Source: Times Of India
TOI spoke to Sri Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Puthige Mutt, Udupi, one of the key speakers at an event in Oxford, UK on March 23 to discuss interfaith issues.
To elicit his views on the issues, Sugunendra Thirtha said inter-religious friendship means freedom to practise one’s faith without any disturbance or hindrance. Freedom includes respect and co-operation on grounds of equal rights. “This world is created not only for me, but also for all similar beings as well,” he said. When this message is taught by all religious leaders along with their inherent religious teachings, then inter-religious friendship is established.
All religious leaders should emphasise this message along with their routine preaching. They should give prominence for collective thinking rather than individual or sectarian approaches in their speeches and practices, the Puthige mutt seer advocated. “Religious leaders should also add that, each one should try to sacrifice as much as possible, through their actions, expressions or practices, things that will be hurtful to other’s sentiments,” he noted.
Categories: Asia, Hinduism, Human values, India, Interfaith tolerance, Society