COMMON FEATURES OF ALL RELIGIONS

Religions may seem to be diverse and as even antagonistic to one another, looked at superficially and taking into account only the external ceremonies and the ritualistic practices etc. But a deeper study will unfailingly reveal that the undercurrent of all the religions, the inner spring that fertilises them all , is one and the same.

The basic teaching of all the religions is about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of all humanity, and, therefore, that love should permeate one’s being, for god and one’s fellow beings. As per the geographical conditions and in the context of the particular times, conditions and traditions of the people, the founder of one religion might have laid emphasis in his preaching on particular aspect/aspects and the founder of another religion  on altogether different aspect/aspects.

But the core of the teachings of all of them will be found to be one and the same viz., the supremacy of God and man’s duty to Him and his fellow beings. All the religions nevertheless, have also many externally common features and unity.

THE GOSPELS – UNIVERSAL

	Lord Krishna says, “Having an eye to the welfare of the world also, thou should perform action. As the ignorant are motivated by attachment to action, oh Partha, so shouldst the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world.”
	Zarathustra (Zoroaster) says, “Whoso with their good deeds and purity – whoso with their good words on their tongue and with the prayer conceived in purest thought and purpose and uttered in all faith – who so acknowledge Thee as Master and of whom Thou Art first guide, those with their good Name will truly in the end become as one with Thee.”
	Lord Buddha says “Go ye, Oh Bhikshus, and wander forth for the peace of the many, for the welfare of the many, for the benefit of the people, for their gain, for their good and their happiness, teach Dharma to mankind, Oh Bhikshus!
	Leviticus 19:18 – “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
	Lord Jesus says “Do you think you get credit for merely loving those who love you? Even the godless do that! And if you do good to those who do you good, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much. Love your enemy, do good to them. Then reward from the Heaven will be very great, you will be truly acting as sons of God.”
	Prophet Mohammed says, “The Best of men is he from whom good accrueth to humanity. All God’s creatures are His family, and he is most beloved to God who tries to do most to God’s creatures.”
	Sathya Sai Baba says, “Love all Serve all. Help ever Hurt never”

Sathya Sai Baba wrote in a Letter to a devotee on 21-4-74 “Religion is not a dogmatic faith but the necessary conduct implied in the movement towards perfection Therefore, religions cannot really contradict one another. All religions are the different forms taken in practical life by the one aspiration for perfection working through different temperaments. In this sense, no true freedom is possible without freedom in the light of religion. Religion is the attitude of reverence which human beings have towards the Supreme Being, based on the relationship that exists between them and the Supreme Being. This reverence may take different forms in different persons because of the differences in the conception of the relation that is between man and the Supreme Being.”

“Any person with a spark of love in him is a theist, whether he goes to a temple or a church or not.  – Divine Discourse 24-5-1967

“Love as thought is Truth;
Love in action is Righteousness;
Love as feeling is Peace;
Love as Understanding is Non-violence.”

SUMMARY

All religions are equally great and true. They are all but different pathways leading to the same goal. They all emphasize the brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God. All religions preach that man should love his fellowbeings and all the creation. All religions exhort their people, “do good, see good and be good”.

The Inner Voice program at Sai Radio is pleased to announce 3 part series of panel discussions to explore these topics in more detail.

You can listen to the discussion by tuning in to 88.9 WYN FM on the following dates:

TOPIC / DATE / TIME

1) “GOD IS” / Sunday 22nd August / 10 am

2)”I AM I” / Sunday 29th August / 10 am

3) “LOVE ALL SERVE ALL” / Sunday 5th September / 10 am

You can download the reading material for these topics in PDF file format from the links below.

Part1.pdf
Part2.pdf
Part3.pdf

Read the amazing story from Prof. G. Venkataraman about how Radio Sai started broadcasting from Parthi bringing Swami’s message to the world via Satellite on 23rd Nov 2001. Even more astonishing is the story of its survival when all other channels on Asiastar satellite were shut down.

“Dear listeners, let us all take a moment off to appreciate how much Swami wants us to hear His message. We here in the Prashanti Digital Studio have only that single objective, and as an expression of deep gratitude for giving us a second lease of life as it were, we are determined to intensify our efforts to spread His Message in many more ways, hopefully more compelling, and also  imaginative. Naturally, apart from Swami’s Grace, we would also need your active cooperation as well, as opposed to just listening. Spreading His Message is the task of all of Lord’s devotees, and where that is concerned, we here are not separate from you.“  – Excerpt from the article on h2hsai.org

To read the complete article, follow the link below

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_08/01JAN10/03-GV02.htm

“Antarvaani (inner voice) is another name for the buddhi. Man is guided by this inner voice in the conduct of his life. Whenever problems arise, he awaits the directives of the inner voice. If satisfactory answers are not forthcoming from his inner voice, man will have no satisfaction in life. In other words, his satisfaction with the external world is a function of his satisfaction with his inner world, represented by the inner voice. Some times you hear people saying, “My conscience is not satisfied; or my conscience does not approve of this.” Here conscience refers to the inner voice. So when you are exhorted to “Follow the Master,” the Master stands for your conscience. Only when you follow the dictates of your conscience can you reach the right destination.” – Sathya Sai Baba Summer Showers 1990

Here is the theme song from Inner Voice program

Suprabhatam – Morning Prayer to awaken the divinity within

Omkar Chant