New York: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said religions may differ in their practices and traditions, but humanity remains one, invoking India’s age-old philosophy of universal oneness while addressing an interfaith gathering in New York.
Speaking at the ‘One World, One Humanity’ event, Bhagwat said truth is one, although it may be described differently by people based on their perspectives and experiences.
“I am not a religious scholar, nor a religious authority like you, but I am working in a society which traditionally says that religions might be different, but humanity is one,” he said.
“Truth is one, and humanity is a product of that truth. So humanity is one. That truth is one truth, but it is described in many ways according to the describer,” Bhagwat added.
He said religions in the modern world are often defined by rituals, which he described as necessary for following a religious discipline and pursuing a path towards divinity.
Bhagwat is currently on a three-nation global outreach tour covering the US, Canada and the UK as part of the RSS centenary celebrations. He arrived in New York earlier this week.
The event was organised as an interfaith gathering with a diverse, multicultural audience. RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar had earlier said the initiative was aimed at promoting open dialogue, mutual respect, understanding and shared purpose among different communities.
