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Upnishads are much different from all other religious texts. They are highly philosophical at the same time they do not reflect the ego of the author or the philosopher. They are so ancient, important ones are between 900 BC to 500 BC, but still what they preach in very simple and friendly manner is what most philosophers couldn't realize before hearing it from upanishads directly or indirectly. Much of the German philosophy owes its conceptual basis to these upanishads. though those people (hindu sages who authored upanishads) were never looking for any fame or name, still the respect and recognition that simplicity and wisdom of those people deserve is not yet give to them.

It's a great achievement for Islamic leaders and scholars as well as Newsweek and the Washington post to present this imperative opportunity for inter cultural and global philosophical dialogue. What's important is that by exchanging our ideas and comments regarding inter religious relations and world events that affect our views of each other as fellow human beings. Since the advent of humanity, We strove to make sense of the world we live in and the lives we've experienced. Worldwide curiosities to learn the true nature of life and our universe is an exceptionally rare virtue upon life on Earth. In other words, we're the only known species on the planet who've pursued to unravel these great mysteries and developed written philosophies based upon our understanding of the world around us.
One such philosophy that lasted throughout the ages of humanity is commonly known as religion and spirituality. Ever since our early belief in the Sky God and the God Mother from ancient Pagan times, we vigorously pursued to unravel the truth about our most profound questions. As any educated person would know that religion and their core beliefs or faith have evolved over time. Paganism, Monotheism and Polytheism have been influenced by humanity as these great philosophies have influenced our perceptions and decisions in life over the ages. Over time humanity has embraced diverse religious faiths and spiritual convictions that continue to influence our behavior in our times and most likely beyond.
What's vital for humanity's progress and even survival is to know the true nature of faith itself. To understand the true origins of faith. But most of all, is to accept the truth for whatever it may be. Each one of us will learn the absolute truth once we die. But until that time comes for anyone of us to depart this world, we really don't know the answer to God's existence nor do we have the absolute truth in regards to the true nature of God. Besides if we did possess the truth, there would've been only one religion on Earth with no diversification of any way, shape of form. There would only be one holy scripture written throughout human history.
Considering one's religious faith to be absolute, while considering others to be false would be ethnocentric at best. While collectively searching to unravel the mysteries on nature, life and the universe through sincere reasoning and serious research would be enlightening at its worst. Most importantly, we must accept the fact is that none of us have conclusive evidence to confirm our core beliefs and there's always an immanent change that our most cherished beliefs could be wrong. Our greatest challenge would be to tolerate the truth no matter what it may ultimately be. With such an open mind, we would be able to overcome any future discovery that would contradict our faith regarding the true nature of life, spirituality and divinity.
Humanity does have the ability to achieve such a social achievement. However, it's solely up to humanity and not any other entity or groups of entities to decide our destinies. Each one of us has a choice to make; either hopelessly engaging into meaningless inter cultural conflicts or combine our scientific and cultural gifts to thrive into an enlightened global civilization that could ultimately expand beyond our solar system. The choice is yours, and the time to make it is now!

all religions, faiths and rituals are crutches, supports and agents in the belief to reach god, be god, to transcend our present limitations, overcome death, be free, blissful. since everything from matter to all life forms emerged from one reality and we all are different probably that is god's scheme. to appreciate the difference and seek harmony. this is what yoga is, this is what sufi poetry says, this is what christ says. only when we deliver christ from cross to the throne, our mind and heart, embody him, we become him, we are him. we can seek any way, all ways. that is why hindus seek god in different forms, as strength, knowledge, life, beauty, love. all are embodied in one, they emerge out from that one. so lets not divide ourselves based on forms and practises-rather practise that one which suits us, appeal us and in the meantime lets also embrace (and not just tolerate) our brethren and all creatures. by seeking god and becoming it-we only expand and multiply our joys.

"Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? What happens after death? What is the purpose of life? What is expected of me? Who is God? What is our relation to him?"

BenHur, I believe the question "where did we come from" should be separate from the others, because it deals directly with the natural world and is irrelevant when addressing the others.

For the other questions, I would individualize them to say "what is MY relation to the divine." That's because I view that relationship as no one else's business. I would go further and suggest that religion need not have a divine at all, that an individual can attempt to answer those questions without being required to believe in supernatural life.

Alas, the Middle-eastern religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Ahmeddiyaism, Bahaism, Mormonism, Others, Future revelations) are only going to fight within themselves and each-other and all else all the time because of their claims of patenting the 'way to heaven and hell'.
The only way to peace in this world is when these folks learn to be tolerant from the easterners, africans, and others.
Yoga is a hindu-buddhist-jain practise that is meant to teach real 'religion' to the misguided souls.

Except that God said to not do that:

"beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?'" Deuteronomy 12.30

It's easy to see what's happened in the church today that, since they have inquired of these other gods, they have now followed them.

Is not the things of the God of Abraham enough? You also want the things of the world too?

Rev Forbes, you say, "the question is not whether we can be faithful to our Abrahamic traditions if we borrow practices from other religions, but whether our neighbors can provide means to the kind of relationship with God that Abraham had."

