Page 66 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

21oha “krkCnh esa vkpk;Z fouksck Hkkos dh izklafxdrk

together with all people – Protestant, Catholic, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and
others. For such an occasion, silent prayer is the best. And then you should care

for the other mansions along with that of yours. Serve the people of all religions
and pray collectively with all. Do these two things. 41

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Christianity has appeared to the main stream Indian Society in its Western garb. He called
upon the community to shed the foreign garb and take to the indigenous ways of being.

It is for our Christian brethren, now that their foreign trappings are shed, to
subscribe to the indigenous background suited to our own genius. And I also

suggest that similar processes of wholesome assimilation may also take place
among the followers of Islam and other religions, that Christians and Muslims of

India who have hitherto held fast to their moorings and traditions outside India,
may no longer remain strangers to the Hindi cultural background, but assimilate

Brahma Vidya with profit. It would broaden their outlook and confer a wholesome
spirit of quest and tolerance to their religious and ideological approach and add

lusters to their culture. 43
He expressed his reservations against the Christians’ apparent concern for proselytism. He

said, the Christians’ intense desire to spread the name of the Master was in fact an impediment in the
Christians’ work. In this regard, he did also opine that “the most dangerous thing for the ideas of a

preceptor is the wish of his disciples to spread his name.” 44

Vinoba on the Uniqueness of Christ, Difference with the Christian Understanding
It is obvious that Vinoba held Christ and Christianity in very high esteem. He had, however, a

problem with the Christian position on the ‘Uniqueness of Christ,’ according to which Christ is the only
Saviour of the world. It was difficult for him to understand and appreciate this position. He said:

They believe that nobody, howsoever noble and virtuous he may be, can never
be redeemed if he does not believe in Jesus Christ. They have provided only one

door to the House of the Lord – the door of Jesus! People provide a number of
doors and windows to their houses, but how strange it is that they provide only

one door to the God’s house! 45
The reservations expressed by Vinoba are natural from the point of view of the pluralistic

understanding of religion which India, especially Hinduism, has always held high. ‘Uniqueness of Jesus’
has proved to be a stumbling block for dialogue with other traditions. 46

In this context, it is necessary to look into the Church’s self understanding and the place it
attaches to Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus is held to be the only Saviour of the world, and the Church

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