Author: Deosaran
Publication:
Date: October 14, 2008
While driving to a meeting today I heard,
on the radio, a Seven-Day Adventist preacher proclaiming his right to convert
Hindus - as if it was his duty and obligation to convert Hindus as espoused
in his Bible and by his religion. He also said he was obligated to attack
any religion if such religion was against the principles of his Bible and
the "teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Now, this is nothing new but I called to ask
him if Hindus also were free to attack any religion they felt was against
their principles and also that Hindus could also launch an aggressive campaign
to convert Christians. He said 'yes' but in a forced manner, as if unwilling
to publicly deny Hindus the same rights as others.
Hindus don't go out there to convert others.
WHY? Are Hindus forbidden to convert others? It appears to me that most Hindus
believe that Hinduism should 'sell itself' and Hindus must not be aggressive
in extolling the greatness of the religion. Gandhiji said there was no such
thing as conversion :
I believe that there is no such thing as conversion
from one faith to another in the accepted sense of the word. It is a highly
personal matter for the individual and his God. I may not have any design
upon my neighbour as to his faith which I must honour even as I honour my
own. Having reverently studied the scriptures of the world I could no more
think of asking a Christian or a Musalman, or a Parsi or a Jew to change his
faith than I would think of changing my own. (Harijan: September 9, 1935)
I am not interested in weaning you from Christianity
and making you Hindu, and I do not relish your designs upon me, if you had
any, to convert me to Christianity. I would also dispute your claim that Christianity
is the only true religion. (Harijan: June 3, 1937)
So, it appears as if Gandhiji is against any
form of conversion from any religion to another. I don't want to disagree
but it is rather difficult to be so confident and self-assured as the Mahatmaji
. Elsewhere, Gandhi was more forceful:
As I wander about through the length and breath
of India I see many Christian Indians almost ashamed of their birth, certainly
of their ancestral religion, and of their ancestral dress. The aping of Europeans
by Anglo-Indians is bad enough, but the aping of them by Indian converts is
a violence done to their country and, shall I say, even to their new religion.
(Young India: August 8, 1925)
I hold that proselytisation under the cloak
of humanitarian work is unhealthy to say the least. It is most resented by
people here. Religion after all is a deeply personal thing. It touches the
heart. Why should I change my religion because the doctor who professes Christianity
as his religion has cured me of some disease, or why should the doctor expect
me to change whilst I am under his influence? (Young India: April 23, 1931)
My fear is that though Christian friends nowadays
do not say or admit it that Hindu religion is untrue, they must harbour in
their breast that Hinduism is an error and that Christianity, as they believe
it, is the only true religion. So far as one can understand the present (Christian)
effort, it is to uproot Hinduism from her very foundation and replace it by
another faith. (Harijan: March 13,1937)
The first distinction I would like to make
between your missionary work and mine is that while I am strengthening the
faith of people, you (missionaries) are undermining it. (Young India: November
8, 1927)
Conversion nowadays has become a matter of
business, like any other. India (Hindus) is in no need of conversion of this
kind. Conversion in the sense of self-purification, self-realization is the
crying need of the times. That however is never what is meant by proselytization.
To those who would convert India (Hindus), might it not be said, "Physician,
heal yourself." (Young India: April 23, 1931)
When the missionary of another religion goes
to them, he goes like a vendor of goods. He has no special spiritual merit
that will distinguish him from those to whom he goes. He does however possess
material goods which he promises to those who will come to his fold. (Harijan:
April 3, 1937)
If I had the power and could legislate, I
should stop all proselytizing. In Hindu households the advent of a missionary
has meant the disruption of the family coming in the wake of change of dress,
manners, language, food and drink . (November 5, 1935)
(Note : All the above and more were compiled
by Swami Aksharananda ji, and available at several websites :
http://www.caribbeanhindu.net/Swamiji_Conversion.htm
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/ mahatma_gandhi_on_conversion.htm
I have been trying to find anything in any
of our Vedic scriptures that advises Hindus not to convert others. So far,
I haven't found anything of the sort . ISKCON has done a tremendous job in
spreading Sanatana Dharma in the West, even in the former Soviet bloc, and
all over the world.
It could be that old adage, attack is the
best form of defense, may be most applicable for Hindus as they respond to
the aggressive conversion campaigns directed against the weak and vulnerable
members of our community. Of course, not physical attacks, but being proactive
in informing and educating the world about the goodness and greatness of Vedic
Sanatana Dharma and responding forcefully to those who seek to denigrate the
Vedic religion.
