HOME | ABOUT US | Speaker | Americans Together | Videos | www.CenterforPluralism.com | Please note that the blog posts include my own articles plus selected articles critical to India's cohesive functioning. My articles are exclusively published at www.TheGhouseDiary.com You can send an email to: MikeGhouseforIndia@gmail.com


Tuesday, April 11, 2017

BJP, Muslims, Ram Jethmalani and Piyush Goyal

Did Ram Jethmalani say Insha Allah?
Did Ram Jethmalani say Insha Allah?  At 2:59 – in the last 3rd minute when he was asked what is left for him to do? He says Insha Allah he will put them in Jail… I heard it twice - is there a equivalent word in Hindu/Urdu that sounds like Insha Allah?
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BJP’s Piyush Goyal said Quran will be in public service in UP?
Contributed by Bani Hashim.

Within one year, Uttar Pradesh will be erected with 100% electricity.
No more club memberships for officers.  Bible, Quran and Geeta shall be in every office .. at the 5th minutes 5 in the video.    No discrimination will be tolerated in the name of religion.  Immediate action will be taken against the culprits who violates the above laws. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO7B1i0p6_4

Did you hear differently?
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Understanding the Essence of Islam

Islam remains a myth to many people who are not Muslims, not because it is complicated, but simply because its purpose and its role in society were rarely explained.
You’ll learn how Islam is a part of the family of faiths and contributes to the well being of humanity. The dots will be connected to bring a clear picture for you. It is one of the 13 workshops on 13 different religions explained in the link below – and will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 1-4 PM.
If you are in Washington DC, don’t miss this workshop on Understanding the Essence of Islam on 4/18/17  
 
Details: http://centerforpluralism.com/understanding-the-essence-of-islam/
RSVP – 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/islam-understanding-the-essence-of-islam-tickets-33377341527

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Tarek Fatah and Indian Muslims at odds

 
http://www.theghousediary.com/tarek-fatah-and-indian-muslims-at-odds/


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Indian Muslims and their Future

Several Indian Muslim are writing possible solutions to shape the future of Muslims in India.  Insha Allah, a few of us will be compiling a list of pragmatic articles written by different authors – if you see some good solutions, let me know. These will be posted at the Center for Pluralism and World Muslim Congress and other website.

Thank you.


Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 -Text
Mike@CenterforPluralism.com
Center for Pluralism, Washington, DC 
Pluralism Studies in Religion,Politics,Culture and Society

RESEARCH | LEADERSHIP | ACTIVISM 

Dr. Mike Ghouse is President and Executive Director of the Center for Pluralism committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other. He is a pluralist, thinker, writer, activist, motivational speaker and a news maker. He offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 65 links at www.MikeGhouse.net

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Wisdom of Lord Mahavir – Live and Let Live

