Read accounts of brothers and friends of Edmund as they
gather for their immersion in the culture and faiths of
India. The immersion sites are Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi.
Mumbai
MUMBAI IMMERSION February 26 –29th 2008
Photos available here
Our evening orientation from Fr Michael SVD ranged widely across issues of faith and culture in India. In stressing the value of inter-faith dialogue he named the key questions as ‘How can we be open to goodness and holiness anywhere?’ and, at the same time, ‘Be committed to truth – including our own’? He reminded us that in the past the arrival of Christianity in India challenged inhumane social practices like child-marriage, sati (widow-burning) and untouchability. He suggested that from the Hindus we Christians can learn interiority, silence and a sense of community. He concluded by asking us to consider the challenges that face Christianity in India today such as the casteism within our own Church.
Day 1
We were warmly welcomed at the Dadar Gurdwara by Mr Sahni who
ushered us into a formal meeting room. He gave us a lively presentation of the origins, evolution and existing culture of the Sikhs in India. The important aspects of the faith that were impressed on us included the monotheistic belief system, the centrality of the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) as the true teacher today, the absence of a central authority and the respect accorded to women. We learned the five defining ‘K’s which distinguish a Sikh: kirpan (knife), kesh (long hair), kachha (underwear), kaddah (bangle) and kanga (comb)…. We were informed about the system of community meals (‘langar’) and the hospitality accorded to the sick and homeless which is a commendable part of life at the Gurdwara. The Sikhs are clearly an enterprising community. Our visit left us with the impression of their ability to work well together and share their wealth with the wider community and seek to live in harmony and unity with their fellow beings.
Nothing quite prepared us for the reception we received at the Mahim Pir Makhdum Saheb Durgah. Large bright banners on the street announced a warm welcome, police security peppered the approach roads and the ordinary by-stander smiled curiously while some showered rose petals bidding us welcome. We were asked to take our places on a dias where we were formerly welcomed before an audience consisting of a ‘who’s who’ of the local community. After a sumptuous lunch we watched a powerpoint presentation on the history of the durgah, a mausoleum built to remember a famous Pir(saint) of the community who was a renowned scholar of Islam and strived after peaceful co-existence between different faith communities. We then proceeded ceremoniously into the durgah where we silently prayed together under one roof. It was a great moment of quiet communion. We then proceeded to towards Haji Ali Durgah where a similar agenda of quiet prayer and silence prevailed.
Our Muslim hosts seemed deeply moved by our desire to learn more about their beliefs and ethos. This manifested itself in their generous hospitality and many expressions of friendship and warmth. Suhail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of the Pir Mukhdum Saheb Charitable Trust, stated: “It is a landmark interaction for us”.
Br Gabriel Thomas, our immersion co-ordinator, was quoted in the next day’s press as saying “We are all here as students, trying to absorb the values and ethos of religions other than ours”.
Day 2
On arrival at the Jain Temple in the well-to-do Malabar Hills area we met Sreni, our guide. She explained how the Jain religion was a reform movement within Hinduism starting in the same 5th century BC as Buddhism. We wandered around the ornately decorated temple mingling with locals at prayer and tourists. Every corner seemed to have a statue of one of the twenty-four ‘Jenas’ (enlightened ones) where people prayed for a few moments. Our guide explained how the Jains, though not believing in a creator God, have such a respect for all of creation that they cannot bear life of any sort being harmed. Thus they are strict vegetarians, do not eat root vegetables or practice agriculture. Around the temple were statements proclaiming their firm belief in non-violence. We were disappointed not to meet a Jain monk or nun but learned that they live very austere lives of poverty and celibacy moving from temple to temple studying and explaining the sacred texts. Unfortunately we did not actually meet anyone from the Jain community and so left with a rather distant sense of this small yet principled faith community.
As we ate our lunch in the Hanging Gardens our guide spoke (at length!) of the nearby burial grounds of the Parsee (or Zoroastrian) faith community. Here bodies of the deceased are placed in small towers to decay naturally rather than pollute any of the four elements – air, earth, fire and water – which are central to their worldview.
