Currently, along with Vedic-Sanatana, [popularly known as Hinduism], Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Shintoism, and Sikhism are generally known as the chief religions of the world. All of them have developed from time-to-time in various places of the world with the sole purpose of guiding human beings to carryout their routine in the best possible and welfaristic manner under any prevailing circumstances. The founders and propounders, besides having the purpose of securing human existence, development and achievement of goal in life as a nucleus stepped forward to guide and direct people. Among the various values that the propounders adopted for this purpose, one of them emerged as the principal or the basis of their established faith. For example: Forbearance along with tolerance [both complimentary to non-violence] in Hinduism, Ahimsa in Jainism, Compassion [Karuna] in Buddhism, Unity in Zoroastrianism, Equality [with morality] in Confucianism, Service [with love] in Christianity, Justice in Judaism, Fraternity in Islam and Valour in Sikhism emerged as their principal values respectively. Undoubtedly besides being excellent, all of them are complimentary to each other. Therefore, having based on these values Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Shitoism or Sikhism, all of them despite their dedication and welfare to their respective followers on priority, fall within the scope of religion becoming an indivisible part of Dharma. If for this reason they are known and/or called religions, there is nothing wrong in it.

Fundamental Teachings

Except a few, religions more or less are in agreement about following the three basic principles or fundamentals on one hand and similar teachings to their followers on the other:

Existence of a Supreme Authority

The first among the three fundamentals is the existence of a Supreme Authority. That authority is called by countless names: Ishwara, God, Elohim, Ahura Mazda, and Allah etc. He is all pervading; is Almighty, and beyond the Law of Change. Moreover, He is the Creator, the Father of all and as states the holy Bible, and ‘Ruler of creation’. Hence, God is the symbol of unity and therefore having harmony with fellow beings, His search through righteous deeds, or just actions as depicted in Judaism, and union with Him is the foremost duty of every human being.

Superiority of Human Being

The second fundamental communicates the agreement of all religions about equal supremacy of human beings among all creatures. Therefore, all religions convey to their followers the message to realize this strength and make equality the basis of their practices to prosper. They equally exhort that all have been created equally and discriminations are artificial. Hence, without equality the achievement of goal is not possible. It is desirable that all discriminations, which, in fact, are the root causes of injustice, malpractices and evils, must be given up in practice. To quote a Shloka from the Atharvaveda, in which God Himself urges:

“Oh human beings! I create you in the same category; I accord you single mindedness and make you completely free of envy and malice. Oh people! Have such dedicated attraction towards one another as the cow has towards her newly born calf.” [Sahridaya Sanmanasyamavidvesha Krinomi Vah, Anyom Anyamabhi Haryata Vatsam Jatmivaghnya].

And also the holy Qur’an:

“This community [of humans] is really one. But they divided themselves on their own.”

Coordination between Action and Knowledge

The third noteworthy similarity is the call in religions for coordination between action and knowledge. Among all creatures human being has been accorded a matchless brain and intellect to acquire unlimited knowledge. In other words, human beings can distinguish right from wrong, or discern false and truth. Therefore, religions lay great stress on harmony, coordination and unity between knowledge and actions so that the later lead human beings towards achieving their goal.

Hence, in brief, all major religions of the world today have the above three principal similarities, which reveal their fundamental unity on the one hand and pave the way for human-unity, common development and universal welfare on the other. These similarities are in fact their common message to the people in which remains embedded and an all-round development of each and everyone at all times.

Particularly in the process of globalization, due to unprecedented progress at all levels and in all walks of life the world is shrinking, the tempo of contact, cooperation and interdependence is increasing day-by-day, and the significance of similarities of religions is becoming more important than the past. With the level of awakening among the lowest of the low and the poorest of the poor on the increase, the spread and escalation of such kind of similarly-based teachings become very vital. Moreover, while moving forward in union has become inevitable for all, without giving much consideration to one’s own choice, the relevance of these similarities multiplies many folds.

