(A wonderful ‘Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service’ was held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at The United Methodist Church in Wayne, 99 Parish Drive, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. Clergies and representative of various faiths participated in the event and offered their prayers and reflections for the occasion. The main message was unity, inclusiveness, community fellowship, and giving. One of the organizer Pastor Andrew Smith later said, “I feel like it was a meaningful service and a beautiful expression of community, and all the feedback I got afterward was very positive.”
I was invited to participate and give my offering as ‘reflections’. I thought to share this talk with you all who could not be there. It was a three minutes talk. I am posting it here with a few minor changes. I hope you like it.)
Dear Friends,
Good evening and Namaste! When we (Hindus) greet each other we say ‘Namaste’ with folded hands. This means that ‘I salute the God residing in you’.
I sincerely thank The Wayne Clergy Fellowship and Pastor Andy Smith for inviting me to participate in this Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. It is my great joy to be here with you all.
Swami Vivekananda, whose name has been associated with the name of our institution, was a great teacher and a Saint. In 1893, he participated in the Chicago World Parliament of Religions and gave six lectures. These lectures were well received by the American audience and these lectures made him famous all over the world. In our congregations, we say that ‘Columbus discovered America and America discovered Swami Vivekananda’.
In one of his lectures Swami Vivekananda said, “Unity in variety” is nature’s plan in the evolution of the universe, and that only by harmony and brotherhood among religions and by mutual toleration and help can the mission and destiny of humanity be accomplished.”
The nature has created varieties of human beings. With mutual toleration and helping each other, we can achieve harmony and brotherhood among religions which ultimately help us realize the unity that exists behind the varieties.
How should we seek or think about the unity?
In another lecture, Swami Vivekananda said, “Unity in variety is the plan of the universe. We are all human beings, and yet we are all distinct from one another.
– As a part of humanity I am one with you, but as Mr. so and so, I am different from you.
– A man is separate from a woman and a woman is separate from a man, but as human beings they both are same.
– A man is separate from an animal, but as living beings, man, woman, animal, and plant are all one:
– and as existence, we are one with the whole universe. That Universal existence is God, the Ultimate Unity in the universe. In God we are all one.”
Bhagavad Gita is the essence of Hindu Scriptures. It was Mahatma Gandhi’s constant companion. In the 18th chapter, it describes that superior knowledge is the one which realizes ‘Unity in Variety’. Variety brings joy in life, but we can enjoy it if we see unity behind all varieties.
We have to see the common life force in all and love all. We observe that:
The sun shines on all beings without any discrimination.
The rain showers water on all beings equally.
The air provides oxygen to all.
The fire cooks meals for all and
The Mother Earth holds all beings.
We learn from nature and love all beings.
I will conclude with an ancient Hindu prayer which I am reciting every day and millions of
Hindus recite regularly:
May all be happy,
May all be healthy
May good cones to all
May no one suffers.
Om Peace! Peace be unto us! Peace be unto all living beings!
Thank you. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
mahendrajani 