It was not far to the house where Mahatma Gandhi stayed when visiting Mumbai. The museum gave us a graphic reminder of the huge influence of this remarkable man. Growing up in the land of many religions he drew upon wisdom from several traditions yet challenged them all to live authentically, humanely and with compassion. He himself lived out his saying: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”.
At the Bharat Vidya Bhavan …….. Mr Upadhyaya and his wife led us in a practical demonstration of how they live out their daily lives in a spirit of ‘bhakti’ (loving dedication and surrender). Using minature statues, dolls and household items they explained how each day they welcome Krishna, the child of God, into their house. By so doing they open themselves and their whole family to the spirit of God which enables them to live good and holy lives. Many of us were struck by the depth of their personal relationship with God, by Mr Upadyaya’s humanity and humour and his wife’s graceful presence as she spread the minature items out before us. A cup of chai served in china teacups rounded off a very different presentation of Hindu practice.
Day 3
The time to reflect on our rich experiences of the previous two days began with the Gayatri Mantra. We shared around Jesus’ question to the two disciples ‘what do you want?’ and his invitation ‘to come and see’. It was a good learning for us to name the ‘blockages’ which had emerged for us during our visits. We ended praying the song ‘Light the Lamp’ and with Gandhi’s words “Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers, the wise person accepts the essence of the different scriptures and sees only the good in all religions”.
Photos available here
Our evening orientation from Fr Michael SVD ranged widely across issues of faith and culture in India. In stressing the value of inter-faith dialogue he named the key questions as ‘How can we be open to goodness and holiness anywhere?’ and, at the same time, ‘Be committed to truth – including our own’? He reminded us that in the past the arrival of Christianity in India challenged inhumane social practices like child-marriage, sati (widow-burning) and untouchability. He suggested that from the Hindus we Christians can learn interiority, silence and a sense of community. He concluded by asking us to consider the challenges that face Christianity in India today such as the casteism within our own Church.
Day 1
We were warmly welcomed at the Dadar Gurdwara by Mr Sahni who
ushered us into a formal meeting room. He gave us a lively presentation of the origins, evolution and existing culture of the Sikhs in India. The important aspects of the faith that were impressed on us included the monotheistic belief system, the centrality of the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) as the true teacher today, the absence of a central authority and the respect accorded to women. We learned the five defining ‘K’s which distinguish a Sikh: kirpan (knife), kesh (long hair), kachha (underwear), kaddah (bangle) and kanga (comb)…. We were informed about the system of community meals (‘langar’) and the hospitality accorded to the sick and homeless which is a commendable part of life at the Gurdwara. The Sikhs are clearly an enterprising community. Our visit left us with the impression of their ability to work well together and share their wealth with the wider community and seek to live in harmony and unity with their fellow beings.
Nothing quite prepared us for the reception we received at the Mahim Pir Makhdum Saheb Durgah. Large bright banners on the street announced a warm welcome, police security peppered the approach roads and the ordinary by-stander smiled curiously while some showered rose petals bidding us welcome. We were asked to take our places on a dias where we were formerly welcomed before an audience consisting of a ‘who’s who’ of the local community. After a sumptuous lunch we watched a powerpoint presentation on the history of the durgah, a mausoleum built to remember a famous Pir(saint) of the community who was a renowned scholar of Islam and strived after peaceful co-existence between different faith communities. We then proceeded ceremoniously into the durgah where we silently prayed together under one roof. It was a great moment of quiet communion. We then proceeded to towards Haji Ali Durgah where a similar agenda of quiet prayer and silence prevailed.
Our Muslim hosts seemed deeply moved by our desire to learn more about their beliefs and ethos. This manifested itself in their generous hospitality and many expressions of friendship and warmth. Suhail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of the Pir Mukhdum Saheb Charitable Trust, stated: “It is a landmark interaction for us”.
Br Gabriel Thomas, our immersion co-ordinator, was quoted in the next day’s press as saying “We are all here as students, trying to absorb the values and ethos of religions other than ours”.
