Varanasi: Reflections on Dharma
On the 6th and 7th of November 2015 Radhanath Swami delivered talks at the international interfaith event Awakening the Light of Dharma: How to Uphold Dharma in the World Today. The event was held at the Jnana Pravaha Centre for Cultural Studies and Research, Varanasi. Spiritual leaders from the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and Jewish traditions explored ways to create greater awareness of the concept of Dharma in the public consciousness. They also discussed how this heightened awareness of Dharma would help address many of the crises we are facing today including environmental pollution, increasing economic disparity and abuse of women. Experts from the fields of environment, development and education also shared their thoughts.
While sharing the stage in a keynote session with His Holiness Karmapa Lama Ogyen Trinley Dorje and His Holiness Shankaracharya Chandrashekar Shivacharya Mahaswamy, Radhanath Swami spoke on the topic Supreme Dharma is to Awaken Our Love for the Supreme Lord, quoting from the Srimad Bhagavatam. “When we make that connection with the Lord, we can live in harmony with the environment and with each other” he added. Radhanath Swami further explained how life at Govardhan Eco Village is attempting to exemplify this principle.
Environmental activist and anti-globalization author Dr. Vandana Shiva, spiritual leader Anandmurti Gurumaa, and chairman of Chishty Foundation Syed Salman Chishty also participated. The program was organized by Global Peace Initiative of Women founded by Dena Merriam.
