Studying Vedanta is something any Christian serious about dialogue and missionary work with Hindus (especially educated Hindus) would do.
Notice the paragraph doesn’t say “adopting Vedantic philosophy”; it refers to the “study” of Vedanta.
Hindus methods of prayer and meditation referred to, again, are not doctrinal issues, but issues of cultural practice. Someone raised Hindu, and converting to Christianity, need not reject perfectly adaptable practices, such as the physical asanas of hatha yoga.
Dear Ahimsa,
You raise a crucially important point here (one which I totally overlooked) regarding prayer and spirituality within the “inculturation praxis.”
I have come across former Muslims, including one who became an Orthodox priest, who were led on their path to conversion to Christ because they saw practices within Christianity that they could identify with.
For example, in the case of the Orthodox priest, he said that when he saw Christian monastics pray the Horologion/Liturgy of the Hours several times a day, he could identify with this as Muslims pray several times a day as well. He was impressed with the seven-fold daily office, together with Christian fasting practices, that he began reading about Christianity etc.
Even as a priest now, he uses a prayer rug on which to stand and make prostrations when he prays today. And of course, the Old Rite Orthodox use a flat pillow (designed with a Cross on top) on which they place their hands when they make prostrations (they have these pillows at home, by the door to make the “entrance and departure bows” and also in their Churches - you can even see them by the iconostasis itself!)
I know of a (sad) case when Old Rite Orthodox Christians attended Church in another Orthodox tradition and were scolded for bringing in their prayer pillows (“What are you - Muslims or something?” was the welcome they received in that parish - I know the parish and I’m ashamed to name it here).
Just as it would be scandalous for a monastic of ANY tradition in India to wear something around his or her neck not made of wood or or a cheaper material than gold or silver, so too St Nicholas Kassatkin, the Equal to the Apostles and Missionary to Japan had an experience with St Innocent of Moscow before he set out for Japan.
St Innocent, a former missionary to Alaska and western North America, became the Metropolitan of Moscow. When he saw the future St Nicholas, he asked him where he was going. “To Japan, Your Eminence,” was his answer. “And what are you going to wear when you go there?” asked the Metropolitan. “What I’m wearing now, sir.”
Then the Metropolitan made a strained face at him and said, “They won’t respect you over there. Go buy some silk and have a proper robe made for yourself.” (In fact, the Metropolitan, who knew all sorts of handicrafts, sewed the robe for Nicholas himself.)
“And are you going to Japan with that Cross you have on now . . ? Are you kidding me?” And St Innocent gave Nicholas a beautiful, expensive silver pectoral Cross (which all Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox/Eastern Catholic priests wear by a special privilege granted by the Emperor Paul I - sometime head of the Order of Malta and highly venerated in Russia).
“And what books are you taking with you?” the Metropolitan continued. “My collection of Russian, German, French … . .”
“No you won’t!” said the Metropolitan. “It will take you a long time to master Japanese and when you are there, that is the only language you should focus your energies on!”
It took Nicholas seven years to master Japanese and his respect and integration of Japanese culture and customs won him the esteem of all who knew him and not a few converts.
When the Russo-Japanese war broke out, St Nicholas blessed the armies of the Japanese Emperor as they went to fight his own people.
After that war, Tsar Nicholas himself awarded the missionary with a high civilian award for his diplomatic behaviour.
Alex
? Many Sacred paintings and arts are in Indian style here , example Christ is depicted as Guru sitting in the posture of an ancient hindu master …again the list goes on. Sacred Tradition does not mean the Frescoes, shiny polished pews in the Cathedrals, Architecture and customs of a country or place etc.
