Beyond Religious Barriers

By Karunika Dasi

Sundara Lal Prabhu, leader of the Mauritian ISKCON Youth Forum, recently befriended a member of the International Sufi School of Mauritius. While discussing their respective religious paths, they found much in common. On the 28th of January 2009, the Sufi School invited the members of the youth forum for a programme at their centre in Roches-Brunes. In reciprocation, Sundara Lal Prabhu invited ISKCON’s Sufi Muslim friends to an evening of interfaith dialogue and friendship at Hare Krishna Land, Phoenix, on Wednesday the 1st of July. It turned out to be a true exchange of love.

The 45 guests included Venerable Cheik Aly N’Daw, Mr. Raffiq Hattea, President of the Cercle Islamic des Mourides de L’Ocean Indien and Mrs. Nazneen Bundhoo, President of the International Sufi School in Mauritius. They were all warmly greeted upon their arrival at the temple at 7.30 pm.

His Grace Arjuna (ACBSP) Prabhu opened his talk with some Urdu phrases such as “Allah-u-wah-had” (God is one) and “la shirikh-la-illahu” (we are his children). After pointing out that Sufism is the mystical dimension of Islam, he went on to explain some similarities between Vaisnavism and Sufism. The goal of both paths is love of God. The Sufis also chant the names of God on beads and “dhikr” (remembrance of God) is a core tenet of their teachings. They also emphasize the importance of sadhu-sanga, pilgrimage and worshipping in unison (congregational chanting). He mentioned how he had once been in Ajmer to visit the shrine of a Sufi saint, Cheik Kwaja Moin-ud-Din Chisti, who was venerated as a true saint by everyone in the area.

Venerable Cheik Aly, originally from West Africa and Sufi guru, spoke next. He noted that the most outstanding of human qualities is the ability to oversee differences and appreciate unity in diversity and he applauded Arjuna Prabhu for this great quality. He talked about the fact that every religion has a history of taking birth to replace pagan customs and that though people today know this history, they have forgotten the original message behind the rituals. He emphasized the need for a change in consciousness and quoted Einstein, who said that a problem cannot be solved unless the consciousness that caused the problem is changed. Krishna’s message was spoken so that humanity would undergo a change of consciousness, and Srila Prabhupada understood this. Indeed, he stressed constantly on the phrase “Krishna consciousness”. Cheik Aly concluded by saying that he did not feel like a visitor to our temple. Instead, he felt that he had come to his “ashram” to take the grace of our master (pointing to Srila Prabhupada) just as we had. There was no difference between us.

The devotees then sang a very sweet bhajan led by Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu. The Sufis clapped and swayed along. The Sufi ladies then sang a few of their religious songs. They were so similar to our bhajans that the devotees accompanied them with mrdanga and harmonium. As the Sufis sang, the devotees clapped along, some joining in with the simpler lines. If there were any preconceptions, all were washed away with this communal chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

The curtains opened for sayana arati and everyone had darshan of Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. During this time, Mr. Raffiq Hattea spoke. He compared Arjuna Prabhu to a Queen Bee or the queen of bees who go to different flowers to collect nectar to make sweet honey. He said that just as Krishna’s flute is hollow, so we should empty our heart so that Krishna can play his song through us. He said that before he had met the devotees whenever he would see them chanting blissfully on the street he felt that they were different from others. He appreciated how the devotees wanted to share their joy with others and concluded that if a spiritual master and his followers were not joyful they were not bona fide.

Mrs. Nazneen Bundhoo appreciated the feelings of unity and friendship between ISKCON and the Sufi School as manifested in the evening of interfaith exchange and said that we should not search for differences amongst ourselves, but share our unity.

Arjuna Prabhu gifted the leading Sufis with copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita, and our guests reciprocated with gifts of their own literature and with a basket of fruits. They were then served a prasadam feast in Govinda’s. The sweet was a heart-shaped cookie – a symbol of the appreciation of our friendship.

Photos of the event may be viewed here

A video clip of everyone enjoying the maha-mantra may be viewed here.

A video clip of everyone clapping to a Suni devotional song may be viewed here.

Karunika Dasi