When this state of affairs brings good fruit, connects all through heart and broad understanding, similarity of teachings of religions can prove to be effective. Hence, this cannot be undermined in current perspectives, and shall retain its importance in future as well. Particularly, those who believe in marching together for the common welfare, they can benefit a lot from the similarity in teachings of various religions.

* Indologist Dr. Ravindra Kumar is the Former Vice Chancellor of Meerut University, India.

And the same  concept entered my mind when I first heard about the Tiger Woods tree/fire hydrant accident. Apparently bumping into a tree while  driving your car can be dangerous to your reputation, especially if you are:

Someone most people on the planet know  about.

Or if every time you win a Golf tournament you are  rewarded with millions of dollars in prize money.

Or  when you broke out onto the international scene with your  impeccable Golf skills/talent, you were seen as  someone who is the perfect family man that nothing or no one can tarnish.

Maybe if Tiger Woods knew  how unraveled his life would have become the minute he stepped into his  late model Escalade, started speeding down the road of his neighbourhood and hit a tree, he might have stayed home where his reputation was still safe on that Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

For how did we all now learn about  Mr. Woods’ sexual escapades? It began when he hit that tree with his  Cadillac Escalade.

Questions such as: Why is it called  Final Fantasy? And  how will we know when the Final Fantasy is the Final Fantasy? For the Final Fantasy  series of RPGs  have been around for twenty years now. And if you have played one or more of these video games, then you know how easy it is to get pulled in to the game.

With that said, here is my  contribution to Final Fantasy.

It all began on a portable handheld gaming system known as the Nintendo Gameboy. Entered three  Final Fantasy games titled: Final Fantasy Legend  I, II  and III.

For those of you who have not played these Nintendo  Gameboy gems, you can probably find them on amazon.com or ebay.

Then came Final Fantasy for the 8 Bit NES. And with the introduction of the 16 Bit  SNES  there came titles such as: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Final Fantasy II, and Final Fantasy III.

For the Gameboy advance there are two   re-makes. There is the re-make of the  SNES Final Fantasy II and III. The Final Fantasy II re-make for the Gameboy Advance is titled: Final Fantasy IV Advance and the SNES Final Fantasy III re-make for the Gameboy Advance is titled: Final Fantasy VI Advance.

Then came the Sony Playstation  with  more related games titled: Final Fantasy  Anthology, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, IX, X,  XI, XII, and  yes, a thirteenth installment is in the works also.

For the Nintendo DS there is Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings,  a brilliant re-make of the SNES Final Fantasy II, titled: Final Fantasy IV DS and if you want more FF  for this system, there are: Final Fantasy  Crystal Chronicles Ring Of Fates, and Final Fantasy  Crystal Chronicles  Echoes Of Time (this title is also available for the Nintendo Wii) but that’s not all.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles The Crystal Bearers for the Nintendo Wii will be released on December 26th 2009. Also,  if you want to see what became of Cecil, Rosa, Kain and Rydia from SNES Final Fantasy  II, or  the Nintendo DS  Final Fantasy IV DS, you can use your Nintendo points to  download  Final Fantasy IV: The After Years with your Nintendo Wii.

Which all bring me back to the question, will the fantasy ever be final? And which one will be the Final Fantasy? And if you have yet to play a Final Fantasy video game, here’s a tip or two.

Come equipped with a dose of patience, don’t forget to level up your hero or heroes (then beating the villain won’t seem so frustrating) keep in mind that a dead end may not necessarily be what it seems to be, throw in a little puzzle solving  and be prepared to be amazed.

Amazed at engaging story lines, graphics, sound effects  and voice acting. Especially  if you are playing some of  the Nintendo DS, Sony Playstation and Nintendo Wii Final Fantasy video games.

And if your hobbies include: listening to music, reading or playing video games, after a while you become sort of proud of  your little collection(s).

You can go back and read a book or two a second time, listen to a music cd you haven’t listened to in a while, or play a video game you played, conquered and probably forgot about a while  ago. But what happens if you are no longer able to physically hold one of those  items in your hand?

