SingaSpeaks

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 30 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 22 OCTOBER 2016

The Ramakrishna Mission

deputed Swami Satyalokananda
to do the Presentation. Swami
Satyalokananda is a serving ViceIn this regard, Jamiyah invited
President of the Ramakrishna
the Ramakrishna Mission to
Mission, Singapore. He succintly
present on behalf of Hinduism a
pointed out the efforts of
15 mins paper at the Conference
Ramakrishna Mission in taking
on Friday, 21st October 2016 at
several initiatives towards
10.30 am on the topic Religion
fostering inter-religious and
and Peace: Initiatives from the
racial understanding and peace.
Hindu faith perspective. The
His slide-show cum running
Jamiyah wanted us to highlight
explanation was deeply
the work of our Mission in the
appreciated by the audience.
context of Singapore.

A Two-day International Conference on

Religion and Peace by Jamiyah, Singapore
The Ramakrishna Mission,
Singapore recently received a
communication from Dr H M
Saleem on behalf of the
President of Jamiyah Singapore
Prof (Adjunct) Dr Mohd Hasbi
Abu Bakar. He informed that
Jamiyah Singapore, a
community service organization
of 85 years of standing in
Singapore, would be hosting a
two-day International
Conference on Religion and
Peace: Initiatives of Muslim
Organizations in Southeast Asia
on 20-21 October 2016.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Defence officiated

its opening as the Guest of Honour. He also
presented Certificates of Appointment to 10
Muslim Youth Ambassadors International from
the Southeast Asian region.

This Conference is supported by

International Islamic
Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization. Several
Delegates from Southeast Asian
countries attended the
Conference held at Mandarin
Orchard Hotel.
Honourble Minister Dr Ng Eng
Hen, Minister for Defence
officiated the opening of the
Conference at 10.00 am on
Thursday, 20th October 2016 to
a thunderous applause from the
delegates.
179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 30

PAGE TWO

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2016

Swami Satyalokananda gives a Presentation

Delegates and speakers from every
Southeast Asian country attended the
Conference. Serious discussion on
promoting Peace was presented by
many Muslim leaders and youths of
Singapore and other countries. In the
Session entitled "Initiative from other
Religions" Hindu, Buddhist and
Christian representatives were also
invited. Swami Satyalokananda, VicePresident of the Singapore Ramakrishna Mission represented
Hinduism. Here are a few snaps of
this historic event.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER ROAR 30

PAGE THREE

SATURDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2016

What is Harmony of Faiths?

Sri Ramakrishna, a mystic saint,
was born at Kamarpukur, a
village in the Hooghly District
of West Bengal. He was an
extraordinary spiritual aspirant.
In his quest for God or Truth, he
performed intense sadhana
and reached unprecedented
heights of spiritual realization,
so much so that even during his
lifetime he was hailed as an
incarnation of God. He is one
of the greatest prophets of
harmony of religions.
Of
course this is not a new idea to
Hinduism.
Our ancient
scriptures have declared
thousands of years ago that
Truth is one, the sages call it
variously (Ekam sat viprah
bahudha vadanti).
The same idea was explained
by Sri Ramakrishna using a
beautiful analogy. He said that
people drawing water from the
same source, i.e., a pond, call it
differently.
The Hindus use
one ghat for drawing water and
they call it jal; the Muslims
use another ghat of the same
pond and call the same water
as pani; and the Christians use

another ghat of the pond for

drawing water and they call the
same substance as aqua or
water. Actually the substance
is one and the same, i.e., water,
but the people call it differently
according to their culture,
tradition etc. Sri Ramakrishna
also declared: As many faiths,
so many paths, i.e., yato math
tato path. His message of
harmony of religions was not a
Painting: Chitra Mondal, Singapore
mere theory. It was not an
amalgamation or collation of
I accept all religions that were in the past,
teachings from different
and worship with them all;
His message was
I worship God with every one of them, in religions.
based on his own personal
whatever form they worship Him.
I shall go to the mosque of the experience.
Mohammedan;
I shall enter the Christians church and
kneel before the crucifix;
I shall enter the Buddhistic temple, where
I shall take refuge in Buddha and in his
Law.
I shall go into the forest and sit down in
meditation with the Hindu, who is trying
to see the Light which enlightens the
heart of everyone
May He who is the Brahman of the
Hindus, the Ahura-Mazda of the
Zoroastrians, the Buddha of the
Buddhists, the Jehovah of the Jews, the
Father in Heaven of the Christians, give
strength to you to carry out your noble
idea
Swami Vivekananda

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784

PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798

Inter-religious dialogue and

harmony are talked about and
discussed very frequently these
days. But Sri Ramakrishna was
perhaps the first ever in the
modern century to preach
openly the harmony of
religions.
Following his
message, it was Swami
Vivekananda who delivered a
unique message of harmony of
religions at the first World
Parliament of Religions held in
Chicago in 1893.

singapore@rkmm.org