Suppose a boy proposes to a girl. Suppose further that she refuses — and he reacts by threatening her with a gun, thus compelling her to accept. Even if they come together, they won’t have a loving relationship because love centers on a voluntary choice of one’s heart.
That principle of voluntary choice applies to sharing spirituality, which is essentially about inspiring others to direct their heart’s love toward the Divine. Unfortunately, some religious groups have such an expansionist zeal that they use weapons to intimidate others into accepting their religion. Such coerced conversion may increase that group’s demographic count and political power, but it won’t inspire love in the hearts of the converted. Those who attempt this betray their superficial understanding of spirituality; they reduce what is essentially internal loving harmony to external ritual conformity.
How can we share spirituality more effectively? By following Krishna’s example in the Bhagavad-gita. Throughout the Gita, he makes reasoned arguments, answers questions whenever they arise, and overviews various choices with their concomitant consequences. After having educated Arjuna, Krishna trusts Arjuna enough to make his own decision after due deliberation (18.63). Thereafter, he does bare his heart to express his love (18.64) and issue a heart-warming call to enter into his world of love (18.65-66). Still, through this concluding call, his mood is to inspire, not impose.
Krishna is the supreme being, having more force at his command than anyone else; yet he never forces Arjuna. What justification, then, can we have to force others when we share spirituality? None. Let’s deepen our own spirituality so that we connect with the Divine authentically and thus strive to educate and inspire others to make a similar connection.
One-sentence summary:
When we impose our spirituality on others, we expose the superficiality of our spirituality — to share spirituality effectively, seek to educate and inspire, not intimidate or impose.
Think it over:
- What is wrong with sharing spirituality by force?
- How does Krishna demonstrate the effective sharing of spirituality?
- Why is Krishna’s example significant for us?
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18.63: Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.
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majority always menace the minority
Yes, if that majority is not genuinely spiritual.