Neil Bhandari | Contributing Writer
Despite a tense political and social climate across the globe, a collection of on-campus clubs decided to join together for a special event filled with prayer and unity.
Multiple campus organizations including Hillel at FIU, the Bhakti Yoga club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Intervarsity made an appearance. Sessions of group meditation and prayer occurred, with students participating in both.
“It was really affecting me and my friends, either Jews or Muslims, and there have been so many tensions with everyone pointing fingers at one another,” said Meryl Bohbot, the event’s organizer. “I just had a big breakdown, and I was thinking – what can we do on our scale?”
“We’re trying to bring people together above their political opinions and just do our best to have empathy and acknowledge that we don’t have to agree but we can recognize each other’s pain and feelings, and have a loving and safe place for everyone to talk freely,” said Bohbot.
There were silent prayers held at the event, as well as musical chants, with Bhakti Yoga Club members repeating Hindu incantations.
“We’re all in one family of God, and we just wanted to be out and hold hands with the other faiths,” said Haridas, a member of the Bhakti Yoga Club. He spoke of the “Age of Kali”, describing the world in a “winter season of spirituality.”
“We live in America today, where 50% of families end up in divorce, and it’s commonplace to stop talking to your own family members for the rest of your life after a quarrel. In the Age of Kali, the way to overcome these material struggles and sufferings is by chanting the holy names in prayer,” added Haridas.
Every group participating found ways of interfaith prayer, performing Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Hindu prayers in order to accommodate the litany of religions present.
According to Bohbot, the Muslim Student Association declined to officially participate due to discontent between members.
“We had these long conversations. They’re really nice and I think we’ve improved and evolved towards a point of peace. But since not all of their members were specifically comfortable with it, it was not representative of their organization. So they decided not to join, which is fair enough,” said Bohbot.
In an interview with PantherNOW, Louna Khatir, a student from Colombia who led Muslim prayers, shared her opinion about MSA’s nonparticipation.
“Honestly I feel kind of upset about the fact that MSA didn’t show. Because it was not religious at all, and everyone else was fully represented, and I think it’s too bad and gives a bad image. After all, there’s nothing offensive about this event, right? It’s just peace,” she said
An underlying motif of the event was the celebration of unity in absence of it abroad, with several participants opining on the status of conflict in the Middle East.
“Both sides are holding on to resentment. And you know, if we can really get past that, I really do believe that something can make us all unite and become better for everyone, and not just in the Middle East, but here too. Start looking at it more so that we’re all humans and we all share the same language of emotion,” said Andres Uriarte, a spiritual guide and meditation expert.
“I want to make people feel better, and whatever the result is, I’m perfectly fine with it. At least if I’m pursuing what I want and what really, really, fills my heart. I know I’m happy, and then if I can share that happiness with someone, that for me is amazing,” he said.
“I’d say that one of the main root issues is that people have a lot of assumptions about each other. Like, in the case of Israel or Palestine, people are going to be like Jews want to kill babies, and the other side is going to say Palestinians have hostages. And you know, it’s like they assume what people think based on their religion or background and if they were just able to talk to them they will understand that’s not true. They will just all want peace,” said Bohbot.
“Don’t think you’re better than one another, you should see each other as equals. See eye to eye,” said Sean Darmon, student.
“Everybody’s going through something, so don’t think you’re invincible just because you’re going through something. The other person isn’t living an easy life at the end of the day. We’re all equals,” he concluded.
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