World Assembly

more backposting...

The World Assembly

Back in June, when Anuttama Prabhu and I were discussing the possibility of me attending this event, I had voiced some concern as to whether it would justify the cost and effort involved to send me. I felt flattered to have been selected as a delegate, and eager to represent ISKCON in a positive and cooperative forum, but I also worried that this would end up being one of the hundreds of the feel-good hand-holding interfaith pep rallies that we have seen come and go with no practical action taken.

The Youth Assembly in Hiroshima convinced me that coming to Japan had been worth it, but with the World Assembly in Kyoto about to start the doubts had resurfaced. Those doubts were destroyed at the first session of the first day.

Held at the huge Kyoto International Conference Center, the 8th World Assembly of Religions for Peace was inaugurated with a speech by the Prime Minister of Japan himself. The event captured headlines in the city and all around Japan.

Seated all around me – some draped in clerical robes, saffron wraps, and conservative black suits – the world’s religious leaders, spokespersons, and activists gathered to pool their wisdom, experience, concerns, and desire to see God’s creation better off for our being in it. And somehow, for some reason, I could be there and sit at that table—honestly and openly as a devotee of Krishna.

Even without the media attention, big names, fancy hotels, and flashy bells and whistles – that is pretty awesome.

We read about the need of sanga, of association with like-minded individuals. We usually read passages exhorting us to embrace sadhu-sanga as referring to the association of other Vaisnavas. Indeed, there is truth in that – there is something uniquely profound about the bond shared between devotees of Krishna, especially those who share an exclusive understanding of His intimate personality as the beautiful two-armed flute-player Syamasundara. On another level, however, there is also great value in a more broad reading of sanga. At the risk of ISKCON heresy (or at least "getting smashed"), I confess that I find it enlivening to be in the association of other people who care deeply for God and His children, who want to dedicate themselves to treating others with love and compassion. There is something nice about being around people who are so driven to care for others; there is something particularly wonderful about being around such people when their drive is based on their faith in the Divine. And, yes, there is something heart-warming about being welcomed by such people.

No matter how much I may cherish Krishna consciousness and believe in its ability to bring one to pure love of God, I pray to also be humbled by, and appreciative of, these other people of faith as well.