The Life Positive magazine recently organised a panel discussion in Delhi on ‘What is enlightenment?’ The panelists were Swami Veda Bharati, a disciple of Swami Rama, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an Islamic scholar. It was moderated by TV talk show host Rajiv Mehrotra.
The Life Positive magazine recently organised a panel discussion in Delhi on ‘What is enlightenment?’ The panelists were Swami Veda Bharati, a disciple of Swami Rama, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an Islamic scholar. It was moderated by TV talk show host Rajiv Mehrotra. Excerpts:
Maulana: Enlightenment really means positive thinking. Prophet Mohammed was once asked, ‘How do I lead my life well', and his reply was, ‘Never be angry'. True, without self-management, intellectual, moral and spiritual development is not possible. When Christ said ‘Love thy enemy', he meant destroy enmity through the power of love. So, enlightenment to me means anger and hate management.
Swami: Enlightenment is obtained through a rigorous pursuit of the internal self. But you don’t get it from yoga or meditation. Because you already have it. Enlightenment is rediscovering one’s true self that is Nitya (eternal), Shuddha (unsullied), Buddha (enlightened) and Mukta (free) and comes by discarding all the layers of conditioning.
Rajiv: Is there a difference between revelation to a chosen one and enlightenment which is open to all?
Maulana: In Islam, prophethood is only given to a chosen one, but then, Mohammed was meditating for many days and, therefore, God chose him as his prophet.
Swami: Enlightenment comes only by the grace of God and the guru. One needs to be patient, waiting for that moment of grace, to keep oneself ready.
Rajiv: Can an atheist get enlightenment?
Swami: Yes, he may find it easier as he has less conditioning.
Audience: Can different religions live in harmony?
Maulana: We need to differentiate between ethics, which is common to all religions, and theology, which is different in each religion. The Koran says, ‘For you, your religion, and for me, mine’. We could learn to understand each other through dialogues such as this.
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