Zakir Naik, terrorism, free speech, goodwill of India

Dear Friends,

Please accept my humble respects.

I like to hear from you all on Zakir Naik controversy. As you know government of India banned Zakir Naik's peace TV after recent Bangladeshi terrorists admitted getting inspiration from Zakir Naik.

Is it right on the part of government to ban his channel? Yes, it is true that he does instigate terrorism. For example, some of the Bangladeshi attackers admitted that they were motivated by him.  I am also concerned about of freedom of speech issues. This banning could play into conspiracy theories and create more tensions. It hurts my free speech sentiments. Everyone should be given free speech choice.

This act of banning his channel as opposed to providing an intellectual response is an admission of our collective intellectual weaknesses in our inability answer an intellectual challenge. This is somewhat understandable due to the crumbling quality of our leadership. India and the world are facing a leadership vaccum and our educational and other institutions are unable to fill the gap. We have a problem at hand.

Zakir Naik says publicly  that terrorism is a valid instrument in furthering Islam. Supreme Lord, God is called Allah in Islam.

In response, I would just quote Sri Isopanishad mantra 6:

yas tu sarvāṇi bhūtāny
ātmany evānupaśyati
sarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁ
tato na vijugupsate
Word for word:
yaḥ — he who; tu — but; sarvāṇi — all; bhūtāni— living entities; ātmani — in relation to the Supreme Lord; eva — only; anupaśyati — observes in a systematic way; sarva-bhūteṣu — in every living being; ca — and; ātmānam — the Supersoul; tataḥ — thereafter; na — not;vijugupsate — hates anyone.

He who sees systematically everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being.

http://www.vedabase.com/en/iso/6

  Isopanishad

The biggest crisis facing the world is sectarianism, terrorism and environmental degradation. The goodwill teachings of India are best answers to the world problems in this age of hypocrisy and quarrel. Please share the goodwill message of India throughout the world.

Kindly share your thoughts.

Sincerely,
Sudhakar Govindavajhala
President
Yoga Foundation
http://yogascientist.blogspot.com

PS: this post is inspired by a lecture given by His Grace Vaiseshika Dasa (William Suczek) in California. He is an interesting person. He used to go to high school in California without wearing shoes as an austerity to find a meaning for life.