What if, for example, the powers that be decided to go the way of the hard drive for   your favourite portable video game  system?

It just might come to that if  the powers that be have their way with say, the other Nintendo DS that’s in the works. Tentatively titled the Nintendo DS2, and  according to www.videogamesblogger.com this Nintendo DS2 just might be a system for which  you will have to download the games you want to play almost like  you do with the PSP GO.

Now don’t get me wrong here, this downloadable feature  is   good  to have on your video game console. It works well with the Nintendo Wii, and  the Nintendo Dsi.

But whatever happened to the fun of going to your local Gamestop store and actually holding the game case in your hand? I  don’t know about other gamers out there, but I enjoy that experience. And more.

For some of those  games come packaged with items such as posters and even music soundtrack cds from the video games.

If  the next Nintendo DS came with a hard drive and internet capability you can use to purchase  and download  games you want to play,  I think I would miss frequenting the Gamestop store.

I would miss the joy of looking at the variety of games on the shelves, actually holding the game case in my hand as I take it to to cashier and of course the contents of the game case.

And what about the Nintendo DS collection you have amassed over time? If you get the Nintendo DS2 with games you have to download as opposed to purchasing from a store, you  will not be able to add downloadable games to your physical collection.

If  Nintendo decides to go the way of the hard drive for the next Nintendo DS, I hope Gamestop has a giant blow out sale on Nintendo DS games so we avid video gamers can stock up physical games to add to our collection.

With that said, I think I will take out that poster that came packaged with the Nintendo DS version of Chrono Trigger, and look for a place to proudly display it while I listen to  the CD that came packaged with the Nintendo DS version of: The Legacy Of YS Books I & II.

You usually pressed A to jump and B to run or vice versa. And it took a while to get accustomed to Mario then. Sometimes I was lucky to make it half way through a level without losing all my lives.

Or I wondered if  Mario could move faster or jump higher. This was after I was so used to the game that beating Bowser  didn’t  seem too intimidating. After all that I played more Mario Bros. games. There was Super Mario Bros. 2, 3 The legend Of The Seven Stars RPG,  and  Super Mario  World for the SNES.

And Mario moved faster on those games because the systems were much faster and advanced than the NES 8 Bit  capacity. And of course he moved mush faster  and jumped higher on the Nintendo DS when  you played the New Super Mario Bros. game on that portable system.

Now Nintendo  is about to release that same  Nintendo DS title: The New Super Mario Bros. game on the Nintendo Wii. So far we are looking at a release date of November 15th 2009 or  about a week’s time.

This Nintendo  Wii version will have a multiplayer mode in which up to four players can assist each other as they try to make it  to the flag at the  level’s end. Sounds like loads of fun, doesn’t it?

And if you thought Mario and Luigi moved fast on the Nintendo DS, just wait and see what the power of the Nintendo Wii will do to the Bros.’ speed system.

It might indeed seem as though the Super Mario Bros. themselves are on something known colloquially as SPEED.

And when I did notice it, it made me sort of curious. I silently asked myself questions like: Is it an RPG or not? Is it good  or  is it bad? For I did not want to invest in a game I would not enjoy at all.

So before  doing anything else, I did do some research and found that it is an RPG. And seeing that it was made by the same company (Matrix) that brought Final Fantasy IV DS to the  Nintendo DS, I thought I would give it a try.

This was after reading a few harsh reviews about it, by the way. And  what I found here is another good game that is more or less misunderstood.

For in Avalon Code, you get to choose your hero’s gender. But no matter which gender you  choose, it’s still the same game you are playing.

And  in Avalon Code, you don’t  go  in search of the villain to save the world. Instead, you are given a Book Of Prophecy, four spirits you find along the way,  and told that the world is ending and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

But since you have the Book Of  Prophecy, you are told to record or save the things and people you want to include in the next world in this book.

In order to record things, all you do is slam the book on something or someone and they show up in a couple pages of the Book  Of Prophecy.

