by Ethel Ashe-Frear

Created on: April 15, 2008   Last Updated: October 22, 2009

Jesus the Holy Spirit and Swamiji

A Hindu Temple in Orlando, Florida was the last place I thought I'd be a visitor. I was encouraged to check-it-out by an instructor at the YMCA where I was a member. "How do I know the yoga I'm taking from you is the real stuff"? I asked Brian one of the teachers at the Y. "I just learned there is a real live priest at the Hindu Temple just down the street that is teaching yoga," he said. "Why don't you check that out, make a comparison and let me know which one is real?"

When the natives of Florida give directions, they always say, "Just down the street." I found out the hard way this statement could mean anywhere from 1 to 10 miles away. Finding the Hindu Temple was quite a challenge. I drove past the Wal-mart mall; past the laundromat; past the electric store, and found it secluded at a dead-end street.

When I first entered the lobby, I saw the statue of an elephant boy and noticed other statues sitting on the stage in the front of the temple. I met Swamiji (pronounced as Swami-g) his full name is Swami Chidghananand Parivrajak. I was very curious and my first question was, "Do you believe in God? The same the God in the Old Testament Christians believe in"?

"Of course we believe in God!" he said.

Then, just to be sure we were on the same track I said, "You believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob"? I wanted to very clear we were talking about the same God. He looked directly at me with his piercing dark eyes and big grin on his face as though I didn't seem to understand his first answer. "Of course, we do!"

I enrolled in the yogi classes at the temple, and every Saturday morning the opportunity presented itself to talk and visit with other folks during class time. I was accepted and invited to their services on Sunday. It was explained to me that their teachings concerning the idols in the temple are energy fields, called deities or gods and bring them different kinds of blessings. I had gotten to know the folks at the temple fairly well by now; as lunch was served we shared personal experiences.

I began visiting the temple services in the afternoon, after I had been to Parkway Baptist Church in the morning. I learned how not to be "judgmental" from attendance at a Methodist Church in Damascus, Maryland years ago. After services, I had a question for Swamiji. "I read in a book called, Hinduism and Christianity,' by Swami Satprakashananda that The Vedanta believe Jesus Christ is one of the greatest human manifestations

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