminal, weather one is black or red or yellow or brown or from the east, or from the
west, from a religion or from not a religion or cow or an elephant or a dog or any other live. They were
the sacred presence of the child of God. And if we Love God, how can we disrespect or dishonor any
living being. This is the universal principle. “sara grahi” a truly spiritual person according to the Hindu
perspective or Vedic conception is one who always seeks the essence everywhere, in everyone and in
every situation. We see what we have in common, we are all brothers and sisters, because we all
emanated from one supreme truth the Lord. And this is all, beyond these material conceptions and
differences. My beloved Guru Srila Prabhupad, he would sometimes say real religion is not about being a
Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian or a Jew or a Jain or a Parci. Real religion is about Loving God, and being
an instrument of God’s compassion to everyone in every stage of our life. True religion is not about
simply an affiliation to a particular group, true religion is about the transformation of the heart. To
transform arrogance into humility, greed into generosity, hate into love, vengeance into forgiveness,
selfishness into selflessness.

There is a beautiful prayer by Lord Chaitanya

“Trinadapi suneechena tarorapi sahishnuna,

Amanina manadena kirtaniya sada Hari”

One should learn to be humble like a blade of grass, tolerant like a tree, eager to offer all respect to all
others and not expect respect for one self. In this mood one could chant Gods names for ever, this is the
universal principle. Jesus on the mount, near the sea of the Galoli he told us “that the blessed are the
humble, the poor in spirit for there is the kingdom of the God and blessed is the meek for they shall
inherit the hearth”. Today unfortunately in the name of spiritual systems or religion, which is meant to
make humble and forgiving, loving, and tolerant, people are becoming judgmental, egoistic and
vengeful. We have to come together on higher ground, it is critical for the welfare of the humanity. It is
essential to actually develop the real love of God. One great person told me that a dog can recognize his
master in whatever way the master dresses, weather there is a suit and tie, a dhoti and kurtha, under
pants or naked, the dog will recognize the master. If we cannot recognize the truth and God, when that
Lord appears in different ways to different people in different times, then we have so much to learn
from the dog. These beautiful conferences that we are attending today are so important, where spiritual
leaders of different traditions could actually learn and love each other, not just tolerate each other. But
love and respect each other on the basis of what we really have in common, our desire to love God and
be instruments of His compassion to each other and to the world. Thank you very much.

Speaker: Anchor.

I have no words to express my feelings about this speech, which was so soft and filled with compassion
and which was the essence of his message. Now I request Mr. Sameer Somaiya to felicitate HH
Radhanath Svamiji.

Our next speaker is Pandith Vidya Simhachariahji, who is the kulapati of Satya Dyan Vidyapheet at
Mulund. He is a great renown Sanskrit scholar and a scholar of inter-religious studies as well, and for
Somaiya family and Somaiya Vidya Vihar he is like our kulaguru, he is like our family priest. And we
always seek his blessings, and his blessings mean much to us. I request Vidya Simhachariahji to address
the audience.

Speaker: Pandith Vidya Simhachariahji

Much important, pertinent issue or a burning subject, Sri Sait Sameerji has given for this meet, the
decline of morality in the public life and the role of religion which is very important. The role of religion
in restoring it, morality has declined, the values of two things have declined, one of rupee and another
of morality. The two things have declined. The business world have to increase the value of Rupee,
whereas the religion have to contribute to restoring the morality of public life. When we study all the
religions, may be Vedas or the Gita or Koran or Bible or Adhigranta or anything for that matter, there are
two things, one receiving from God and giving to the public. Receiving from God is one part of the
religion and giving it to the public, to the friends is another. Man is religious. If two things are combined
in one person, usually people since they are self centered, egoistic, they love themselves and therefore
they only seek to gain something God always. A devotee goes to the temple or mask or church or
anywhere, when he prays God, he is not thanking God but he wants, or seeks something from God. And
therefore he is also called a religious person, but not in true sense, in complete sense rather, the
halfway he is religious. We can’t discard him as nonreligious or irreligious, but he is a religious person,
but he is doing only a part of it. But Krishna says in Bhagavath Gita, 12 th chapter

“Advesta sarvabuthanam maitra karuna evacha

Nirmamo nirahankara sama dukha sukha ksami

santusta satatam yogi yatatma drudha nitchayah”

he says if you hate human beings, you are not pleasing with that, you are not pleasing Me,

