We are jolted again by the horrific news of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. No religion or nation, regardless of race and ethnicity, could ever condone the mass murder of innocents without forever condemning their souls to darkness. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives and to untold others who have been left behind to pick up the pieces from this tragedy. As a Pakistani-American I have often enjoyed staying at the Taj hotel and have been welcomed warmly by Indians of all backgrounds. Having performed all over India with Junoon, including earlier this year, in Kashmir, tonight my heart is with India and its people. Your grief is our grief, your blood is our blood. Only together can we overcome the darkness of our times.
As a global community we need to be careful in not pointing the blame against any one religion, race or ethnic group. Fanning the flames of hatred at a sensitive time like this is not only foolish but could be potentially catastrophic. It is important that the media discriminates between peace-loving Muslims and terrorists who only bow to gods of hate, bigotry and fanaticism. The sentiment amongst all Pakistanis that I know is of shocked disbelief. As global citizens, I feel we have a greater responsibility to help create an atmosphere of calm and brotherhood in this emotionally charged environment. In Islam the taking of one innocent life is like killing the whole of humanity and all Muslims of conscience condemn this heinous act.
Amen brother ….
Thank you Salman, for your voice of compassion and calm at this time of pain and raw feelings.
Thank you for this post. As a musician you have been and will continue to be an ambassador for peace and hope, reaching thousands. May you continue to spread your message of brotherhood, and know that you will be provided with all the tools you need to do this essential work.
Salman – Your words sing with the love and compassion of God. May the Divine Being continue to embrace you and your mission of peace. Love, Greg
Yes, as a global community, we need most to work together in prayer, all our songs, creativity and universal love to overcome the darkness and nihilism against life in this urgent time for earth. Our human hearts need to join together to help create a balm of healing- a strong bond of humanity together. Namaste Salman. Love, Rebekah
Yes, very important, as you say also, that peace loving Muslims are protected. Would also fulfill a need, especially for those suffering loss after this event, if all well known members of the Islamic faith could come forward fully renouncing the atrocity of murder in the name of Allah. It is not akin to the work of Mohammad in prayer, in the same way that some Crusaders of long ago were utterly reckless, not upholding the words of Christ in their deeds. It does not matter what creed of love, faith or sacred thread of ritual is abused by fanaticism. Such killing is fanatic dogma in nihilism, enacted against the sacredness of life, which ought not to be confused with faith. The abuse also of young minds to carry out the insane abasement against life can never be supported by any creed of love.
I would like to extend my sincere sympathies and condolences to the bereaved Families and prayers and thoughts to all affected by this attack
This is totally unfair; innocent Lives being cruelly snatched by perpetrators of such condemnable actions
"When" will the perpetrators of such condemnable actions ever understand that by committing such actions, they are literally committing the very most sinful of actions!
It only leaves one more confused, perplexed and wondering in amazement with so many questions unanswered as to Why, Why and Why are such actions taking place? What do the perpetrators achieve?
Why don't they realize and understand that the World needs Peace, Love, Progress and Prosperity; that when they first contribute and invest in Peace and Love can they expect to reciprocate likewise, "When" will they ever learn?
Life is extremely Precious and when the perpetrators just take decisions and commit unforgivable actions; they only foster more repulsion and disgust at what they are seeking to demonstrate.
By committing such actions, they are only creating more hatred for themselves primarily; as well as further distancing and surrounding themselves with a vicious circle of further infinite hatred
At this crucial moment, where we stand at the cross roads of doing our very best to comprehend the reasons for these condemnable actions; it is sincerely Hoped that decisive resolutions are identified whereby they are able to facilitate an effective mitigation right from the core roots of these elements, where they emerged.
