At the conference of all religions

 

Shri Lahari Om! Tat! Sat!

Ayyah’s message at the conference of all religions in Manujothi Ashram

July 22, 1987

1 All those who are present here, and the Sessions Judge who has kindly consented to preside here, and all those who have kindly come here to honour us, my grateful thanks to you.

2 You know, I was forced to ask whether I am a Christian or not. So I said in Telugu, “Ledhu!” - “No!” But I want to tell you clearly that point. That particular point I want to make you clear. From India I went to see Christianity in America. Because they brought Christianity, I wanted to go and say thanks to them in their country for bringing Christ to us. I went by ship. Fifteen days I was vomiting, vomiting in the ship.

3 So when I went to New York for the first time like a man in the moon, I heard a nice singing in a place a Christian song. I straight walked fast and went into the church. “O, what a precious song!” Within a few minutes I was beaten like anything. Some white people came: “You black pig, get out!” Beatings mean, I got lot of beatings. And I was pushed out. They said, “You black fellow, how dare you come into the white man’s church?”

4 So bleeding and all, I went and sat in a bench. I am seeing Christ now. Because believing Christ has put me out of the Church. Then the ‘I’ in me started telling, “Hereafter I won’t allow any white man to remain in India. Wherever I go, I’ll beat them like this only.”

5 As I was sitting there crying, “Why is this?” I see somebody sitting next to me. AND HE WAS SPEAKING TO ME: “Why are you getting angry like this? WHEN I WAS IN THIS WORLD, I WAS NOT A WHITE MAN.” And then He said, “If I came today to the church like this, I will also be beaten and put out.” Then I went to catch Him, saying, “My God!” He just flew away and went away. This changed my whole outlook.

6 Then I was going on the roads. Whenever I meet every white man, he will bring the money and say, “You be my man and join me, I will make you a millionaire.” I said, “I am an Indian. Why should I become your man? Now I am a Christ’s man. Why should I join you?” - “Then you won’t get any money.” So I was starving. They telephoned all over and informed not to give any money to me.

7 Then I went to a bar. Some people were fallen down belonging to nice mothers. So I went there; I sat with them. I carried them in the night and took them to their homes. And when I went to their homes, the wife and other people said, “Bro. Lawrie, you come in.” And it changed his life. He stopped his drinking habits. Then I became a member of that family. And I used to sleep with them. There are thousands of people like that for me in America today.

8 And some three years back I was wondering about these barriers in the denominations and churches and religions. We celebrate this Jayanthi because I had a great experience in Chicago. Then I could not imagine people as divisions but only as humanity. So something happened to me.

9 Suppose I belong to a family, my brother is a Muslim, and my sister belongs to a Hindu, and my another brother belongs to a Christian religion, we all gather at the weddings. Then we embrace each other. Why can’t you think the whole world as a family?

10 Then there were barriers. The greatest barrier was my own religion. Because they had lot of money, they started assassinating the character. For that, huge sums were paid by the Westerners to destroy my name.

11 Then I studied the religions. Then God taught me religions, and Vedas, and Quran, everything. Then I had a great respect for prophet Mohammed. He lifted his people as a big nation and a power today. So when I studied that religion, he completely cut them from the Jewish religion.

12 So when I studied Quran and Bible, then I said, “How to connect Bhagavad Gita and other books?” Then I found out in Bhavishya Puranam... We studied here for nearly fifteen to twenty years. Then we have Sanskrit pundits about four. So we studied the Bhavishya Puranam.

13 If you accept that Bhavishya Puranam as Vyasar wrote, you can accept the whole thing. If you deny that, all what he wrote must be a lie. There Vyasar writes, “After the first pralaya [Flood], Vishnu created Adam and Eve.” I said, “How is that?” One man says, “Allah created!” Another man says, “Jesus created heaven and earth.” Bhavishya Puranam by Veda Vyasa says, “Vishnu created Adam and Eve.” Then my differences were finished, because I studied still more. I didn’t want to...

14 Then I moved with the people. I thought, “Whether the Muslims have feelings or we only have feelings? Whether Hindus have feelings also?” But when I met them, when you give love, they loved you more. Then I found out a great truth. If somebody cuts you away from you, you put a bigger circle and include them also. So if you leave me and say that you don’t want me, I will put a bigger circle of love and put you in. So you will have to love me and I will have to love you.

15 Today, majority are Hindus here. It is not changing a religion or changing a name. There is one Parama Purusha. I have found out that Allah to be the same. And Brahaspati was sacrificed in the beginning before the world. And that same Parama Purusha, He is the Lord of the day of judgement. Christians say, “Jesus is the Judge of the last day.” We can ask our great judge here. Suppose in one seat, three judges are sitting, no case will be solved. That’s why they keep one Sessions Judge. We have one great Judge! You call Him ‘Allah’, it is okay! He is my Allah also. If you say, “He is my God,” He is my God also! But one thing! He is the Lord of the day of judgment. He won’t let you go simply. You can’t play about. So with that fear of God and love of God, move in this world as human beings. God bless you!

-- Gurudev R. Paulaseer Lawrie

July 22, 1987

Manujothi Ashram Camp Meeting grounds

Unabridged

 

  All Glory and Honour to our Lord God Shri Lahari Krshna Alone.

 

Shri Lahari Om! Tat! Sat!