Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an interfaith dialogue held at Xaverian International Theologate House in Maligaya, Novaliches, Quezon City organized by the Xaverian Brothers. Ms. Shakuntala Vaswani, guest speaker. She’s a co-founder of the Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation and active in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding programs. Ms. Vaswani unfolded the session on Hinduism. She clearly explained all about Hinduism, as religion, core beliefs and practices. She also shares her experience in Interreligious Dialogue.
As I listened to her, many things became clearer to me between my Catholic faith and Hinduism. Although Catholicism and Hinduism differ in theological basis, like in the concept of God, Scriptures, sacraments, faith and core values, they also share common values. They are both rooted in the belief in the divine, but different in the concept of God, both give importance to faith, whether in the Catholic concept of God and in Hindu concept of Brahman, both encourage spiritual practices like prayer, meditation.
Both religions offer salvation, in the Catholic concept of sacrament and grace, in Hindu concept of Moksha1. They both give the importance of love to God and to all humanity: compassion, encouraging acts of charity, justice, peace, care for nature and service to others. These shared values can lead in the path of mutual respect between both religions.
Both religions offer salvation, in the Catholic concept of sacrament and grace, in Hindu concept of Moksha1. They both give the importance of love to God and to all humanity: compassion, encouraging acts of charity, justice, peace, care for nature and service to others. These shared values can lead in the path of mutual respect between both religions.
On a final note, because of these shared values, between the Catholics and Hindu, a meaningful and engaging dialogue and mutual understanding is within reach. Thank you to the Xaverians, this event is a good venue to share and learn from one another, it gives a good experience and spiritual growth. A tool for unity and understanding. I end this in a Sanskrit phrase, “Om Shanti”, “May peace be upon you!”
Citation:
[1] Moksha in Indian philosophy and religion, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara). Derived from the Sanskrit word muc (“to free”), the term moksha literally means freedom from samsara. This concept of liberation or release is shared by a wide spectrum of religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/moksha-Indian-religion)