Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Francis X. Clooney, S.J.December 14, 2011

Cambridge, MA. Readers will recall that back in June, I blogged on an essay on Beliefnet by Rajiv Malhotra, on "'Spirit' is not the same as 'Shakti' or 'Kundalini.'"

I intended simply to call attention of American readers to this thoughtful post by a Hindu author. The comments on my piece however indicated that here was an issue worthy of further debate, and some seemed disappointed that I did not pursue the dialogue with Mr. Malhotra.

But recently, the time came for such a follow-up. He and I had the opportunity to engage in a prolonged conversation in an event sponsored by the Center for Indic Studies at the University of Massachusetts, South Dartmouth campus. Rajiv has recently published a very interesting though not entirely uncontroversial book, Being Different: An Indian Challenge to Western Universalism. As with the essay on Shakti and Spirit, in the book Rajiv makes the case for the important differences between Indian religious thinking and Western/Christian ways of thinking and – importantly – Western misunderstandings and distortions of how Hindus have thought over the millennia.

I was asked to be a respondent to the book at a presentation at the Indic Center on December 5th. You can find the video of Rajiv’s introduction of his book, my commentary on the book, and his response, at his website. In this case, there was more light than heat in the room, and I think the entire conversation was illuminating and constructive. Quite different, I suggest, than the media-driven case of yoga and the devil I discussed in my last blog.

Interreligious dialogue need not be only a ceremonial visit between religious leaders, but can proceed as a more serious and in depth exchange on ideas of wider import, and I think we did this in South Dartmouth.

But judge for yourself!

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
PJ Johnston
13 years 6 months ago
Thanks for the update!

The latest from america

Pope Leo XIV urged new archbishops to help him foster unity in a church rich in diversity. Eight of those new archbishops are from the United States, and they spoke to Catholic News Service about how they can help promote fraternity in today’s polarized world.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Christopher White about his new book, ‘Pope Leo XVI: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy.’
JesuiticalJune 30, 2025
Kerry Weber, incoming president of the Catholic Media Association, and executive editor of America Magazine, speaks June 26, 2025, during the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
Kerry Weber is an executive editor for America. On May 20, 2025, the Catholic Media Association announced that she was elected president,
Grace LenahanJune 30, 2025
"The whole church needs fraternity, which must be present in all of our relationships, whether between lay people and priests, priests and bishops, bishops and the pope," he said during his homily at Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.