Religion and Grand Zoroastrian Nation Essay

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to essay in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the discern of the most ancient order of monks in the valet I thank you in the name of the mother of religions and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of every classes and sects. My thanks, also to near of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these manpower from far-off nations may well claim the prize of rush to distinguishable lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to be capacious to a religion which has taught the world some(prenominal) tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept every last(predicate) religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation, which has sheltered the persecuted, and the refugees of all religion and all nations of the earth.I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to southerly India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion, which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the yard Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I cerebrate to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men move back through different tendencies various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.Quoted from Siva Mahimnah Stotram 7. The precede convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever for m I reach him all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me. Quoted from Geeta 411. Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroy civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more innovativethan it is now. But their time is come and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings amongst persons wending their way to the same goal.