The idea of religious unity has strikes a chord with many people. I think that one of the great advances of the past century is that people have become more aware, tolerant and accepting of different faiths. True, there is still a long way to go. But, I feel that people are no longer inspired by the idea of only one path being correct. Sri Chinmoy has done much to try and promote the ideal of the underlying unity of the different world religions.

“No religion is absolutely perfect. Yet not only do we fight for religion, but also are we often willing to sacrifice our lives for it. And what we hopelessly fail to do is to live it. A true religion is that which has no caste, no creed, no colour. It is but an all-uniting and all-pervading embrace.”

Religion should not be a means to divide a separate people. It should be a vehicle to bring people together. As Sri Chinmoy suggests:

Man-made religions find fault with one another, whereas God-made religion is eternally a oneness-song — God-manifestation through human aspiration on earth.”

One of the great exponents of Religious Unity was the Hindu Yogi, Swami Vivekananda. This is an audio recording of his opening speech given at the World Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1894.

• Interfaith and Religious tolerance at Sri Chinmoy Centre
• Article on the Difference between Spirituality and Religion

Photo: Sri Chinmoy at World Parliament of Religions, Barcelona 2004
sri chinmoy