“Yetu dharma itamidham yatokta paryupasate

Sraddhadana matparamah bhaktaste ativamepriyah”

They are very dear to me, who are religious, who loved me, as well as who love human beings. We have
mistaken that to worship God in any other form is dear to God, it is our mistake, it is our
misunderstanding. The God dwells

“yo veda nihitham vishadayam paramevyomam”

The Upanishad says God dwells in human beings, and human beings are great pratika, the symbols of
God, and therefore you worship human beings more than any idols. The Hindu, in 3 rd chapter of 3rd
skanda of Srimadh Bhagavatham, the Lord Kapila says, who loves Me and hates human beings, I hate
him, I shun him. Because, ultimately the human beings are the pratika of the Lord, the supreme
Godhead, the Brahman. The Lord, the supreme being, the almighty, resides in every human being. The
sastra says, “santosam janaye pradyaha tadeva ishvara pujanam”. If you please human beings you are
pleasing the God Almighty. “ashnan thentak kalotatva kovidaihi”. The Chnadodya says in 5th chapter “if
you give a single morsel to the hungry person, you are doing a great oblation, great yajna. Giving a
morsel is more worth than doing the ashvamedha yaga, or any other yaga or yajna. Therefore the
religion is of two parts, one taking from God and giving to the society. “isavasyam idam sarvam” the role
of religion, I feel very strongly. If you are convinced that God is everything we must inculcate a sort fear
for God, fear for God, because it is simple. A moral person following ethical principles on his own he
need not have any fear for God, because he is practicing religion or morality in his life. Person how is not
following these principles in his life must have a fear for God, no police force no govt. force no society
can prevail the human being or human beings mind. H.G. Wills used to say that Homo sapiens are only
the species where they fight each other, it is only the Homo sapiens that human beings. Human being
kills another human being for his own sake this is not found anywhere in any other spices. Therefore we
must cultivate a sort of fear for God. Man is having plenty, affluence, money. With money he can bribe
anybody and purchase any body, we can make the govt. to bend the rules and so what. So ultimately it’s
only the fear of the God. As the Fedrick Neeshe said, “God is dead”. Well if one God is dead then we may
have to create one more God, for the sake of sustaining the morality at least in the human beings. The
Hindu philosophy says, “sarvepi sukinah santu” you all know the sandhya vandana which has to be
performed every day without fail at least twice or thrice. In every sandhy vandhana the end of sandhy
vandhana we pray God to bless us and ultimately we pray God “shanno asthu dwipade shancha
dhuspade” it is not only the human beings it is animal kingdom must have peace. The religion teaches
one contentment second patience. If these two things are inculcated in us in ourselves it is more than
enough. The two things one is God fear secondly contentment and patience if these three things, the
teachings or religion are followed, the simple moral principles can be uphold in our lives. Start thinking,
the shastra says “start thinking every day in the night, “pratyaham pratyavesheta naracharitamatmanh
kinnoh me pashubhu tyluam kinno me sat purusham eti” ‘am I following religious scriptures of the
religious principles or not’. If I think everyday while going to bed it will help a lot. Think for two minutes
then go for bed. It will change your whole life. Again I am convinced about these three things one is
Gods fear secondly the contentment the third the patience. If these three things are inculcated imbibed
the human can become full religious and moral in his behavior.

Thank you Sameerji and the gathering

(Claps by audience)

Thank you very much for you words of wisdom. We ask our Sameer Somayya to offer our token of
respect to Vidyashila Acharyaji.

Now I request His Eminence Arch Bishop Oshaul Graces to address us on this occasion. Arch Bishop
Oshual Graces is the Arch Bishop of Mumbai and he is a mumbaikar in true sense of the word and his
court of arm shows a hand shack and his hand is always extended for everyone in Mumbai for friendship
and goodwill

