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In early January this year I participated (informally) in this event (reported below, by one of the Roman Catholic participants, in Asia Catholic News). Next year, also in early January, will be another dialogue, for which I have been requested to write and present a short presentation on the Gaudiya Vaisnava understanding of “Divine Grace”, which will be the theme of the dialogue.

Krishna Kshetra Swami

Asia Catholic News update 12 January

INDIA : THE VAISHNAVA-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE By Sr. Dr. TeresaJoseph fma (CNUA) The second Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue in India was once again under ISKCON sponsorship. This International meeting brought together 20 participants* (15 males and 5 females), Catholic and Protestant Christians, and ISKCON Hindus along with the south Indian Vaishnavas.

Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relations of the Church with Non Christian Religions of The Second Vatican Council has already witnessed 50 Golden Years of openness, dialogue and prayer. Rightly, Nostra Aetate set the tone for the second Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue.

The melodious chant of the famous mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare fills the air right from the very early morning till evening at Iskcon  Tirupati. This mantra  though simple and brief, is by tradition filled with deep meanings, in praise of Krishna (Rama), his divine consort Radha (Hara), and his brother Balarama.

The Sunday evening to Tuesday evening meeting embraced: four papers on “Prayer” – Protestant Christian, Gaudiya Vaishnava, Catholic Christian and Sri Vaishnava Presentations. In an atmosphere of profound listening and in an attitude of genuine prayer, these presentations offered a beautiful vision on Prayer and opened true possibilities for further sharing, dialogue and reflection.  Every one present manifested keen interest and participated actively in dialogue and discussion.

The Experience/Observation of Worship was indeed a gracious one. The Vaishnava Prayer Service and the Christian Prayer Service did create that ambient of silence, devotion and awe before the divine.  The Assembly was spell bound as each participant shared a prayer and a comment. The  almost two hours just flew as each one was sharing something very personal, scriptural, traditional etc.  The welcome opening session, the meaningful comments on how each one was enriched with this second Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue, how it helped to strengthen relationships  and to journey forward as pilgrims hoping to enrich the human family with insightful material, and the felt and delicate expressions of gratitude to the President of Iskon Temple and his alert team of collaborators will go down into the history of Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue.

It was indeed often highlighted during the days of Dialogue that in the World at large and especially in India, we need to testify to the power of Prayer and combined action to build communities of peace and harmony.  The participants were unanimous in affirming the need to have the Third Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue. Naturally, a publication and planning team are already in action.