Melodies from the Flute : Dialogue among Religions and Cultures

This is a Memorial Volume for Prof. Noel Kantilal Sheth SJ, a man of ahimsa, compassion and dialogue. Calm and sober in his attitude, he reached out to others respectfully and reverentially. His meticulous and methodological nature and analytic- synthetic mind made him a humble servant, erudite scholar, efficient teacher and responsible administrator. Twenty scholars have contributed in this volume to topics like Creative Dialogue, Practical Compassion, Innovative Inclusiveness, Living Diversity, Collective Search for Wisdom, Commitment to Indian Traditions and Religion for Peace.

This book is about encountering other traditions, building friendly bridges with them, affirming others compassionately, enabling them and appreciating their diversity and differences, through dialogue, interaction and cooperation.

I had the privilege of personally interacting with Rev Father Sheth SJ, during my visits to India and his visits to Korea. He was a man of dialogue, empathy and compassion. So he would reach out to different peoples, cultures, traditions and languages. He is a paradigm of inclusiveness.

The Sheth I know is calm, composed and concerned. He was compassionate and life-affirming. Truly, he was a gentleman. I believe these virtues transported to cultures and religions can make our world harmonious, peaceful, sustainable.

As many of his friends know, Prof Sheth was born on October 31, 1943, in Mumbai and entered the Society of Jesus on June 20, 1960. He was the gold medalist in MA Sanskrit from the University of Pune. Later he went to do his doctorate in Sanskrit from Harvard University, where he was awarded a full scholarship. His book The Divinity of Krishna was very scholarly and very well appreciated by the scholarly world.

He returned to Pune to be a full-time staff of Papal Seminary and Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth. the president of JDV during 1999-2006 and papal seminary rector from 1991 to 1994. He received "Dr. Sam Higginbottom Award for the Best Principals of India, 2004-2005."

He used to be teaching Hinduism, Buddhism and Comparative Religions. An erudite scholar, a passionate teacher, a meticulous planner, he always tried his best to encounter and embrace others, without judgement and without deep sense of compassion.

**Contents and Sample Pages**