Bishop

Thank you. My dear spiritual leaders here on the dais, my dear spiritual people, my dear fellow pilgrims,
All of us are pilgrims on the way searching for the truth searching for God searching for him who makes
full meaning and gives full meaning to our lives. I am very grateful to Sameer Sommaya for having
inviting us and for organizing this meeting on the occasion of 25 th anniversary of Pop Jhon Paul’s visit to
India and to Mumbai. I am particularly grateful because Somayya choose a topic so very relevant.
‘Decline of morality in public life and the role of religion in restoring it’. When welcoming us he raised a
very relevant question. “How can we make religion relevant?” the question that I think whole of us who
are religious and those of us who are seeking religion should ask ourselves and try to give an answer,
religion will become relevant when it answers felt needs of the people. It will become relevant when it is
able to influence our minds. I think religion will become relevant when it is meaningful to us and is able
to guide us. Who is a religious person, question is being asked even over here. Is it a person who goes to
the temple who goes to the church who goes to the mosque and prays, perhaps. Is the religious persons
really religion in the deepest sense. Religious person is one who allows the religion to influence his
mind, his life his thinking. Speaking from the bible the teachings of the Jhon Paul II 16 the basis of all
teachings, the basis of Christ teachings as you all know is love. Love God and love your neighbor and
who is your neighbor, every individual is your neighbor. Jesus taught us that God is our father. This is
what he really told when his deciples asked “how to pray?” “Pray to the father of heaven” he said “our
father of heavens have many mansions“ and if God is our father certainly all of us are brothers and
sisters. That is what Jesus came to teach and that’s what bible teaches continuously that we are
brothers and sisters. We are sons and daughters of same father. If we are brothers and sisters, our lives
should have love, and this love should show in it selves. Love which is not just an emotion, love that
reaches out everybody else. Can I be insensitive to my brother who is hungry? Can I be insensitive to my
sister who has no clothing? Can I be insensitive to my brother who has no shelter. We say we are
brothers and sisters and yet very often it is just a lip service, because we have really not allowed religion
to come and influence our lives. If religion has to become relevant, it has got to influence our lives, got
to influence morality, got to influence culture, our lives. So that the attitude we live our lives should
reflect what we profess to believe. Our lives should reflect, if I am believer of Jesus, that we are all
brothers and sisters and all of us same thing. My mind should be convinced to this. Morality I live should
consistently show that we are brothers and sisters and this morality should influence our whole culture,
should have ripple effect influencing every aspect of your life. Who is a religious person a person? A
person who allows his believes to be the center of is being and lives it out. If that is a religion the
religious leaders have a responsibility. Pope John Paul II, he was one who try to understand the
teachings of Christ more and more tried to live it to the fill, try to preach it uncompromisingly, tried
continuously to give fitness to what he learned, that is why he is a great man, because he was authentic.
He believed, he understood, he lived and he preached what he believed. That I think is the responsibility
of each one of us religious leaders. When Pop John Paul II addressed the United Nations general
assembly way back in 79 he made an impassioned appeal for human rights, and the basis was, because
he said everyone was a child of God and therefore no one can be exploited. No one should suffer the
effect of injustice. Sameer choose this topic and press radio and TV we continuously hear of people and
the authority misusing authority for personal benefit. That means the religion had no effect on, at least
on these policy makers, decision makers. We hope the we religious leaders are able to get people to
understand the religion to live it, so to proclaim it to everybody. I want to be conscious I want to remind
my brother and leaders also that permission is also fault, not only doing wrong, not doing what we have
to do and if it is our duty to get all the people of the religion to really understand religion, to live to the
full and to proclaim it and if we don’t do that that also is a fault of us. That is also fault of us saying that
we have not contributed sufficiently to the society for the wellbeing of the society for the well being of
the people. On this occasion when all of have come with such feelings of fellowship, love, affection and
searching for the truth searching for the way, searching for the god, I pray that God bless each one of us
with strength, with wisdom, with courage so that we are able to be true disciples of God, we will
understand what he wants of us and live it to the full to proclaim it. God bless you. Jay Hind.

(Claps by )

Thank you very much His Eminence Cardinal. I request Sameerji to felicitate Cardinal Oshual Graces
Friend this meeting was organized to celebrate the visit of special envoy from Vatican that is his Eminem
Merfiew Econon who is the Arch Bishop Emiratus of Wells and England. He has a long service as catholic
Bishop, Cardinal and Arch Bishop. In 2001 he celebrated his 50 years of his Ordination and then he still
continuous to bear many responsibilities of Roman charier and he has come to us with a special
message from Vatican and what I found very, very touching that he has urged Christians to treat atheist
and agnostics with deep respect, because he believes that God is hidden in them and the hidden God is
acting in their lives as well as the lives of the believers, that is his attitude for the people of non-beliver
and I request him to speak on this occasion.