Publisher’s note:  Lord Mahavir is to Jainism, what Buddha is to Buddhism or Jesus is to Christianity.  As a part of our educational programs, at the Center for Pluralism we bring the wisdom of spiritual masters on their resepctive birth celebrations. Sunday, April 9, 2017 is Lord Mahavi’s birthday.
These great men and women are the founders of great religions or statesmen, whose wisdom and teachings contribute towards creating a better world for humanity in general.  Additionally we are pleased to acknowledge that a part of the definition of pluralism is borrowed from the Jain philosophy of Anekanatavada.  Pluralism simply is respecting the otherness of others.
Mike Ghouse
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By Anup Pahade
Lord Mahavir was the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara (spiritual guide or a Messenger) of the Jain religion of this era. According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were human beings but they have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self-realization. They are the Gods of Jains.
Mahavir was born on the thirteenth day of rising moon of Chaitra month, 599 B.C. in the state of Bihar, India. This day falls in the month of April as per English calendar. His birthday is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti day.
Mahavir was a prince and was given the name Vardhaman by his parents. Being son of a king, he had many worldly pleasures, comforts, and services at his command. But at the age of thirty, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, and become a monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and sufferings and find permanent happiness.
Mahavir spent the next twelve and half years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires, feelings, and attachments. He carefully avoided harming or annoying other living beings including animals, birds, and plants. He also went without food for long periods. He was calm and peaceful against all unbearable hardships that he was given the name Mahavir, meaning very brave and courageous. During this period, his spiritual powers fully developed and at the end he realized perfect perception, knowledge, power, and bliss. This realization is known as keval jnana or the perfect enlightenment.
Lord Mahavir travelled around India for thirty years preaching to the people the eternal truth he realized. The ultimate objective of his teaching is how one can attain total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, pain, misery, and death, and achieve the permanent blissful state of one’s self. This is also known as liberation, nirvana, absolute freedom, or Moksha.
Teachings of Lord Mahavir
Lord Mahavir explained the interdependent nature of life on earth and the need to live in peace and harmony. Ahimsa or Non-violence and peaceful coexistence was among the key principles in his teachings. These teachings couldn’t be more important today with the rise of violence and terrorism around the world. Live and Let Live was the guiding principle of Jainism under Mahavir and it is a principle that is greatly needed in the world today.
As the population of the world continues to increase, we will continue to see tremendous strain on the limited natural resources we have on earth. There is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed. One of the important teachings of Mahavir was Aparagraha or non possession. By limiting our possessions and consumptions we can reduce the exploitation and destruction of natural resources. Contentment is greatly needed in today’s materialistic world. Jainism teaches that true happiness lies within self and having more materialistic possessions is not the key to happiness.
The principle of Anekantvada or non-absolutism is one of the great contributions of Jainism under Mahavir. This theory of pluralism guides us to view and respect viewpoints of others and become a more tolerant society. The multiplicity of viewpoints and freedom of expression are important values that need to be embraced, preserved and protected around the world.
Jainism greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi, and he adopted the Jain principles of asceticism, compassion for all forms of life, the importance of vows for self-discipline, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification, and mutual tolerance among people of different creeds.  Mahatma Gandhi said:
No religion in the World has explained the principle of Ahimsa so deeply and systematically as is discussed with its applicability in every human life in Jainism. As and when the benevolent principle of Ahimsa or non-violence will be ascribed for practice by the people of the world to achieve their end of life in this world and beyond. Jainism is sure to have the uppermost status and Mahāvīra is sure to be respected as the greatest authority on Ahimsa.
— Mahatma Gandhi
The message of Mahavir was the message of peace and non violence. It was a message of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and finding true happiness. If we all embrace and live by his teachings, we could make this world a better place to live for us and generations to come.
References:
http://www.jaina.org/?page=Mahavirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anekantavada
Anup Pahade is located in Dallas, Texas and serves on the Board of Directors at Jain Society of North Texas.
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Tarek Fatah and Indian Muslims at odds

Tarek Fatah is the new provocateur in India with his TV show “Fatah ka Fatwa” on Zee News. While most Muslims go about living their lives, a few could not stand his slant on their practices and attacked him at the Jashn-e- Rekhta, the festival of Urdu language in New Delhi.

There are two sides to the conflict and am pleased to present both views.

Fatah is as intolerant as the people who mistreated him.  He cannot handle criticism and that is his greatest weakness. He is known to cut you off from his facebook page, yahoogroups or other social media if you differ with him. 

The guy is trapped in the net cast by the right leaning groups and is too eager to appease them, and of course delivers the words they want to hear. He validates the stereotyping of Muslims for them. All the while, he relishes the thrills in vexing those few Muslims. 

The right groups’ hypocrisy is incredible.  They want to throw out the Pakistani players and singers but they love the Pakistani bashers. As Mahmood in the film Padosan says, “Ek pay rehnaji”. Tarek Fatah is their man who bashes Pakistan and also Muslims. They got two in one devil. What has happened to the integrity?
 