Day 2
On arrival at the Jain Temple in the well-to-do Malabar Hills area we met Sreni, our guide. She explained how the Jain religion was a reform movement within Hinduism starting in the same 5th century BC as Buddhism. We wandered around the ornately decorated temple mingling with locals at prayer and tourists. Every corner seemed to have a statue of one of the twenty-four ‘Jenas’ (enlightened ones) where people prayed for a few moments. Our guide explained how the Jains, though not believing in a creator God, have such a respect for all of creation that they cannot bear life of any sort being harmed. Thus they are strict vegetarians, do not eat root vegetables or practice agriculture. Around the temple were statements proclaiming their firm belief in non-violence. We were disappointed not to meet a Jain monk or nun but learned that they live very austere lives of poverty and celibacy moving from temple to temple studying and explaining the sacred texts. Unfortunately we did not actually meet anyone from the Jain community and so left with a rather distant sense of this small yet principled faith community.
As we ate our lunch in the Hanging Gardens our guide spoke (at length!) of the nearby burial grounds of the Parsee (or Zoroastrian) faith community. Here bodies of the deceased are placed in small towers to decay naturally rather than pollute any of the four elements – air, earth, fire and water – which are central to their worldview.
It was not far to the house where Mahatma Gandhi stayed when visiting Mumbai. The museum gave us a graphic reminder of the huge influence of this remarkable man. Growing up in the land of many religions he drew upon wisdom from several traditions yet challenged them all to live authentically, humanely and with compassion. He himself lived out his saying: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world”.
At the Bharat Vidya Bhavan …….. Mr Upadhyaya and his wife led us in a practical demonstration of how they live out their daily lives in a spirit of ‘bhakti’ (loving dedication and surrender). Using minature statues, dolls and household items they explained how each day they welcome Krishna, the child of God, into their house. By so doing they open themselves and their whole family to the spirit of God which enables them to live good and holy lives. Many of us were struck by the depth of their personal relationship with God, by Mr Upadyaya’s humanity and humour and his wife’s graceful presence as she spread the minature items out before us. A cup of chai served in china teacups rounded off a very different presentation of Hindu practice.
Day 3
The time to reflect on our rich experiences of the previous two days began with the Gayatri Mantra. We shared around Jesus’ question to the two disciples ‘what do you want?’ and his invitation ‘to come and see’. It was a good learning for us to name the ‘blockages’ which had emerged for us during our visits. We ended praying the song ‘Light the Lamp’ and with Gandhi’s words “Like the bee gathering honey from different flowers, the wise person accepts the essence of the different scriptures and sees only the good in all religions”.
Delhi
The intercultural immersion experience in Delhi is
underway since Tuesday evening. We moved from the
Brothers community at St. Columbas to the Salesian
Provincialate where we will be beased until the
weekend. On Tuesady we bagan with a welcome ceremony
and watched a film on India and its origins.
Today we have been at a Sikh temple during the morning and all we very impressed with the welcome we were extended by the people there. As well as partaking in the prayer we were treated to lunch and a stoll around the grounds.
The Delhi immersion is coming to a close. Yesterday (Thursday) was a busy day. The morning began with a visit to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a wise man of the Islam faith and later we visited the Hope foundation (Sufi) and the Daragh Hazrat Inayat Khan. The morning ended with a memorable visit to the shrine at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia.
In the afternoon we visitid the spectacular Lutus Temple of the Baha'i Faith and were warmly received by them.
Today (Friday) began with a morning of reflection on the experience of the previous two days and later the group was released by Cyril from the ravages of temple visits for shopping and sightseeing in Delhi. The evening will end with a cultural gathering at St. Columba's College
Today we have been at a Sikh temple during the morning and all we very impressed with the welcome we were extended by the people there. As well as partaking in the prayer we were treated to lunch and a stoll around the grounds.
The Delhi immersion is coming to a close. Yesterday (Thursday) was a busy day. The morning began with a visit to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a wise man of the Islam faith and later we visited the Hope foundation (Sufi) and the Daragh Hazrat Inayat Khan. The morning ended with a memorable visit to the shrine at Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia.
In the afternoon we visitid the spectacular Lutus Temple of the Baha'i Faith and were warmly received by them.
Today (Friday) began with a morning of reflection on the experience of the previous two days and later the group was released by Cyril from the ravages of temple visits for shopping and sightseeing in Delhi. The evening will end with a cultural gathering at St. Columba's College
Kolkata
Pre-Chapter
Immersion in Calcutta, February 2008.