Also, you  do not collect tons of items like you do say,  in a Final Fantasy epic. For example,  if you want to heal yourself in battle, you open the good book, turn to the page where there is  a loaf of bread or food, click on it, answer yes to use it and some of your hero’s health points will be restored.

Then there is the code system. Each item, person or enemy comes  with codes you can use to upgrade a weapon,  use a key, or make an enemy weak.

For example, say you encounter a difficult enemy on the battlefield, an enemy you obviously want to beat but can’t. You scan it with the book, go to the page where the enemy you scanned is and remove the code that gives him strength.

Or if you find the enemy is still  a bit strong after removing the code, you can take an ILL code from someone else and place it on the enemy’s code page to make it weaker.

A lot of  people who played this game found the code system to be a little frustrating, but I found it to be rather interesting.

And it is also a refreshing departure from playing other RPGs where there is no code system. Once I started playing Avalon Code for the Nintendo DS,  I liked it, got used to the system and might even play it again after beating it.

It has good graphics, story and once you get used to the code system it is a game that is good and maybe a little misunderstood.

I am glad I did not pass it up  for I would have missed a good game that has been misunderstood. Sure, Avalon Code for the Nintendo DS  is no Final Fantasy epic, but if you like  RPGs, you just might find yourself liking  it too.

And with that said I am here to tell you that  if you have invested in video games such as Zubo and Avalon Code for the Nintendo DS, they are not bad games, just maybe a little misunderstood.

Take Zubo, for example. It’s a light RPG with a difference. It is stylus driven. But if you have played The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, that too, is stylus driven. And in Zubo, you, the hero literally crash into a place known as Zubalon.

Furthermore, just like any RPG, the object here is to defeat villains or Zombos in this case,  solve puzzles and rescue and collect other Zubos (55 in all) in order to set things right in the land of Zubalon.

You also get to choose the gender of your hero when the game starts. I chose to play as a girl because, you know, I am a girl. But maybe in my second playthrough I will play as the boy just for fun.

While your hero does not do any of the fighting, your Zubos do. And each of them come equipped with their fighting skills and abilities. You fight the Zombos to the tune of music and if you tap the touch screen in time when the outlines meet around your Zubo, you can score  a high hit rate on the enemy.

Now prior to playing Zubo, I read lots of reviews about the game. Reviews that I found to be a little harsh. But having invested about two hours into it, I found Zubo to be entertaining, engaging and not as bad as the reviewers said it could be.

All right, so maybe it’s not a Final Fantasy epic. But it does come with beautiful 3D graphics,  great music and sound effects and has ten worlds for you to explore and conquer.

In addition, you also make full use of the Nintendo DS functions in the game. For instance, in one scenario, you might find yourself blowing cobwebs to clear the way in the Horror House.

Or you might also have to  shout out something in the system’s microphone to wake up someone, or a Zubo.

I am glad I did not pass up Zubo for the Nintendo DS. I like it. And I know most of us avid RPG fans have been spoiled by the Final Fantasy series of video games, but maybe the Final Fantasy games  should not be the measuring stick by which all other  RPGs should be judged.

Up next. Another misunderstood game for the Nintendo DS that came out in 2009. That game is Avalon Code.

The persons disliking others might be doing so because they fall into a different income bracket than themselves, or maybe they walk too slow, talk too fast, eat too slow etc.

The possibilities can be endless. But when  Louisiana Judge, Keith Bardwell,  recently refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple, stating that for him it was more of a moral issue not a racist one,  people among us took notice.

Even I had to stop and  ponder for a moment. Ponder that at a time when the divorce rate is climbing everyday, one might think that a Judge of all people would be delighted to issue a marriage license to a couple who wants to get married.

Be that couple an interracial one or non interracial one.

The Judge who refuses to resign from his position as a result of all the feedback he has been receiving  from his ruling on the matter obviously believes in the moral stand he has taken.

And judges can refuse to issue marriage licenses to whomever, but when there is an interracial couple involved, it seems to be more racist   than moral, doesn’t it?

Racial prejudice might never end, but just when I thought the world was becoming a more diverse place to live in, here it comes again.