Dear friends I want to thank sammeer somaya for oraganizing this meeting today, I think it is crucially
important.

I come after a large no. of speeches and many wise things have been said some of which like the last
one said. Compaid said Mr Brown could you give the last address and the man stood up and said, “My
address is 6 Victoria street London” and sat down. Well now I am going to do that, there just a few
things I want to say today, I come to India for the first time. I always wanted to come and somehow
never quite happen. So I am delighted to come. I am here as a kind of a pilgrim listening, learning I have
great appreciation for the Indian people. I thing, India has huge amount to offer to the world in the task
of understanding the human kind and hope why we are here. And what it offers specifically seems to me
a noble spiritual vision of mankind. All of us pilgrims of the absolute, traveling towards the goal seeking
the face of God, and I have immense respect for great India and its respect for religion, doesn’t matter
what religion it is, there is a respect each other. I live in Europe I live in England there are many parts of
England and many parts of Europe there are many people who are trying to put religion on the
periphery of life, trying to privatize it totally so that religion has no impact at all on the public life of a
country I think that is disastrous. Because I believe religion has three basic components which affect
public lives namely the dignity of every human person, the role of family and community crucial and
above all the transcendence that is over all of us there is God who knows us, who loves us, who forgives
us. That is seems to be doesn’t happen here. We have much to learn from the culture of India. I believe
the spiritual vision is of immense importance to the whole of humanity. And this spiritual influence is
based on ethical, values that have been preserved over centuries past. Now these include fraternal
charge, dedicated service to others, forgiveness, sacrifice, renunciation and penance for moral feeling,
patience and forbearance. And these are values we are sharing. How much we need not just to show
them but to actually use them and exhibit them in our lives and the lives of society. And I think from this
vision of human person made for God, comes a vision to a struggle to improve the condition and to
perceive relentlessly the integral human development.

Man problems are or the problems of the world are the first one goes to cure all of one. But I do believe
the spiritual vision we share is derived from an inspiration to help and offer collaboration and promote
good of humanity at every level. What I am taking today is as one who comes to this country. There
seems to be many words, but it is up to you, dear sisters and brothers, to each one of us go to act in our
own lives knowing that the moral values got to be first in ourselves, which we seek to see in others and
values spring from loving God and loving neighbor. Did you ever hear the story of four tailors who lives
in the streets in Mumbai? Times were very bad one of the tailor though he would advertise. So he put
up on his window, ‘here is the best tailor in the whole of the Mumbai’. The second one saw and put on
his window, ‘here is the best tailor in whole of India’. Then the third tailor came along looked two and
put on his window, ‘here is the best tailor in the whole world’. Then the fourth one came saw the three
and kept on the window ‘here is the best tailor in the street’. Why I am telling this story is, it very good
noble principles that we express, but it seems to be each one put our own part. And each of us is
covered with a task to play. I believe that God in his wisdom and providence has a task, which only you
can fulfill. So you could be best in your life, in your family, in your job where you are.

I … mahatma Gandhi read there his social principles much of it could be fulfilled or as one of the
speakers quoting the.. as far as the commandments of the Christianity .. Blessed are pure in spirit there
is a kingdom of God for meek and pure in the heart. Those who seek justice the peace makers and I
believe it touches each one of us. That great Pope Paul VI as well as Pope Jhon Paul II looked upon
human development as the condition to arriving at the condition all pervasive religious peace. I just
wanted to say that I am glad and happy today that I will not like to go back to England no more I like to
reported back to Pope Benidict who send me here to be with the catholic people who are celebrating
25th anniversary of visit of Pope Jhon Paul II. I wouldn’t like to say I have gone back without wishing
people of other faiths and wishing them and taking with them about the values we share, the God we
worship and ardent task that conversing, wherever we are ourselves, join together in making sure that
form as a culture, culture of peace and a culture of love .

Thank you

I thank Cardinal Econon for not just giving an address but a very meaningful speech for us to think and I
request sameer ji to offer our rspects to him.

We have given a sheet to write your questions. If you have written the question our volunteers will
collect the papers and there will be a round of question and answers.