"Understanding" the core elements relating to this process is one of the strategic and instrumental keys in effectively managing and regulating the process instead of solely combatting since the first process is to establish a platform upon which a firm foundation could be built; the foundation of Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity
It is pursuing an hopeful and practical process; whereby anticipating, innovating and embarking onto pursuing a practical approach for adeptly and resolutely dealing with such type of condemnable actions is being encouraged; Alas what has occurred cannot be recuperated, but the sacrifice that has been made by several innocent victims over the years reminds us and encourages us to stringently identify resolutions that could effectively harness the various factors effectively and implement a resolute approach in dealing / combatting with such condemnable actions decisively and practically.
It is more easily said than done; but every step taken in the direction of seeking to identify each resolution is essential and imminently approaching
Evolution is testament and holds evidential records of various events that have occurred and it is our duty to educate and inspire the concerned to seek to "Recognize" and "Understand" the immense potential value of each and every Life, since Life is extremely Precious and Splendid; and can "NEVER" be snatched away by these type of cowardly actions on any pretext or instance whatsoever.
Each and Everyone has the rightful privilege to Live and cannot become subject to what perpetrators of such condemnable actions think and decide, it is absolutely very wrongful, punishable to the maximum possible extents and unpardonable; (Although the deviation is there when reference is made to referring to the aspect of punishment, it is but natural that when all steps that are taken to make the concerned understand the significance and importance of reality and when they refuse to understand and persistently seek to establish their own agendas, then in such contexts, this is NOT permissible since there has to be Universal Harmony, Peace and Love that is accorded contentious precedence and pre dominance since the Universe provides us and bestows us each and every Moment with the very finest of virtues but when there is an interruption or attempts made by perpetrators to change the course of what is being manifested Universally, then the perpetrators are naturally SUBJECT to pay a price for their irresponsible actions, face the consequences; they need to be accountable and responsible and essentially "Understand" that defying the Universal Principles, The Laws of Nature is having a price that NEEDS to be paid)
It is not only retribution alone, it is fairness where no sides are taken, but what is just and unjust; since Nature never discriminates or favors one over another; but tends to remind and make one aware time and again that it makes one pay for one's wrong deeds whether now or later; but definitely has its own way of compensating those that have been made to endure and face unfortunate events due to the mindless actions taken by perpetrators; the distinguishing of those that are right and those that are wrong is already being journalized / recorded and will seek accountability accordingly.
I shall summarize the above comments on this note since it is an extensive appeal that consistently seeks to kindle the Hope for establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; If a reference has been made to certain tendencies that reflect accountability, this is natural, since every action that is taken is linked and bound to result in a reaction; so every action that is taken must be carefully assessed and taken explicitly on the basis of establishing Universal Hope, Peace, Trust, Love, Peace, Harmony, Progress and Prosperity; it is the pursuit of a mutual process and not solely for suiting one's agenda alone!
With sincere Hopes, Thoughts and Humble Prayers,
Vashi Ram Chandi
Your words are so beautifully said, Vashi Ram Chandi.
Salman,
I share your sentiments. However I find and this may be true for many other ethnic groups and religions etc as well. When you meet people publicly or face to face or if they are talking to an 'outsider' they speak to you differently. They try to be 'politically correct' and many times this is how the persons truly feel etc. But below that on many other occasions what is going on behind this 'politically correct public mask' is very different.
I think by and large most human beings aren't terrorist or murderers by nature…and the percentage is small within the folds of Islam as well…I never tried to punch the figures and even if I did dont have em but by one's general perception, one might be lead to believe that however some aspects of Islam and how it is practiced does lead their followers or believers to be incited to carry out acts of terror believing it is meant to be done if they love their God and their religion. Even then it takes a certain type of human to be so swayed and to do so.
I think on the whole as human beings it takes a kind of human being to be a religious fundamentalist or a religious fanatic. I know for sure in India there are Hindu fanatics who will carry out acts of violence believing it is justified as they are protecting their religion and perhaps their God too. It always amuses me when people believe in God but then think they need to protect him or her! And for sure Christians must feel so too else they wouldnt have been battles going on all over the world with Christians and Muslims still in regions…long after the Crusades. And then there is the whole Israeli Palestinian thing but is that really bout religion in the end or about land and more ethnicity?