It makes me also wonder what said Judge might think about fornication or living in sin. Those seem to be more moral issues than a couple who is willing to get married.

Or maybe some judges need to be alerted as  to what century we are currently in.

It was Indian Culture and its large scope that accorded protection to the followers of various faiths and beliefs of the world from time-to-time. This Culture opened doors for all to settle on the Indian soil and provided equal opportunities to them for development. This process started thousands of years ago and continued for centuries. Perhaps, such kind of exclusive and excellent work started in India alone.

India’s commitment to internationalism can also be well observed in its respect to Ahimsa, non-violence, the supreme human value. In other words, Ahimsa being an indivisible part of day-to-day practices of Indians calls upon human welfare at the highest level and thus makes the idea of internationalism firm and great. It works for human unity.

“Not to inflict others’ thoughts, words and actions by our own thoughts, words and deeds, simultaneously not to spoil the life” is included in India’s concept pertaining to Ahimsa. In brief, “The aloofness in toto from Himsa-violence is Ahimsa-non-violence.” It is evident that not only human beings but all living beings are within the domain of India’s concept of non-violence. Now, where there is such a feeling for living beings, how much regard will be there for human beings? We can understand it from India’s concept of non-violence and through it can realize India’s commitment and dedication to internationalism and universalism.

Indian philosophy, spiritual thinking and education and messages of those great men, reformers and initiators of new ages who born on India’s soil from time-to-time, called upon people to carryout their day-to-day practices having larger interest of humanity in the centre.  They urged people to base their behaviour on the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. They declared nationalism to be the first stage of internationalism and inspired people to strengthen it with the purpose of prosperity and welfare of the whole world. Therefore, India’s concept of nationalism is not a narrow one, or in it not ungenerous in its nature. I repeat it is the early step towards internationalism. Those who consider Indian nationalism to be narrow in outlook or observe it to be isolated, they must understand its reality. They should go into its roots. If they do so, I am sure they will find it completely free from the state of isolation. They will definitely find it to be dedicated to internationalism or universalism.

Mahatma Gandhi, who was a worshiper of Ahimsa and a forerunner of India’s Culture in his time, had said, “If I want freedom for my country…I do not want that freedom in order that I, belonging to a nation which counts one-fifth of the human race, may exploit any other race upon earth, or any single individual. If I want that freedom for my country, I would not be deserving of that freedom if I did not cherish and treasure the equal right of every other race, weak or strong, to the same freedom.” This statement is fully capable of clarifying the reality of India’s commitment to universalism. Simultaneously, his following statement is also equally relevant and significant in this regard:“ Through the deliverance of India, I seek to deliver the so-called weaker races of the earth from the crushing heels f Western exploitation. India’s coming to her own will mean every nation doing likewise.” Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of Sarvodaya, which is in consonance with Indian traditions and values and which is also influenced by Ruskin’s theory of ‘Unto This Last’, can be considered to be the best on the way to human equality. This principle without any caste, class gender, community or territory-based discrimination endorses equal value for the labour of an intellectual or a cultivator. It talks of greatest happiness to all in comparison to utilitarian theory of greatest happiness to greatest number. In it is the room for equal opportunities for the lowest to progress. This firmly elucidates that in greatest happiness to all also includes the greatest happiness to greatest number. Hence, it brings the whole humanity in its fold and, therefore, reveals internationalism in a beautiful manner.