11-02-10_-_Q&A_Inter_Faith_Conference_At_Somaiya_College_-
_Radhanath_Swami_&_Various_Dignitories_Chowpatty_ISKCON

Anchor: First question, the person who has asked questions has addressed it to Radhanath Swamiji. He
says that, “If religion is for peace, and brotherhood, then why has there been maximum discords
because of it. Is there a way to bring peace between all of us through spirituality?” And one similar
question is that “we youngsters do respect our co-students and their religion. But as we are in a race, we
have to defeat them. Everybody has to win the race. And if we pause for ethics and morality, we are
superseded by other people so what can be the religious solution to this?”

Who have asked this question? Ok.

Answer by H.H. Radhanath Swamiji: Thank you! The conflicts of religions are generally based on external
differences. In the bible, Jesus said to the Parsees, you understand the letter of the lord, but you do not
understand the spirit and the power behind it. And similarly in the Bhagavad-Gita Krsna says that as all
the purposes of a small pond of water are fulfilled by a great reservoir of water, similarly all the
purposes of the Vedas are fulfilled and understood by one who understands the purpose behind them.
This can also be connected to the question of ritual. God doesn’t see the ritual that’s performed. God
sees the purpose, the intention in which we are performing that ritual. The essence of all religions is to
become humble, become moral, and to work on cleansing our heart and to love God. And you cannot
love God without respecting, honoring every living being as a child of God! So, yes! There so much
hatred in the name of religion and God. But there’s also hatred in the name of racism, in the name of
nationalism, in the name of, “it’s not about religion, it’s about selfish ego”. And when we place our
selfish ego into a religion, it can give our selfish ego absolute dimensions, which is very dangerous. So
what has come to the world to do the greatest good has the potential to do the greatest bad. So what is
important is we have to understand what is the essence of the religion, What is the goal, What is the
purpose? And then we will see the common link that we all have together rather than fighting.

And the second question,

What was that again? (Question repeated).

Answer H.H. Radhanath Swamiji: That is the propaganda of the non religious people. In reality, the most
fundamental need of every living being is to love and be loved. Things can give satisfaction to the mind
and to the senses. But only love can give satisfaction to the heart. And the origin to that principle is the
soul’s love for God. The sufferings in this world are so much because people put value on the quantity of
life rather than the quality. Which is a more powerful motivating force, Greed or love? A mother for her
child is willing to sacrifice everything with total enthusiasm 24hrs a day! No shifts! Because of her love! If
we actually love God, if we actually love other living beings, and we are doing our work motivated by
that we will excel beyond anybody! Because we will be using our full capacity, our full potential for a
purpose that is deeply fulfilling to the heart! Yes people who are truly religious, who are motivated to
serve God and to serve humanity will have the greatest power. The greatest enthusiasm and will be
fearless to fulfill their duties in the world.

Anchor 2: there is a time constraint. So, two more rounds of question.

Anchor: This question is addressed to His eminence Cardinal Gracious.

Religions are supposed to create values and enhance human development. Our policy makers visit all
holy places and yet they have…no need to complete this sentence. But what the person is desirous to
know “shouldn’t our religious heads take the lead and meet this leaders and policy makers and guide or
compel them to reform?”

Answer by His eminence Cardinal Gracious: Thank you for the question. I agree with you completely!
(Smiles)Yes I suppose that’s, Thank you. Thank you. I mentioned about our mission. I think one of our
duties is really to make religion relevant is also to convince policy makers that religion has got a role in
their lives also! It’s got a role in society. Unfortunately, many people instrumentalize religion. And
sometimes visit to a church or to a holy place is not because the person wants to pray there, but
because the person wants to show everybody else that I am going to this holy place. But that’s
unfortunate. But we hope that gradually atleast better sense would prevail and people understand the
importance of religion. It’s our duty as leaders to make sure it is not marginalized to show that religion
has a role to play and can, it changes people, change society, change the world and of course change our
country. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Anchor 2: Last question. We have huge number of questions. Really Thank you to the audience.

