Sunday, May 20, 2001		Article

Wiping out intolerance
By C.L. Gulati

IF one can easily acknowledge the concept of one God for all, it should not be difficult to accept the idea of one religion for all, i.e., the religion of man, a religion that can suit the human race.

The Sant Nirankari Mission has succeeded in achieving this through the revelation of a all-pervasive God, the same for all religions, ignoring the non-essential rituals which are different for different religions. The Mission asserts that God-realisation is the only force that binds the bricks of human society into a coherent structure.

The Nirankari Mission does not convert anyone to a new faith, but helps the seekers revert to their respective faiths with added firmness. They are advised to understand and acquire a deeper understanding of their holy scriptures so that they can live together in a spirit of peaceful and harmonious co-existence. The Nirankaris come from different walks of life. The Nirankaris’ belief in one God can be compared to a rainbow vesture having distinct but inseparable colours. The Mission, thus, goes back to the teachings of the saints, seers, gurus and prophets of the past. All the higher values of life such as love, humility, tolerance, fellow-feeling and brotherhood have always been preached by great saints.

Today, the Nirankari Baba aims at creating an understading of spirituality through a living revelation of Fatherhood of God, the by-product of which is the spontaneous brotherhood of mankind. A God-realised person sees God in all and all in God. He believes that all his assets, material and mental, belong to God, and we are ordained to use them for common good of the human race. This implies rising above narrow prejudices and dogmas of caste, colour creed etc. One, thereby, becomes tolerent towards others’ style of dress, diet and culture and leads a purposeful and self-reliant family life and maintains order in the society.