Happy New School of Hindu Studies

2007 has come and gone in a flash. Now 2008 is upon us and the fourth School of Hindu Studies programme is in session. The students of this batch are interesting and diverse, each with a harrowing, and at time heart-rending, story to tell. The violence that some new believers in Christ are subjected to is absolutely, hands down, demoralising and demonic. It makes me want to run out on the streets and say to the Hindus 'Are you crazy??? What are you thinking??? Why are you doing this??? I will stand against you!!!'

I would do this if it weren't for small but very meaningful verses about 'turning the other cheek', 'remaining in the place where you were called', etc. Also, a small but important fact that Christians (I must include myself amongst this sorry lot unfortunately) have been missing all along, the fact that asking a Hindu to leave his birth community is devastating to the family members and is akin to rejection of everything to do with the way that they raised their child which cuts deep into the core of their Hindu worldview. Add into the mix, the change of name, which the parents gave with love, and perhaps not a good bit of finances to the astrologer, as well as a public baptism, shaming the family before the rest of the community legally,(though this is never the intention of the initiate or preceptors)as an offical conversion is neccesary in India to become a 'Christian' (which in this case is understood as a social community as opposed to the biblical concept of not needed to discard culture and community to embrace the good news of Sadguru Yeshu.

Here's to a great year in 2008, a year of long suffering for justice, for turning the other cheek to those who hurt you, for loving Hindus as Sadguru Yeshu would have if he were incarnated in their community.

jai