Anchor: there are many questions. We speak about the practicability of these morals. But it will take
another seminar to discuss how we put in the practice all those precepts of morality that we are
discussing, but in short we can say that “you have to be the change that you desire the world to be”. So
that is, that may be the guideline for solving those problems. But the last question is addressed to Mr.
Sameer Somaiya.(Laughter). It says that we have spent a very enlightening morning together. Our
greatest desire would be to convey this messages to as many youth as possible. How could Somaiya
College in collaboration with other religious institutions and colleges be a platform for youth? I want to
know who has asked the question. Ha.

Answer by Sameer Somaiya: Huh. I said O bapre! I don’t know(laughs). Even I have no idea. But what we
tried to do this time which is slightly different from last time is I asked Kalaben if she would try to have
this in an engaging format in which we would invite the audience to, at the end of the session to have
Question and Answer, so that it is not only a dialogue among leaders of religions, but also with the
audience. Of course we were not sure as to how the audience would react. I think we are all very
pleased that the number of questions we could probably have another 2hrs of Question-Answer
sessions. I think the way we would try to do it is try to may be hold this in a larger framework the next
time and then have it in a manner in which if the our religious leaders are willing to have a slightly larger
time frame for question-answers. And also have may be a moderated kind of discussion in which we
could take examples and then try through stories and examples, both good and bad. What would there
be their ideas be and how to mold a discussion for. I don’t know if I have answered your question.
(Claps).

Anchor: We have a very esteemed guest among us today. His Excellency Arch Bishop Salvatore
Pinocchio, The apostolic nuncio of Vatican to India. He has been working as apostolic nuncio as the
ambassador of Pope to many countries including Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, luaus,
Malaysia, Brunei and now he is in India. So, I request Sameerji to felicitate him(claps with classical
background music).

His Excellency Arch Bishop Salvatore Pinocchio speaks:

I just was so wondering because the audience was so patient. Just so thanks to Mr. Sameer Somaiya.
They are all really cross collaborators to organize this meeting. A very important, very deep, the issue
about various castes during this 2hours I think, in the special frame of the 25 th anniversary of the
pastoral V.C. toile Pope the John Paul the II tour India. He concluded this day in this 10 days pilgrimage
in India with the preparing toile His Eminence Cardinal Cogmer. We were in Delhi and we were in
Ranchi, Calcutta, Kerala, this is the last stop here. And also I wish right away to thank Mr. Somaiya
Sameer for this beautiful event to conclude today. Of course this is a special event to mark to the 25 th
anniversary of the visit of the Pope the John Paul the II. Thank you! Dhanyavad. And I wish to present
this small memento of this 25th anniversary to Mr. Sameer, and also to people, that is to the leaders who
are here to contributing this special session.

Anchor: Friends, we had a very enlightening morning which is now coming to afternoon. Now, Dr.
Kalacharya, I request to offer the vote of thanks.

Dr. Kalacharya speaks: Friends, I have been asked to sum up and offer a vote of thanks. I will not take
more than 3 minutes I have promised.

First of all I, while summing up, first of all Sameer Somaiya has said something about that decline of
morality. At that time he says that it is “we say that a particular person is religious. But most of the
crimes are done by those who claim to be religious. So, that is the cause why we had this meeting today.
And what he said is true. And answer in our religion has been already given by Hinduism. The scripture
says “yo arthesvas esa suchih, Na mrdvari suchi suchih” – he alone is pure who is pure in financial
matters while accepting some money. He is not pure who uses soap or water for his purity. And another
is given that we cannot wash our sins, we cannot call ourselves religious because we take a dip in Ganga,
otherwise all the fish in Ganga would have been the most sacred and pious living beings on the earth.

Arch Bishop Father Philips Machado had made us remember Dr. Shantilal Somaiya’s big efforts in
interfaith dialogue, and he had rightly said that we should join hands and build bridges he has quoted
Pope John and also Pope Benedictine 16 and we agree in our way that such bridges have been called
“Amrtasya setuh”-the bridge of immortality. The bridge we take us to God. So, building bridges with
men, human beings are the same as building bridges with God.

Advocate Ashrab Sheikh was very practical and he said that precepts are to be coupled with practice
and he gave more emphasis on practice and he said that in Koran also it has been said that unless you
give food to others you cannot have. And our rg veda says that “kevalago bhavati, kevaladi”. He alone, if
somebody takes food alone, he is a sinful person.