My problem is that much of the relationship between Abraham and God was gruesome and cruel. I have no desire to borrow practices from anywhere to be faithful to those traditions.

JOZEVZ Attachment:: You say "AND the CAST system in India"

The caste system in India is a system of social stratification (like racialism or segregation). It has nothing to do with Hindu spiritual practices. Take away caste system and Hinduism will not be harmed in the least.

Equating Hinduism with caste sytem is as good as restricting all discussions of Christianity to slavery of the Blacks.

brian mcc, the arctic:

The 4 am period in Hinduism is known as Brahma Muhurat (Divine Hour or Hour of the Gods).

Hindus are actually supposed to wake up at this time, wash up and then pray or do yoga / meditation. This Divine Hour lasts for one hour (up to 5 am) and Hindus believe gods roam the earth during this time.

Jacob Jozevz:

You say "And the Hindu Mysticism (Hidden Secrets or power of meaning) is know as the UPANISHADS."

Upnishads are Hinduism's most sacred texts. These are 108 in number, but actually 10 are the main ones. These are not very large, just small booklets.

They contain the entire Hindu philosophy. The word "Upanishad" literally means "to sit at the feet of master." This refers to the traditional way of teaching by which this spiritual knowledge was transmitted to the next generation.

Upnishads contain the Hindu philosophy of the ultimate reality and are quite profound and moving. They are full of small stories that have a huge meaning.

They do not beat around the bush but come directly to the problems of "Who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? What happens after death? What is the purpose of life?What is expected of me? Who is God? What is our relation to him?"

"Religions do not exist to define different kingdoms but to enrich each other."

Well, if they (religions) were so in harmony and enrich one another with their teachings....why is the world in the condtion it's in? Could it be that there are a lot of LIARS in our mist...beware of the wolves in sheep clothing!!!

I am convinced Moses smoked some good weed, had a funky dream, and BAM! There ya go......

Oh, by the way, there are actual burning bushes, but they don't talk. They just combust. If they are talking to you, then please, pass the joint.

The Reverend said, "Religions do not exist to define different kingdoms but to enrich each other."

How true. The Roman Catholic church got as rich as possible when it was the only one but not nearly as rich as the accumulated wealth of all religions combined. Restuarants found out that they do better (make more money) when they are located next to each other, food parks for example. The same rule applies to religion. It's not a matter of eat or not eat but where will one eat. Choices whet the appetite so it would seem. No doubt choices of religions whet the worshiptite. The subject, compatibility of eastern religions and the three "great" faiths probably follows the same rule. That's called strength through unity.

All religions are confidence scams. By everyone being included it takes the taint away in the minds of the suckers who now insist there is something wrong with those who actually understand what's going on in church and avoid it.

The foundation of western religion is the Bible. We will soon find out how well faith works with it being proved a literary hoax. We can't expect the average or even the average above average to understand the evidence but all can understand that there is an undeniable truism, God cannot be identified. Pat Robertson and other top caliber ministers speak to God so they say but how do they know it's God and not, well, Devil?

The keystone of religion is a conversation Moses had with a being the Bible identifies as God. Was it God? Since God cannot be identified then there is no way to say the being in the ball of fire was God with any degree of certainty. The evidence that anyone can or at least should be able to understand says it was Devil and not God at all.

That's known as interpretation 1,501 of the Bible at http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul The most reasonable version of what the Bible says is that Moses sold his soul to regain the wealth he lost when he murdered an Egyptian.

Depends on one's purpose in engaging in them.

We are told to meditate upon the word of God that we might seal it in our hearts and minds.

As with all things of God one's purpose and motive is far more important than one's actions.

If it is your destiny to seek and discover the true spirit, God bless you my brother. It can happen from desire to ask the question, 'there must be something better than this?...in humility, show me.' I believe that if I seek, one day I will find. A question asked answered.
The sacred hour of each day is 4am. It was discovered by accident while on retreat to a Trapist monestary. There were no instructions or mantras, just silence. 25 years later, at 4am, sometimes I imagine I can hear the abbot strike the bell once, to signal the start of the inward journey.

The Rev has a different belief system than I, an atheist, hold,

but I respect his humanity and inclusiveness, and also that of my friends ALM and Viejita.

My own observation is that people can arrive at a loving and deep spirituality from a number of sources,
Christian, Muslim, Secular Humanist Atheist, Hindu.

And people can arrive at negative and hateful spiritualities from the same sources,

Though I have seen few "practicing secular humanists" who spread hate and misunderstanding,

while I have seen many Christians and Muslims who do.

Not much to argue with here, even in the comments. Here is an example of a confident faith in Christ.

Well said. Christians/Westerners can deepen their relationship with God by means of Eastern practices without losing the core of their faith.

I practice meditation regularly and use a mantra that incorporates the Name of Jesus Christ.

"For example, a Christian can use a Marxist critique to understand the alienation of labor."
****

Kind of how I use the movie "Wall Street" to understand the oppression of stock brokers.