The Sikh Community:
Our first immersion site was with the Sikh community. We were greeted on our arrival by the community leaders and made feel very welcome. Having disguarded our footwear we were led into the temple area for a formal greeting and a short introduction to Sikhism. Although we had read material in preparation for our visit, hearing it from the practitioners themselves gave the information a human face.
We were next led to the upper room for prayers. Singing or chanting has a very important place in the prayer life of the Sikh community as they believe that it is a pathway to higher engagement with their higher power. This chanting lasted for over half an hour during which time people joined us or departed the prayer at their convenience.
At the conclusion of the prayer a female member of the community read an explanation of the whole process. This was followed by a senior member explaining to us the origins of Sikhism in the Hindu religion. The word Sikh means disciple and love of God is at the root of Sikhism, he informed us.
Having come back down stairs we had an opportunity to engage with the community in a question and answer session which was very informative.
The visit ended with a meal where we had an opportunity for a more informal chat with different practitioners. Again we got a sense of deep respect for all religions and a desire for mutual respect among religions. This would lead to a world where justice, peace and mutual understanding would flourish.
At the end of our visit I was left with a strong impression of a group of people whose professed beliefs and their life style were congruent. Their level of engagement with us was warm and welcoming. The question and answer session was full and honest. They showed respect for our Christian tradition and welcomed the opportunity for mutual dialogue. They longed for the day where we would all respect that, though we might call God by different names, it was the one God we were trying to serve and honour.
The Islam or Muslim community.
Our second immersion site was with the Muslim community. We were aware from the organisers of some difficulty in arranging this immersion and we were also aware of some prejudices each of us might be carrying.
My first impression was of a group living in a very deprived and congested area of the city. I was left with a strong impression that, whatever about our beliefs, our experience of poverty and hunger was common to us all.
Our arrival in the area was the cause of a degree of curiosity especially among the young people. We were welcomed by a committee before being led to visit a meeting room used by the community for prayer and conversation. As we settled down to a short explanation of the religious practices of Islam we began to be aware of the absence of our female companions. Later we were to learn that the female were gathering in another place to talk with some ladies from the Muslim community.
The main section of our immersion was in yet another room in yet another building in yet another section of the Muslim community. Here, a man who described himself as just an ordinary practicing Muslim, gave a talk on the origins and theology of Islam. Starting with Adam and the prophets through Jesus and St. Paul right down to Mohammad the whole history was explained to us. There was no time for a question and answer session but we were promised to have an opportunity later which never really materialised.
We were next taken, through yet more narrow streets, to a courtyard where we were served food and drink.
Finally we were taken to the temple. By the time we arrived there, prayers were already in session. As we stood outside we were reprimanded by one of the elders for blocking the door. It was obvious that our guides were a little uneasy at the situation and we were quickly moved on.
Overall our visit was interesting and enlightening. Our guides and those who engaged with us were very forthcoming and friendly. They were very anxious to assure us that some of what happens in the name of Mohammad and Islam was not true Islamism and that the only truth was to be found in the Koran and in the words of the great prophet Mohammad. This group represented a view of the world where people could live in peace, harmony and mutual respect for the betterment of the whole world. They were very aware of how their faith may have been hijacked by the more extreme elements with-in their community and that this did not reflect the position of the majority. This group appreciated our visit very much and were honoured that we took the time to be with them and to grow in mutual understanding.
I thought it was interesting that as we left, one of our number, Monica O’Reilly from Ireland, was presented with a gift. This was hugely significant because not only was the gift presented to a woman but included in it was a copy of the Koran!
The Buddhist Temple.
Our third visit was to the Fo Guang Shan Kolkata Buddhist Centre. Though the title of the temple may sound very grand it was in fact in one of the poorest parts of the city. While awaiting a new home, the temple is presently situated in a dis-used tannery with all the smells associated with such an industry.
