Above parable renders different meanings
depending on the situation. Let us look at the same and understand how it is
interpreted and its relevance in today’s context:
The parable begins with a young man, the younger of two
sons, who asks his father to give him his share of the estate. The implication
is the son couldn't wait for his father's death for his inheritance, he wanted
it immediately. The father agrees and divides his estate between both sons.
Upon receiving his portion of the inheritance, the younger
son travels to a distant country and wastes all his money in extravagant
living. Immediately thereafter, a famine strikes the land; he becomes
desperately poor and is forced to take work as a swineherd. When he reaches the
point of envying the food of the pigs he is watching, he finally comes to his
senses:
But when he came to
himself he said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough
to spare, and I'm dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and
will tell him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am
no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired
servants.'"
— Luke 15:17-20, World English Bible
He arose, and came to
his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved
with compassion, and ran towards him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
— Luke 15:17-20, World English Bible
But he answered his
father, "Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed
a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate
with my friends. But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living
with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him."
— Luke 15:29-30, World English Bible
"But it was
appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is
alive again. He was lost, and is found."
— Luke 15:32, World English Bible
Now let us look at VHP ghar Wapasi action plan from a
practical perspective in terms of the above parable:
Reason 1: Prodigal son wanted to come back and his father
was happy to receive.
Reason 2: His father desired from the core of his heart for
the return of his younger son.
Reason 3: Experiencing the poverty and hardness of life brought
him to the realization which prompted him to act practically.
Reason 4: It was not the love towards his father or brother
that took him back to his father.
Reason 5: It was for his own survival that he decided to go
back to his father’s house.
Reason 6: Prodigal son thought of giving a fair try before trying out some other place.
Reason 7: Love towards his own very existence was
questioned, the young man decided to give a shot before he tried anyone else.
Reason 8: It was the prodigal son’s need for survival that
took him back to his father’s house.
Reason 9: Very existence of prodigal son was questioned.
Why do one needs to go back to Hinduism, if he/she doesn’t
have any advantage to own very existence.
Is there anything come in the world for free?
If conversion is free who wants it?
Let conversion be with advantages.
I am a Christian by birth. I had no idea that when I was
baptized. I had no idea what religion would be? I had no idea what the
practices are or what the privileges are if at all any.
If I had a choice then I would never have allowed myself to
be baptized. My Christian fraternity should not misundstand me for saying the
above statement. Christianity is a beautiful religion and I admire Christ who
is one of my role models in life.
Certainly, you must be thinking I am trying to put blame on
my parents. No way, they did their duty to give a good individual to the world
and wonderful human being to the earth.
I was baptized because my parents where Christians. What can
they do? Just have to follow the tradition. They did their duty and the net
result was…
Who could be blamed?
I blame no one. Not even me.
But what can I do today…
That is what I am doing today.
So, today I remain a Christian on the paper and not at the
heart.
What you are is,
That your heart is.
Never mind, you are eager to know what my heart is…
I am not a Hindu either, though the VHP claims that being an
Indian my origin must be Hindu.
I doubt if there was a Hindu origin in my family?
Just imagine, if all my ancestors were to be monkeys or homo
sapiens…
Could it be possible that monkey had religions that time?
At least in whatever experience as a being on earth
Have you ever found any monkey who claims to have religions?
Only a religious monkey can have religious descents…
I asked many monkeys and tried to gather from them that if
they have atleast something called religion.
None of them seems to have heard the word religion either.
And they did not even understand what I was trying to
communicate…
They were busy with scratching their heads and belly while
chewing some nuts.
Since I have no trace of my ancestors being converted from
Hinduism to Christianity,
Why should I undergo a reconversion?
I am potential fresh candidate for religious people.
Imagine when a MIT/IIT student almost completes his
graduation,
The next process is campus placement.
The student will get many offers from different leading
companies.
He will choose the firm that offers him the best package.
Of course, the package suits the best of his dreams…
I do have dreamt of a package for conversion:
1. A fully furnished Bunglaw of 5000sq… with two maids, one
cook and a driver
2. Either a SUV of Benz or BMW
3. 1 cr in the bank account
4. 1 lakh per month as religious conversion salary
5. Free stay and accommodation at different pilgrim centers
of the joined religion
6. Free air tickets to those pilgrim centers.
7. Free medical care in case of sickness or oldage
8. No force on attending the religious rituals
I am offering my candidature for as a potential candidate
for conversion to Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Budhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Confucianism
or any isms which exists anywhere on earth.
If not let me live my life…
Just as a human being…
Leave me alone…
Leave me alone to LIVE my life.
Disclaimer: It is my personal opinion and not to attack or hurt the feelings of any religion or religious groups. My intention is to bring awareness in the society about the idea of divine and human aspiration for having faith as faith is absolutely a personal or rather private agenda. Any means of force to covert is therefore, i believe is a violation privacy and intrusion into ones personal life. So let us make use of our time to fight against terror, poverty and even a clean India rather than setting fire to religious sentiments which create disharmony in the society.
Very interesting read, I agree with you. religions should be treated as just way of life not rules how one should live life. No one has a right to question someone else's way of life. Lets just be mature and lift our society above these petty issues of religions, languages
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