BANGALORE: Renowned spiritual leader His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has strongly condemned the increasing incidences of attacks on churches in India. In a statement issued on September 23, 2008, he said,
“Acts of violence against any place of worship is totally against Hinduism. Such attacks violate the age- old tradition of tolerance and peaceful co-existence that Hinduism stands for.”
He urged the state governments to conduct impartial inquiries into such incidences of violence and nip the culprits to save the strong social fabrics of India. He has also appealed to both the communities not to get provoked and play into the hands of miscreants.
Gurudev has been continuously working to promote harmony and build trust among communities. The Art of Living is engaged in several initiatives aimed at bringing people from different communities together. Gurudev has always spoken out against anything that dangers the rich social fabric of India.
Earlier this year, in August, Gurudev requested members of the Hindu and Christian communities to live together in harmony in light of the mounting tension after the murder of a Hindu leader in the Kandhamal district of Orissa.
“Both the communities have to live together and have to work together for a progressive state. Please come together for reconciliation and let’s all have peace between the communities,” he had said in a statement.
Concerned with the dangers of getting the country polarized on communal lines, Gurudev’s appeal to people is to honour all religions.
“My main concern is how to bring people together. I want to bring all communities together on one platform.”
Gurudev is working to rekindle the human values of love, compassion, non-violence and universal brotherhood. Gurudev’s aim is to realize the ancient Indian concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a one world family.