On our arrival we were greeted by a Buddhist nun the leader of the Buddhist community, as this was wholly a female Buddhist monastery. However, having spent some time with them, it may be best not to describe the place as a Temple at all but as a Centre. During the course of our visit we learned that this particular branch of Buddhism has its roots in Taiwan and was founded by Venerable Grand Master Hsing Yun. Walking in the path of the Lord Buddha this branch of Buddhism is engaged “in leading people in the mission of localising Buddhism, spreading happiness, love and compassion, promoting harmonious life and working for world peace.”
They have four main ways of doing this:
1. Propagating Buddhism through culture
2. Fostering talent through education
3. Benefiting society through charitable programmes
4. Purifying human minds through Buddhist practice.
It was interesting for us as members of the Edmund Rice Network that Grand Master Hsing, on his arrival in Taiwan having escaped mainland China because of persecution, decided initially not to found a monastery as a way of preserving Buddhism, but to found a school.
Another interest for us was the place of “devotees” in this branch of Buddhism. Grand Master Hsing believed that Buddhism was a gift to the world which would never be availed of by people all over the world if it were to remain within the confines of monasteries located in remote hill tops. He therefore set about spreading the good news through schools, universities, and multimedia presentations. Accepting that all people are not called to be monks, he established an association of what Buddhists call “devotees”. These are people who, though married or single and living ordinary lives, draw inspiration from and live their lives by the teaching of the Buddha.
Again respect between religions was important to this group as was the belief that we all, through mutual respect and dialogue, can make the world a better place. They did not believe in aggressive evangelisation but in making the message of the Buddha available to a wider world where it will speak for itself.
Hinduism:
Our final immersion location was to the Hindu Centre in Kolkata. There we visited a museum which preserves the history of key people in India’s Hindu tradition. We then proceeded to the Temple for prayer. This was an interesting experience and was most like that of the Sikh experience of the previous day. Crowds of people were in attendance but must seemed to be interested observers rather than followers.
Overall this was not an immersion in any real sense as we had little or no contact with the Hindu community. The opportunity to hear the story from practicing Hindu’s or to engage in a question and answer session with them was not available to us on this occasion. This was dis-appointing for us because, being aware that Hindus form the largest religious group in India, we looked forward to understanding it better.
On the last evening we were treated to a cultural evening. A short extract is available here.
The Sikh Community:
Our first immersion site was with the Sikh community. We were greeted on our arrival by the community leaders and made feel very welcome. Having disguarded our footwear we were led into the temple area for a formal greeting and a short introduction to Sikhism. Although we had read material in preparation for our visit, hearing it from the practitioners themselves gave the information a human face.
We were next led to the upper room for prayers. Singing or chanting has a very important place in the prayer life of the Sikh community as they believe that it is a pathway to higher engagement with their higher power. This chanting lasted for over half an hour during which time people joined us or departed the prayer at their convenience.
At the conclusion of the prayer a female member of the community read an explanation of the whole process. This was followed by a senior member explaining to us the origins of Sikhism in the Hindu religion. The word Sikh means disciple and love of God is at the root of Sikhism, he informed us.
Having come back down stairs we had an opportunity to engage with the community in a question and answer session which was very informative.
The visit ended with a meal where we had an opportunity for a more informal chat with different practitioners. Again we got a sense of deep respect for all religions and a desire for mutual respect among religions. This would lead to a world where justice, peace and mutual understanding would flourish.
At the end of our visit I was left with a strong impression of a group of people whose professed beliefs and their life style were congruent. Their level of engagement with us was warm and welcoming. The question and answer session was full and honest. They showed respect for our Christian tradition and welcomed the opportunity for mutual dialogue. They longed for the day where we would all respect that, though we might call God by different names, it was the one God we were trying to serve and honour.
The Islam or Muslim community.
Our second immersion site was with the Muslim community. We were aware from the organisers of some difficulty in arranging this immersion and we were also aware of some prejudices each of us might be carrying.
My first impression was of a group living in a very deprived and congested area of the city. I was left with a strong impression that, whatever about our beliefs, our experience of poverty and hunger was common to us all.
Our arrival in the area was the cause of a degree of curiosity especially among the young people. We were welcomed by a committee before being led to visit a meeting room used by the community for prayer and conversation. As we settled down to a short explanation of the religious practices of Islam we began to be aware of the absence of our female companions. Later we were to learn that the female were gathering in another place to talk with some ladies from the Muslim community.