I think however what makes the Islamic fundamentalists stand out by and large is the Hindu and Christian fanatics havent gone global so far! And they have not been in such a network of international super terrorists thus far! Now if you think of it…it can either be its cause the Islamic ones have the cash from all the super rich oil countries in the Middle East or cause there is something bout Islam that makes it more so…Well it is obvious they have the cash but I think there is something about Islam saying you either do this or else! There is somethign in Islam which has a positive side but can be negative when used wrongly…Islam is very united generally…the brotherhood of Islam does a much better job of breaking down barriers of race, caste etc…perhaps it is why it is one of the fastest growing religions. So you have this big transnational pool to pick from…South Asian, Asian, African, European origin you name it…all united in the brotherhood of Islam. You wont see that as strong say in Hinduism for sure! So the Islamic world is large and powerful and very united…so get a few made men in there and if just 10% of the pool listens well you have amazing fireworks!
Also Islam from some of the people I talk to seems to have a powerful way of influencing its believers and it can perhaps easily breathe fanaticism cause it you dont believe they throw you out of the fold. So say you 'Salman Ahmed ' might be told is not a true believer cause this and that and they will use that to exclude the moderates and bring together the extremists. And usually easily throw out the moderates who are the progressive thinkers usually. Cause Islam has a lot of yes and nos where say perhaps in Hinduism one can't even say what defines a 'true hindu' so no one can be thrown out of the fold really…so it would be changing lots more cause we keep assimilating and assimilating our swamis and new teachers.
Also then there are some religions in the world that are will simply not accept violence I wish Krishna didnt preach ahimsa on one end and then tell Arjun to fight on another but he did so Hinduism does have violence in it in a confused sense…there is holy war in Hinduism metaphoric or otherwise. And there were the Crusades in Christianity and all of the New World was conquered in the name of Christ. However you wont find that in Jainism and Buddhism say…which is why I was seriously disturbed when earlier this year I saw Tibetan Buddhists monks in bloodshed! It was what moved me to be involved in a candle for Tibet thing and get so involved now in blogging etc. And out of that experience created a Universal Collective Prayer blog.
Perhaps we should all be Jains and Buddhists! But at least we should all try to free our minds…and learn to live in a diverse world some day where people have different views and ideas but can get along and share the space we call planet earth without the need to fight for things and use violent means to get them! I think all of this follows under the same thinking of me trying to have Universal Collective Prayer cause I think there is so much positive in the world that also comes out of the devout…I dont think things like this should also make all truly spiritual people who happen to keep to their religions rites and rituals all of a sudden baddies too. Cause again that can be wrong. Yes religion has caused so much pain but so many lovely people practice their things and pray globally…but I think we need to find a way to harness the universality of this…for sure your use of music to spread love is one way to do this. And hats off to you for your efforts with Junoon!
Something I have started to try doing since yesterday and have set my intent to it is to try to walk in the shoes of others very different from myself cause apart from religious differences being a source for problems in the world, this at the core is the problem too, people who are very different not being able to see eye to eye…conflict resolution might be true empathy? Understanding their viewpoint as fully as possible without waivering your values? Dunno…
Dear Salmam,
I am looking forward to seeing peace.
The recent Mumbai incidents have also been a personal tragedy to me. It has also been tragic to see how it has effected so many people here at intent and around the world.
That a place that I have been welcomed has become a place of death is devastating.
In India I built a bamboo hut in a bamboo grove and enjoyed the seasons including monsoon. Having rice and dhal with papaji. So many people from different backgrounds welcoming me and telling me of wonderful places to go and people to meet.
I am grateful that so many people are coming together here at Intent, so many healing arts projects, so many people being the change. I am looking forward to seeing every ones project succeed