Seminar for a culture of Peace in India!
(Note: This is a combined appeal from a group of people of good will, lead by Swami Sachidanda and helped by Chottebhai, to all people of good-will in India.CCV is only trying to give wings to this appeal to reach as many as possible.
All of us are united in the conviction that what India needs most urgently today is a culture of peace for which India was noted for, in ancient times. Now what is seen is a culture of war in political, religious, social and communal domains. Examples are too many to cite like Modi’s “Sab ka vikas, sab ka sat” in conflict with ‘Gau Rakshaks lynching humans; politicians, instead of discussing issues with civility, beating below the belt for getting a brownie point; women from 6 to 60 raped or murdered by sex vultures; critiques demonizing religious groups as ‘Muslim or Hindu terrorists” etc. To make conflicts worse, is the latest shocking news of religious leaders accused of moral and financial corruption (Ernakulam Land deal row).
All these happenings automatically deny moral leadership to any political or religious leader in India today. The call to ‘inspired people of God to unite’ therefore does not mean that it is addressed to Christians only to unite just because this initiative happens to be led by Christian leaders. Today even religions, especially organised ones, are fast losing their hold and credibility with the public.
Nor is it within the capacity of any religious group to unite all people within the realm of those who transcend all man-made divisions and believe in total universal vision and mission like a Tagore, Vivekananda, Narayana Guru, or even atheists like thinker and poet Vayalara Ramavarma, all of whom promoted a humane, human brotherhood as the badge and trait of top civilized humans on earth, as CCV understands.
Extraordinary happenings and developments call for out of box thinking and remedies. So we invite CCV readers to respond to this new appeal of Sachidananda favourably, critically or with better suggestions. What is urgent and important is to help emerge unity amidst divisions, collaboration amidst confrontations, freedom amidst dictatorial behaviour, peace and prosperity for all. james kottoor, editor ccv.
Read below appeals from Swami Sachidanda, Chottebhai and others with their emails and contact numbers for more information
Swami Sachidananda Bharathi
20 Jan 2018
Forwarded message
From: Allan de Noronha <noronha.kp@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: National Seminar
To: Swami Sachidananda Bharathi
Read Press Release.
chhotebhai
On Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 3:05 PM, Swami Sachidananda Bharathi <swamisachidananda@gmail.com> wrote:
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord,
I send you my love and prayerful regards from Dharma Bharathi Ashram, Kochi.
As mentioned by me, I will be coming to Delhi during the first week of Feb to finalise matters related to the National Seminar.
We will have a planning meeting of the National Seminar Coordination Team at 3 PM at Fr. Agnel School, Gautam Nagar (Near Green Park Metro) on 4th Feb, Sunday, to finalise the programme. Those at Delhi please join us in this meeting. If you are not able to attend personally, please send your representatives.
I am attaching the modified Concept Note, proposed Programme Schedule & time-bound Plan of Action for you.
As a member of the National Seminar Coordination Team (NSCT) you are requested to forward the Concept Note to at least 10 of your like-minded friends. Our prayerful endeavour will be to get together at least 72 participants who can be sent out as peace-builders in India by this historic National Seminar. Our Lord had sent out his first batch of 72 disciples to proclaim the Good News. We should also aim at sending out 72 visionary-missionaries, including those of us who are physically fit, to work fearlessly, tirelessly and prayerfully for a culture of peace in India built on the pillars of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity which are our Constitutional Values. Hence, protecting and preserving the Constitutional values in our moral responsibility as citizens of India and disciples of the Bali Raja, Sadguru Jesus Christ.
My dear fellow disciples of Sadguru Jesus Christ, the Bali Raja, let us put our hearts, minds and strengths together to make this divine mission of peace-building bear fruit a 100 fold with the power and wisdom of God given to us in, with and through the living Spirit of Christ.
Looking forward to meeting some of you at 3 PM on 4th Feb at Fr. Agnel School and in union of prayers,
Yours lovingly in Christ Jesus our Lord
Acharya Sachidananda Bharathi
NB: Please acknowledge receipt of this mail and acceptance of being a member of the NSCT if you have not done so already.
PRESS RELEASE
LET A MYRIAD FLOWERS BLOOM
# chhotebhai #
Our Motherland India has often been described as a bouquet in which a myriad flowers bloom; of every shade, shape and fragrance. Indeed India as a multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic country is unique in the comity of nations.
Yet, in recent times, there is a concerted attempt to straight jacket all – in one colour, one ideology, one belief, one diet, one culture, one language, one unique identity and even one civil code.
This is contrary to nature and our national ethos. As a consequence, there are growing social tensions, simmering discontent, hatred, animosity, fear, suspicion and intolerance. Can the Christians of India remain mute spectators to what is happening, hiding behind the fig leaf of our miniscule numbers, or waiting for somebody else to take the plunge?
As Christians it is our duty to be harbingers of peace, filled with hope, under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, who would convert ploughs into ploughshares, where lions would eat straw, and a little child would put its hand into the snake’s nest. At Christmas the angels heralded Peace. Peace was Jesus’ parting gift to his disciples, and his greeting after the Resurrection. Peace is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so all Christians are called to be peace makers (shantidoots).
Squadron Leader N.V. John of the Indian Air Force, a professed atheist, “died” in a near fatal air crash in 1982. In death he encountered life, and was “resurrected” as Acharya Sachidananda Bharati (aka Air Force Baba). He quit the IAF and devoted the rest of his life to walking in the footsteps of Sadguru Jesus. To this end he has founded several ashrams to promote communal harmony, and had an outreach programme for school going youth.
He now feels inspired to organise a National Seminar on “Christian Leadership for a Culture of Peace”. This will be held from 13th to 15th April (both days inclusive) at Navjivan Renewal Centre, St Xavier’s School campus, Delhi.
This now is an open invitation to all Christian leaders, social activists, journalists etc to come together at the feet of the Lord in prayer, to share their experiences and pool their talents, in order to build up a task force of peace makers (shantidoots). Faced with the magnitude of the problem we often feel helpless, like frogs in our own little wells. If we emerge from our shells we can draw strength and inspiration from each other. Let us “Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches”. Let us say “Maranatha” – come Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Everyday is Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost.
If you feel called to join this humble effort to promote a culture of peace in our beloved Motherland then please contact any of the following for more details and registration:
Acharya Sachidananda Bharati swamisachidananda@gmail.com 8281874941
Sdk Thomas Satyanand joypallekkudy@gmail.com 8668910057
chhotebhai noronha.kp@gmail.com 9415130822
It is up to us to make a myriad flowers bloom, lest they be reduced to faded and jaded blossoms in the dust.