Maulana Abdul Malik reminded us about the rights of others and said that we should have fear of God.
One who have fear of God are really on the verge of becoming helpful to others in practicing religion
because God is all knowing, all watchful and the same has been repeated in Hindu Scriptures and it has
been said that “aditya Chandravanilo ‘nalusya yo bhumirapo hrdayam emasya ahasya ratri subhascha
sandhye dharmo na janati narasya hrtyam”. It has been said that the moon, the sun, the winds they all
are watching and at last but not the least but our mind watches what we are doing. So we should be
fearful and that will, that can be helpful. But being fearful doesn’t mean that we should do just acts
because of the fear of God only. We should do by as our nature. It should be our permanent habit.

Radhanath Swamiji had taken us on heights and he had said that in Gita it has been said that those are
religious who really respect others, and he had quoted “sunicaiva svapake ca” and important point he
had given is the transformation of heart very useful. It’s not the loyalty to a particular Guru. Religion
should transform the hearts of people.
Vidya Simhacaryaji had reminded us that receiving from God is important but, as much important is
giving it to public. And human beings are the abodes of God and that’s why we should behave with
others as we wish them to behave with us. This is the Golden rule actually in Mathew, which has been
quoted.

Cardinal Oswald Gracious has said that “religion can be relevant when it is meaningful for people” and
how it can be made meaningful to people, he had given. Nice Maxims to us and told us that we all are
children of God and we should understand our duty as children of God and our duty as neighbors
towards neighbors. We should love all, one and all.

His eminence Merciu corner has quoted the surman of the mount and said that blessed are them meek.
He told reminders about the values about the importance of collaboration and about love of God.

It was a very beautiful morning for all of us. We thank from the first speaker that is Sameer Somaiya who
belongs to this family, but we thank him very much and since he is carrying out the tradition, the lamp of
the Somaiya family of the dialogue. We would like on our behalf also to felicitate him, and we request
Cardinal Oswald Gracious His Eminence to felicitate Sameer bhai, on our behalf! Thank you very much!

We are grateful to Cardinal, His Eminence Cardinal murphy uponer for coming all the way to Mumbai
and spending time with people from other religions. This is real sharing and we would like to carry this
lamp further. We are grateful to His Eminence Arch Bishop Oswald Cardinal Gracious who is always with
us in all our dialogue activities. We need his blessing. Thank you very much for having come to us and for
giving us inspiration to organize this program.

His Grace Arch Bishop Felix Machado is one amongst us, but still we want to Thank him for always telling
us to do what we should do in the field of dialogue.

His Holiness Radhanath Swamiji, we have heard him for the first time. Your words will ring in our ears
and heart for days to come. We are Thankful to you.

Pandit Vidya Simhacarya Mahuliji is also, he also belongs to us but one who belongs to us and always
shows us, always gives us light is very Pujya for us. We thank you very much swamiji. Maulana Abdul
Malik and Professor Advocate Ashrab Ahmed Sheikh have given us insight in Islamic view about
morality. We are thankful to both of you.

And last but not the least, His Grace Salvatore Pinocchio apostolic nuncio has come here all the way and
has given us his blessings in short. We are thankful to one and all.

Also to Father Sergio Fernandez, Father Sunder Alhoper, Father Eliaso Ulsanwiz, Father Thomas Sicwera,
Father Babu Joseph, Edwino Franklin and Swami Niranjan from ISKCON. All those who have attended
this program, we thank you one and all.

We conclude this program with Pasadena about which about which Arch Bishop Felix Machado was
speaking and for Pasaidana I invite Dr. Savita Moghe from Science College.
Dr. Savita Moghe Speaks:

I thank Father Gilbert. He is also once among us, but I thank him having come for reciting the prayer. Q
& A ends for H.H. Radhanath Maharaja.

Dr. Kalacharya: Pasaidana is a prayer which says that we should have a heart that never hardens, we
should have a spirit that never dies and we should have a Dutch that never hurts.

Pasadana prayers

Anchor: Please do not leave the place unless the dignitaries leave. Lunch is there on the Ground Floor
and of Chanakya building. All are invited for lunch and two names for Thanks giving. One is Father Neil,
Neel in Marathi and Sanskrit means blue. Blue means infinite of the sky. He has got Love for all like the
sky. That’s why may be we are one of that. That’s why his name was to be mentioned.

And another is Amritaben Somaiya the Amrita setu for us. Thank you.