I would have admired him as a reformer, if his intent was to bring the change, but his intent is not reform but trouble making. You have to be a part of the change to bring the change, you cannot be apart and dictate Muslims what to believe and what to do. That is the problem with bellicose reformers like Fatah. If he follows Mahatma Gandhi, he would succeed, some of the changes he advocates are needed.

However, the Muslim behavior towards him was not Muslim in any fashion. I am sure each one of the guys that misbehaved towards Tarek can easily recite how Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) treated people who differed with him.  He was kind even towards the lady who threw trash on him, he prayed for the miscreants in Taif who pelted rocks at him and there are plenty of examples that they quote so gleefully, but don’t believe in it enough to practice it.  

I urge Muslims to be Muslims and see how you earn respect from fellow humans. Be the Amins of the society and be the conflict mitigaters and goodwill nurturers.

If you entertain the ugly thought of harming Tarek Fatah, I will tell you God will protect him, not because he deserves it, but because you are unjust and mean towards him. On the Day of Judgment Prophet will go against you if you are unjust towards fellow humans.

We don’t like anyone from the majority to silence us, but we are doing the same to others who differ from us. We need to clean up ourselves from the duplicity.  Our inside and out should be the same.


It is embarrassing that some of us do not have faith in God, Prophet or the Quran, yet they claim to be faithful.  They think God is a weakling and will disappear if someone criticizes him and believe that Prophet Muhammad needs their protection; can you believe that mind set? It should be the other way around God protects us all, and Prophet’s mercy is upon all of us, not just Muslims.

Harassment of Tarek Fatah is not acceptable; this is a dangerous trend of silencing people. People like Taslima Nasreen, and Tarek Fatah have come and gone, but the bad behavior of those few Muslims make all of us look bad. 

God, Quran and the Prophet are not going to disappear because someone criticizes them, they are here forever. Instead of fighting with them, we need to fight with ourselves in finding the answers to their criticism.  Over the years, I have accepted ugly challenges from men and women who attacked these; I’ve studied many versions of translations and have taken up challenges from the rough rods.

Please visit www.QuraanConference.com to read the whole story.  That’s how strong my faith is and I thank Allah and the Prophet for the guidance. I hope you’ll earn your faith through accepting challenges gracefully and responding reasonably.



The right thing to do is challenge Tarek Fatah to a debate, be prepared to lose, he is very knowledgeable. Getting angry at him or simply quoting Hadith won’t cut it; he will make you look like a fool when he points out that it is not a legitimate quote.  Study the wisdom of the Hadiths but please beware of the fake Hadiths that go against God’s qualities of Rahman and Rahim and justice. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a mercy to mankind, and if a Hadith shows him to be unkind and a misogynist, it is a fake Hadith.

Tarek will lose if you use the wisdom to challenge him, you will lose if you use the circular logic that Quran says so or Hadith says so, full stop!  Full stop discussions have no place in Islam. What you read is not the whole truth, even the translation of Quran are flawed (read four translations to know the truth). We have to learn, see the signs of God and continue to learn.

Men like Fatah are needed in the world to challenge Muslims who cannot think. Islam is covered up with layers of myths that are not Islamic, and we have the responsibility to clean it up. Thanks to him for stirring it up the dust.

Only Allah decides who is wrong or right as far as Imaan is concerned, and not you or me. Only Allah should be feared, if these guys act like Allah to frighten others, they are committing shirk.

Do us Muslims a favor, if you want to harass others, be a bully, do it in your own name, and not in the name of Islam; none of us are authorizing you to do bad things in the name of Islam. You are on your own today as well as on the Day of Judgment.  Your acts are your own, and have nothing to do with Islam. I don’t care what you do, but don’t do anything to malign Islam and don’t be arrogant to believe that God and the Prophet need your protection, they don’t need you, you need them to help you become kind, just and respectful of God’s creation; life and environment.

God bless you.


Dr. Mike Ghouse is President and Executive Director of the Center for Pluralism committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other. He is a pluralist, thinker, writer, activist, motivational speaker and a news maker. He offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 65 links at www.MikeGhouse.net