Furthermore, Gandhi’s theory of Trusteeship, which according to the Mahatma can be the alternative to the violence-based institution like the State, clearly reflects the perception of internationalism. He as one of the great anarchists is in favour of abolishing the institution of the State step-by-step. In place of the State he stresses upon the establishment of a worldly order based on equality. It is in fact a step beyond internationalism. In it whole humanity without any discrimination and territorial limit comes together and becomes identical. Therefore, Mahatma Gandhi’s views cannot be taken slightly, doesn’t matter if the institution of the State as desired by him cannot be abolished immediately or within a time fixed for the purpose. His views are worth giving a thought, doesn’t matter if his desire for a worldly order seems to be utopian to many. In this regard Gandhi during his stay in South Africa had set an example of collective living in the ‘Tolstoy Form’. In it people belonging to different religious-communities, sects and castes stayed together. They worked together and ate together. It was a successful experiment of Gandhi. Therefore, his ideas, in spite of seeming utopian or impractical and fully imbibed with morality and ethics, are the subject of minutely analysis as they are important and significant for the establishment of internationalism. Eighty-five years ago, in 1924, Mahatma Gandhi had said, “The world desires today not absolutely independent States warring one against another, but a federation of friendly interdependent States. The consummation of that event may be far off. I want to make no ground claim for our country. But I see nothing grand or impossible about our expressing our readiness for universal interdependence rather than independence.” This statement of the Mahatma adds to the concept of internationalism. It makes its range to be large.

It is possible that eighty-five years ago the above statement of Gandhi seemed just to be imaginable to many. But, today in completely changed circumstances of the world it calls upon us to think over it honestly and sincerely.

Due to constantly increasing development at the global level, in spite of existence of independent nation-States, an advanced state of interdependence is before us today. This state will still go higher. Doesn’t matter if it is considered to be a compulsion of the nations of the world, but to move forward together is inevitable now. Working together is necessary for all citizens of the world. In such a situation suggestions of the Mahatma and views expressed by him from time-to-time, which are full of internationalism, prove their adaptability and significance. It will be better and welfaristic if nations of the world by having the views and suggestions of Gandhi in the centre come forward to work in a state of harmony as per the demand of time and space instead of working in a state of compulsion. If they create conducive atmosphere collectively it will do well to all in the world. In the beginning we have discussed about India’s commitment to internationalism. Mahatma Gandhi had desired India to come forward for the establishment of a worldly order dedicated to peace and prosperity. He also desired India to accomplish this gigantic task considering it to be her responsibility. It is possible because India due to its unique values, exemplary Culture and commitment to non-violence is capable to do so. Therefore, India must come forward for the establishment of a true and real internationalism, and by doing so it must become ideal for others in the world.

*Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a renowned Indologist; he is a former vice chancellor of CCS University, Meerut, India.

Now when I first saw the box art for this particular video game, at first I thought it must be a game exclusively for kids.

But as I played  and  delved  further into it,  I observed  that Scribblenauts for the Nintendo DS is for anyone who enjoys doing a little problem solving every now and again.

For this video game will bring out the creative  problem solver in everyone. In it, you help the game’s hero, Maxwell solve each problem by typing in a noun in the game’s keyboard feature.

Then you click on the submit button and voila! The word comes to life in the form of an object or person  on your Nintendo DS to help Max solve the problem.

Take  something simple as trying to get a cat down a tree. Type in any noun, object or person to aid Maxwell and it shows up on the screen to help him get the cat back on solid ground.

If you want, for example,  to go the regular route of using a Fireman to get the cat from the tree, just type in the word Fireman. Or if you want Maxwell to climb the tree to rescue the cat himself,  you can have him do so with a ladder and so on.

Each individual has a different way of solving such a problem. So the words, or  objects you use can be endless.

The puzzles get harder as you advance. But once you start solving puzzle after puzzle, you might not want to put down  your  Scribblenauts game for too long. For it can get addicting.

And since it comes with 220 levels, there is certainly much to do and solve here. Also before each level ends, there are things known as Starites Maxwell has to collect.

You get to help him find a way to collect these as well. But you have so much fun doing so, that it might make you wonder, gee where has a game like this been all your video gaming life.

There are also other challenges along the way. For example, the quicker you complete solving a puzzle, the more points you get. And the fewer objects you use the better.

Like you can use one object to remove one or more obstacle  and so on.

I have really enjoyed this video game. It comes with great graphics and    sound effects  to match. So if you’re looking for a way to let your imagination run loose, give Scribblenauts for the Nintendo DS/Dsi a try.

And allow your creative, problem solving side to take over. You will be glad you did.