GENEROSITY OF UAE RULERS IS A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD

Brahmavihari Swami, who is in-charge of international relations of BAPS, is a motivational speaker and champion of humanitarian causes. He grew up in the UK and became a monk in 1981.

- ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM

Brahmavihari Swami has played a pivotal role in the creation and design of various BAPS temples world-wide, and was the driving force behind the temple in Abu Dhabi. Excerpts from an interview:

Q/ What is the significance of the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East?

This temple is a great message of hope and harmony for humanity. A temple of love and harmony, when the world is being polarised. That is the role of a spiritual place.

From a cosmic level when you look at the earth, there are no borders. People create borders and divisions. People fight because of their mindsets. A temple like this will change the mindset of mankind, so that religions, cultures and values can flourish together. All people want is harmony. We can gift our children properties, luxuries and bank accounts, but if we cannot give them a world of peace and harmony, then what’s the point? If a country is huge but not in harmony, it is a rogue nation. If a family is rich but lives in disharmony, it is a broken home. If a company is multinational but internally disunited, it eventually disintegrates. Disharmony does more damage to life and the living. Perhaps, the greatest capital the world needs today is ‘harmony capital’.

Q/ There are more conflicts in the Middle East than anywhere else in the world. How will the temple help in promoting peace in the region?

Hundreds of people told me that a traditional temple, built of natural stone, of this magnitude, was not possible in this region. But, as hearts and minds connected, everyone connected, and it became possible. Genuine places of worship are a source of harmony. How can we talk about heaven up there, if we cannot create a little bit of heaven down here!