Today we have all assembled in this music hall. Music has no religion. It is a universal language that even children understand. Cows and snakes too understand this language. They listen to music. Today Dalai Lama has visited our ashram and I am very happy to see him.

People from many different countries and different religions have assembled here. These are like pieces of sugar candy- all are sweet and there is no difference between any two pieces.

People of all religion have the same goal and it is to exit from this worldly existence and merge into that Supreme. We want to cross this samsara (cycle of repeated re-births; worldly bondages).

Different religions are like the different boats taken to reach the same destination. Does it matter which boat it is as long as we reach our destination? Don’t waste your time thinking about trivial differences in cultures.

Discipline is important. So is Self-enquiry. Give up useless thoughts. All of you should become siddhas and buddhas. This is what Bible, Koran and Buddha preached. Our Vedas ad Upanishads also preach the same. We should put into practice all these valuable teachings. This is our duty. Jaya Guru Datta

Bhaktimala Jan 2001