The main section of our immersion was in yet another room in yet another building in yet another section of the Muslim community. Here, a man who described himself as just an ordinary practicing Muslim, gave a talk on the origins and theology of Islam. Starting with Adam and the prophets through Jesus and St. Paul right down to Mohammad the whole history was explained to us. There was no time for a question and answer session but we were promised to have an opportunity later which never really materialised.
We were next taken, through yet more narrow streets, to a courtyard where we were served food and drink.
Finally we were taken to the temple. By the time we arrived there, prayers were already in session. As we stood outside we were reprimanded by one of the elders for blocking the door. It was obvious that our guides were a little uneasy at the situation and we were quickly moved on.
Overall our visit was interesting and enlightening. Our guides and those who engaged with us were very forthcoming and friendly. They were very anxious to assure us that some of what happens in the name of Mohammad and Islam was not true Islamism and that the only truth was to be found in the Koran and in the words of the great prophet Mohammad. This group represented a view of the world where people could live in peace, harmony and mutual respect for the betterment of the whole world. They were very aware of how their faith may have been hijacked by the more extreme elements with-in their community and that this did not reflect the position of the majority. This group appreciated our visit very much and were honoured that we took the time to be with them and to grow in mutual understanding.
I thought it was interesting that as we left, one of our number, Monica O’Reilly from Ireland, was presented with a gift. This was hugely significant because not only was the gift presented to a woman but included in it was a copy of the Koran!
The Buddhist Temple.
Our third visit was to the Fo Guang Shan Kolkata Buddhist Centre. Though the title of the temple may sound very grand it was in fact in one of the poorest parts of the city. While awaiting a new home, the temple is presently situated in a dis-used tannery with all the smells associated with such an industry.
On our arrival we were greeted by a Buddhist nun the leader of the Buddhist community, as this was wholly a female Buddhist monastery. However, having spent some time with them, it may be best not to describe the place as a Temple at all but as a Centre. During the course of our visit we learned that this particular branch of Buddhism has its roots in Taiwan and was founded by Venerable Grand Master Hsing Yun. Walking in the path of the Lord Buddha this branch of Buddhism is engaged “in leading people in the mission of localising Buddhism, spreading happiness, love and compassion, promoting harmonious life and working for world peace.”
They have four main ways of doing this:
1. Propagating Buddhism through culture
2. Fostering talent through education
3. Benefiting society through charitable programmes
4. Purifying human minds through Buddhist practice.
It was interesting for us as members of the Edmund Rice Network that Grand Master Hsing, on his arrival in Taiwan having escaped mainland China because of persecution, decided initially not to found a monastery as a way of preserving Buddhism, but to found a school.
Another interest for us was the place of “devotees” in this branch of Buddhism. Grand Master Hsing believed that Buddhism was a gift to the world which would never be availed of by people all over the world if it were to remain within the confines of monasteries located in remote hill tops. He therefore set about spreading the good news through schools, universities, and multimedia presentations. Accepting that all people are not called to be monks, he established an association of what Buddhists call “devotees”. These are people who, though married or single and living ordinary lives, draw inspiration from and live their lives by the teaching of the Buddha.
Again respect between religions was important to this group as was the belief that we all, through mutual respect and dialogue, can make the world a better place. They did not believe in aggressive evangelisation but in making the message of the Buddha available to a wider world where it will speak for itself.
Hinduism:
Our final immersion location was to the Hindu Centre in Kolkata. There we visited a museum which preserves the history of key people in India’s Hindu tradition. We then proceeded to the Temple for prayer. This was an interesting experience and was most like that of the Sikh experience of the previous day. Crowds of people were in attendance but must seemed to be interested observers rather than followers.
Overall this was not an immersion in any real sense as we had little or no contact with the Hindu community. The opportunity to hear the story from practicing Hindu’s or to engage in a question and answer session with them was not available to us on this occasion. This was dis-appointing for us because, being aware that Hindus form the largest religious group in India, we looked forward to understanding it better.
On the last evening we were treated to a cultural evening. A short extract is available here.